Words with Friends was released two years ago for a few mobile devices. Since its launch, the game has been a hit among gamers. With the game reaching e-book readers on the Nook, there has been a rise in the number of users of the app.

Zynga Aims at Increasing Mass Market

Zynga’s move to introduce the game on the e-book reader has been to bring the game to devices that haven’t been designed for extensive gaming activities. The game developer has plans for increasing the mass market for its games. This is possible only if it reaches out to both traditional gaming and non-gaming platforms.

Till the game was released on the Nook, 94% of its revenue came from Facebook, the social networking site on which its app is most used. Nearly 12.5 million active users of the site use the word-game app. With the game reaching the e-book reader, the company hopes there will be diversification.

Getting started with Words with Friends on the Nook is quite easy. On opening the app, the game loads and users can play against their friends. Doing all this will take less than a few seconds. The game has been specifically created for a multiple-player experience. Words with Friends is popular even among celebrities like Alec Baldwin. Recently he caught the attention of fans of the game when he got into trouble with an airline when playing the game.

Nook Gets Several Apps in the Recent Weeks

In addition to Words with Friends, the e-book reader has been carrying a few more games. Some of them are Angry Birds, Mad GAB, Office Gamebox, Plants vs Zombies, Magic 8 Ball and Atlantis Sky Patrol. Besides game apps, the e-book reader has recently added Netflix.

So here is a detailed note on why you should gift your loved ‘bookworm’ a Kindle touch ereader.

The touch feature

One of the best things about the Kindle Touch-Screen ereader is its touch feature. Unlike the previous versions of the ebook reader, which had a keyboard attached, the Kindle Touch-Screen is a multi-touch ebook reader. Also, the powerful processor in the ereader enables faster and seamless page turns with a tap of your finger.

Storage and backup

One of the best things about the Amazon Kindle is that you can carry all your favorite books wherever you go. The Kindle can store as many as 3000 books (around 4 GB) and supports PDF, TXT, MOBI, PRC, MP3 and audible formats. In addition to that, Amazon automatically backs up your entire Kindle content on the cloud, so that you can download them whenever you want.

Easy on the eyes

The Kindle Touch-Screen also uses the E Ink technology, which is like reading on paper and not on screen. So the Kindle can be used to read even in bright sunlight, as easily as you would read in your room. Added to that, the Kindle Touch-Screen comes with 8 adjustable font sizes and 3 font styles, which can be set to your comfort. 

Long battery life

The Kindle Touch-Screen has a long battery life of upto 2 months with the wireless switched off and 3 weeks if the wireless is on. This makes it a perfect companion on your vacations, be it for a few days or even a couple of weeks. 

Easy access to books

Buying and downloading the free Kindle ebooks from the Amazon site is very easy. As your Kindle touch-screen would be registered to your Amazon account, you can use the Whispersync network to the “Shop in Kindle Store” and buy the books you want with the easy-to-use 1-click option.

But wait, that’s not all. Amazon has recently started a Kindle Users’ public library, which allows you to borrow from over 5000 books for a reasonable price, that too without any due dates.

Wi-fi and 3G options

The Kindle Touch-Screen model is available in two variants – Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi plus 3G. The Kindle Touch-Screen £79.99, which is the Wi-Fi only model, would be the best option if you have wireless connectivity at home or have easy access to hotspots. The 3G Kindle Touch-Screen, which is priced on the higher side, could be great if you travel a lot and intend to download books and get periodicals while on the move.

The Kindle Touch screen ereaders also have the experimental browser for accessing the net and an Mp3 player to play your favorite music in the background.

The current market for tablets has been flooded with new products. From Amazon’s contribution to the Kindle Fire to Sony’s eReader options, there are plenty of tablets to choose from. However, the HP Touchpad stands out for several reasons. Some of these are:

Pre-Installed eReader Application

The HP Touchpad interface comes with an Adobe Reader application that is installed by default. This application allows users to read PDF files on the tablet. This is perfect for reading basic documents and some ebooks which are in simple formats.

eReader Applications are Available for Download

The HP Touchpad is powered by WebOS. There are several eReader applications that can be downloaded and used with this operating system. One of the most widely used is the Kindle application created by Amazon for WebOS. By downloading this application, users can read ebooks that are formatted to be opened only using Kindle software.

Another application which has similar uses is pReader. This is useful for reading files that not formatted by proprietary software. Therefore, documents and eBooks with formats like mobi, ePub and PRC/PDB can be read by using this application. Both applications have their advantages. However, the Amazon application limits the number of eBooks that can be read as it only accepts the Kindle format.

Adding Android to the HP Touchpad

Though HP Touchpad comes with pre-installed WebOS, users also have the option of installing Android OS by using a custom ROM that is based on MIUI. This also gives users access to thousands of applications that have been created to cater to the needs of Android users. Among these are several eReader applications that can be downloaded and utilized.

The new software gives the Android OS a new touch, making it resemble iOS. MIUI has given the Android OS several new applications and skins in order to make it more visually stimulating. Users will be able to customize their settings, menus and homescreen.

Recently, in the US, Amazon released two devices – Kindle Touch and Fire. This shows that e-books are being accepted widely by readers in the US. The uptake of e-books in the country is quite high when compared to that in the rest of the world. There are a few reasons for this, as we will discuss below.

