eReaders

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

In Barnes & Noble news, the company launched their promised NookStudy platform (which makes rich textbooks available via computers); promised that a November 1.5 version of their Nook reader operating software will “dramatically increase” page-turning speed, improve syncing of books across devices, add customized library organization and more; and invited tech media to a “very special” October 26 event, raising speculation about a new Nook device on the way. Not to be left out, Borders will add “fashion-forward, stylish” reading glasses from ICU Eyewear to their merchandise mix. (Reading glasses were a topic during the Q&A session at Barnes & […]