Google and Kindle Go Head to Head

Yesterday, Google announced the release of it’s own branded eReader, the iRivier Story, which will be sold this coming Saturday at Target stores. 

Not to be outdone, Amazon has just announced aAmazon Kindle 3G with Special Offers price drop on the 3G version of it’s Amazon Kindle, now with special offers!

Just like the WiFi version, available for $114.00, the 3G version of the Kindle with the special offers will feature non-intrusive, tasteful advertisements for major brands.  Even better, there’s a $50.00 price drop, bringing the price down to $139.00!

This definitely heats up the competition between Amazon’s Kindle 3G and Google’s iRivier Story eReader, offering a WiFi only version.

What do you think…which is the best ereader, and will you be influenced by eReader Sales like this?   Or, will this make you decide to purchase the Kindle, a trusted device, with a proven record, or will you go for the newly released Google eReader?

Christmas Gift Ideas for Mom & Dad

Amazon KindleWondering what to get Mom & Dad this Christmas? It seems like they have everything…

Perhaps your Mom or Dad is an avid reader, and you’ve been thinking about getting him or her (or both) an eReader for Christmas? If so, there are a few very good reasons why an Amazon Kindle, or Kindle DX, might just fit the bill:

  1. The Amazon Kindle boasts a brand new, High Contrast E Ink Screen that provides 50% better contrast, enabling your parent(s) to read in bright sunlight, with no glare.
  2. New and improved, crisper, darker fonts make reading much easier. And, the font size is adjustable…no more reading glasses!
  3. The Amazon Kindle or Kindle DX holds up to 3,500 books, and your Mom or Dad can download them anytime, anywhere, with NO monthly payment and no annual contract.  And, the books are usually far less than the cost of old-fashioned printed books.
  4. The Kindle features a sleek design that’s 21% smaller than previous versions…easy to carry wherever you want to go!
  5. And, finally, if your parents are like mine, they’ll love the new, free 3G experimental web browser!

Both the Kindle and the Kindle DX are so reasonably priced, you can easy buy one or even both of your parents one this Christmas!

NookColor

Barnes & Noble’s new version of the nook, Nookcolor, is available starting today for preorders.  At $249.00, with a host of new features, this one might take the shine off the Apple this Christmas!

Featuring a 7″ touchscreen, 8 gig of internal memory, and running on Google’s Android operating system, the new Nook features full web browsing, support for Pandora streaming radio, and you can even share parts of your favorite books over Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks. Even newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals are automatically delivered to your Nook as soon as they’re published. 

The Nook measures 8.1″ x 5″, is only .48″ wide, and weighs just 15.8 ounces, with a screen capable of displaying more tahn 16 million colors, and featuring an accelerometer for landscape mode. 
“With Nookcolor, we’ve combined the functionality and convenience of a 7-inch portable wireless tablet with the reader-centricity of a dedicated eReader, and employed a breakthrough color screen technology that will wow customers,” said William Lynch, CEO of Barnes & Noble, in a press release.

And, at first glance, the new Nook may just be a game-changer!

nook: Game Changer?

nookExpect Barnes & Noble to introduce the new FULL COLOR nook eReader just in time for the holidays!  This one, running on Android, just might be a game changer in the “war” against the iPad. Even more interesting, assuming the nook can deliver on overall functionality, keep the lightweight feel of eReaders, continue the longer battery life, and maintain the low price of current eReaders, Barnes & Noble might just overtake both the iPad and the Kindle in sales this year!

Christmas eReader Price War?

Are the Christmas eReader price wars heating up?  This week, Copia, a subsidiary of DMC Worldwide, announced plans to introduce a five-inch color eReader for just $99 this fall.

“The iPad disrupted pricing strategy for everyone in the eReader market, and after the price wars with Barnes & Noble and Amazon, everyone’s trying to differentiate themselves from a price-point perspective,” Tony Antolino, senior vice president of DMC Worldwide, said in a statement. “We decided to do a revision of our hardware positioning.”

We’ll have more information on this eReader as soon as it is available!

New Kindle DX! New Price!

