| Good e-Reader is proud to rollout a new build to the Android App Store Client that offers a number of new features and enhancements. The client now has over 123,000 Apps and has received positive feedback from many of our distribution partners. We have amended the home screen to be optimized for large screen devices, such as the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, Kobo Arc 10 HD and many others. There is a series of featured images we have and we have spent quite a bit of time tweaking it to look good both on smartphones and tablets. The final change on the home screen was adding a brand new category “Essential Apps.” These are the apps every new device needs to have, such as Adobe Reader, Flash, ES File Explorer and many others. The last major change on this brand new update was solving some of the crashing issues we have been having. This new version now works and users should not encounter any situation that the client force closes. One of the bugs was switching from landscape to portrait mode on large screen tablets. We have since locked it to portrait mode only for the next while, as we iron out any of the kinks. The Good e-Reader App Store had over 100,000 downloads of our client since we issued it two years ago. We recognize that most people don’t want to be tied into one ecosystem and like choices. Our app store is a perfect compliment to Amazon or Google. You can download it today for free HERE. Good e-Reader Android App Store App Updated is a post from: E-Reader News |
Friday, January 17, 2014
Good e-Reader Android App Store App Updated
Mozilla Firefox Tablet Specs Leaked
| Mozilla has been pushing its Firefox OS as the next big thing to hit the mobile devices segment. While this will bring about a change in the usual Android – iOS circle that we have been embroiled in with Windows providing some respite in between, we were curious as to what the first tablet device will be like running the brand new OS. Fortunately, we have healthy insights here, thanks to company insider Asa Dotzler who has made available the specs of Mozilla's very first tablet. To begin with, the tablet will have a 10.1 inch display lit up by 1280 X 800 number of pixels. On the other side of it lies a A31 quad core Cortex A7 chip rated at 1 GHz complemented by a PowerVR SGX544MP2 GPU. Onboard memory will be 2 GB along with 16 GB of internal storage. Besides, there will also be a 2 and 5 megapixel camera along the front and rear respectively along with the usual micro USB port and a 3.5 mm slot to plug in headphones or other externals. Powering the device is a 7000 mAh battery though actual runtimes aren't available. The other crucial things missing are the when and how much bits. While a launch does not seems too far away given the company having received the first batch of devices from Foxconn, pricing will be important for the tablet to make a mark. Mozilla has chosen MWC event to first launch its mobile OS and with MWC 2014 could well serve as the perfect setting to launch the tablet as well. Mozilla Firefox Tablet Specs Leaked is a post from: E-Reader News |
Apple Not Likely to Launch iPad Pro Before Q3 2014
| The next tablet segment that has caught on the fancy of tablet makers is obviously those that offer 12+ inch of screen real estate. These are aimed at the enterprise users among others and Apple has been rumored for quite some time now to be fielding a contender in this emerging segment; more so after Samsung has already made the initial move here with the launch of the 'Pro' versions of its Galaxy Tab models. However, as per a Digitimes report, the iPad Pro that will offer a 12.9 inch display is not expected to be ready for a market induction before Q3, 2014. Surely that would be quite late if Apple is indeed in a hurry to match Samsung's move to launch a big screen tablet though the above timeline tallies well with the usual schedule during which Apple refreshes its product line up, which is during fall of every year. The complete lack of any parts leak or other evidence from parts manufacturers further bolsters our assumption of the intended launch period of the iPad Pro during Q3 this year. Research analysts DisplaySearch though is claiming that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will come with a Retina display having a resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels, which translates to a pixel density of 265 ppi. Meanwhile, there have also been reports of Apple considering a hybrid approach for the iPad Pro, one that will come with a detachable keypad unit. The keypad might even come with a separate battery unit to keep the huge display going for respectable amount of run times that successive generations of iPad has always been known for. Meanwhile, Digitimes is also claiming that Apple is into developing new iPad models in the 7.9 and 9.7 inch dimensions which will replace the current lineup. However, while this can't be ruled out, it's the iPad pro models that no doubt will be evoking greater excitement. Let's see how things pan out in the next couple of months. Apple Not Likely to Launch iPad Pro Before Q3 2014 is a post from: E-Reader News |
