Barnes & Noble treats Nook Color to Froyo; unveils Nook Apps
Just as promised, Barnes & Noble rolled out a major update for the Nook Color on Monday, which has the 7-inch slate looking even more like a tablet than an e-book reader now. — There's no need to hack the Nook Color …
Context & Ripple Effects
Barnes & Noble had signaled the shift a month earlier through a planned Android app store and Flash support for the Nook Color. That followed 2010 reporting that the device was built on Android and a full-color display, giving the company a software base beyond a conventional e-reader.
The update turns those promises into a broader software proposition for existing Nook Color owners, as Barnes & Noble continues investing in Nook while its third-quarter profit had fallen year over year.
First-order effects
- Nook Color owners gain Froyo, Flash support and access to Nook Apps, expanding the device's uses without requiring new hardware.
- Barnes & Noble gains an application storefront alongside its e-book business, creating a new channel for developers targeting Nook Color users.
Second-order effects
- Barnes & Noble must support a wider mix of software and web experiences on Nook Color, making update quality and app selection part of the device's appeal rather than book access alone.
- The Nook line's differentiation shifts toward its software ecosystem, increasing the importance of attracting developers as well as readers.
Third-order effects
- If Barnes & Noble keeps extending its Android-based reader through software, the boundary between dedicated e-readers and tablets narrows, with device makers competing through app platforms and ongoing updates.
- The move points to a more platform-dependent digital-reading market, where the value of a color reader rests increasingly on the services and software available after purchase.
The trend: Dedicated e-readers are evolving into software platforms, using color screens, web support and app stores to broaden their role beyond reading.