Not a good sign: Barnes & Noble just keeps slashing Nook tablet prices
Why is Barnes & Noble extending price cuts on Nook tablets? It may be because the retailer is trying to clear out stock. Read more »
Nook takes aim at Kindle Singles with original content for Nook Snaps
photo: Flickr / keone
Barnes & Noble will start commissioning original works for Nook Snaps, its e-singles section. For the first 60 days, authors keep 100 percent of the royalties; after that, the royalty rate drops to 40 percent. Read more »
In Nook, Microsoft sees a chance to compete against Amazon and Apple
Microsoft already has a stake in Nook Media, and now it is reportedly seeking to buy out the entire company. In Nook, Microsoft sees a shot at competing against Amazon and Apple — in a way it might not be able to do from scratch. Read more »
Book review: Former Kindle exec on Kindle flaws, Nook strengths and Google’s future in ebooks
In a new book, former Kindle exec Jason Merkoski examines where e-reading platforms are now and how they could change in the future. If you’re looking for secrets about Jeff Bezos, though, you’re in the wrong place. Read more »
Hey, people who really like Barnes & Noble: Buy a Nook tablet, get a Nook e-reader free
photo: Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble is running a weeklong promotion: Customers who buy a Nook HD+ tablet (starting at $269) will get a Nook Simple Touch e-reader ($79) for free. Read more »
B&N adds more movies and TV shows to Nook Video, but who’s going to watch?
Barnes & Noble is bringing new movies and TV shows to Nook Video. It’s a good step toward creating a media ecosystem for Nook, but the company is not close to becoming a Netflix, Amazon or iTunes competitor. Read more »
B&N CEO Lynch: “We’re not going to continue doing what we’re doing”
photo: Flickr / keone
Analysts asked Barnes & Noble some hard questions in an investor call Thursday, following an earnings report that showed Nook revenues down by 26 percent over last year. Read more »
As Nook revenues plunge, B&N says it’s “calibrating” strategy but “committed” to devices
photo: Barnes & Noble
As it had warned, Barnes & Noble released a disappointing earnings report Thursday morning. Nook sales were down 26 percent over the previous year, despite the launch of new tablets. Read more »
Barnes & Noble founder offers to buy chain’s 689 retail stores and BN.com
photo: Flickr / keone
Barnes & Noble’s founder and chairman, Leonard Riggio, has offered to buy the bookstore chain’s 689 retail stores and BN.com. Barnes & Noble confirmed Monday that it is considering the offer. Read more »
Indie bookstores sue Amazon, big-6 publishers for using DRM to create monopoly on ebooks
photo: Shutterstock / zimmytws
Three independent bookstores have filed a class action suit against Amazon the big-six publishers, alleging that the proprietary DRM Amazon uses on ebooks creates a monopoly. Read more »
Barnes & Noble warns investors to expect more bad Nook news
photo: Barnes & Noble
It’s only been a couple of months since Barnes & Noble downgraded guidance for its Nook business. Now the company is doing so again. Unfortunately, Nook Media is supposed to be the profitable part of the company. Read more »
Two years and three CEOs later, publisher JV Bookish is ready to help users find their next book
The long-delayed Bookish, a website backed by Hachette, Penguin and Simon & Schuster and designed to promote book discovery and sell books, launched Monday night and is designed to be a one-stop shop for readers looking for their next book. Read more »
Changes for retailers as ebook revolution goes global
As North American ebook retailers Barnes & Noble and Kobo expand their presence abroad, they are seeing their businesses change. Representatives from both companies spoke about some lessons learned on Monday at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Read more »
Despite big fuss, Barnes & Noble carrying Amazon Publishing titles in stores
photo: Flickr / keone
Barnes & Noble had claimed it wouldn’t carry Amazon Publishing titles in its “store showrooms,” but it looks as if the chain has capitulated: At least two of Amazon New York’s titles are in stock in Manhattan-area stores now. Read more »
Kindle Paperwhite is a big step forward for eReaders (Review & video)
photo: Getty Images / Spencer Platt
I spent a week testing Amazon’s new e-reader, the Kindle Paperwhite, which starts at $119. The verdict: The front-lit screen improves the reading experience all day long, not just at night, making this a big step up from the Kindle Touch. Here are my review and video. Read more at GigaOM »
Barnes & Noble’s two new tablets want to help you find your next book
photo: Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble’s new Nook HD tablets, priced starting at $199, aim to stand out from the pack with reader-centric features and enhanced reading experiences for magazines and catalogs. The company’s goal is to drive book discovery and purchasing through the tablets in new ways. Read more at GigaOM »
Barnes & Noble launches Nook Video, including UltraViolet support
With the launch of Nook Video, Barnes & Noble will begin selling digital movies and TV episodes across devices. The company plans to release Nook Video apps, and the service will be available in the US and UK. Pricing and other details are unclear. Read more »
Waterstones CEO: Amazon partnership great, except for the “bear traps”
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At an event in the UK on Tuesday, Waterstones CEO James Daunt shared a few more details on how the bookstore’s partnership with Amazon will work, but admitted that working with “a major competitor” is not easy. Read more »
Ebook price drops begin — and Apple is discounting, too
photo: Shutterstock / Thomas Bethge
Just a few days after the approval of the DOJ’s ebook settlement, HarperCollins has entered into new contracts with ebook retailers, and they’re already discounting its titles. What kinds of deals will you get? Read more »
Why e-readers evolved a lot today: Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Glo
With the releases of the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Glo today, we saw an evolution in e-readers. The devices don’t have more tablet-like features, but they should still provide much better reading experiences than older models. Read more at GigaOM »
The “sock puppet” scandal: How to stop fake book reviews online
photo: Shutterstock / Africa Studio
