Get 6 Free eBooks from Barnes and Noble!

Just install the eReader and sign into your B&N.com account — it takes less than a minute. Then start enjoying these great features:

• Automatic downloads of your latest Barnes & Noble eBook purchases and samples
• Access to download eBooks from your Online Library anytime
• Bookmarks, note taking & highlight functionality
• Lookup function for dictionary, Wikipedia or Google
• Portrait or landscape display modes
• Customizable font, margins and page gestures

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iPhone and iPhone touch users can download the B&N eReader for free from the iTunes store.

The Apple Tablet: iSlate, iGuide, iPad Or iElse?

Will Apple’s tablet PC actually be called the iPad? We won’t know until tomorrow, but after evidence was discovered that Apple was interested in the name “iSlate”, many have figured that as this is the most likely name for Apple’s new device. iSlate.com was registered in late 2006 and trademarks had been filed for ‘ISLATE’ in both the United States and Europe by a company that was most likely a dummy corporation set up by Apple. A filing for a US trademark for ‘IGUIDE’ by another Delaware-registered company called iGuide Media LLC, which can be linked to Cupertino by means of signatures on the documents coming from Apple’s Senior Trademark Specialist, Regina Porter.

New evidence however has revealed that Apple may, in fact, be positioning “iPad” as the name for the new tablet PC device. A search in the Canadian trademark database reveals that Apple’s dummy corporation Slate Computing, LLC also applied for a trademark for “iPad” under the categories of handheld mobile digital electronic devices with a broad range of applications. This application was filed in July 2009 — much more recently than the original iSlate trademarks which date back to 2006-2007. Slate Computing, LLC did not apply for a similar trademark in the U.S. due to the fact that Fujitsu appears to control the U.S. trademark as it relates to handheld computing. But, this didn’t stop Apple from using the iPhone name despite it being owned by Cisco in the U.S. at the time of the iPhone’s launch.

Very similar trademark applications for “iPad” were also filed in Europe and Hong Kong in July. The European filing listed a UK law firm while the Hong Kong application listed a company called IP Application Development, LLC which is located in Delaware.

iGuide could be another name candidate for an Apple tablet, but this is the least likely name. Two trademarks were filed for ‘IGUIDE’ by iGuide Media LLC (through a James Johnston) in the United States: a principal and a service mark, both on 18 December 2007. The description of goods and services given to iGuide Media is very similar to the one given to Slate Computing, the supposed shell company set up by Apple used to register the trademark for ‘ISLATE’, although it leans a bit more to a focus on software and services than hardware.

On the exact same day, iGuide Media LLC filed for a trademark in Europe as well: search OHIM for ‘iguide’ and you find a trademark filing that has all the Apple marks on it: the legal representative is ‘EDWARDS ANGELL PALMER & DODGE UK LLP’ (the same as for ‘ISLATE’ and ‘MACBOOK’, among others), and the priority country is Trinidad & Tobago, the same as when Apple filed for the ‘iphone’ trademark in Europe.

So what will it be? iSlate, iGuide, iPad Or iElse? Find out tomorrow.

The main reason e-book readers choose their digital versions over paper copies is because they are cheaper, and sometimes even free.

E-books haven’t always been free. In fact, as of just 10 years ago, e-books were more expensive than their paper counterparts. But lately Amazon has been offering e-books for free or at a discounted rate, some say as loss leaders in order to help push early adoption of their Kindle e-book reader platform. The proof is in the list of top 100 downloads of which 64 are listed for $0.00.

Amazon is able to distribute public domain works like “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” and “Pride and Prejudice” for free, but e-books like Noel Hynd’s “Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker: Recipes for Entertaining” (#9) has to cost Amazon something. In the same way a grocery store offers a steal-of-a-deal on the front page of their ads, Amazon is luring in customers with these free e-books.

Would customers have purchased these free e-books if Amazon had not of offered them? Are people downloading them simply because they are free? Most are probably downloaded by readers in the first few weeks that they own a Kindle, when they’re looking to download something simply for the sake of downloading something and Amazon is in a way rewarding them for their recent purchase.

Kindle’s charts may also be skewed by hardcore early adopters’ reading habits, but these patterns may change now that more casual users are picking up the Kindle for the first time. And we know consumer buying habits are changing because more customers purchased Kindle titles than physical books on Christmas Day this year for the first time ever.

With Sony’s e-book Reader and Barnes and Noble’s nook e-book reader, the demand for e-books is only going to go up. If Amazon opens it’s e-book sales for distribution on these other devices, it can only be a win-win for hardware and book sales alike all around. Both the nook and the Kindle are solid platforms. Learn more about each of them here.

What could be better than listening to music as you read a book? How about listening to music as you surf the web on your nook?