Good e-Reader Radio – Libraries as Retail, eBook Subscription Websites, DBW Wrapup
| Welcome to a special edition of the Good e-Reader Radio Show! Today, Editor in Chief Michael Kozlowski and Senior Editor Mercy Pilkington talk for an hour about the Digital Book World Conference that transpired this week and discuss the business model of eBook Subscription websites, how Libraries are acting as retail outlets and how self-publishing came onto its own due to erotica eBook titles. Digital BooK World is one of the largest conferences that have many of the publishing industry’s thought-leaders. Mercy was live at the show and sat in on many of the sessions and interviewed luminaries such as Tim O’Reilly, Dominique Raccah and many others. The top trends this year were eBook subscription websites, eBook Discovery and retail. Michael and Mercy talk about the entire conference in-depth. Simon and Schuster recently expanded upon a pilot program that will have their digital books in 31 libraries in the US. Overdrive and 3M both will facilitate the delivery of content. One of the more controversial aspects is the new Buy It Now button that libraries must adopt to stock these titles. Michael and Mercy are very polarised on this subject, and dialog about the potential repercussions of this move. This is a jam packed show and is filled with the latest digital publishing, self-publishing, and library news! It is a can’t miss episode to kick off your weekend. Good e-Reader Radio – Libraries as Retail, eBook Subscription Websites, DBW Wrapup is a post from: E-Reader News |
Intel to be First to Offer 64 Bit Chips For Android Tablet, Bay Trail Powered Android Tablets Coming Q2, 2014
| Intel has made it known that they would be the first to offer 64 bit computing on Android tablets. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich also said that the first Android tablets built around its quad core Atom chips would be a reality by Q2, 2014. Intel had earlier stated that the new Bay Trail Atom chip will be all about battery efficiency without compromising on performance credentials. "All the classic things around computing that you saw drive the compute cycles on PC and people are doing more and more with tablets and phones or that will be the same things that drive 64-bit utilization on these mobile devices," said Krzanich.” Further, the new Intel powered Android tablet will also be cheaper as well, as most are likely to be priced $199 and less. Intel Atom Bay Trail powered Android tablets were conspicuously missing at the CES, but the company is keen to register a strong presence in the personal wearable segment, something exemplified by the launch of smartwatch, bands, ear plugs, and other offerings at the event. "Most of the Bay Trail Android tablets really start showing up more in Q2…remember we made a shift, the original program for Bay Trail was all Windows," said Krzanich during the company's fourth quarter earnings call. “We are out there working with the OSs, all of the OSs and the OEMs to go enable that. The real usages…are going to be in those high compute areas, things like video, things like media, transfer media manipulation." Intel has set itself a target of 40 million tablet sales in 2014, which does not seem too daunting after having achieved 10 million sales in 2013. For this, the chip maker is seeing to it that there are enough tablet choices available before the onset of the back-to-school season. Intel (and Microsoft) is faced with the challenge of keeping themselves relevant in the so-called post-PC era, where mobile connected devices are being favored more than standalone desktops. With sales of traditional PCs declining steadily, this amounts to loss of revenue for Intel, prompting the chip maker to come up with lower power chips to power tablet devices and smartphones. We have seen the company's Bay Trail chips working well enough in a Windows environment and should be equally impressed with Android as well. Meanwhile, Intel plans to launch the Atom Merryfield for smartphones, though that is not expected to be a reality before the end of 2014.
