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07 June 2010Australian readers and gadget collectors have become the latest target of Apple's e-reader blitz. Sales began in Australia at the weekend and in eight other countries.

While Apple has the money to spend on marketing, the iPad is just one of a number of digital devices now available.

It's hard to get reliable sales figures but the e-book technology does pose an unprecedented challenge for the publishing industry and writers as well.

Amazon and Macmillan have already had a very public falling out over e-book prices and writers are having to decide whether or not they want their work available online.

The federal government has set up a Book Industry Strategy Group to look at some of the issues ahead. The 14-member group is chaired by former Labor science minister -- and serious reader -- Barry Jones. It's due to report in April next year.

Emmett Stinson is a member of the Strategy Group, which has just met in Canberra.

Permanent URLhttp://apo.org.au/node/21573
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