Barnes and Noble’s nook already was capable of playing MP3’s in the background while you read a book, but recently a few nook device owners have hacked it to run the Pandora music application in the background. Pandora is an application that plays music over the Internet without the need to own or store the music locally, which would be required to play it the normal way on the nook ebook reader.

“It wasn’t that hard,” says Robbie Trencheny, a 18-year-old student who is also the team leader at nookDevs, a wiki and an online forum for Nook enthusiasts. “Once we had rooted the Nook (on Sunday), it was only a matter of time until we could put an app on it.”

The nook does not come with an Internet browser, but the nookDevs group has got a browser to run on the nook. This means the nook is capable of browsing the internet once hacked. The team also got an Android twitter client called Tweet, Google Reader and a Facebook application running on the Nook (probably one already developed to run on other Android mobile devices).

The move opens the door to running apps on the e-reader — something that Barnes & Noble does not support officially, but could lead to increased sales. This is a tactic many manufacturers have taken in the past and it has been successful for them to remain hands off, although some, like Apple, have had a heavy hand and so most of their innovation comes from within themselves.

“Rooting” the Nook involves hacking its system files to get full access to the device’s Android operating system. The Nook comes with access to 3G connectivity provided by AT&T that is ostensibly to used for downloading books wirelessly from the Barnes & Noble e-book store. Nook users aren’t charged for the 3G access.

How to Hack the Nook eBook Reader

But unlike jailbreaking Apple’s iPhone, rooting the Nook isn’t just about tinkering with the software. Instead, Nook customers have to adjust the hardware by taking a screwdriver to get to the device’s insides. Nook’s Android OS is on a microSD card that needs to be connected to a computer to change a file on it. Once that’s done, the power of Nook’s Android OS is available to its users.

To run Pandora, Trencheny first searched for the .apk file associated with the app. “It’s a file extension that Android uses and every app has it,” he says. Once that file is wirelessly downloaded onto the 3G-enabled Nook, users have to run a command in the terminal shell of the device. With a few more steps described on the nookDevs wiki, they can get Pandora installed on the Nook.

There are a few more steps to get it operational. The Nook’s touchscreen won’t cooperate with the Pandora app so users have to use a VNC remote control software to get past the app’s initial login screen. Once that’s done, Pandora works perfectly with the Nook touchscreen and can run in the background as you browse books, says Trencheny.

If all that sounds a little rough for someone who just likes to pick up an e-reader and read, then there’s a fix in the works, assures Trencheny. NookDevs is working on creating a software unlock so users won’t have to open up the Nook. They are also trying to open a marketplace just for Nook apps. This is one place where Barnes and Noble might want to intercede or at least beat them to the punch as iTunes marketplace has proven, apps are where the money is.

And while Pandora is the first to make it to the Nook, the procedure for adding other apps is the similar, says Trencheny. “We can run multiple apps if we want to,” he says. This is something even the iPhone can’t do and what gives mobile devices like the Nook who run the Android operating system an advantage. This is what makes the Droid phone even stand a chance against the iPhone.

NookDevs members haven’t heard any complaint, so far, from Barnes & Noble. “We have looked through the end user license agreement and, as far we can tell, there is nothing in there to get us into trouble,” says Trencheny. “We are not abusing the 3G or breaking the DRM rights on the books.” That is good news for technology enthusiasts everywhere.

Read the full story on Wired.

Device Backs & Frames

Personalize your nook with a burst of color by replacing the back panel with one of Barnes & Noble’s Signature Rear Covers. Lightweight and durable, the hardshell is soft and smooth to the touch, making it comfortable and easy to hold while enjoying your latest eBook. The backs come in pink, orange, green, blue, and gray.

Lyra Light

Use your nook in low light when you clip on this powerful Lyra Light. The sturdy, flexible neck points a bright, white LED onto your Nook while the shallow clip with cushioned grip pad won’t interfere with the screen as you read.

Rechargeable Battery

Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. After a period of time that will vary depending on use, you may find that your battery requires you to charge more frequently after shorter periods of time. The battery is recharged when installed in the nook and the nook is connected to a power source, either an AC-outlet or your computer via the USB cable. Replacement batteries are an identical back-up to the original battery that comes with the nook. There is no need for a service center or to send your nook anywhere to replace with this battery, as it’s user-replaceable with the aid of a small Philips screwdriver, included with the replacement battery.

nook Matte Screen Film Kit

This two piece anti-glare Nook Matte Film Kit, including signature cleaning cloth, helps to shield your Nook screen from dust, debris, and scratches. Easy application and removal, peels on and off.

nook AC Adapter & USB Cable Kit

This allows you to charge either by AC or USB. When you want to charge the battery from a wall outlet, simply connect the cable to the included AC adaptor; when you want to sync nook with your computer, you can plug the cable into a USB port. Light in weight and
compact in size, the kit is also a perfect travel companion.

