Barnes & Noble introduced the expected Nook Color at a splashy press conference on Tuesday afternoon convened in their own backyard, on the fourth floor of their Union Square store–which was transformed into a nightclub-style space for the event. What is it may be the most asked–or mis-answered–question in the days to come. Contrary to many press reports, it’s not a true tablet, and even though it has an Android operating system this is not a device to compete with the wave of notPads coming from Samsung, Dell, Blackberry, Motorola and others. It’s a touchscreen color ereader that integrates other […]
eReaders
Nook Color: “The First Reader’s Tablet”
At today’s press conference, BN ceo William Lynch declared, “Nook has sold well over a million units, and we’re well on our way to selling a million more.” To acheive that goal and more, Lynch has begun pitching the Nook Color, “the most social reading device ever built,” now with a Nook Friends feature built in to help readers discuss, share and buy books.They are positioning it as “the first reader’s tablet.” The color touchscreen is made by LG, with full lamination to “maximize the readability benefits of a backlit screen while minimizing the glare.” In other words, a blend […]
Nook Accidentally Reveals Accessory for Color Reader; Launches Nook Kids with Features that Would Work Great On a Color Touchscreen
Now for equal time for Nook. Expectations that the company will introduce a touchscreen color model of Nook rose with CNet’s discovery over the weekend of a rogue product page on Barnes & Noble’s web site of a “Nook Color Screen Film Kit” accessory. (The page was subsequently taken down.) Nook did launch a NookKids.com where they preview ebook versions of picture books that have a read-aloud feature built in–just the kind of material that would make sense on a color ereader (as well as via apps, of course). The WSJ says they will have about 100 picture books available […]
Tip Says NookColor to Debut Next Week, As Delaware Court Lets BN Shareholder Lawsuit Go Forward
The rumor on Barnes & Noble’s press event for next Tuesday is that the company will launch a color touchscreen ereader priced at $249. CNET cites an anonymous “tipster” who “has proven reliable in the past.” Separately, SlashGear points out that Barnes & Noble registered the URL NookColor.com in March (and updated their registration record earlier this month).CNET In other Barnes & Noble news, Delaware chancellor Leo Strine Jr. agreed with shareholders who have sued the company over the purchase of Barnes & Noble college last year, saying the acquisition process “gives off a very fishy smell.” Strine therefore declined […]
More Digital: Kobo, Territory Troubles, Yes iPad Owners Read Books, and News Corp.’s Pullback
Yesterday Kobo announced that they too will have their wireless eReaders on sale in 2,500 US Wal-Mart stores starting next week. The Bookseller what many people already knew: Kindle’s territorial controls on downloads are very easily subverted. In the magazine’s case, they repeatedly purchased cheap US versions of ebooks by supplying a US mailing address–even though the address associated with their credit card was in the UK. This issue will only get bigger (though the problem is primarily for non-US publishers trying to compete with the availability and pricing on US editions).Bookseller Nielsen released highlights of the first in a […]
Nook Goes to Wal-Mart
Barnes & Noble announced that Wal-Mart will carry the Nook reader in 2,500 stores starting as early as October 24 and online as well. Perhaps as important, the announcement notes that Nook “will be prominently featured as the premier eBook Reader in the consumer electronics area. Many Wal-mart stores will feature a Nook-branded eReading area where shoppers can see and touch a demonstration device.” The next coup–not indicated at all in the announcement of course–is when or if Nook partners with Wal-mart to sell ebooks on their web site, too. Wal-Mart is carrying iPads now as well.Announcement