eReader Roundup: Flashy vs. Affordable

The release of the no-frills Kobo eReader (born from a partnership between Borders bookseller and Kobo, an online eBook retailer) seems to have sparked a trend. Last week, both Barnes & Noble and Amazon slashed the prices of their Nook and Kindle, respectively, in response to the Kobo and its $149 price tag. And it makes sense. While the Kindle, Nook and now the Kobo can’t compete head to head with the iPad and all its apps and features, they can definitely compete where it may just matter a little more: the consumer’s wallet. If it really is the convenience of digital content that makes it so appealing, why not forego the extras and save a little money?

For publishers, it’s an interesting distinction. The text-on-screen simplicity of eReaders like the Kindle is a completely different animal than the flashiness of the iPad. And what about cell phones? It seems that Kobo has an answer for that as well, with their newly released eBook reading software for Android-enabled smartphones and devices. Here’s more:

New eReader for Android phones. (Publishers Weekly)

Barnes & Noble cuts price for Nook - $259 down to $199 - Nook Wi-Fi ships this week. (News & Record)

Amazon.com cuts the price of the Kindle to $189 in response to Nook's lower price. (ZDNet)

A review of the Kobo eReader. (PCMag)

—compiled by Jennifer Sanchez

Posted By: Digital Trends Team