The question raised in tech columns lately has been whether Barnes & Noble’s Nook can keep pace with the technological refresh and innovation of the much larger Apple, Google, and Amazon–and Wednesday the company aims to answer “yes” with two new high-resolution reader-focused tablets. They are introducing the seven-inch Nook HD and the 9-inch Nook HD+, with proprietary high-quality screens, at competitive prices. The smaller model starts at $199–directly comparable to the new Kindle tablet (Nook gives you an AC adapter and no ads as part of the price, but it’s their 8GB model; their 16GB version, the same as […]
eReaders
Ingram Will Distribute Kobo eReaders To ABA Member Stores
Now that the ABA is partnering with Kobo to supply ebooks to independent bookstores, the organization has announced that Ingram will serve as the exclusive distributor of Kobo devices to ABA member stores. For now, Ingram is authorized to wholesale devices only to ABA stores; the company says permitting them to wholesale to other accounts “will be a Kobo decision.” ABA member stores who order Kobo devices from Ingram will also take part in a special launch incentive timed for the holiday season that includes free displays and demo devices, an unspecified cash bonus for participating, rebates for sell-through, and […]
Amazon Will Ship Three Kindle Fire HD Tablets, Including $499 4G With $50/Year Data Plan
The theme of Amazon’s Thursday afternoon press conference in Santa Monica was not so much the device particulars as ceo Jeff Bezos’s revised explanation of their goal and purpose: “People don’t want gadgets anymore. They want services. They want services that improve over time.” And “Kindle Fire is a service.” Bezos also explained, “We want to make money when people USE our devices, not when they BUY our devices. That is better alignment.” (Last year’s opening pitch for Kindle Fire was that “what we’re doing is making premium products and offering them at non-premium prices.”) The new mantra translates into […]
Amazon Will Launch New Kindle Fire Next Week; Has Sold Roughly 6 Million Units
Amazon essentially confirmed in a press release that next week’s press conference will include a new version of their Kindle Fire, since the first edition is now “sold out.” CEO Jeff Bezos says, “Kindle Fire is sold out, but we have an exciting roadmap ahead.” Amazon claims that over the past nine months (between December and August, including pre-orders), “Kindle Fire has captured 22 percent of tablet sales in the US.” Thanks to the recent court case between Apple and Samsung, we have pretty precise comps for tablet sales from those two companies. (Also thanks to that case, we know […]
Nook Adds Argos, Blackwell’s, and Foyles as UK Partners
Barnes & Noble announced that retailer Argos, academic bookseller Blackwell’s and independent bookstore Foyles will also sell the Nook in the UK as of October, after announcing its deal with John Lewis earlier in the week. The Argos deal is particularly significant as it means the Simple Touch and GlowLight devices will be sold in a chain of 700 stores, while Blackwell’s and Foyles enables BN to have some bookstore presence to compete with WHSmith (which stocks Kobo) and Waterstones (which sells Kindle.) In a statement BN director of digital products Jamie Iannone touted that “Argos built its brand on […]
Nook’s First UK Partner Is Electronics Retailer, Plus Amazon and Apple Updates
Barnes & Noble announced that department store John Lewis will be its first UK retail partner as of October, selling Nook Simple Touch and GlowLight in 37 stores as well as on its own website. “John Lewis is where knowledgeable customers turn for trusted advice on the best products to purchase, and they are a perfect partner to help launch Nook in the UK,” said BN president of digital products Jamie Iannone in a statement. “We look forward to bringing more choice and convenience to discerning UK customers with our critically acclaimed line of reading devices and expansive selection of […]