Intel to be First to Offer 64 Bit Chips For Android Tablet, Bay Trail Powered Android Tablets Coming Q2, 2014 is a post from: E-Reader News |
IDW to Publish Angry Birds Digital Comics
| IDW has announced today that they will begin publishing Angry Birds Comic books starting this june. The stories will be penned by writers Jeff Parker (Batman '66) and Paul Tobin (Bandette). "The Angry Birds comics are a perfect way of getting to know the characters, their personalities, and their world more closely. I hope that readers of all ages will have fun with these comics by top-notch creators," Jukka Heiskanen, Rovio's Editor-In-Chief of Comics, said in an IDW press release. IDW CEO and Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall added, "Rovio has taken what was once a captivating game and built it into an interesting world filled with interesting and, uh, feathered characters who will make a perfect addition to our growing line of fun, all-ages comics." Angry Birds originally debuted in 2009 and has spawned a media empire. The apps have had over two billion downloads and has transcended into childrens cartoons, cookbooks and plush stuffed animals. IDW to Publish Angry Birds Digital Comics is a post from: E-Reader News |
Tablet Market Projected to Shrink in the UK in 2014
| Recent research by analysts CCS Insight has predicted that tablet sales in the UK could hit a rough patch in 2014. To put that in figures, tablet market in the UK could be worth 14 million devices, quite a drop from the 17 million mark that tablet sales peaked to in 2013. This will also mark the first negative growth to be recorded in 2 years' time during which tablet sales continued to scale new heights. Marina Koytcheva, director of forecasting at CCS Insight though believes that things could turn around in around 2 years' time when those who bought tablet devices during 2012 and 2013 start looking to replace their devices. Things are expected to settle down from then onwards so that by 2017, tablet sales could reach 20 million units. Tablet devices have been the most favored gifting item during the holiday season so that by the end of 2013, almost half of Britons now own a tablet device. Also, with budget tablet devices being the most sought after, a sizeable number of tablet users are expected to upgrade to higher specced devices by the time they have grown used to their current versions, thereby fueling higher sales. Another trend that has emerged is that it is the smaller tablet devices with screen size less than 9 inches selling more than their big screen counterparts. Almost two-third of tablet sales by 2017 is predicted to be comprised of devices with display of 9 inch or less.
Tablet Market Projected to Shrink in the UK in 2014 is a post from: E-Reader News |
8 Books to Read That Will Become Movies in 2014
| Let’s face the facts. Books are usually better than their movie counterparts. Because of time limitations with movies, books tend to have a lot more details, character development, and overall depth. That’s why it’s usually better to read the book before seeing the movie, and now is the best time to start reading those books […] |
Our favorites from the School Design Contest
| Our favorites from the School Design Contest Last fall we encouraged schools to give the power of promoting their digital library to the students. Here are some of our favorites. Conestoga Valley High School (PA) jazzed up some already existing OverDrive-created designs: To promote our OverDrive collection (including hot titles like the Divergent series), we capitalized on the excitement and anticipation of hopefully getting a new gadget over the holidays. Our Library Committee created a seasonal display by enhancing existing OverDrive designs and adding student-created dimensional paper holly and berries, and a snazzy new QR code. Rather than use a URL, our students told us in no uncertain terms that QR codes are their choice for quick access to a site. ("Seriously Mrs. McClune, is someone going to stand in the hall and type in the URL?!") We used Unitag to create a free, colorful QR code that features OverDrive's logo in the center so there's no doubt about what students are accessing. - Patty McClune, Coordinator, Conestoga Valley High School Librarian  
The designs for the six posters were created by one of our students. They are all the same except for the student featured. We have three neighborhoods in our school and we selected one girl and one boy from each neighborhood to feature. Then we made several copies of each poster and hung them in the corresponding neighborhoods. The idea was to get students to look at the poster because they recognize the student that is in them. - Genevieve Minor, Traverse City West Senior High Media Specialist
Keep sending us pictures of your school's marketing efforts and we will share more of our favorites later this year.
Cassie Renner is a Marketing Specialist with OverDrive.
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Amazon Publishing, CreateSpace Launch 7th Annual ABNA Awards
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The process works by accepting submissions for the contest between February 16th and March 2nd, closing either on the end date or when the full limit of entries has been received. From there, the entries are narrowed down to only 400 in each category, based on a very brief pitch of the book. Unlike in years past, however, the second round will whittle the number down to only 100 entries per category based on the input of Amazon Vine reviewers. The real benefit comes to authors who are fortunate enough to reach the third round. Reviewers from Publisher’s Weekly will step in to narrow the entries down to the top five in each category, and will review and rate each book. Amazon Publishing’s editors will step in for the final round of selections, picking a final winner in each category. The grand prize, selected from those winners, might be the most democratic system of them all, as Amazon readers will cast the deciding votes for which book is chosen as the overall winner. “Reader response to the 2013 ABNA Grand Prize winner Timebound—an average star rating of 4.5 over 1,046 reviews—is a great indicator that ABNA continues to discover and amplify talented new authors. We are looking forward to seeing what terrific books come out of the ABNA class of 2014!" said Daphne Durham, Publisher of Adult Trade and Children's Group, in a press release. The contest is free to enter, with the category winners each receiving a publishing contract and $15,000 advance, while the grand prize winner will receive a publishing contract and $50,000 advance. Full details can be found at amazon.com/abna.
