Google Play Books vs Nook

2025. Google Play Books purchases on iOS now can be done without App Store’s commission



Google has managed to wrangle permission to sell its e-books and audiobooks directly through its Google Play Books app on iOS. This is, of course, a bit like being given permission to breathe, but only after filing the appropriate paperwork in triplicate. Historically, iOS apps have been allowed to display content you purchased elsewhere—like a book you heroically hunted down on the vast and treacherous plains of the internet—but actually directing users to a website to make a purchase has required a special dispensation from Apple, presumably written on parchment and delivered by a messenger on horseback. Now, thanks to an announcement that was likely drafted with a certain amount of quiet glee, Google has revealed that users will be able to click a handy little “Get book” button, which will whisk them away to the Google Play website, where they can finalize their purchase using their Google Account and saved payment details, all while carefully sidestepping Apple’s infamous 30% toll. This, naturally, is a development that Apple will watch with the enthusiasm of a cat observing a rival feline encroach upon its sunbeam.


2021. Google Play Books will help kids to learn to read



Google Play Books has added some new features to help make learning to read easier for young kids. First, it allows children to listen to books being read aloud, and kids can also tap on individual words to hear them spoken out loud. They can also read or listen to thousands of kid-friendly definitions, many of which have illustrations to support comprehension and learning. Google claims that most of their books for children have the new reading tools enabled. Parents can also download a free sample of any children’s book to confirm if reading tools are enabled for that title before purchasing the book.


2018. Barnes & Noble released new Nook tablet



Barnes & Noble introduced a new Nook 10.1 tablet priced at $130. Aside from the screen size (a modest 224 ppi), there isn’t much to highlight about what will likely be a standard budget Android tablet with 32GB of storage, two cameras and a headphone jack—though this does count as a feature in 2018. The soft-touch finish and lightweight build make it an ideal holiday present for readers who want to immerse themselves in their favorite books for extended periods. Barnes & Noble is dubbing it a “game changer.” This is the first Nook since 2016, when the once-popular bookseller offered an extremely affordable $50 model.


2018. Google Play audiobooks get Smart Resume and bookmarks



Google Play Audiobooks is receiving a significant update that introduces several new features that were notably absent when it debuted earlier this year. The most beneficial new feature is Smart Resume. Instead of resuming in the middle of a sentence or even a word when your audiobook playback is interrupted, this new feature will intelligently rewind to the start of the word or sentence, helping you maintain your immersion. This update also includes the ability to set bookmarks so you can easily return to your favorite sections of a book and the option to adjust the playback speed—whether speeding it up or slowing it down to thoroughly enjoy a favorite passage in Ulysses. If you regularly use Google Assistant and are already taking advantage of the newly launched Routines feature, you'll be pleased to know that you can now choose to continue your audiobooks when you wake up or begin your commute.


2016. Google Play now allows to gift e-books



Google Play Books has issued a small update to their Android app that allows users to gift e-books. You simply need to navigate to one of the books on your homepage or within the Play Books Store and click on the three dots. There is an option to gift the e-book to someone with an existing account and they will get instantly notified that you have sent it and gives them detailed instructions on how to read the book within the app.


2014. The new Nook is almost all Samsung Galaxy Tab



Barnes & Noble has announced the "the first ever full-featured Android tablet designed for reading" - Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook, a 7-inch tablet made primarily by Samsung. It includes something called the “Barnes & Noble Advantage,” a deeply linked app that allows for book downloads as well as tech support. To be clear, this is a Samsung device being sold in B&N stores with a bit of branding. In terms of partnerships it’s not a bad idea but it does suggest that dedicated Nook hardware is no longer a priority. Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is on sale today in stores and online for $179 after $20 rebate. This is the same price available online at Amazon and other retailers.


2013. Barnes & Noble drops Nook tablets buy keeps manufacturing e-ink readers



Barnes & Noble announced in its earnings report on Tuesday that it will cease in-house production of Nook tablets. Instead, the company will adopt "a partnership model for manufacturing" these tablets, while it will persist in developing e-ink readers internally. “We plan to keep innovating in the single-purpose black-and-white e-reader segment,” CEO William Lynch stated. He also mentioned that “most of the content sales come from non-tablets” and that e-readers have “been our main tool for acquiring customers for content.”