Hasta La Gadget!

On the heels of the announcement that it’s grabbed 25 percent of the US e-reader market, Barnes & Noble has decided to give the world a heap of details on its Android developments. First up, we’ve got an updated Android app, and while it’s not exactly a drastic upgrade, version 2.5 has been refreshed with a new library grid view (apparently optimized for 7-inch tablets), a book download progress bar, and a wish list feature. We told you they were rather minor updates, but our guess is that the Nook Honeycomb app that’s being promised for some time this spring will be far more exciting. Yep, it’s a lot of B&N Android, but while we’re on the topic, we’ve got to admit we’re wondering about the whereabouts of that Nook Color app store, which was announced back in October. Look not everyone has taken to rooting, okay? Alright, we’ve totally digressed — hit the gallery below for some screens of the new app or the source link to try it out on your own.

Barnes & Noble updates Nook Android app, promises a Honeycomb version this spring originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Spring Design Alex, introduced in late 2009, died today. The causes aren’t exactly known, but it is said that the company’s investor “stopped the money.” We surmise its $399 price point at least put it on life support. The Alex lived a rather short life, in which it battled Barnes & Noble’s Nook on shelves as well as in courts. The E-ink and LCD e-reader did, however, live to be rooted and sideloaded with apps. We’ll always remember the Spring Design Alex as a brave Android, dual-screen e-reader willing to venture into tablet territories. Spring Design has confirmed the passing, but hasn’t said if it plans to bring more children into the world. We wish them the best in this tough time.

Spring Design Alex dies, forever remembered as the one that looked like the Nook originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Borders files for bankruptcy, plans to keep operating but close 30 percent of its stores originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Borders Group, Inc. is finishing up preparations for a bankruptcy filing, according to “people familiar with the matter.” The company’s financial troubles have been no secret as of late, and those same people familiar with such matters say that the filing could come as early as next Monday, which will be followed by the closure of roughly 200 of its brick and mortar stores, and plenty of job losses. Borders has struggled with its digital presence, including its lack of e-reader (the Kobo partnership came pretty late in the game and isn’t really on the same level as Barnes and Noble’s Nook or Amazon’s Kindle), and its failure to snag a significant market share of online sales. The people familiar with the matter caution that the filing could be delayed by a few days, however, so we’ll have to sit on the edges of our seats until sometime next week, probably. Hit the source for more financial details.

Borders headed for bankruptcy filing, according to WSJ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What do you get when you cross the Atlantic ocean with the Archos 70b color e-reader? An alphabetical shift one place, it seems. The Android 2.1-powered book substitute with a 7-inch 800 x 480 TFT display has popped up for pre-order on JR.com. No picture (although we assume it’s pretty much the same as the 70b), a $149.99 price tag, and no definitive release date. Resistive touch screen, 600MHz CPU, 4GB Storage, WiFi, SD slot, and a 10-hour untethered lifeline. Much cheaper than a Nook Color, but is still appealing amongst an even sweeter competition? That’s your call.

Archos 70c color e-reader now up for pre-order stateside originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 08:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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