With Barnes & Noble‘s new ereader announcement set for 10:00 on Tuesday, May 24, CNet has researched some of the company’s recent trademark filings (which are made through Fission LLC) for clues. They filed to protect the phrase “the simple touch reader” at the end of March in the category of “portable electronic apparatus for reading”–which CNet logically says “we take as a strong indication that the upcoming Nook will be an affordable monochrome e-ink touch-screen model that operates similarly” to the Sony Reader. A more recent filing also seeks to protect MyNook, a web portal service “to remotely manage, […]
Apps/iOS
eNews: iFlow Reader Shuts Down, Blaming Apple’s New Policy; Kobo eReader Price Drop; and More
In advance of any official reckoning between Apple’s reinterpreted rule requiring “that if an app offers customers the ability to purchase books outside of the app, that the same option is also available to customers from within the app with in-app purchase,” the makers of the iFlow Reader app are angrily throwing in the towel. BeamItDown Software publisher Philip Huber announced that the company and its ereading app will cease operations on May 31. They launched their ebookstore in December 2010 and say in a posted letter to customers that “two months later, Apple changed the rules and put us […]
S&S Debuts Book Battle, a “Social Voting” Facebook App
S&S announced a new Facebook app called Book Battle, which they describe as a “social voting application” and “a fun way to engage with their favorite books and authors on all manner of book-related topics” but which the NYT more succinctly describes as “a literary version of hotornot.com.” The inaugural matchup features two YA novels by Cassandra Clare, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, and app users will be able to vote on their favorite of the two books, and which characters they prefer. Other match-ups at launch will feature the UGLIES series by Scott Westerfield and the NIGHT […]
Team Behind Al Gore Enhanced Book App Aims to Reinvent the Form
A multimedia app version of Al Gore’s 2009 illustrated book OUR CHOICE went on sale today in Apple’s App Store, at an “introductory promotional” and “limited time only” price of $4.99 (compared to $26.99 for the color trade paperback). Produced by Melcher Media and start-up Push Pop Press, with support from Rodale, the app aims to be the proof-of-concept for a new approach to illustrated and enhanced/transmedia ebooks. The Gore app includes over a hour of video and audio narrations from the vice president with dozens of animations of clever “infographics” that reveal different and changing datasets as you move […]
Comprehensive Nook Color Update Includes Email, Apps, and Social Networking, Plus New Ad Campaign
This morning Barnes & Noble confirmed what had been rumored over the weekend a major firmware update to Nook Color (now on Android’s 2.2/Froyo OS) that makes the device a lot more like a proper tablet, with new apps, additional illustrated and enhanced ebooks, the ability to check email, more magazines for sale, and social networking. Nook Email allows users to check a variety of accounts, while social networking service Nook Friends allows for book-swapping and targeted library lending, “liking” titles and viewing other customer recommendations. “Frankly most of the things they have asked us about are very popular tablet […]
eNews: ABC Launches Video eBooks; Staples Stocks Nook Color; Kindle DX Price Drop; Disappointment with Blackberry Playbook; and More
Talk about burying the lead. Hyperion had announced the release of Jane Green’s enhanced ebook, A Modern Fairy Tale: William, Kate, and Three Generations of Royal Love but didn’t underscore what looks to be the interesting business news. Their corporate television partner is participating in a line of ABC Video Books, and has launched their own video bookstore app for the iOS to sell those ebooks directly, using Apple’s in-app purchasing program. The ebook line, which also includes THE AMANDA KNOX STORY: A Murder in Perugia, is available through other major etailers as well. ABC says the ebooks “will draw […]