Computerworld e-books News

How to browse the Kindle Lending Library on your PC

(Rick Broida) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:48:00 GMT

As an avid reader, and an especially big fan of ebooks, I thought subscribing to Amazon Prime seemed like a good idea.

E-reader decline prompts user debate over e-reader vs. tablet

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:43:00 GMT

Reports of the drastic decline of e-readers amidst an explosion in multi-use tablets re-ignited a passionate debate in technology: Is a single-purpose device better and worth the cost, compared to a multi-function device

Last chapter for e-readers?

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:00:00 GMT

It could be be the final word on e-readers. Analysts are sounding a proverbial death knell for the devices, which have declined 36% in 2012 as buyers turned instead to multi-use tablets.

Kindle Fire HD review: A better Kindle, but not a better tablet

preston@gralla.com (Preston Gralla) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Amazon's newest Kindle, the 7-in. Kindle Fire HD, is a great buy if you're an Amazon customer, but it falls short as a general-purpose tablet.

Learn the Basics of Using Pinterest for Business

(Rick Broida) — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:19:00 GMT

Should businesses be interested in Pinterest? On the surface, you might not think so: the service would appear to be little more than a showcase for cool jewelry and favorite recipes.

Target to stop selling Amazon Kindles in its stores

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:35:00 GMT

Target plans to stop selling Kindle e-readers in its brock-and-mortar stores after seeing buyers test the devices in its showrooms only to later buy them online from Amazon.

Microsoft-Barnes & Noble deal could lead to Windows-based tablet

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:08:00 GMT

Microsoft's partnership with Barnes & Noble could lead to development of a Windows-based tablet or e-reader, not just a Nook e-reader application for Windows 8, some analysts said.

Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight: An e-reader for night readers

bkrasnoff@computerworld.com (Barbara Krasnoff) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:31:00 GMT

Barnes & Noble's new Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight offers readers the ability to read comfortably in sunlight and in the dark. But can it otherwise compete?

Some Publishers Quickly Settle E-book Price-Fixing Lawsuit

(John P. Mello Jr.) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:58:00 GMT

Within hours of an anti-trust lawsuit filed against some of the largest trade book publishers in the United States and Apple for fixing the prices on e-books, three of publishers have settled their involvement in the case with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

DOJ sues Apple for e-book price fixing

(Grant Gross) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:59:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and five book publishers for alleged e-book price fixing The Wall Street Journal reported.

Update: DOJ sues Apple, publishers over e-book price-fixing

(Grant Gross) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:55:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and five large publishers, accusing the companies of working together to raise prices of e-books.

Publish an Ebook, Step by Step

(Christopher Null) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:22:00 GMT

Want to publish a book? You can either kill a bunch of trees, or get with the 2010s and publish it as an ebook.

Goodbye e-books, hello apps

(Mark Gibbs) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:33:00 GMT

E-book sales are, surprisingly, flattening and Gibbs knows why: E-books don't really work very well.

In depth: Using the Kindle Fire vs. the Kobo Vox vs. the Nook Tablet

preston@gralla.com (Preston Gralla) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Preston Gralla worked on the three new color e-readers -- the Kindle Fire, Kobo Vox and Nook Tablet -- and reports on his experiences and preferences.

Kobo Vox: A social, multipurpose e-reader and tablet

(Melissa J. Perenson) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Like its E-Ink sibling, the Kobo Touch e-reader, the Vox has a social focus, and places an emphasis on sharing reading experiences.

Kindle Fire: What the critics are saying

(Ian Paul) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:42:00 GMT

Gadget gurus have been testing out Amazon's Kindle Fire media tablet ahead of the device's Tuesday ship date and the consensus is that it's a solid alternative to the iPad for some environments. The Fire even matches the device when it comes to breadth of downloadable content to put on the new tablet, thanks to Amazon's wealth of digital content, including e-books, movies, television shows, Android apps, and, of course, e-books.

First impressions: The Nook Tablet is the value tablet to beat

(Melissa J. Perenson) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:36:00 GMT

The Nook Tablet is leaps ahead of its competitors. That said, the Nook Tablet is not a full-featured tablet and lacks built-in Bluetooth, stereo speakers, GPS, and front- and rear-facing cameras.

Amazon Prime book lending: your FAQs answered

(Ian Paul) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:01:00 GMT

Amazon Prime subscribers can now read more than 5,000 Kindle e-book titles for free thanks to a new service called Kindle Owners' Lending Library, but only if you own a Kindle device. The new Prime feature lets you borrow one book per month and read it on your Kindle device for as long as you want with no specific due date when your access to the book expires. Amazon lending library books cannot be read using Amazon's smartphone apps.

