Tag archive: eReader

Microsoft has dropped one of its patent infringement claims against book- and ereader-seller Barnes & Noble before the U.S. International Trade Commission, in an effort to streamline its case against the company as a trial date looms closer. The so-called “522 patent” describes a method for displaying tabs similar to those now commonly found in Web browsers; Microsoft isn't saying the patent is not valid or is not being… Read More

Amazon.com has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2011, and on the surface the numbers are rosey: sales were up 35 percent compared to a year ago to a whopping $17.43 billion, and Kindle device sales—across all Kindle devices, ereaders and the Fire tablet—were nearly triple last year's total. However, the investment community isn't terribly excited with Amazon's performance because the company's… Read More

Barnes & Noble has announced its financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2012 — which, by the vagaries of corporate finance, actually ended in late October 2011. Going into the holiday season, the company reported an overall decline in sales of 0.6 percent, while retail sales were down a full 1 percent year over year to $918 million for the quarter. However, there's one very bright spot in Barnes & Noble's numbers:… Read More

Like many other booksellers around the world, South Korea's Kyobo Book Centre (Korean) is entering the ereader market with its new Kyobo eReader, and a 5.7-inch XGA display, battery life measured in weeks, Google's Android under the hood, and (not surprising for the Korean market) an emphasis on Korean content. However, the Kyobo eReader has one feature that makes it absolutely unique on the planet: it uses a 5.7-inch XGA mirasol… Read More

Amazon took another step toward pulling its hardware and digital content into an increasingly tight package on Wednesday when it announced the launch of the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. As its name suggests, the new service, which allows users to borrow one digital book per month, is open to anyone with a Kindle device, such as its popular Kindle e-reader, or its soon-to-be-released Kindle Fire tablet. Users must also be a member of the… Read More

According to a new study posted on the Nielsen blog today, 40 percent of smartphone owners check their smartphone daily when watching television and 42 percent of tablet owners do the same. While other respondents admitted to checking their device several times a week, several times a month or only once a month, only 13 percent of respondents claimed to never use mobile devices while watching a program on television.However, forty-five percent… Read More

Encouraged by the growing popularity of e-readers, the UK’s largest bookseller, Waterstone’s, has announced that it intends to launch its own device. Speaking to the BBC this week, the company’s managing director, James Daunt, said that the book giant hoped to unveil the e-reader within the next six months. “We in Waterstone's need to offer you a digital reader which is at least as good, and preferably substantially better, than that of… Read More

Amazon has taken another step in expanding its Kindle ecosystem, today announcing the Kindle Cloud Reader, an HTML5 Web application that enables users to access their Kindle content via the Web—although, initially, that means just Google Chrome and Safari for Macs, PCs, and iPads. The Amazon Cloud Reader features both online and offline modes, synchronizes users notes, bookmarks, and libraries no matter where users have been using Kindle… Read More

In an effort to boost sales of its Nook range of e-readers, book giant Barnes & Noble is offering free books worth $100 to those who purchase the device before September 12. Aimed at students but open to everyone, the offer includes 12 free classics, such as Crime and Punishment and A Tale of Two Cities (hang on, can’t you already get these titles for free?). Other titles wrapped up in the deal include Sparks Notes study guides for the likes… Read More

Online retailer Amazon.com posted its second quarter financial results, and although profits were down 8 percent compared to a year ago, the company still made over $190 million during the second quarter. However, that wasn't the number that got investors and stock-watchers excited: Amazon.com also reported that its second quarter sales were up 51 percent to some $9.91 billion for the quarter. “Low prices, expanding selection, fast… Read More

Five months after filing for bankruptcy protection, the U.S.'s second-largest bookseller Borders will be liquidating its assets, closing all its stores, and letting go of its employees after the company was unable to reach a buyout deal with Book-of-the-Month Club owner Nafaji Cos. Instead, Borders' assets will be sold to a group of liquidators led by Hilco and Gordon Brothers. “We are saddened by this development,” said… Read More

Amazon.com has announced that its new Kindle 3G with Special Offers is now available for $139, down from $164 thanks to a sponsorship deal with AT&T. The Kindle 3G with Special Offers includes all the functionality of the $189 Kindle 3G—including free 3G wireless service in over 100 countries. The difference between the units comes in the form of special offers: owners will periodically receive offers and solicitations from Amazon… Read More

Forget paperbacks: The number of people who own e-readers has skyrocketed to more than double what it was only six months ago, according to a recently published study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Tablets have also become more popular, the study shows, but more slowly than its more moderately featured brethren. Between November 2010 and May of this year, the percentage of adults in the United States who own any type of… Read More

Bookseller Barnes & Noble has announced financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2011, totaling up a net loss of $59 million for the quarter, and a full-year loss of $74 million. However, the company's digital business seems to be growing by leaps and bounds, with sales growth of 78 percent for its Nook and Nook Bookstore offerings during the fourth quarter alone, and up 65 percent compared to the same quarter a year ago.… Read More

Barnes & Noble debuted its new Nook Simple Touch ereader last month, the company touted the unit's touch-sensitive screen, improved contrast, better performance, and sleek design. But now that the units are reaching customers, they've found a bit of a secret feature in the device: a rudimentary Web browser. Just enter a URL into the ereader's search bar and the unit will load the site in a built-in Web browser. The Nook… Read More