Nook e-Reader Back In Store
Barnes & Noble has announced that their Nook e-book reader is now available online and will be in stores by mid-week. The device has been long overdue because of high demand. A wise decision as more e-readers are entering the market like Apple’s iPad.
From their blog post: We’re excited to announce that nook is now available online and will be in stock at the majority of our stores by mid-week — just in time for Valentine’s Day!
Amazon Rolling Out Kindle Development Kit
Amazon has release its limited beta for the Kindle Development Kit. Accepted beta developers will be able to download the Kindle Development Kit, access developer support, test content on Kindle, and submit finished content.
Source: Kindle Development Kit
Justice Department Settles Kindle Inaccessibility Controversy
Four universities (Arizona State University, Case Western Reserve University, Pace University and Reed College) have agreed they will not purchase, recommend or promote use of the Kindle DX, unless the e-book reader is fully accessible to blind students, according to the US Department of Justice.
Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said, Advancing technology is systematically changing the way universities approach education, but we must be sure that emerging technologies offer individuals with disabilities the same opportunities as other students.
Skiff Slim And Large Screen E-Reader
The Skiff Reader is larger than Amazon’s Kindle DX and it has a flexible 1600 x 1200 11.5-inch touch screen which is optimized for newspapers and magazines. The device will debut at CES 2010.
The Skiff Store will deliver the ebooks via the Sprint 3G wireless network.
Barnes & Noble Updates Firmware And Offers $100 Gift Certificates For Delays
Barnes & Noble has released the first firmware update 1.1.0 for its Nook e-book reader that includes improves the start-up time for My Libraries, device displays the correct time on its status bar, better page numbering for books, performance updates in areas such as page turning of e-books and formatting of downloaded books.
Barnes & Noble has sent an e-mail promising a $100 gift voucher to anyone whose Nook doesn’t make it before Christmas.
Amazon Adds PDF Support For Kindle 2
Amazon has released Kindle software update version 2.3 which includes PDF support.
Other features are:
- Longer battery life for Kindle (Global Wireless): You can now read for up to 1 week on a single charge with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks.
- Built-in PDF reader: Your Kindle can now display PDF documents without losing the formatting of the original file. Send PDF documents directly to your Kindle (via your @Kindle address) or drag and drop PDF files from your computer to your Kindle (when connected via USB).
- Manual screen rotation: The Kindle screen can now manually rotate between portrait and landscape views so you can see the entire width of a web page or magnify the page of a PDF file. The page-turn buttons work the same in either orientation, and the 5-way controller movements are switched to match the orientation.
- Option to convert PDF files to Kindle format. If you prefer to have your personal PDF documents converted to the Kindle format (so that they can reflow), type “Convert” in the subject of the e-mail when you submit your personal document to your @kindle.com address.
Nook Sold Out For Christmas
The Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader is now officially sold out through 2009. From the company website, it states that the device is out of stock but you can get one for the new year.
Amazon might have an upper hand this Christmas. You should know that even if you can’t get a Nook now, you can still get a gift certificate that can be wrapped and given to the recipient.
Source: Barnes & Noble Nook
Spring Design Sues Barnes & Noble Over Nook
Spring Design has filed a lawsuit against Barnes & Noble alleging it misappropriated trade secrets and violated a nondisclosure agreement when the bookstore company launched its electronic reader Nook last month. The issue lies in the dual screen used by Barnes & Noble closely resembles Spring’s e-reader.
From Spring Design, We showed the Alex e-book design to Barnes & Noble in good faith with the intention of working together to provide a superior dual screen e-book to the market.
Source: Barnes & Noble sued by eReader maker Spring Design
Amazon Kindle App For PC
Amazon has announced during the Windows 7 launch that the company will release a Kindle app for the PC. The app will be free, multitouch capable on Windows 7 and it will be available in November. You can find out more features on their website.
Barnes & Noble Shows Off Nook E-Book Reader
Barnes & Noble has finally revealed their Nook dual-screen e-book reader which features a colour screen, 3Gb memory, Wi-Fi, native PDF support, cost $259 and run on the AT&T’s 3G wireless network.
Now why would you want to buy a Kindle 2? Move over Amazon, here comes a better alternative.
