The Nook, that will sell for $259, offers a similar set of features as the Kindle 2, an enormous collection of titles along with a wireless downloads. Additionally, it forces the e- reader style ahead, having a color, touch- sensitive screen for navigation and the now necessary wireless downloads via AT& T's 3G internet or Wi- Fi.
The 11. 2- ounce Nook (7. 7 x 4. 9 x. 5 inches) has 2 Gbytes of internal ram, enough for approximately 1, 500 titles. Additionally, it has a MicroSD slot which will significantly boost capability. A 16- Gbyte card could hold another 17, 500 e- books. The unit runs a version of the Android operating system, but at present doesn't support any 3rd party apps. Perhaps most remarkably, the Nook supports many different e- book formats, like FictionWise, PDF, and ePub.
The display screen is the 16- level grey scale E- Ink display found with the Kindle 2, but I was not able to have much hands- on time with it. In any case, few e- readers separate themselves by way of the display. What can make the Nook fascinating is its library of subject matter. For instance, like Sony's newest readers and the forthcoming iREX reader, the device employs ePub, the open e- book data format that enables you to move titles between units.
Obviously, this company is gambling on ePub as the format of the future. "Our clients want any book, at any time, anyplace, " said William Lynch, president of Barnes & Noble. "Furthermore ePub will be the most transportable format. " The Kindle, needless to say, doesn't support ePub.
Nook buyers may also be able to loan books to other customers of the Barnes& Noble Bookstore, whether or not they own a Nook, iPhone, Blackberry, or are just reading books on their Computer. The loans last for approximately 2 weeks. "Friends are able to do what they've always done, which is lend one another books, " Lynch said.
Maybe the biggest edge the Nook has in the e- reader marketplace is its in the store support. With over 700 retailers, 40, 000 retail advisers, and a site that may be among the top 20 on the internet, this company is in an excellent place to reach readers. Take a Nook into a Barnes& Noble and you're able to access tailored content via Wi- Fi. Additionally, you will have access to the entire text of each book in the firm's eBook store - albeit only while you're in the store.
"The bookstore will be the most crucial space for demand generation, " says Lynch. "As the world's largest bookstore there is an enormous edge. " Customers will not really download the books, but stream them employing a technology that Lynch would not talk about.
Barnes & Noble also exhibited off stylish Nook Ebook reader from creative designers like Kate Spade, Jack Spade, and Jonathan Adler. The corporation is accepting preorders for the next shipment of the device at nook. com. The recent holiday season depleted their stock completely.
This is a big move for Barnes& Noble, but as chief executive Officer Steve Riggio stated, the corporation has been in this space forever. "We were the very first to sell eBooks. " said Riggio. "We were the 1st to sell an eBook reader, using the RockBook Reader. "
That effort, obviously, underwhelmed. Now the company will make the effort again using the Nook.
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