Online retail titans Barnes & Noble and Amazon are reportedly planning surprises for their e-reader devices.
Chillin' with the Bookworms
Here's a scoop on what's been brewing in the literary world this week! Barnes & Noble's Buzz Score, the measure of consumers' reactions to the brand, as tracked by the YouGov Brand Index, is quickly catching up to Amazon's, especially amongst the adults age 18 and over market. This upward trend, jumping from 16.4 on April 25 to 24.6 on May 17, puts Barnes & Noble closer than ever to Amazon's score of 37.7.
This positive shift in public opinion can be attributed to Barnes & Noble's latest advertising campaign for its color Nook. However, this campaign isn't just about promoting the Nook; it's about building anticipation for an exciting announcement set for Tuesday, which just so happens to be the closing day of the International Digital Publishing Forum at the BookExpo American event in NYC.
Rumors have been flying about Amazon's pipeline, with whispers of not one, but two major announcements - first, the Coyote and Hollywood team working on Amazon tablets, and second, this week's news of Amazon possibly converting Kindle to the ePub file format, making it compatible with the industry standard for digital publishing. So, one has to wonder what Barnes & Noble has up its sleeve to compete with these potential game-changers.
In fact, a major shakeup may be on the horizon, as an announcement was made earlier today that Liberty Media offered $1.02 billion to buy Barnes & Noble - a 20% increase over the closing price of B&N stock. Thoughts that Barnes & Noble hasn't made a decision about the sale yet, it's hard not to speculate that such an offer didn't come without something major coming up on Tuesday. This speculation is further supported by reports that Barnes & Noble filed with the FCC for a new e-reader device.
By Merciless Mercy
[email protected] ✍️Website 🌐 Mercy Pilkington
Merciless Mercy, our Senior Editor, is also the boss lady behind a hybrid publishing and consulting company. She's as tough as a middle school cafeteria, but with a heart of gold and a keen eye for the latest literary happenings.
The latest advertising campaign from Barnes & Noble, focusing on their color Nook, is aiming to build excitement for an upcoming announcement, which coincides with the closing day of the International Digital Publishing Forum at the BookExpo American event. This announcement comes as speculation grows about Amazon's potential release of two new gadgets, including Amazon tablets, and their possible conversion of Kindle to the ePub file format. Amidst these tech advancements, Barnes & Noble has also filed with the FCC for a new e-reader device, hinting at their own innovative e-reader gadget.
