nook

LCD vs. e-ink: The eyestrain debate

As most people know by now, Barnes & Noble is releasing a new Nook Color e-reader in a few weeks, and that e-reader's color screen is an LCD. As soon as the company announced that its new e-reader had an LCD and not some sort of more exotic screen technology, some readers cried foul. In fact, the first comment out of the gate on our Barnes & Noble unveils Nook Color post was about eyestrain.

"It's very neat-looking, and the price point seems aggressive enough to make an impact for sure. That being said, is eyestrain an issue? I thought the benefit of e-ink was a combination of ease of reading, outdoor or well-lit reading, and battery life..."

A little farther down, another commenter wrote: "LCD technology for an eReader is going backwards for me. It's not that reading on an LCD is so horrible for me, but rather reading on an e-Ink display is so much more pleasing to my eyes."

Other readers came down more favorably on the side of LCD, saying they stare at a computer screen all day and it doesn't bother them. However you look at it, though, the Nook Color hasn't even hit stores yet and the debate over eyestrain is already raging. We got some of this when the iPad came out, but the discussion is more amped up because Barnes & Noble is calling the Nook Color the "reader's tablet," whereas the iPad hasn't been marketed first and foremost as an e-reader.

When we asked William Lynch, Barnes & Noble's CEO, about the potential for eyestrain with Nook Color screen, he said the company had done extensive research on displays and discovered that eyestrain with LCDs was not the huge issue many people were making it out to be. Furthermore, the company is also using a high-resolution next-generation panel from LG that's backlit with LED.

Now, it's not that I don't take Mr. Lynch at his word, but I thought I'd put in a call to an impartial third-party who might be able to shed some light on the issue. So I dialed up my ophthalmologist, Dr. Mark Hornfeld, who has a practice in Manhattan. I said, hey, Mark (yes, I call him by his first name), do any of your patients talk about reading with the iPad, Nook, and Kindle? Are people concerned about eyestrain when using these new e-readers? What's the deal?… Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 22: Samsung Tab or iPad?

This week on Android Atlas Weekly, Android is sued again, a 3D Android Picture Frame and everything you ever wanted to know about the Samsung Galaxy Tab, All that and more coming up on this week's edition of Android Atlas Weekly for Thursday, October 28st, 2010. Join Justin Eckhouse along side guest host, Senior Editor, Donald Bell.

News Stories

Android Market tops 100,000 applications http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-20020616-265.html

Paypal support should hit the Android Market … Read more

The 404 698: Where we pour one out for a real mensch...mazel tov! (podcast)

With only one day left before Mr. Stacie Bakalar's wedding, we're sure Jeff is busy getting prepared for tomorrow's celebration. But before Wilson and I head blindly into the fray, we ask the Financial Decoder herself, Jill Schlesinger, to join us in Jeff's absence to give us a preview of what to expect at our first Jewish wedding.

Jill lays down several rules for proper etiquette, but we had no idea that although the ceremony itself will likely be short and sweet, clapping is frowned upon. So we'll keep our hands to ourselves.

She also tells us about the traditional Jewish wedding chair dance that comes from the tradition of carrying royalty on chairs. We definitely have a lot to learn from Aunt Jill, and she even helps us decide exactly how much cash moneys to give to the happy couple.

Jill's very, very close to attaining her goal of 3,000 Twitter followers before the end of October, and with your help she''ll reach it, so follow her Tweets for daily financial tips that we can't always get to on The 404.

Jill always comes prepared with 404 listener questions, and today is no different. Along with advice about automatic routing within bank accounts (PIPs) and travel insurance (get it!), Jill also maps out the three golden rules for financial success:

1. Pay down your consumer debt (credit cards, car loans).

2. Have an emergency reserve fund that includes 6-12 months of living expenses tucked away.

3. Feed as much as you can into your 401k account, at least as much as your employer will match.

Most importantly, don't forget to set aside some money every month for your entertainment! This ensures that your binge drinking won't start at 11 a.m. like our friend Wilson this morning. Crossed fingers that we make it through Jeff's absence next week! Keep a lookout for more throwback episodes coming your way this weekend, and don't forget to send Jeff and Stacie your best YouTube video voice mail wishes to the404(at)cnet(dot)com!

Episode 698 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

The 404 697: Where we have an out-of-office reply (podcast)

Justin is still sick, and Jeff is a runaway bride, so it's just Wilson today. Don't worry because it's not another "cheese stands alone" episode. Natali Del Conte and David Carnoy come in to save the day.