Lyra Book Light Case

A book cover with built-in LED illumination provides durability and protection against daily wear and tear, including an inner clip mechanism that secures your nook in place, allowing unencumbered access to all device features and ports, while providing light when you need it. Fully adjustable arm positions of the light hold it in place while you read.

Covers

All three designers: Leslie Hsu, Kate Spade, and Jack Spade hail from New York City, New York. Barnes & Noble has chosen artists with an intrinsically urban theme. Colors range from bright to earthy, but always classy.

Leslie Hsu

A seasoned handbag and accessories designer who launched handbags for iconic brands in addition to having her own namesake collection, Leslie Hsu is known for her ability to create personality in her designs through her distinctive detailing and materials. Her ability to harmonize form and function results in a unique approach to beauty, fashion and style. She has designed two styles, the Brontë and the Hutton Envelope.

Display your favorite photo in the cutout window while you read with this durable cover named for the famous Brontë sisters of classical literature. Designed to open like a book, it features a PVC-coated cotton canvas outer shell and soft synthetic suede lining that helps protect your nook from scratches and handling.

Hutton Envelope evokes classical elegance. Made from pigment-dyed leather, its custom fit cradles and protects your nook while securing it with a hidden magnetic closure stamped with a signature logo. The detail stitching, nylon compartment lining, and synthetic suede flap lining enhance the stylish practicality of this case. Envelopes are available in black, white, pink, and brown leather.

Hsu worked in design at Calvin Klein Collection for four years and at Tahari for three years. Starting her fashion career as a Sales Associate at Neiman Marcus, Hsu continues to enjoy interaction with fashion customers. A proud Chinese-American, Hsu, whose father is an international architect, lives in the New York City suburbs.

Kate Spade

Barnes & Noble offers several nook™ covers, one of which is by Kate Spade of New York. She fashions covers from canvas which make them eco friendly as well as stylish. It’s lightly padded for protecting the nook™ and open at the bottom for easy access to all the USB ports. There is no need to remove the cover to charge it or add headphones or other audio outputs.

The nook™ Canvas Cover by Kate Spade is perfect for “the most advanced ebook reader” from Barnes & Noble. The feminine designer cover comes in 100% cotton and features illustrations from Bella Foster, a Brooklyn, New York illustrator who has collaborated with Kate Spade on calendars in 2009 and 2010. Kate Spade sells her other works from her website at http://www.katespade.com/ and Bella Foster has her own blog at
http://herethereandthem.blogspot.com/.

Jack Spade

Jack Spade began in 1996 operating out of a warehouse on Warren Street in New York City. It grew out of an idea that Andy Spade and his wife had that useful items, in this case nook covers, could be both utilitarian and stylish. The first bags were made of waxwear and heavy canvas and given to friends to use. Originally sold to hardware stores, the line has expanded to include accessories and apparel.

The Jack Spade Waxwear Nook Cover, created exclusively for Barnes & Noble, addresses both style and function in its classic book jacket design, featuring two large pouch pockets for notebooks, mail, or anything else you may carry with your nook. Constructed from durable, water-resistant materials, this cover improves with age. The interior is lined in a gray and white cotton graph check pattern, lightly padded to protect your reader, while featuring a sewn-in label for personalization.

The Jack Spade nook Sleeve, created exclusively for Barnes & Noble, is inspired by a traditional workman’s glove. This stylishly functional top-loading cover is covered with 22-ounce cotton canvas, constructed with resilient materials that improve with age then
finished with a colorful rubber latex bottom for added protection and durability. The lightly padded interior is lined in a gray and white cotton graph check pattern, securing your reader in place with a custom brass snap and waxwear tab.

Storage

The nook has enough storage for about 1,500 eBooks because it has 2 GB of internal memory that is available for storage of eBooks or personal files. You can add up to 16GB on your nook using the MicroSD slot. The nook supports supplemental microSD or microSDHC cards. Class 2, 4, and 6 cards are also supported.

If you start to run out of room, you can delete Barnes & Noble eBooks from your nook without fear of losing them as they will be stored in your BN.com eBook Library. Every eBook purchased on the nook is also automatically available in the BN.com eBook Library.

Battery

The Rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery in the nook should last for 2 to 3 years. And if you need to replace the battery, it is user-changeable unlike Amazon’s Kindle. The battery should power the nook up to 10 days between recharges if Wi-Fi is turned off. If you use
wireless features and/or play music, you will need to charge the battery after about 2 days of use. The battery is recharged when installed in the nook and the nook is connected to a power source, either an AC-outlet or your computer via the USB cable.

The nook™ uses the Android operating system. Android is a mobile operating system running on the Linux kernel, which is an operating system used by the Linux family of Unixlike operating systems. It is free and open source software, released under the GNU General Public License, plus proprietary licenses from some other contributors worldwide. The Linux kernel was initially conceived and created by Finnish computer science student, Linus Torvalds in 1991.