Late Release of Kindle in Rest of the World

In the US, Kindle (first generation), was released in 2007. It was brought out to other markets only in 2009. The same trend is seen even now. For instance, Kindle Fire was released in the US recently, but it is yet to reach the UK. However, the uptake of the first generation Kindle was quite slow in these markets when compared to that in America when it was first released.

Readers in UK have to Pay VAT for Reading on e-Book Readers

e-Books in UK have VAT, also known as value added tax. This is not applied on print books. Also, the books in the UK are generally offered as part of deals. So, readers generally get more for what they pay. On the other hand, in Australia, new books in print are quite expensive.

When compared to the cost of books in the UK, those in Australia can be three times as high. This is one of the reasons the uptake of e-book readers in Australia is higher than that in the UK. Also, in the UK, there are quite a few stores that sell second-hand books. Through the stores, readers can get the books they want, for a fraction of the price they have to pay – with VAT included – on e-book readers.

In the US and Australia, locating a physical bookstore close to residential areas can be quite difficult. This means that people generally have to travel a lot to visit a store or log on to online stores and place orders. With Kindle, people can get the books they want, with ease, almost instantly. Contrarily, in the UK, there are a lot of physical book stores. Their availability makes it easy for those who want a book, to purchase it easily.

Trends in the E-reader Market

E-readers which utilize E Ink continue to dominate the industry. These are considered a better option than devices which use LED screens. The new E Ink technology, the ‘pearl’ display, has remained the most popular screen type since its release in 2010. Improvements to software have allowed e-reader providers to increase the number of times the pages can be turned and refreshed.

Keeping It Simple

Though the current market seems to favor e-readers with tablet PC features, one of the highest grossing products this year has been the Barnes and Noble Nook Color. It was launched in 2010 and is primarily an e-reader. It has several features for e-reading applications. Some of these are: a range of enhancements for the text, presentation options for children’s books and magazines and screens with minimal glare.

Introducing Touchscreen Technology

With the migration of most smartphones into touchscreen territory, it was only natural that e-readers would follow. The first touchscreen e-readers were introduced by Sony – the Sony Reader Pocket Edition and the Sony Reader Touch Edition. Barnes and Noble also catered to the touchscreen trend with the release of the Nook Simple Touch. Amazon and Kobo also introduced touch screen devices, the Kindle Touch and the Kobo eReader Touch, respectively.

Usability of the Interface

The newer e-readers have evolved into sophisticated devices, outstripping their predecessors completely. With better displays, battery life (one charge can last for up to a month) and touchscreen capacity, the new e-readers are much more usable. They are also more compact and easier to transport.

Most e-readers in the current market weigh less than a pound. The Amazon Kindle, the Sony Reader Wi-Fi, the Barnes and Noble Nook Simple Touch and the Kobo eReader Touch Edition all weigh between 0.37 pounds to 0.47 pounds. This is significantly lighter than the 3^rd generation Amazon Kindle (with keyboard) that weighs 0.60 pounds.

E-books were initially read on PDA’s, which were the predecessors of the smartphones that are used today. E-reader devices have evolved a great deal since then. Some reasons stated by analysts for the potential growth of the industry are:

Consumers prefer E-Ink displays for reading

Many readers seem to prefer e-ink to the LCD screens that are traditionally used. This is because e-ink is considered easier to read. Users have been known to complain that LCD screens cause eye-strain. Over the years, e-books have reduced the aspects that were once cited as annoying, such as the flashes between viewing the pages. Many experts have predicted that colored e-ink screens will be the next step, which will be useful for content like magazines.

Steady reduction in prices over the years

Though the prices of e-readers were initially extremely high, they have dropped considerably in recent years. The e-readers have been improved and expanded, and basic model e-readers are available for less than $100 and by next year, the prices are expected to have fallen further.

Better battery life

Due to the use of e-ink displays, e-readers have battery lives that last for weeks or even months unlike tablets which need to be recharged within hours or occasionally days. The longer battery life is billed as one of the biggest advantages of owning an e-reader and because of this, e-reader developers are unlikely to change this feature.

Ideal size for reading

E-books can be read on a tablet PC, which is an option that many people choose. Unfortunately, reading on a tablet for an extended period of time is tiring, especially as the device must be held much like a book traditionally would be. E-readers are lighter and easier to carry around.

Read Free Books through Prime Program

One of the biggest steps Amazon has taken with Prime is providing a lending program via its library. Kindle users will be able to access several e-books through this. If they have subscribed for Prime, they will be able to read a book for free anytime. There will be no due date on the lent books. Customers will be able to take one title every month. This feature comes on the heels of the streaming service that Amazon started a few months ago.

It allows members to watch television shows and movies in its cloud library. No extra charges are levied on those availing the service. In addition to this, Amazon has been making waves in the market by reducing the price of its Kindle models. It has also brought out a new Kindle Fire and an e-reader with touch-screen capability.

Amazon has Edge Over Competition

A senior e-market analyst stated that the lending initiative taken by Amazon throws light on the need for a strategy that combines content, software and hardware. Amazon, Sony and Apple are in a position to make the best of these assets. They have the power to convince their partners. The companies also have an edge over their competitors. They have the provisions needed to use their services and products in a symbiotic way.

e-Readers Encourage People to Read More

Harris Interactive, a New York based research firm, stated that studies indicate that owners of e-readers are likely to purchase more books on average when compared to those who read traditional books. The former’s interest in books is shown in the fact that such people purchase e-readers. Having the product generally encourages the owner to read more that he would otherwise.