The introduction of the Nook electronic book reader by Barnes & Noble has created a huge stir. Details about the device and how it will be used by consumers are still rolling out. I attended a press event this morning hosted by William Lynch, President of Barnes & Noble. Here’s my take on the user experience based on that call.
- Users can purchase an e-book with two touches on the Nook.
- E-books can be loaned to other Nook owners, or those with any version of eReader software installed on a handset or computer. The loan period is 14 days, after which the e-book disappears on the lendee’s device. The original owner cannot access the e-book during the loan period.
- Publishers can restrict their books from being loaned.
- Bookmarks, annotations and “furthest read” positions are synced across all devices using eReader software.
- There is no text-to-speech option on the Nook by design.
- The Nook is built “somewhere in Asia.”
- The deals with iRex and Plastic Logic are for commerce and content provision only and do not affect the Nook.
- The Nook ships at launch with no web browser, nor any RSS capability. The company could add it later if customers desire.
- Barnes & Noble want to produce an SDK for the Android-based Nook.
- The color touchscreen is capacitive.
- E-books readable with any currently shipping eReader version should work on the Nook. The company is going to verify this works.
- Only the bn.com store will be accessible via the Nook. Legacy eReader and Fictionwise content must be manually copied over USB, although it should also work via memory card.
- E-books cannot be purchased outside the U. S. Technology is used to determine the actual location of the buyer to enforce this restriction.
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