The Future of Subscription Services
Amazon is testing a $7.99 monthly price point for Prime which currently only offers a $79 annual option. As I’ve written on in the past, Amazon has added a variety of services and offerings to Prime. While Prime started with a focus on shipping options, it has blossomed into much more While many have focused on […]
on Amazon’s Digital Book Lending Service
Amazon is now a library – sorta. Last week, Amazon launched the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library which gives Kindle users who own an actual Kindle device (and not just use the Kindle app on other devices) AND are Amazon Prime subscribers access to 5,000+ books they can “borrow.” A few things worth noting: 1) this is probably the first example of a subscription service for digital books. […]
Toys“R”Us Picks-up Kindle
At the end of the month, Toys“R”Us will begin selling Amazon’s Kindle (see Retailing Today, Mashable, Reuters, LA Times). This is a natural extention of its existing non-Amazon retail strategy (which already includes Target, Best Buy, RadioShack and AT&T stores). More importantly, I think it targets an important segment of the population primed for an […]
When eReaders grow-up to be Tablets
What happens when eReaders grow up to be tablets? This morphing is already well underway. Barnes & Noble has always referred to the Color Nook as a tablet eReader – with tablet being the operative word. At their event this week. B&N claimed the Color Nook is the top selling android tablet in the market. […]
Evolutionary Currents: Adding Context to the Nook Color Upgrade
This week Barnes & Noble upgraded the software running on their Nook Color e-reader tablets. Users can now access apps, have email pushed to the device and watch flash videos. There are a variety of reviews on the web (see: here, here, and here) discussing the anticipated update so here I’ll take a differ tack […]
Kindle v. iPad: Value Positions, and Why Selling Hardware on Specs Alone is Dead
On Monday Amazon premiered a new Kindle commercial during Good Morning America. The ad (above) portrays two individuals trying to read poolside – one on an iPad and one on the new Kindle. The essence of the commercial touts the relative readability of Kindle’s e-ink display in direct sunlight. Commentary (for example: here and […]