Amazon Kindle DXAmazon has introduced the latest version of the Kindle DX, using an all new, improved electronic ink display, with 50% better contrast for the clearest text and sharpest images.  With it’s 9.7″ display, you’ll love this Kindle!   This is literally the biggest eReader on the market, and it’s THE eReader everyone wants to own.  Not only does it work great for reading your favorite books, but the potential business applications are unlimited. 

Even bigger, the price is down $120.00 to $379.00!   Preorder your Kindle DX today for the July 7th Release!

Tags: , ,

Amazon Drops Price, Too!

Amazon KindleIn response to Barnes & Noble’s bold move, Amazon has dropped the price on the Kindle to just $189.00!  This represents a SIGNIFICANT savings for those of you who have been waiting for an affordable eReader.  Order your Kindle through this link and get free two day shipping!

The New nook!

nookBarnes & Noble started a price war with Amazon yesterday by dropping the price on their nook eReader to $199.00, AND announced a new nook that sells for $149.00! 

Order either nook through this link today!

IREX Now Shipping!

Here’s the latest from their press release:

IREX TECHNOLOGIES NOW SHIPPING DR800SG eREADER

Westlake Village, Calif., Feb. 17, 2010 – IREX Technologies’ DR800SG wireless eReader is officially available on BestBuy.com today.

The device combines an incomparable, paper-like reading experience and the perfect balance between readability and portability with an open approach to buying and transferring content. With 3G wireless capabilities, users can purchase and quickly download an eBook while on the go.

“Consumer awareness and adoption of eReaders is reaching a tipping point – devices were a hot seller this holiday season and the space is poised to explode in 2010,” said Kevin Hamilton, CEO, IREX North America, Inc. “This is a purpose-built device for people who love to read. IREX supports multiple file formats, provides access to hundreds of thousands of leading books and periodicals, and now offers a strong retail presence to help us stand out in this competitive market.”

Along with immediate availability on BestBuy.com, the device will appear on Best Buy shelves through a phased launch in coming months. Giving users access to the device through a retailer recognized for providing hands-on interaction with technology will drive increased awareness and understanding of eReaders, as potential buyers can see, touch and even test the product – a must do for consumers buying an eReader.

The IREX device includes the Barnes & Noble eBookstore from Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest bookseller, giving users access to more than 750,000 titles, including new releases and bestsellers at $9.99. Barnes & Noble expects its eBookstore (www.bn.com/ebooks) will increase to well over one million titles in 2010, inclusive of every available eBook and eBook originals from book publishers.

Agreements with NewspaperDirect and LibreDigital – two leading distributors of digital content – give IREX users access to the most comprehensive collection of newspapers and magazines available in the eReader market, up to 1,100 more titles than what is currently available on some competitive devices.

“A flurry of eReaders and tablets were announced at CES in January, but the reality is that many of these devices are not widely availability. Shoppers can head to BestBuy.com and purchase the DR800SG immediately, putting their favorite eBooks, newspapers and magazines just a few clicks away – not a few months away,” said Hamilton.

Key product specifications
· Purchase content on the go – wireless service for the IREX device is provided by Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G network. Qualcomm’s Gobi™ multi-mode 3G embedded module drives connectivity to 3G networks around the world.

· Big screen, compact design – some competitive devices offer a similarly-sized device but with a much smaller display area. IREX’s 8.1-inch screen is ideal for books, magazines and newspapers with detailed graphics.

· Purpose-built device – the DR800SG features the latest electronic paper display technology, using E Ink’s Vizplex imaging film, to deliver an experience that is closer to reading ordinary paper than possible with a netbook or tablet device. It also has a longer battery life and is lightweight.

· Easy navigation – the device turns pages faster than competing products and navigation is easy with an interactive stylus-driven touch screen. Users can search their library or add a bookmark with the tap of a stylus or skim an eBook with the touch of a thumb.

· Customized reading – users can enlarge or reduce text size and margin widths, or select portrait or landscape mode to suit their preferences.

Pricing and availability
The IREX DR800SG has an MSRP of $399.99, which includes access to a variety of free content. Wireless access to downloaded content is included in the cost of the DR800SG and no contract is required

CNN Coverage of eReaders

Here’s a link to a the latest from CNN about the eReader popularity:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2010/01/06/ces.ereaders.cnn