Bluefire launches Android-ready e-reader software for independent booksellers

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Bluefire Productions announced e-reader software that can be used by independent booksellers for Android devices. The software is a supplement to a free Bluefire e-reader version for iPad that was released last November.

E-books now a novelty at Virginia regional library network

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:00:00 GMT

Massanutten Regional Library, based in Harrisonburg, Va., began offering the clientele in its mostly rural library network the option of borrowing e-books for the first time on Tuesday.

Kindle books now ready for borrowing from public libraries

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:46:00 GMT

Users of the Kindle e-reader and Amazon's e-reading app for other devices can now borrow e-books from more than 11,000 U.S. libraries.

Libre Air: Tiny, Cool, Affordable Ebook Reader

(Yardena Arar) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:47:00 GMT

E-readers don't get much smaller than the 6-ounce Aluratek Libre Air, which measures 6.0 by 4.1 by 0.4 inches. But this tiny package holds a lot of useful technology, including Wi-Fi integration with an online bookstore offering both commercial and free content.

Libre Touch Color E-Reader Has Usability Flaws

(Yardena Arar) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:46:00 GMT

More and more devices are blurring the lines between ebook reader and tablet, but the Aluratek Libre Touch isn't one of them. While it does support basic Web browsing, email, and multimedia playback, the Libre Touch is first and foremost an e-reader with a color touchscreen and integration (via Wi-Fi) with an online bookstore. But although its feature list is respectable, usability flaws make the Libre Touch a tough sell, even at its attractive price ($150 as of August 5, 2011).

Bookeen Cybook Orizon Touchscreen Ebook Reader

(Yardena Arar) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:15:00 GMT

The Bookeen Cybook Orizon joins a growing group of ebook readers with built-in Wi-Fi, which allows you to download material without having to hook the device up to a PC. The $240 (as of August 5, 2011) Orizon also has a 6-inch touchscreen electronic-paper display, which makes for easy and intuitive menu navigation, text selections, and page turns using your fingertip.

Bookeen Cybook Sleek, Lacks Integrated Store

(Yardena Arar) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:08:00 GMT

Bookeen's latest iteration of its Cybook Opus (originally reviewed last year) puts a little spit and polish on the original, which was one of the skinniest and lightest e-readers available. At 5.3 ounces, the new Opus retains the featherweight crown, but the current Sony Reader Pocket Edition almost matches it at 5.5 ounces--and that model offers an easier-to-navigate touchscreen. On top of that, the Opus's $190 price remains steeper than most (though competitive with Sony).

Travel Smart: The Best Tech Gear for the Road

(Anil Polat) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 13:29:00 GMT

Editor's note: Former computer security consultant Anil Polat has set a goal of traveling the world indefinitely, while blogging about his tech-fueled experiences at foxnomad.com. Given his on-the-go lifestyle, Polat has strong feelings about what to look for in digital tagalongs. Here's what he recommends.

iRiver Story HD Review

(Melissa J. Perenson) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:08:00 GMT

Google is everywhere right now. The company has made a strong push with its Google Books project, but until now it hasn't had a tie-in to a stand-alone e-reader. That changes with the iRiver Story HD, which goes on sale this weekend at Target for $140. The Story HD makes getting Google ebooks onto an E Ink-based reader reasonably easy; in my trials with the device, however, I found myself frustrated by the Story HD's cheap design, poky performance, and Google Books interface.

Update: Google picks iriver for first integrated e-reader

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:35:00 GMT

Google on Monday announced the iriver Story HD, its first e-reader to be integrated with its open Google eBookstore.

More Americans own e-readers than tablets, survey finds

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:12:00 GMT

A Pew Research Institute survey in May found that Americans favor less-expensive e-reader devices over tablets like Apple's iPad.

Harry Potter books to go digital

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:02:00 GMT

J.K. Rowling on Thursday announced the creation of a website where users can buy electronic versions of her Harry Potter books and can network with one another and the author.

For B&N, e-books outsell physical books three to one

(Agam Shah) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:25:00 GMT

Barnes & Noble on Tuesday said it sold three times as many digital books through its website compared to physical books during the fourth fiscal quarter.

How Kindle Can Still Beat Nook

(Jeff Bertolucci) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:02:00 GMT

The latest Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader is getting a lot of positive buzz, and for good reason. It's thin and light, has a touchscreen interface that's easy to navigate, and is priced the same ($139, Wi-Fi) as Amazon's industry-leading Kindle.

Beware of Spam Titles in Kindle Store

(Eric Mack) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:01:00 GMT

Amazon's Kindle e-reader store has a spam problem, and that isn't good news for legitimate authors and consumers trying to find their books.

