The Nook e-reader is the latest digital book to shake up the eBook industry, and just like the Alex, it comes with a second screen, and is powered by Android. Unlike Spring’s concoction though, it’s also got the backing of one of the world’s biggest booksellers to boot, so read on to find out just what this powerhouse can do.
The Nook e-reader from US bookselling giant Barnes & Noble is everything the Kindle should be. As well as an eInk display there’s 3G, Wi-Fi, MP3 playback, 2GB of internal storage you can add to with microSD, and a 3.5-inch colour panel for navigation books, Cover Flow style.
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Barnes and Noble have made some clever twists when it comes to connectivity: you can only use the Wi-Fi on the Nook in its stores, but while you’re there, you can look at all the digital books on offer, just like you can graze on physical tomes too. You can also shares eBooks via the Nook with others for a generous two weeks at a time, and carry on reading an eBook where you left off on a PC, Mac, iPhone or BlackBerry.
Treating an eBook almost exactly like a physical paperback is a smart move on Barnes & Noble’s part, and far more progressive than Amazon’s remote burning of books, but now for the bad news: while it’s due out in the US in November for $259 (£160) there are no plans to bring the Nook to the UK just yet. Still, it’s good to know that this sort of tech is possible, and gives us high hopes for Cool-er’s next effort, due early next year.
Out TBC | £TBC | Nook