Amazon Publishing, CreateSpace Launch 7th Annual ABNA Awards is a post from: E-Reader News |
The PocketBook Basic 2, a New Reader from PocketBook
| New ebook readers are hard to come by in the United States that aren’t named Kindle, but in Europe there’s still a steady stream of new products being introduced each year. PocketBook is one of the larger ereader makers, and they’ve just announced a new ebook reader to their lineup, the PocketBook Basic 2. As […] |
Daily Deals and Freebies – January 17th 2014
| Interesting Reads and Forum Posts A Student’s Guide to Using the Kindle for Research – An very informative article about how to use the Kindle and Kindle apps as learning tools for school. Barnes & Noble Comes to Australia – Microsoft continues the Nook brand expansion internationally. Hacking the new Nook GlowLight – Progress is […] |
Chocolate Joy Jacket
| A quick post today: I’m in Cardiff with Lorna, who you may have spoken to if you’ve ever emailed our info@ address or wanted to talk about copyright with us. Lorna’s going on maternity leave shortly. We all wish her a fantastic time away from Raspberry Pi – but we can’t wait to have her back! Today’s project is one of the most involved wearables implementations of the Raspberry Pi we’ve seen so far. Creative Technology Consultants Hirsch & Mann were asked by Cadbury’s to create something to communicate just how great chocolate is (not hard), and to amplify the enjoyment of eating chocolate (harder). Enter the Cadbury Joy Jacket.  Photo by akio-style.com Pi-powered and Arduino-assisted, the jacket talks to the wearer to insidiously suggest the eating of chocolate, and detects nibbling with a camera in the collar. Here are the team at Hirsch and Mann to explain how it works and demo the jacket in use. There is also confetti. Diary note to self: organise chocolatey business tie-in.
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Pew Internet Study: Print and Digital Aren’t Going Anywhere
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According to Pew’s report on the survey findings, “The percentage of adults who read an e-book in the past year has risen to 28%, up from 23% at the end of 2012. At the same time, about seven in ten Americans reported reading a book in print, up four percentage points after a slight dip in 2012, and 14% of adults listened to an audiobook.” Interestingly, only four percent of the survey respondents stated that they are strictly ebook readers, shunning print entirely. In slightly disappointing news, only about 76% of American adults read a book in any format last year, but of those numbers, the average reader consumes at least twelve books per year. As for how adults consumed their books, device penetration is still on the rise, even among dedicated e-readers, another reading option that has been given dire predictions by industry watchers. “Some 42% of adults now own tablet computers, up from 34% in September. And the number of adults who own an e-book reading device like a Kindle or Nook reader jumped from 24% in September to 32% after the holidays. Overall, 50% of Americans now have a dedicated handheld device…for reading e-content. That figure has grown from 43% of adults who had either of those devices in September.” While this news really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone in publishing, it should speak to the need for both traditional and independent publishers, the latter term including authors who self-publish their books, to ensure that they are reaching out to audiences in every possible format.
