Wednesday News: Swiss watch found; B&N discontinues Nook Tablet
Mystery as century-old Swiss watch discovered in ancient tomb sealed for more than 400 years – Archaeologists have found 100-year-old watch in a 400-year-old sealed tomb. I’d like to think this is the result of time travel, but I suspect it is the result of the 400-year-old tomb not being fully sealed for all of the 400 years. By, we can certainly speculate as to other causes until the truth is revealed. Mail Online
As sales plunge, Barnes & Noble says it will stop making Nook tablets; e-readers live on – Even though Nook Tablets have been greatly reduced in price, I’ve held off buying one for giveaway here at Dear Author. There were rumblings that the ongoing fire sale signaled that B&N was going to ax the Nook Tablet. Those rumblings were correct.
At the earnings call today, B&N admitted that it was discontinuing the production of Nook Tablets. It would continue to sell the Nook Simple Touch (a device that has had disappointing sales) and its biggest seller, the Nook Glo. Nook lost a lot of money. Revenue was down 34% compared to last year, not only from lowered hardware sales but also from content sales.
“Digital content sales increased 16.2 percent for the full year, however, they decreased 8.9 percent for the fourth quarter due in part to the device sales shortfall as well as the comparison to the The Hunger Games and Fifty Shades of Grey trilogies a year ago.”
Honestly, I would not expect to see any innovations from B&N on the eink side. It will likely continue to sell basic eink devices until such time as Nook Media can be offloaded. B&N will continue to sell the Nook Tablet through the holiday season (but why would you want a device that they aren’t going to continue to support and upgrade?)
Retail revenues were down 10 percent, some due to lower Nook unit sales. Ugh all around. One thing is for sure, Simon & Schuster isn’t going to see any uptick in books stocked unless it starts to pony up some coop money. B&N desperately needs major publisher support. paidContent
FAA to Relax Rules for Gadgets in Flight – WSJ.com – An influential advisory panel is recommending that the FAA allow the use of some personal electronics at all times, including take off and landing. This would allow you to continue to read on your ereader even after the cabin door closes and the plane prepares for take off. Not all electronics will be treated the same, however. Cellphones are being considered on a separate basis. WSJ (paid link)
Get Your Geiger Counter Out (ebook royalties are back, and this time they’re toxic) – According to HarperCollins, and agency priced e-book generates about half of the royalty in hardcover generates for an author. With agency pricing being struck down for two years and Barnes & Noble demanding more money and better terms from publishers, is unknown whether this disparity in royalty will continue.
This article, however, suggests that a 50-50 split in e-book royalty must be the future for publisher and author contracts. Currently it is 25% off the net and actual royalty dollars can increase or decrease based upon the net received by publishers. I’ve often thought the “net” is the worst term in the royalty contract but no one seems to be too concerned about that, focusing primarily on the percentage figure.
Under agency pricing, 25% off the net generally was about 17% off the cover price.
My first ebook reader was the original Nook device and I upgraded to the Simple Touch when they offered a trade-in. It’s nice as a back-up device but when I had a chance to grab a basic Nook Tablet (no longer for sale) for $99 last Black Friday I jumped at it. The prices have never gone so low and I figured it couldn’t be that bad an investment.
From what I understand the Nooks can be “rooted” to become an Android-based tablet. I have *no* knowledge about such computer things but it’s an option for those of us who want to keep using them after/if B&N drops support.
I do wonder what’ll happen with all the ebooks sold, etc…
Interesting times, indeed.
@Jane- What do you think about the future of the B&N e-inks? Those going on sale at all? If they’re eliminated, what e-ink options remain?
I bought a Nook Color a few years ago when libraries were not yet set up to lend out books via Kindle. I have been very disappointed in the selection of free and low price books, and recently bought a refurbished Kindle. The Nook now sits on my bedside table gathering dust.
@Liz H.: My guess is that they will continue to sell the nook glo without much change until such time as it doesn’t break even. It’s their best selling unit and so long as they don’t lose money on the glo (like they have with the tablet and the simple touch) then I think they’ll continue to support it.
Well I have a Nook tablet HD and I like it a lot. Since they opened it up to the Google Play Store, its became my go to device.Too bad they didn’t do that to begin with. My question is, with Barnes & Noble discontinuing this device,what should I buy instead? Any recs for tablet devices? Thanks..
I am happy that they might allow me to use my Kindle or iPad during but feel that the day they start allowing cell phone use on planes in flight is the day that I stop flying. It is bad enough to have trips to stores, restaurants, and other public spaces spoiled due to listening to one-sided conversations, but it would be absolutely maddening in a plane.
At this point, perhaps the Big 6 (Big 5?) should consider opening their own cooperative books stores? Or maybe they should buy B&N? I don’t know, but it seems like something has to happen or we’re just not going to HAVE any book stores left. Already in downtown San Francisco all I have within walking distance of my office is City Lights. And that’s great if I want the latest litfic or a book of poetry, not so great if I want genre fiction of any kind.