Research Suggests Tablets More Popular Than E-Readers For E-Books

kindle paperwhite Research Suggests Tablets More Popular Than E Readers For E BooksWith the convenience and slightly lower prices of e-books, it only makes sense that more and more people are starting to turn away from the print medium to the digital medium, and according to a research by the folks at Pew Internet, that certainly seems to be the case. According to their report, Americans who read e-books rose from 16% in 2011 to 23% in 2012. Granted these aren’t exactly huge jumps, but it’s definitely progress. Interestingly their report has also suggested that the medium in which e-books are consumed, it would seem as though tablets have edged out e-readers like Amazon’s Kindle or the Barnes & Noble Nook.

Based on a poll conducted in October and November, the number of people who owned a tablet or e-reader jumped from 18% last year to 33% this year, and out of the number of people they polled, 25% said that they own a tablet, while 19% own a dedicated reader. Considering that tablets offer up more functionality versus a dedicated reader, it does make sense to a certain degree. However dedicated readers usually feature e-ink displays which are more comfortable to the eyes, not to mention e-readers are usually cheaper compared to tablets. What do you guys think? Would you prefer doing your e-reading on a tablet or e-reader?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Goes Black?, LG Seeking Injunction Against Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1,

Amazon Kindle bookstore reaches Canada, cuts Americans (partly) out of the loop

Amazon Kindle ebookstore reaches Canada, cuts Americans partly out of the loop

Canadians have had to be content with a form of Kindle Store limbo until now. They could buy Kindle e-books, but they’ve had to rely on a US-centric portal that scarcely acknowledges their literary tradition. As of this weekend, they don’t have to cross the virtual border: Amazon Canada now has its own dedicated Kindle book section, with prices in local currency and the highlights on local writers like Margaret Atwood. Customers just have shop the newly opened store to make the switch. We wouldn’t call it true parity with the US when Canucks still can’t officially buy some Amazon hardware, like the Kindle Fire HD or Kindle Paperwhite. Nonetheless, it’s nice to know they’ll be treated as first-class customers when shopping for a copy of Alias Grace.

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Source: Amazon

Barnes & Noble drops Nook Simple Touch price to $79 for some unilluminated holiday reading

Good news for those looking to give the gift that keeps on refreshing every six pages or so: Barnes & Noble’s hitting its holiday stride by shaving a good $20 off the current price of its last-gen e-reader, down to $79. A price, the company helpfully points out, that comes *ahem* “without distracting ads.” The discount goes into effect tomorrow — the privilege of glowing while reading, meanwhile, will still cost you $119.

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FCC tells FAA to ‘boost US competitiveness,’ allow greater use of in-flight devices

FCC tells FAA to 'boost US competitiveness,' allow greater use of inflight devices

The nation’s top wireless dog has told the Federal Aviation Administration’s head that it should “enable greater use of tablets, e-readers, and other portable devices” during flights, according to the Hill. That was the gist of a missive sent from Julius Genachowski, chairman of the FCC to the FAA’s chief, Michael Huerta yesterday. He went on to say that doing so would let individuals “stay informed and connected with friends and family,” while helping large and small businesses be more productive, which would “boost US competitiveness.” While it sounds like not doing so would be un-patriotic with a pitch like that, the FAA has already formed a committee to revisit its current portable electronics policies and hasn’t arrived at any decisions yet — safety first, after all.

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Via: CNET

Source: The Hill

Amazon and Google shower content love on Brazil

Amazon and Google start selling ebooks in Brazil

Through the magic of pure coincidence (or not), Amazon and Google have spontaneously started offering e-books in the land of Brazil. In addition, Amazon has also introduced its Kindle e-reader to the region (available over “the next few weeks”) for the equivalent of $145. The Next Web notes that Amazon’s move comes after it successfully gained control of the desired domain name from a local company, and also after it poached Apple’s Brazilian director to head its own operations there. Meanwhile, Mountain View’s Brazilian incursion lacks political shenanigans, but adds movie rentals and purchases. If you’re in the area, head to the source links to bookmark something unputdownable.

