All Articles Tagged "E-reader"
Kobo Releases New Luxury E-Reader, But Is It Really Worth it?
via the Kobo website
Kobo, the four-year-old Ontairo, Canada e-reader company, has raised the bar for the electronic device by releasing the $169 Aura HD. Since this reader is more expensive than the competition (the Wi-Fi Kindle Paperwhite and the Nook Simple Touch with Glow Light are $119, for example), Kobo is focusing on customers that want the ultimate e-reading experience.
The Aura has a 6.8 inch screen compared to the six-inch screen found on most e-readers. The battery life can last up to two months with the device on or off and Kobo says the device has the highest resolution screen on the market. Kobo’s marketing materials call the new Aura, “the Porsche of e-readers.”
Michael Tamblyn, the company’s EVP of content, sales and merchandising says, this device is “only for those people who really, really care about reading in their lives.” From their research they have found that 90 percent of its e-reader users plan to purchase a new e-reader in the next year and “want to see what the next generation of e-ink looks like.” While 36 percent of those users also own a tablet, an e-reader is still their primary reading device.
I don’t know if I am an outlier, but I have had the same Kindle version I purchased three years ago. The screen has locked up a few times, but after calling Amazon I’ve gotten a replacement twice. I don’t think an e-reader is meant to be fancy. It’s just simply for reading, and you’re not more or less of an avid reader based on the type of device you hold. If I were going to step into the $169 price point I may as well get a tablet and e-reader in one with the 7-inch $199 Kindle Fire.
The Aura HD is available for pre-order in North America at Kobo.com today, and in stores in Canada and the U.K. on April 25th. It should be in U.S. stores in May or June, and Kobo says it will announce international availability soon.
Oprah’s Book Club Is Back And Going Digital!
fresnobee.com
Don’t ever count out a media mogul!
Just when you all thought she was ruining her brand with OWN (and yes, some of you do think that so don’t front), Oprah pulls a rabbit out of the hat: she’s bringing back “Oprah’s Book Club.” That’s right, one of her most popular creations is finally being revived after being placed on serious hiatus since her talk show went off the air. This time, things are going to be a bit different since she no longer has the talk show.
Oprah’s Book Club 2.0, as it will now be known, is going to be interactive and online book club. In a video she made from her office in Chicago, she explained why they were revamping the book club from its old format:
“This is way different from the old book club because as we know, there are so many new ways we can read and discuss and get together and connect these days.”
The first book for Book Club 2.0 is Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Oprah said this book was the main reason she decided she needed a book club again. You know how Oprah gets excited about reading and books she deems great. Wild is the real life story of one woman’s 1,100 mile traveling journey…on foot. Real life story, huh? I bet the team researched it so there wouldn’t be another James Frey situation (remember he’s the one who wrote A Million Little Pieces which turned out to be a million little lies but Oprah didn’t know until after she’d named it a Book Club choice of the month).
If you pick up the book via e-reader, you can expect lots of extras such as notes from Oprah on certain portions of the book that stuck out to her. The author will also be taking questions online at some point and an interview with Oprah and Cheryl Strayed will air on OWN July 22nd. Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 officially launches on Monday at noon.
Find The Best E-Reader
(Smart Money) — In a move that was described as a potential market-changer, Amazon.com (AMZN: 121.45, -0.86, -0.70%) and Barnes & Noble (BKS: 16.43, +0.26, +1.60%) earlier this week dropped the retail prices of their e-readers — the Kindle and Nook, respectively. The globally-wireless Kindle now sells for $189, while the 3G-enabled Nook is available for $199; both had previously sold for $259. Barnes & Noble also introduced a sister e-reader, the Wi-Fi-only Nook, for $149. Of course, price may not be the only motivator at the cash register — or at least that’s what Apple (AAPL: 270.97, -2.88, -1.05%) seemed to underscore when it announced Tuesday that it sold three million iPads ($499) in just 80 days. (Apple and Amazon didn’t return calls for comment.)
Find The Best E-Reader
(Smart Money) — In a move that was described as a potential market-changer, Amazon.com (AMZN: 121.45, -0.86, -0.70%) and Barnes & Noble (BKS: 16.43, +0.26, +1.60%) earlier this week dropped the retail prices of their e-readers — the Kindle and Nook, respectively. The globally-wireless Kindle now sells for $189, while the 3G-enabled Nook is available for $199; both had previously sold for $259. Barnes & Noble also introduced a sister e-reader, the Wi-Fi-only Nook, for $149. Of course, price may not be the only motivator at the cash register — or at least that’s what Apple (AAPL: 270.97, -2.88, -1.05%) seemed to underscore when it announced Tuesday that it sold three million iPads ($499) in just 80 days. (Apple and Amazon didn’t return calls for comment.)
