Time Inc.

Easypress Technologies and Gardners Books have jointly signed an eBook distribution agreement which will offer Easypress’ publisher clients global eBook distribution through Gardners  extensive network of online eBook Retailers across the UK, Europe and the USA (in association with Baker Taylor).

Here are a couple more interesting points of view on the DoJ’s anti-trust lawsuit against some publishers and Apple.

On ReadWriteWeb, Joe Brockmeier points out that for all the noise around the suit, it really isn’t going to change the major problems with the e-book industry right now. He points out three such problems: the rampant proliferation of DRM and platform lock-in, the perpetual copyright implemented by Congress and backed by the Supreme Court, and Amazon’s problematic relationships with publishers (including those who aren’t the Big Six).

Easypress Technologies, in a major innovation and evolution of its EasyEPUB eBook conversion platform, Easypress Technologies has launched an exciting addition ‘fixed-layout’ eBook conversion of its online software platform.  As well as potentially saving publishers thousands of dollars in fixed layout eBook creation, the latest technology will convert Adobe InDesign files using the company’s in the “Cloud” EasyEPUB conversion software in under a minute. Leading digital publishing solutions provider, Easypress has developed and launched the innovative new product in recognition that many publishers have content which is unsuitable for reflowable eBooks due to the content-rich format of individual print book layouts. The ‘fixed-layout’ eBook EPUB format will prove especially appealing for the conversion of certain publications including children’s books, art books and educational books; all of which currently offer highly illustrated and image rich content required to engage with the reader.

As many iPad and Kindle Fire owners know, when you get a tablet, your habits change. Some start reading their email or doing most of their shopping on their tablets instead of their desktops; others begin buying more ebooks than printed books. Those changes were highlighted in a recent Forrester survey. The research firm found that after purchasing a tablet, owners are far less likely to engage with more traditional devices and media. About a third of respondents say they use personal computers and read books less frequently. About one in four claim to read print magazines and newspapers

Rapper Snoop Dogg is about to enter the book publishing market with a book that you can not only read, but smoke.

What?

Time reported that "Rolling Words: A Smokable Songbook" will be released from Snoop as a marketing campaign for his new Kingsize Slim Rolling Papers.

In a video for the book, Snoop Dogg says that the book reprints lyrics to his past songs like "G-Thang" and "Gin and Juice." He tells fans, "This thing can also be smoked with some of your finest, where you at or however you at."

Thousands of publishing executives from the book and magazine publishing industries will convene at the New York Marriott Marquis, Times Square, March 19-21, for the Publishing Business Conference & Expo—North America’s largest conference and expo of its kind.

The conference—produced by Publishing Executive and Book Business (industry-leading business)—features more than 40 sessions and nearly 100 speakers, including: David Carey, President, Hearst Magazines; Josh Tyrangiel, Editor, Bloomberg Businessweek; Josh Quittner, Editorial Director, Flipboard; David Carr, Columnist and Reporter, The New York Times; Deborah Forte, President, Scholastic Media; Marcus Leaver, President, Sterling Publishing Co. Inc. (owned by Barnes & Noble); Michela O’Connor Abrams, President, Dwell Media (who is also the conference chair); Maureen McMahon, President/Publisher, Kaplan Publishing; Peter Meirs, VP, Production Technologies, Time Inc.; Matt Bean, AVP, Mobile, Social and Emerging Media, Rodale Inc.; and Christopher McKenzie, VP & Director, Institutional Sales, Americas & EMEA, Wiley InterScience Sales, Wiley.

Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced today that it will publish PORTLANDIA: A Guide for Visitors, the official guide to the city of “Portlandia,” written by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, the creators and stars of the hit IFC show Portlandia, produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. The book will be available on November 20, 2012.

The Publishing Business Conference & Expo announced today that David Carr, media and culture columnist and reporter for The New York Times, will be interviewing Flipboard's Editorial Director, Josh Quittner, at the conference's "Keynote Event," March 19.

The Publishing Business Conference & Expo announced today that David Carr, media and culture columnist and reporter for The New York Times, will be interviewing Flipboard's Editorial Director, Josh Quittner, at the conference's "Keynote Event," March 19.

EFI (Nasdaq: EFII), a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today announced it has acquired privately-held Cretaprint S.L. based in Castellón, Spain, a leading developer of inkjet printers for ceramic tile printing.