WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.
US book retailer Barnes & Noble has announced it has doubled the number of apps on its Android-based Nook Color e-reader tablet, as well as beefing up its electronic books and magazine offerings. New apps include Fandango, Evernote and Seesmic, along with games including Aces Hearts – a Nook Color exclusive – and Astraware Tradewinds 2. There are also “a number of highly requested bible-centric apps,” and several new apps for children.
The top five paid apps for the device are Angry Birds, Astraware Mahjong, Quickoffice Pro, Drawing Pad and Aces Jewel Hunt. The leading free apps are Fliq Calendar, Fliq Notes, Pulse News, Nook Word of the Day and Fliq Tasks. Approximately half of Nook Apps cost US$2.99 or less, while the vast majority are priced at US$5.99 or less, the firm said.
Barnes & Noble issued a software update for the Nook Color in May that activated its apps store, and – in the company’s words – transformed the device into “a full-featured Android tablet.”
“Since we added our customers’ most-requested tablet features just a few weeks ago, we’ve had an amazing response,” said Jamie Iannone, President of Digital Products at Barnes & Noble.
Meanwhile, new magazine titles added to the Nook Newsstand, include Discover, Automobile, Billboard, Astronomy, Birds & Blooms, and The Hollywood Reporter.
All periodicals are available for subscription with a 14-day free trial or via single copies. In addition to Nook Color, most Nook Newsstand titles – including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and USA Today - are also available to Android tablet users via the free 'Nook for Android' e-reader app.