Android was initially developed by Android Inc., a firm later purchased by Google, and lately by the Open Handset Alliance (OHA). OHA is a business alliance of 50 firms including Google, HTC, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Samsung, LG, T-Mobile, Nvidia, and Wind River Systems to develop open standards for mobile devices. It was established on November, 5 2007, led by Google with 47 members including mobile handset makers, application developers, some mobile carriers and chip makers. Nokia, AT&T, and Verizon Wireless are not members of the alliance, however Verizon has since launched two Android based phones, the Motorola Droid and the HTC Droid Eris. Althought AT&T is not a member, its 3G service is used with the nook™, which runs the Android operating system.

Android, the flagship software of the OHA, is based on an open source license and will compete against other mobile platforms from Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, Palm, Research In Motion, and Symbian. It allows developers to write managed code in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries. The unveiling of the Android distribution was announced the same day OHA was founded (November, 5 2007) with a consortium of 47 hardware, software, and telecom companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices. Google released most of the Android code under the Apache License, a free software and open source license.

Because Android is open source there is the possibility that developers will begin to create software that will allow Barnes & Noble’s nook™ eBook reader to be used in ways it was not originally intended. Some of the first applications may be a web browser, interactive games, or more sharing capabilities between other nook™ users or to other users on the Internet. As in the case with Apple’s iPhone, where there is a market and the ability, programs will be written.

Barnes & Noble states that the nook has a one-year limited warranty that allows for replacement if your nook has any defects in materials and workmanship during normal usage. When you buy your nook, Barnes & Noble offers the Barnes & Noble Protection Plan, which provides two years of accidental damage and rapid replacement warranty coverage.

Warranty information is available http://www.bn.com/nook/protectionplan. You can return nook within 14 days of receipt. Either call 1-800-THE-BOOK (843-2665) for a return authorization or return it to any Barnes & Noble store. A 10% restocking fee will be charged to customers returning a non-defective device that has had its shrink wrap removed and/or seal broken.

If your lose your nook or someone steals it, go to your B&N.com account and de-register your nook or call Customer Service toll-free at 1-800-THE-BOOK (843-2665) to de-register the device from your account.

There are three types of connections the nook™ can make: USB via a micro-USB cable, Wi-Fi/802.11b/g, and through AT&T’s 3G cellular network. 3G airtime and Wi-Fi in Barnes & Noble stores is paid for by Barnes & Noble, but can only be used for downloading and purchasing eBooks and magazines. There is currently no web browser on the nook™, but because of it’s Android operating system, there is a possibility that one may be added in the future. Android is a Linux-based operating system developed by Google for mobile devices like cell phones, PDAs, and now eBook readers. The nook™ is the first eBook reader to use the Android operating system.

You can use the nook on a plane to read anything you have already downloaded or transferred to your nook. Since most air carriers require Wi-Fi connections to be turned off during flight, the nook has provided an “Airplane Mode” similar to the iPhone, which disables the Wi-Fi antenna. Any file already downloaded to the nook will still be available for viewing.

If you are traveling abroad where AT&T’s 3G service may not be available, you may not be able to download any new books until you can find a Wi-Fi spot in a hotel, restaurant, or in someone’s home. These are just a few examples. Anywhere you can find wireless Internet access or AT&Ts 3G access, you can then download new material from Barnes & Noble.

The nook also features over-the-air software updates so there is no need to connect via USB to update the device when updates become available.

Dictionary

The nook features a built-in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary.

Dimensions

The nook is 7.7 inches tall, 4.9 inches wide, and 0.5 inches thick (196.2 mm x 126 mm x 12.8 mm). It weighs 11.2 oz. (317g).

Music

You can listen to MP3s by themselves or while you’re reading or browsing for a book. There are both built-in speakers and a standard headphone jack for listening.

Formats

Barnes & Noble states that the nook™ can directly load & read PDFs, ePubs, and eReader documents, which is something Amazon’s Kindle was not able to do. It can also play MP3 music files and allow you to view JPG, GIF, PNG, or BMP pictures. Transfer files from your computer to your nook using a USB connection. The nook contains Reader® Mobile technology provided by Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Screen

The nook™ features two screens. The main screen on top is 6 inches diagonally across. It features E Ink® Vizplex™ electronic paper display, good contrast with 16 level grayscale, and adjustable text size. It is less eye straining than a traditional display because it reads like a printed page, by reflected light. This provides a more natural reading experience and is easier on the eyes. The E Ink® Display has a high-resolution 600×800-pixel screen and can display 16 shades of gray.

The lower screen on bottom is for navigation and browsing. It is a 3.5″ TFT color LCD touch screen that is controlled similar to the iPhone and other smartphones with touch screen navigation. You can flip through book titles by dragging and flicking your finger across the screen.