[Thanks, Felipe]

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Via: The Next Web, Android Police

Source: Amazon Brazil, Google Play

Popslate launches iPhone 5 case with four-inch E Ink screen (video)

Popslate launches iPhone 5 case with fourinch E Ink screen

This is pretty darn cool. It’s called Popslate — an iPhone 5 case with a four-inch E Ink screen on the back — and it’s launching right now on Indiegogo for $79 in two colors. Combined with a bespoke social imaging app, it lets you take and share pics, then “pop” them to the back of your phone. Better yet, the always-on, ultra low-power, black and white display becomes a canvas for notifications, sports scores, maps, lists and notes, all just a glance away.

An open API allows third-party developers to design custom apps for Popslate — including accelerometer support to interact with the backside screen by tapping on it. Imagine a micro e-reader app which uses the E Ink display instead of the main panel to conserve battery.

The company is still in the early stages of development and sadly didn’t have a prototype to show us, but it’s already gathered a team of talented designers, engineers and developers. It’s also secured a partnership with E Ink to use the latest in ruggedized e-paper technology and is hoping to raise enough funds to make Popslate a reality. Two colors are available at launch (black and white) with prices starting at $79 for the first 500 supporters, then $99 and up. Hit the break for the demo video and IndieGogo link.

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Barnes & Noble reports Q2 2013 earnings: digital content sales up 38%, Nook unit rakes $160 million

Barnes & Noble reports Q2 2013 earnings digital content sales up 38%, Nook unit rakes $160 million

Barnes & Noble’s Nook unit didn’t have its greatest quarter. The $160 million in revenue the new Microsoft-backed spin off raked in was slightly better than last year’s $152 million, but still a significant drop from $220 million. In a sign of the growing ubiquity of e-readers however, digital content sales were up 38 percent while the units overall revenue was up just 6 percent. Of course the Nook is still losing money, having cut $51 million from the company’s bottom line. If you step outside of the digital realm things are looking slightly better for the book purveyor, as profits were up to $65 million — a 15.6 percent increase over the same time period last year. As we enter the holiday season things should start to look up for B&N and there were good signs during the four day shop-stravaganza from Black Friday to Cyber Monday as sales of Nook hardware doubled from last year. For all the fun financial details hit up the source.

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Barnes & Noble

Nook app packs new features on iOS and Android, makes UK debut

Nook app now packs VoiceOver support on iOS, fresh Android release tags along

Barnes & Noble’s Nook app has reached version 3.3 on iOS and Android, bringing a handful of new features in tow. Headlining the iOS update are screen magnification and support for Apple’s VoiceOver feature, which can assist the blind and visually impaired by reading content aloud. The app has also been gussied up for the iPhone 5’s additional screen real estate. Both Android and iOS flavors of the application pack language support for French, Italian, German, Spanish and British English — and indeed they’ve now cozied up to the Nook’s UK storefront following the arrival of the latest hardware in that land a few days back. If you’re fixing to download the spruced up app, Barnes & Noble recommends syncing your library before making the leap.

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Via: Maccessibility, Daring Fireball

Source: iTunes, Google Play

Limited-edition White Nook Simple Touch lands at $79 this Black Friday

Another decent discount on Barnes & Noble’s entry-level e-reader means you can now get the sans Glowlight Nook Simple Touch for just under $80. This prices it below to Amazon’s (ad-free) basic e-reader but above the $50 price tag that Target’s announced. However, this limited-edition Nook is encircled with a white border, which at least sounds a little more festive — we haven’t managed to snatch a glance at one just yet. Barnes & Noble says that it’ll remain at this price for as long as in-store stocks last, but bare a thought for your transatlantic cousins, who are paying the same amount, but in pounds, for an identical e-reader.

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Source: Barnes & Noble

PSA: Barnes & Noble’s Nook HD, HD+ tablets are now available in the UK

PSA Barnes & Nobles Nook HD, HD tablets are now available in the UK

Following the arrival of Barnes & Noble’s e-reader products in the UK, today’s the day that the company’s tablets follow suit. The Nook HD and HD+ are a pair of tasty little high-definition tablets, which can be snagged at stores such as Argos, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis. The 7-inch HD can be yours for £159 with 8GB storage or £189 for 16GB, while the HD+ is priced at £229 for 16GB and £269 for 32GB.

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