Word is going around that Barnes & Noble is inviting the press to an event in New York on 7 November. There’s no word yet on what B&N plan to launch, but as you can clearly see from the image above this is going to be a Nook launch.
I’ve just gotten the invite (while writing this post) and I can confirm the day and date. The event is being held at B&N’s flagship store in NYC (just like the Nook Touch launch).
There’s a good chance that we’re going to see the launch of the NookColor Acclaim, B&N’s new tablet. Few details have been leaked, but I can authoritatively say that the Acclaim has between 1 and 3 screens, with sizes possibly ranging from 4″ to 14″ (or some multiple thereof).
BTW, this invite was why I posted the original unsubstantiated rumor last week. I expected to see the invite today or tomorrow (assuming it was true) so that rumor had a expiration date.
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Most critics think if the device isn’t priced at $199, it will completely lose out to Amazon. I disagree, I think there is room for product differentiation, the Kindle fire is a subpar device that is riding the ereader wave, and that with enough bells and whistles, B&N can sell a tablet for $249. Also, I thinkt the Amazon ecosystem is going to come back to haunt them. For the 22 million people who have a Netflix app, many will want a cheap tablet that allows them to watch videos, and Barnes will serve as a top option. Just one example of why a closed system doesn’t always work.
If they don’t match the price, they better be able to point to some serious features the fire lacks or come in at a different size or they’ll get slaughtered.
Honestly, I think they’re a heavy underdog even if they match the price and specs (but with an SD slot), but I’m kinda pulling for them.
Too much Fire on the brain, guys.
B&N is even less a gadget company than Amazon; both are content vendors.
Let’s not forget the objective is not to hurt Amazon but rather to sell ebooks and magazines. B&N is not in the video business and it is doubtful Netflix is going to send much money their way for carrying their client, so it is hardly critical if their 7in tablet specs out with Fire or not.
What *is* critical is coming up with an answer to the basic Kindle4 as a vehicle to sign up customers to the Nook ecosystem.
Selling tablets that don’t result in ebook or magazine sales achieves little more than not selling them at all.
I like the look of the Nook. (Actually, that’s kind of catchy! I hope they use that as their marketing slogan. If they do, I want my royalty!)
I want to buy an ereader, but I’m still torn between Kindle, which is so well established and has Amazon’s ability to deliver cheap books, and one of the epub readers, where I know I can buy books from any other retailer. Logic says go for one of the epub format readers, so why do I feel drawn to Kindle. Is it down to marketing? Be interesting to see if the nook book hooks with its looks. (Ok, I’ll stick to the day job.)
Ask yourself: are you actually going to buy commercial ebooks from multiple epub vendors?
Or is just that you’re afraid of a long-term (Kindle) commitment?
Nook Color? What New Nook Color? Why New Nook Color? | TechnoBuffalo // Oct 31, 2011 at 7:48 pm
[...] solid information, to base Nook speculation on. But I will point you to one more tidbit from The Digital Reader: There’s a good chance that we’re going to see the launch of the NookColor Acclaim, [...]
Are you going to this event Nate? Will you be there live on the scene?
Yes, I will be there. I already got the bus ticket.
And I will try to liveblog the event.
How is this for “serious features the fire lacks”
1. Kindle Fire doesn’t have microSD slot that, for example, Nook Color has thus it is stuck with 6 GB usable internal storage unlike Nook Color that can get up to 32 GB card in. Kindles are made to be almost like a “dumb terminal” of the past to make sure you’re tied up to Amazon’s storage on the web (for which you need Wi-Fi connection to get to) and you can only store content you get from Amazon there, not other files. Quoting Amazon on Kindle Fire: “cloud storage for all Amazon content”. Get it, Amazon content?
2. The stats of how long the battery can last (Kindle Fire theory is 7.5 hours) are taken with Wi-Fi off. It will last only about 3 hours if you use it to access content from their Cloud storage over Wi-Fi.
3. Amazon can spy on your web activity through their new cloud-integrated silk web browser of Kindle Fire and then use that info for advertising stuff and junk to you.
4. VERY IMPORTANT – Amazon has an annual charge of $79! Read the fine print all that streaming content and cloud storage is for “Amazon Prime Members.” and since that is about the only thing it will do it is effectively a $278 tablet.
Sure Amazon gives you a free 30 “trial membership” requiring your credit card and them promptly charges you the $78 on the 31st day (classic Amazon style).
5. Kindle doesn’t support eBooks in ePub format that is the most used format in the world (B&N lets you “sideload” any ebup or PDF from anywhere).
6. Kindle app store contains only Amazon approved apps and it does not include (and will not include) Showtime App currently on Nook color &Netflix app Nook Color is getting thus again you’re stuck with Amazon content only.
TomB, way to spread some FUD. The Kindle does not limit you to Amazon content. The Kobo book store and Aldiko are both in the Amazon App store, for example. Amazon also offers cloud storage for non-Amazon content. The $79 is for Amazon prime which also allows streaming videos (it’s cheaper then Netflix) and free shipping. As an ebook reader, 8 gigs is more than enough storage. For video, yeah it could have use the sd card slot, but, again, its main (but not exclusive, as you are implying) function is to push Amazon content.
B&N’s flagship store is on Fifth Avenue and is small and one floor. You mean the Union Square store, no? That’s where Nook Touch was unveiled.
Uhh, Google and everyone I’ve spoken to refer to the Union Square store as the flagship store.
Interesting Luqman
So you are basing this on Amazon allowing all of the apps in their store onto the fire (I personally know Google and B&N taylor which apps go onto which devices). It may not be a huge streach to think that they would allow the epub apps on the devices, but since they are rummored to be loosing money on the fire, and these apps would cut into their profit margin I don’t think they will. Having these apps available to down load on your phone through Amazon is ont thing, but I can’t believe they would allow it to cut into their ebook sales.
The “Free cloud storage for all your Amazon content” is a quote directly from the Amazon website:
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Fire-Amazon-Tablet/dp/B0051VVOB2
SO while they may have at some point offer storage of other “non-Amazon” things. They are certainly not advertising Fire with that ability.
The $79 is cheeper than Netflix (not by much if you only stream). But using this argument makes the same mistake people made in the 1990s when they said “I’ll shop at Walmart it is a bit cheaper.” Once Walmart had run the local grocers out of business they simply raised the price.
The fire is a dumb terminal that just pushes Amazon content. If you buy one and Amazon chooses to raise the price for their streaming content or cloud storage then you will be locked in and stuck paying what ever they choose to charge.
I could just buy drm free mobi and mp3s from 7Digital, for example. At any rate, I already have a table that’s superior to the Fire. Frankly, I just want them to release a streaming video app for all of the Android tabs (I can watch videos via my browser, but it can a bit cludgy.)