e-reader

How to give an e-book as a gift

There's something wonderful about gifting someone with a book you read and loved, knowing they'll dive in to the same world you explored through text on a page.

These days, you're likely to find that friends are instead reading their books on an e-reader like the Nook, Kindle, or iPad, a transition that seemingly makes book-gifting a challenge. After all, you can't put a bow on an intangible file.

Gifting someone with an e-book is a lot easier than it seems, but will vary depending on which e-reading device he or she owns. Once you find … Read more

Return of the $139 Kindle Fire

It was just over a month ago that Amazon slashed the refurbished Kindle Fire to $139. Since then, it's been selling for $169 -- still a great deal, but not this great.

Today only, and while supplies last, Amazon once again has the refurbished Kindle Fire tablet for $139 shipped.

Now's the time to score Mother's Day gold. Or Father's Day gold. And don't forget about graduate gold. By which I mean: awesome gift item!

Like last time, the sellout potential here is huge. Even at the new price of $199, the Kindle Fire is … Read more

Barnes & Noble to add NFC chips to Nooks

Barnes & Noble has a plan to attract more in-store use of its Nook e-readers, and it involves near-field communication chips.

The technology -- known mostly for allowing consumers to use their phones to make payments -- will soon be embedded in the bookseller's Nook devices, Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch revealed during an interview with Fortune magazine.

"We can work with the publishers so they would ship a copy of each hardcover with an NFC chip embedded with all the editorial reviews they can get on BN.com," Lynch said in the interview. "And if you had your Nook, you can walk up to any of our pictures, any our aisles, any of our bestseller lists, and just touch the book, and get information on that physical book on your Nook and have some frictionless purchase experience." … Read more

Microsoft, take my Nook, please!

The announcement that Microsoft & Barnes and Noble are going in together on what essentially amounts to a spin-off of B&N's Nook business could prevent an ugly divorce in my household. For those who know me personally, don't worry, my wife and I are getting along just fine, but I can't say the same for me and my Nook Tablet.

Shortly after the Nook Tablet -- an updated version of the popular Nook Color e-reader -- was released in November, one showed up on my doorstep as an early holiday gift from a family member.

At first, I was swept off my feet -- as a writer, I'd resisted the temptation to buy an iPad or comparable Android tablet, holding firm to the close relationship I've developed over my career with hard-wired keyboards, so this was essentially my first relationship with a touch screen. … Read more

Microsoft's $300 million gamble on B&N: Hey, why not?

Quite a lot has already been conjectured in the wake of Microsoft's decision to invest $300 million in a new joint venture with Barnes & Noble. Is a Windows Nook on the way? Are we witnessing a sly move to poke Google in the eye by fostering Android fragmentation? Or is this part of a longer range effort to help users e-books and articles across myriad devices?

Yes to all of the above. But there's not much sense in overthinking this. If you're Steve Ballmer, there's no way that you don't do this deal.

First, … Read more

Is there a Windows-based Barnes & Noble reader in the works?

Microsoft and Barnes & Noble's patent settlement and partnership both announced this morning, have spurred questions as to whether there is some kind of Windows-powered e-reader in the wings.

Neither party is saying much at this point. During a call with press and analysts about the formation of NewCo -- a jointly-owned subsidiary -- execs from the two companies danced around questions about the possibility of a Windows-powered e-reader, which could be branded as a Nook or in some other way.

There are clues that some kind of a dedicated, Windows-powered e-reader built by Microsoft and/or Barnes & … Read more

Three-deal Thursday: A Canon EOS Rebel, Nook Simple Touch, and free video converter

It's a Thursday three-fer!

Deal No. 1: Convenient though it may be to snap photos on your phone, there are times when you want a real camera -- one with interchangeable lenses, a big image sensor, lots of shooting modes and manual settings, and so on. In other words, a dSLR.

Today only, 1SaleADay has the Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.3-megapixel digital camera for $399.99, plus $4.99 for shipping. That's about $100 less than the prices elsewhere.

This isn't just the camera body; the T3 comes with Canon's 18-55mm autofocus lens. Plus, it'… Read more

The 404 1,031: Where it's cheaper if you get our e-book (podcast)

CNET laptop editor Scott Stein returns to The 404 guest seat, and the room is apparently full of onions today as we discuss this short film about a 9-year-old's homebrew cardboard arcade. If you look closely at Jeff's face during this segment, you may even catch a rare glimpse of his upturned frown.

We'll also introduce you to a highly funded Kickstarter campaign for an iPhone and Android-compatible smart watch that goes the opposite direction of traditional e-watches and uses a digital ink display (similar to the original Amazon Kindle) that lets users check messages, play music, and more without the threat of sun glare or unreadable reflections.… Read more

Get a Nook Simple Touch Reader for $69

This is an update of a deal from a couple months ago.

I love e-books. Always have, always will. My first "e-reader" was a PalmPilot. These days, I read on whatever device is handy: Nook Color, Kindle Fire, and iPhone.

What I find truly incredible is how affordable dedicated e-readers have become. Remember when the original Kindle was $359 -- and Amazon couldn't keep up with the orders?

Anyway, while supplies last, RedTag has the refurbished Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch Reader for $69, plus $1.95 for shipping. That's an insanely good deal.

Update: … Read more

People who love e-reading simply love reading

Things might be starting to look up for booksellers, authors, and publishers. A report released today by the Pew Research Center shows that one-fifth of U.S. adults have read an e-book in the last year and that e-reader owners not only prefer to buy rather than borrow books, but they also read more books.

"Those who have taken the plunge into reading e-books stand out in almost every way from other kinds of readers," the report's authors write. "Foremost, they are relatively avid readers of books in all formats: 88 percent of those who read … Read more