Pew Internet Study: Print and Digital Aren’t Going Anywhere is a post from: E-Reader News |
90 Million iPads and Kindle Fire Tablets to Ship in 2014
| Apple and Amazon are currently leading the large when it comes to the tablet world. You can normally estimate how many tablets are going to be released by looking at the factories that make them. Foxconn Electronics and Pegatron are two of the most dominant players in Taiwan and they normally pick up the bulk of the orders from Amazon and Apple. They normally get the heads-up almost a year in advance on what type of production run they will have. Today, we have some concrete data on how many tablets will ship in 2014. According to Digitimes Research Foxconn Electronics shipped 50 million tablets to become the largest Taiwan-based ODM in 2013 and is expected to ship 55-60 million units to maintain the leading status in 2014. They are the main factory in charge of making Apple products and now have Amazon as a client. Pegatron also makes the iPad and iPad Mini is expected to ship 25 million in 2014, which was basically the same as their 2013 figures. Compal Electronics shipped seven million tablets in 2013. With potential OEM orders for iPad mini with Retina display and additional ODM orders from Amazon, Compal is likely to ship 14 million tablets in 2014, the sources estimated. Finally Quanta Computer only shipped around 16 million tablets in 2013, of which a large portion were Nexus models for Google. It is expected that Quanta will be making the new 12.9 Apple iPad, but their production runs will be small. 90 Million iPads and Kindle Fire Tablets to Ship in 2014 is a post from: E-Reader News |
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Ditch Your New Year’s Resolutions Day
How are you doing on your New Year's Resolutions? So far, I've kept up a few of mine (learn to play a bit of piano), and a few others have already slipped by (exercise every day—fat chance!). However, apparently I'm in good company. Only 8% of people actually accomplish a New Year's resolution. Fortunately, there's a holiday for people like me! January 17th is "Ditch Your New Year's Resolutions Day." Users have checked out hundreds of eBooks and audiobooks from OverDrive encouraging them to eat healthier, get in shape, or gain control of their finances. However, cake is delicious, beds are extremely comfortable, and new electronics are unbelievably shiny. Luckily, OverDrive has plenty of titles to sabotage those New Year's Resolutions in style!
"Lose Weight" The Dessert Book: A Complete Manual from the Best American and Foreign Authorities, A Boston Lady Just listening to the description makes me want to trade in those dumbbells for potholders: this antiquarian cookbook contains hundreds of recipes for "puddings, pies, cakes, soufflés, “jumbles,” wafers, biscuits, meringues, nougats, bouchées, glaces, ice creams, fruit ices, coffees, teas, chocolate drinks, liqueurs, creams and wines, jellies and marmalades, brandied fruits, compotes, and much more." However, the anonymous author prefers to keep things elegant: “In arranging the table, the greater number of handsome dishes and high stands that can be available the better, as glaces, fruits, compotes, and confectionery look much handsomer when so displayed.” (I agree. It also makes me feel classy when I pig out).
"Be More Active" How to Be Idle: A Loafer's Manifesto, Tom Hodgkinson Being lazy is hard work! Even Oscar Wilde said, "To do nothing at all is the most difficult thing in the world, the most difficult and the most intellectual." I may not be exercising my body, but I'm exercising my mind—I think. (However, husbands who read this eBook may later need the direction of The Lazy Husband: How to Get Men To Do More Parenting and Housework by Joshua Coleman, Ph. D.)
"Get Organized" Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, Gail Steketee and Randy Frost You know, I could clean the house, or I could read this eBook about compulsive hoarding and think, "Eh, at least I can open my back door without an instant avalanche." (Never mind the closet.)
"Get Out More" Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds: A Complete Guide to the Domestic Cats of North America, J. Anne Helgren Who needs to get out and be more sociable when there are over fifty different cat breeds to explore? At least I only have one cat—for now.
"Eat Healthier" Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book, Ben Cohen, Jerry Greenfield, Nancy J. Stevens With this eBook, you can ditch any last remaining New Year's Resolutions once and for all, thanks to recipes like those for New York Super Fudge Chunk, Mocha Swiss Chocolate Almond, and of course, the legendary 20-scoop Vermonster. At least it contains a recipe called "Healthfood Haven" (a sundae with granola, whipped cream, a strawberry, and half a banana. That's healthy, right? Right?)
As always, some of these eBooks may have geographical or other restrictions. Please check with your Collection Development Specialist to learn more, and remember to tell your readers about these indulgent titles. Happy Ditch Your New year’s Resolutions Day!
Jenny Norton is a Support Services Specialist at OverDrive.
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Samsung Announces Galaxy Tab Lite, Price Not Known
| As was expected, Samsung has announced its contender in the entry level budget tablet segment in the form of the Galaxy Tab Lite. The tablet features decent specs which suits its intended price range. This includes a 1.2 Ghz dual core chip, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of storage all packed beneath a 1024 X 600 pixel 7 inch display. There is a 2 megapixel rear camera (none at the front) as well as is a micro SD card slot. The tablet will be powered by a 3,600mAh battery which Samsung claims will be good enough for eight hours of video playback, and will be available in both 3G as well as Wi-Fi only versions. Samsung has held back on the most crucial aspect of the tablet: it's intended pricing. This could be vital following some recent tablet launches such as the Acer Tab 7, which sports similar specs and has been priced around $100.