Kobo eReader Touch Edition

(Melissa J. Perenson) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:35:00 GMT

It's rare to find an inexpensive product that also introduces innovation into its category. And yet that's exactly what Kobo Books' Kobo eReader Touch Edition does. The company's third-generation e-reader, this model is the smallest and lightest 6-inch E Ink e-reader currently available. At $130 (as of June 13, 2011), it's also the cheapest e-reader with a touchscreen, besting Barnes and Noble's touchscreen Nook by $10. The Kobo eReader Touch Edition lacks the finesse of the Nook and the Amazon Kindle Wi-Fi, but it still has much to offer value-conscious book lovers.

First look: The Kobo eReader Touch Edition

bkrasnoff@computerworld.com (Barbara Krasnoff) — Fri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 GMT

The Kobo eReader Touch Edition offers e-reading at its simplest; a touch interface and reasonable price could make it a competitor.

Amazon: E-books now outsell print books

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:24:00 GMT

The impact of technology on culture reached a turning point Thursday as Amazon.com announced that it's selling more Kindle e-books than printed books.

Creating an e-book: Tips on formatting and converting your document

thegline@optimum.net (Serdar Yegulalp) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:26:00 GMT

Formatting a document for publication as an e-book can be a complicated and frustrating process. We offer some tips and applications that can help.

Frank Hayes: 7 IT lessons from the collapse of Borders

frank_hayes@computerworld.com (Frank Hayes) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:00:00 GMT

We've all heard -- endlessly -- why Borders went bankrupt. But those things are just technology. What are the IT lessons?

Amazon.com touts more e-book sales than paperbacks

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:51:00 GMT

Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos said in a fourth-quarter earnings statement Thursday that the e-book-selling milestone 'has come even sooner than we expected.'

Kobo Wireless eReader

(Melissa J. Perenson) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 02:02:00 GMT

The Kobo Wireless eReader aspires to compete with the big kids in the e-reader arena. This iteration represents a marked improvement over its predecessor, offering higher contrast, a sharper E Ink display, and better performance. Unfortunately, the Wireless eReader still lacks the polish and finesse of the leaders. And at $139 (as of December 13, 2010), it's the same price as an Amazon Kindle.

Kindle for the Web demos at Chrome event

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:49:00 GMT

Amazon.com demonstrated its update of Kindle for the Web, which will appear 'in the coming months,' allowing the full reading and annotation of Kindle books from a Web browser on any device.

Google vs. Amazon: Clash of the booksellers

bkrasnoff@computerworld.com (Barbara Krasnoff) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:02:00 GMT

Google and Amazon cross swords with new e-book applications and services meant to lure readers into buying online.

Update: Amazon to demo Kindle for the Web on Tuesday

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:38:00 GMT

Amazon plans to demonstrate a new version of Kindle for the Web on Tuesday, one day after Google's launch of its Google eBooks and eBookstore initiative.

Google launches eBooks, eBookstore

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:00:00 GMT

Google announced Google eBooks and Google eBookstore on Monday, launching a long-anticipated cloud-based system to allow readers to buy e-books online from a choice of booksellers and to read them with a variety of devices.

Color comes to E Ink, LG electronic-paper displays

(Martyn Williams) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 07:52:00 GMT

The first commercial electronic paper displays that can show color were unveiled Wednesday at the Flat Panel Display International show in Japan. The screens open the way for electronic book readers like Amazon's Kindle and Sony's Reader to add color, but so far only a single Chinese device maker has committed to the technology.

Convert Files to Other Formats

(Rick Broida) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:22:00 GMT

Recently I wanted to order something that would include a company logo imprinted on the side. I had no trouble creating the logo, but the company wanted it in EPS format--something that few programs outside of Photoshop can create. (Freeware favorite Paint.NET can't do it; neither can GIMP.)

Sony Reader Pocket Edition: Good reading in a small package

bkrasnoff@computerworld.com (Barbara Krasnoff) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:00:00 GMT

The Sony Reader Pocket Edition, an updated touch version of its smallest e-book reader, is feature-filled and nicely designed but lacks wireless capabilities.

Barnes & Noble expects $1B in digital book sales by 2013

(Agam Shah) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:26:00 GMT

Book retailer Barnes & Noble expects to generate $1 billion in revenue from sales of digital books, including e-books and e-textbooks, by 2013, the company said on Thursday.

Image gallery: 8 e-readers reviewed

(Sally Wiener Grotta and Daniel Grotta) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

We look at the current state of the market and review 8 of the most popular e-readers.

E-reader roundup: 8 devices compete for the crown

(Sally Wiener Grotta and Daniel Grotta) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

The popularity of e-readers proves that reading books isn't passé. But what is the current state of the market, and which e-readers are the best?