UK thriller author Stephen Leather’s admission that he created fake accounts to review his own books has led to a storm of controversy over bad author behavior and “sock puppet” reviews. Here’s what’s happened so far and how bad author behavior might be fixed. Read more »
Kobo takes aim at Amazon with two new e-readers and a tablet
Though most eyes are on Amazon’s Thursday press conference, Kobo is angling for early attention with its announcement of two new e-readers and a new 7-inch Android tablet called the Arc. How do the devices stack up to the competition? Read more at GigaOM »
B&N announces 3 more retailers for UK Nook, including two bookstores
photo: Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble announced three more partners for its Nook UK launch this fall: Academic bookseller Blackwell’s, independent bookseller Foyles and general retail chain Argos. B&N also announced John Lewis as a retail partner earlier this week. Read more »
States reach $69 million ebook pricing settlement with publishers
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Ebook buyers in 54 states and territories are set to receive $69 million in a settlement between the states and HarperCollins, Hachette and Simon & Schuster. Those who bought agency-priced ebooks between April 2010 and May 2012 are eligible for payment if the settlement goes through. Read more »
DOJ compares Apple and publishers to big oil in ebooks case
In a filing late Wednesday in response to Apple and book publishers, the Department of Justice reiterates its claim that agency pricing and the alleged conspiracy have resulted in “unmistakable consumer harm,” but refuses to release its ebook pricing analysis. Read more »
Why the Nook is failing: One chart, four reasons
photo: Barnes & Noble
Microsoft invested $300 million in Barnes & Noble’s Nook business. As the following chart shows, that probably wasn’t a great idea: Production problems, slowing ebook sales and other factors are contributing to the Nook’s troubles. Read more »
Barnes & Noble Q1 revenues up slightly, but Nook device sales fall
photo: Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble has a $300m investment from Microsoft and will launch the Nook in the UK this fall. But the country’s largest bookstore chain is struggling to compete against Amazon. Nook device sales fell during Q1 2013, though digital content sales were up. Read more »
B&N’s Nook will finally launch in the UK (but who’s going to sell it?)
photo: Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble will sell its Nook e-readers in the UK starting this October, but at the beginning they will only be available through a website, nook.co.uk. B&N says it will announce partnerships with “leading retailers” soon. Read more »
New stats show iPad surging again as Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet fall
Market research firm IHS iSuppli shows that iPad shipments surged in Q2 2012, as Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablets saw major drops. Kindle Fire’s share of the media tablet market fell to 4.2 percent, with B&N’s at 1.9 percent. Read more »
Barnes & Noble brings Nook Tablet prices in line with Kindle Fire and Nexus 7
Barnes & Noble dropped prices on its Nook Tablets and Nook Color on Sunday, bringing the price of the Nook Tablet 16 GB in line with Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Google’s 8 GB Nexus 7. The bookstore chain has failed to gain much tablet market share. Read more »
Planning to buy a new Kindle? Wait
photo: Amazon
The current Kindle Touch models are either unavailable or shipping in 8 to 9 days on Amazon, suggesting that new models are coming soon — possibly including a front-lit Kindle to compete with Barnes & Noble’s Nook with GlowLight. Read more at GigaOM »
Smashwords gets more self-published ebooks into libraries
photo: Shutterstock / Gts
Digital self-publishing site Smashwords is making it easier for self-published authors to get their ebooks into libraries. The site is allowing certain libraries to buy Smashwords titles in bulk, and is also adding custom library pricing options for its authors. Read more »
As verdict on ebook pricing settlement nears, Apple gets 5 pages to respond to DOJ
As a verdict on the DOJ’s proposed ebook pricing settlement with three publishers approaches, Apple has requested and received permission to file another response to the settlement. Apple has also requested a hearing on the settlement, which the DOJ opposes. Read more »
Amazon adds print textbook rental
photo: Flickr / beautyfromashes
Amazon is now renting print textbooks in addition to Kindle textbooks. In doing so, the company seeks to compete with Barnes & Noble as well as with startups like Chegg and BookRenter. Read more »
Booksellers, Barnes & Noble to weigh in on Apple ebooks case
photo: Flickr / keone
The American Booksellers Association and Barnes & Noble say the DOJ’s proposed ebook pricing settlement is so harmful to booksellers and consumers that they want to file their own brief in the case. Presiding Judge Denise L. Cote has said they may do so by August 15. Read more »
Barnes & Noble tablets get maps before Kindle Fire
Barnes & Noble is skipping out on Google Maps for tablets and is partnering instead with Berlin-based mobile map company skobbler. skobbler’s ForeverMap 2 app is available in the Nook store today, and Nook will open up to location-based app developers later this year. Read more »
Self-publishing company FastPencil gives some authors more access to Barnes & Noble
photo: Shutterstock / Thomas Bethge
Self-publishing company FastPencil will begin pitching some of its authors’ books to Barnes & Noble buyers, which could give them a better chance of ending up in stores or in promotions of Nook e-readers. But it’s not a guarantee that self-published titles will end up on shelves. Read more »
Barnes & Noble launches cloud-based reading platform Nook for Web
About a year after Amazon launched Kindle Cloud Reader, Barnes & Noble is finally getting into the cloud-based reading game with Nook for Web. The platform is limited to PCs and Macs for now and doesn’t work on iPad. Read more »
Startup Livrada to sell ebook gift cards in U.S. Target stores
In an effort to make ebook gift-giving more spontaneous and fun, Los Angeles-based startup Livrada is partnering with Target to sell gift cards for bestselling ebook titles like “50 Shades of Grey” and “Gone Girl” in the chain’s 1,771 stores nationwide. Read more »
Big e-reader is watching you
photo: Amazon
Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other e-reader companies are collecting data about your e-book reading habits, but they’re keeping their most interesting findings close to the vest. Read more »
