The transition from printed books to electronic is unraveling in a similar way we have seen the move from printed CDs to mp3s.
The established music industry has been scrambling to retain the same business model, while many artists have detached themselves and started their own label. You can still grab a hard copy, but many artists are starting to sell thousands of mp3 albums from their website, months before the hard copy ever hits the shelves.
Seth Godin and the The Domino Project is an example of how the book business is starting to change and break away from the established book industry.
Digital media, whether it’s music or books, has far less overhead than hard copy media. A printed CD or book as an inherent cost, and once it’s been printed, the investment has been made. Not only that, but there are many costs associated with delivering the media to the consumber, too. With digital media, the cost simply lies in the creating and marketing, and in some situations, the marketing is done at a fraction of the cost by way of social media.
This is also the case for Bible publishing.
A new translation of the Bible is on the scene.
It’s called, the Common English Bible.
The Common English Bible, or CEB, debuted in twenty digital platforms, almost two months before a printed copy hit the Bible book store. It’s available on the Common English Bible website, and they have even launched the CEB with a search widget than can be downloaded for blogs and websites alike.
The digital platforms include the:
- Kindle
- iPad
- iPhone
- Nook
- Sony
- Olivetree
- Logos
- BibleWorks
- Accordance Software
- ChristianBook
- Kobo
- OverDrive
- Blio
- Copia
- Lightning Source
- YouVersion
The introductory suggested retail price of all electronic versions is $5.95 and will increase to the regular suggested retail price of $9.95 September 1. The new translation will also be searchable through Bible Gateway, and Bible Study Tools.
What do you think about the price point?
When you consider what we spend on entertainment, it’s a small price. However, you can use the CEB translation, and many others, for no cost on YouVersion, so why would I drop $5-10 on the CEB e-version?
Many portable apps are only $1, while $1 will only get you 1 song on iTunes.
What do you think?
[via Christian News Wire | Image via MrTopher]
millca says
I’m not seeing anywhere on their website where you can download the electronic version of CEB for $5.95. Am I missing something?
Eric Dye says
You can get it from Amazon and other outlets. You’re right, though, not on their website!
David says
Yeah, I just got my iPad2 last night (thanks to my wife!) and it rocks. One of the first things I downloaded was YouVersion. It has 25 translations and TONS of features, and includes the CEB…FREE! Nope, not gonna pay $10 when I can get a superior product including the $10 one for free!
Alex Humphrey says
What about the New English Translation (NET) Bible? Before CEB the NET Bible was already on most of those platforms for free. It also continually updates and has thousands and thousands of translator notes to help better understand the text.