Samsung Announces Galaxy Tab Lite, Price Not Known is a post from: E-Reader News |
Win 20 Free Amazon Kindle Case with Good e-Reader
| Today Good e-Reader is proud to run another free contest, which anyone in the world can enter. We have 20 Kindle e-Reader cases in three different colors we are giving away! These cases are compatible with all models of the e-reader except the Kindle Keyboard. This new contest is our first YouTube exclusive one and we will be giving away 10 free cases to the first 15 people who Subscribe and comment on our video. We have an extra 5 cases in which we will be giving away at random to anyone who comments after the initial 10. The ones we pick at random will actually be able to decide what color they want, currently we have black, green and blue. In order to enter the contest, simply subscribe to our channel and then comment on the Youtube Video. We will be shipping out the 15 cases as soon as people comment on the video and the extra 5 will be done on Monday! Good Luck.
Win 20 Free Amazon Kindle Case with Good e-Reader is a post from: E-Reader News |
Amazon in Final Negotiations to Start Selling eBooks in Sweden
| eBook availability in Sweden has come a long way since 2007. The country now has most major bestsellers available in digital form the same day the trade edition is released. This has caught Amazon’s attention as the company may start selling eBooks and Kindle e-Readers as early as the Spring. Amazon is in final negotiations with wholesaler Förlagssystem, and Bokrondellen whose database contains all the information about every single Swedish book published. Amazon has also mentioned opening up a fulfillment center in Sweden, which would create hundreds of jobs, this would put political pressure on the publishing companies to accept the Amazon terms. Christer Perslöv, Business Development Manager at Bokrondellen talked a bit about the negotiations “We have been tough – we do not want to give them any advantage over Swedish bookstores.” If negotiations fall through in Sweden, Amazon plans on opening a store anyways, by way of Germany. Their intention is to develop a portal for people to buy traditional books and also digital book and Kindle e-Readers. Amazon in Final Negotiations to Start Selling eBooks in Sweden is a post from: E-Reader News |
Barnes and Noble Starts Selling eBooks in Australia
| Barnes and Noble has announced today that they are starting to sell eBooks and digital magazines in Australia. Sadly, Nook e-Readers and tablets will not be sold there, instead only Windows 8 users who have the Nook app will be able to purchase and read content. The move into Australia will see a number of limited time promotions to get people using the ecosystem right away. The company is giving away five free eBooks and magzines, such as Catch the Zolt: The Debt Instalment One by Phillip Gwynne, Be Careful What You Wish For by Gemma Crisp, The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, Back to the Pilliga by Tony Parsons and The Fence-Painting Fortnight of Destiny: A Memoir by Meshel Laurie, along with issues of top selling magazines Australian Geographic, GQ, Good Health, Vogue and Taste.com.au Magazine. "We are excited to welcome the NOOK App to Windows 8 in Australia and our customers will really enjoy the free books and magazines, along with all that the NOOK App has to offer. This app is a must for any bookworm and a great escape for summer holiday reading. To get people even more excited about Windows 8 and the NOOK App this summer, Microsoft will be at several major airports around the country at our Windows Lounge showcasing all that Windows 8 can do, including a demonstration of the NOOK App and more information on how to get the free eBooks and magazines to enjoy while traveling and on holiday. The Windows 8 platform has an ever-expanding number of high-quality apps that we're incredibly proud of, and this new addition from NOOK is testament to that." said Melissa Dewick, Product Marketing Manager, Apps and Services at Microsoft Australia. Barnes and Noble tried to expand the Nook empire on their own and ran into a series of logistical and management problems. The Microsoft investment deal into B&N has really spurned their expansion into foreign markets. Currently, over 32 countries now have access to the Windows 8 Nook App and the eBooks can be read in 12 different languages. Barnes and Noble Starts Selling eBooks in Australia is a post from: E-Reader News |
