Tablet and eReader Ownership – How to Read Apple’s Numbers
Later today, Apple will report Q1 figures. We know much has changed in the tablet market over the last three months. Earlier this week, Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project reported tablet and eReader ownership (unsurprisingly) surged during the 2011 holiday season. This is consistent with what I expected (and subsequently reported) following Black Friday […]
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. […]
eReaders Taking Over B&M Stores
The WSJ reported Barnes and Nobles is upping the ante on the Nook – giving it 2,000+ square feet of showroom in 40+ stores. That represents nearly 10% of the average store size.
Kindle’s move into Public Libraries
Last week Kindle announced their move into the libraries. You can read more here: (press release, NYTimes article, Kindle site on how it works). There has been much talk in the past how Kindle, and eReaders generally, will play an influence role in education. This move into libraries will serve as an important catalyst. It will be years before eReaders […]
Are Multi-function Devices Killing Single Purpose Devices?
IHS iSuppli recently projected sluggish growth for single-purpose consumer tech devices like MP3 players, PNDs, and digital cameras. At the same time they expect multi-function devices like smartphones and tablets to enjoy strong double-digit growth over the same horizon The IHS iSuppli statement quotes, Jordan Selburn as saying, The success of multipurpose electronic equipment, often coming […]
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 […]
on Kindle Pricing Part II
Last week I provided an estimate of the implied revenue Amazon expects to earn in advertising from the newly discounted Kindle with Special Offers. I happened to catch MG Siegler’s post on TechCrunch on the same topic. Siegler takes an approach I heard frequently immediately following the announcement, namely that $25 isn’t a strong enough discount. Amazon should have been more aggressive and marked the device […]
The Value of Advertising on the Kindle
Amazon recently announced they would sell a new Kindle with “Special Offers”version. Kindle with “Special Offers” has the same specs as their WiFi-only Kindle but will include advertisements as the screen saver and on the home screen bar. In exchange, Amazon will only change $114. In all likelihood Kindle hardware will one day be free (or close to free) because of cross subsidization […]
