Google Books Archives | The Digital Reader

Google Books Ngram Viewer Updated – Now Includes Books Published as Late as 2019

16 July, 202016 July, 2020Google BooksOne Comment

I was just reading on a mailing list for editors, Copyediting-L, that Google has updated the Ngram Viewer. Here’s the original announcement from Twitter: The Google...

Google Play Books is Now Renting Novels Published by Open Road Media

15 August, 201915 August, 2019Google Books3 Comments

A reader just tipped me to a new section in Play Books that contains around 200 ebooks you can rent (Thanks, Tom!). All the ebooks appear...

Google is Beta-Testing Custom Shelves, Search Features

15 August, 201915 August, 2019e-Reading Software, Google BooksOne Comment

Do you like trying the newest features before anyone else? I prefer tools that work, but for those who are more adventurous, Google announced a new...

Google Play Books Ends Discounting in Canada, Australia, and USA – Now Pays a 70% Royalty

11 August, 201911 August, 2019eBookstore, Google Books3 Comments

Remember a couple months back when I reported that Google was insisting that authors sign up for an account with Play Books even though the author’s...

Google Play Books is Cutting Out the Middleman, Now Wants a Direct Relationship with Authors and Publishers

16 May, 201916 May, 2019Google Books, Self-Pub10 Comments

Many authors and publishers use a company such as PublishDrive or Draft2Digital to handle their distribution to smaller ebook retailers. They trade a small cut of...

Google Play Books 5.1.9 Adds Audiobook Download Quality Settings, Custom Skip Duration Settings

9 April, 20199 April, 2019Audiobook, e-Reading Software, Google BooksOne Comment

When Google started selling audiobooks last January, the Play Books Android app made the experience so frustrating that only masochists would try it more than twice....

How to Download Audiobooks from Google Play Books – DRM-Free!

23 July, 201823 July, 2018Audiobook, Google Books12 Comments

When Google started selling audiobooks in Play Books back in January I was quick to dismiss their service because the audiobook experience was simply awful. It was...

With “Talk to Books”, Google Wants to Replace English Lit Professors

15 April, 201815 April, 2018Google Books3 Comments

Google’s developed a new way to ask its search engine research questions, and it could make English Lit classes a breeze. Talk to Books is Google’s solution...

Google Adds Bookmarks, Speed Controls, and More to Audiobooks in Google Play Books App

29 March, 201829 March, 2018Audiobook, e-Reading Software, Google BooksLeave a comment

Google rolled out an update today for its Play Books app that fixed the frustrating experience of listening to audiobooks in that app shortly after Google...

Google’s Support for Audiobooks is Frustrating and Disappointing

26 January, 201823 July, 2018Audiobook, Google Books, Google Play4 Comments

Google started selling audiobooks several days ago. If you haven’t tried them yet, that is okay because you are better off avoiding Google in favor of...

Knock Me Over with a Feather, Google Play Now Sells Audiobooks

23 January, 201823 January, 2018Audiobook, Google Books, Google Play4 Comments

Google has expanded its lackluster effort to sell books to include audiobooks as well as ebooks. Read more.” Every year it’s one of the most popular...

Google to Sell Audiobooks, Teases 50% Off Your First Purchase in Leaked Banner

20 January, 201820 January, 2018Audiobook, Google Books, Google Play3 Comments

Back in November I brought you the news that Google was looking at selling audiobooks in Google Play, and now it appears the launch is imminent....

Google Play Books is Currently Offering a $5 credit

22 December, 201723 December, 2017Google Books, Google Play4 Comments

Google is holding a sale in its ebookstore right now, but only for US customers. If you head over to the Play Store home page right...

Google Is Now Accepting Indie Authors into Play Books (Sometimes, And Only If You Ask Nice)

9 November, 201725 June, 2018Google Books, Google Play, Piracy, Self-Pub10 Comments

When Google closed its publisher portal two and a half years ago in response to massive ebook piracy, they said the move was temporary so they could “improve...

Google Play Store to Sell Audiobooks?

3 November, 201711 November, 2017Audiobook, Google Books, Google PlayOne Comment

Google doesn’t sell a lot of ebooks, and pretty soon they will also not be selling a lot of audiobooks. Android Police pulled part the latest...