With all the press surrounding the major names in tablet PCs, it’s easy to forget that there are a number of devices that not only offer the same quality in a do-it-all machine, but that can sometimes offer even superior performance, especially in e-reading.
Baker&Taylor, the largest distributor of print and ebooks worldwide, has partnered with K-NFB Reading Technology to bring the Blio e-reader app to Azpen’s Android tablet. This e-reader app will allow Azpen users to turn their tablets into full-color e-readers, especially necessary for children’s and illustrated content, as well as open up a storefront marketplace for the browsing and purchasing of ebooks.
“Customers are looking for devices that can do it all. By offering Blio on our Android tablets, we’re able to provide our customers with a seamless and media rich experience,” said Jim Hu, CEO of Azpen.
Bob Nelson, president of Baker & Taylor’s digital group, said, “This new agreement with Azpen furthers our goal of creating new channels for publishers to have their content discovered, sold and read.”
A forthcoming study from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project to be released on April 5th will indicate what sizable percentage of survey respondents use their tablet PCs for digital reading, utilizing downloadable apps for purchasing, storing, and accessing their titles, as opposed to those consumers who purchase a dedicated e-reader device.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.