On today's show, we get a first-hand perspective on the new Barnes and Noble Nook Color from CNET Executive Editor David Carnoy. It might be the poor man's iPad, but David thinks it's a worthy competitor to the Amazon Kindle. Natali still prefers her iPad, and Wilson wonders whether consumers will choose the Nook Color or the iPod Touch.

After the break, we get to something sort of scary: Rachael Ray in 3D! That's right. For some people like Wilson, 3D is a mildly nauseating experience, but combined with the queen of faux bubbly's talk show, it might be vomit-inducing. We think the next innovation after 3D is going to be the return of Smell-O-Vision.

Finally, if you want your own copy of David Carnoy's "Knife Music," leave a comment, and we'll randomly choose a winner. Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion to how Wilson makes it through another show alone.

Episode 697 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1338: Avatar 2: The tree of money (podcast)

The New Nook Color makes its debut: is it half a loaf or a half-bottle of wine? It's a tortured set of analogies, but we hope you'll get the point. Plus, big news about the show's host lineup (welcome Brian Tong!), Spotify is in the news but still not in the U.S., and the white iPhone 4 officially reaches "annoying tech unicorn" status. Oh, and "Avatar" will never die. Ever. --Molly

How to embarrass someone with an iPad

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

Barnes and Noble announces the new touch-screen Nook Color

T-Mobile customers will be able to use their phones to tether the Net to other devices starting November 3

The white iPhone 4 is delayed until the spring

You can get free laser engraving on the iPad

MySpace gets a much-needed makeover

Yahoo Mail also gets a makeover--with social networking to Facebook and Twitter

LimeWire is ordered to shut down all sharing features, leaving only the music store up and running

The Sony Walkman apparently is not dead in the U.S. The cassette … Read more

Barnes & Noble unveils Nook Color

Last week, CNET broke the story that Barnes & Noble would be introducing a $249 Android-based color e-reader for the holiday buying season. That product, the Nook Color, has just become official, with Barnes & Noble showing off the new device at a press conference at its flagship Union Square store in New York City today.

After a picture of the Nook Color was leaked to CNET, the biggest mystery surrounding the product was what type of screen it would sport. As we anticipated, the screen is a 7-inch touch-screen LCD, and not something more exotic like a color e-ink or a Mirasol display, which won't be available until next year. Barnes & Noble told CNET that this is a next-generation LED-backlit display supplied by LG, which is bright yet energy efficient. The product's designers added a special layer of laminate to the glass that covers the display to help cut down on glare and improve off-axis viewing.

A lot of people wondered whether this would be classified as an Android tablet, and while the device does run on Android 2.1 (it will be upgradeable to Android 2.2 next year) and offers additional functionality such as Web browsing, audio and video playback, and some basic games, Barnes & Noble is spinning it as a "reader's tablet." The Nook Color has built-in Wi-Fi but no 3G, and comes with 8GB of internal memory, plus the capability to expand capacity via a microSD expansion slot tucked into the bottom of the device near its "corner slot."

Here are its key specs:… Read more

Has 3D TV jumped the shark?

Links from today's episode of Loaded:

Sony drops the price of the PSP Go

Borders' Kobo eReader gets a price drop too

Sprint will sell the Samsung Galaxy Tab starting on November 14

The "Rachael Ray Show" is doing a 3D Halloween special

The CNET TV iPhone App is out

CNET partners with NPD Online Research to create a consumer panel where you can tell us what you think about electronics

A color-screen Barnes & Noble Nook is expected to be announced today

Borders drops price of non-Wi-Fi Kobo to $99.99

The original Kobo eReader didn't exactly wow us, but it's now cheaper: Borders has chopped its price to $99.99 from $129.99.. Though Borders says the sale is for a limited time, we expect that this e-reader--if it remains on the market--will be priced at $99 during the holiday buying season.

More recently, Borders began selling a new Kobo Wireless eReader with Wi-Fi for $139.99, matching the price of the Kindle with Wi-Fi. On top of the Kobo eReaders, Borders is also offering the Android-based Velocity Micro Cruz and Velocity Micro Tablet at $169.99 and $… Read more

3D cell phone

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

Barnes & Noble gets set to launch Nook Kids aimed at ages 3 to 8

Microsoft gives some indication that Windows 8 will be along in about two years

A 3D cell phone launches in India

Amazon.com is going to allow book lending on the Kindle

Google admits to gathering e-mail addresses, passwords, and URLs when collecting Street View images

Google adds new languages to Voice Search for Android

And Google adds World War II imagery to Google Earth

Ustream is going to allow pay-per-view broadcasting

The Sony Walkman cassette player is no more… Read more