Nook vs Kindle: Battle of the Android eBook Apps

Both Amazon and B&N have physical eBook readers, the Kindle and Nook (which runs on Android), respectively. Both now have apps available free in the Android Market to read and sync eBooks published in the corresponding online store. Both are very fast and have the same basic set of features, but neither can read the other's eBooks, which is understandable, but a shame (we might talk about that in a future post).

But which app is better? That might not be the right question to ask. BetaMax was technologically "better" than VHS, HD-DVD was technologically "better" than Blu-Ray, and 8-Track was "better" than cassette. But if you've got a "losing" player, you're not going to be able to watch the movies or listen to the music that you want because they aren't made for the "losing" formats.

Apply the same analogy to eBooks and you see where I'm going. eBooks might not be available at B&N, but are at Amazon, and vice versa. Or, as I found out, the pricing may be better at one store than the other.

But all that aside, let's look at the two eBook reader apps!

Trying to stay on the "Android" theme, I went out and got a copy of Isaac Asimov's I, Robot from Amazon for US$6.29 http://amzn.to/i-robot-ebook and B&N for US$6.70 http://bit.ly/i-robot-ebook-bn, then show you the experience I had with each in the two eBook readers.

http://is.gd/dDu3j

Category:

Entertainment

[blackacezworg]

you have got a dog issue.

[joelevidotcom]

@midgetman433 EXACTLY!

If I buy a hardback book from Amazon, I can read it in B&N.

If I buy a CD from Amazon, I can play it in a Sony CD player.

If I buy a DVD from Walmart, I can play it on my XBOX, PS3, set-top DVD player, or even in my computer.

WHY can't I do this for anything that I buy that's ~downloaded~?

DRM #FAIL!

[SkippyGraphicDesign]

Nook for the win!

[bodyenigma]

Looking to purchase college textbooks and I have a iPad. Any information on which is the best for textbooks.

[syraneko]

ezpdf 1.4 + free pdfs

[monoseb]

What about epubs ???

[valanasazi]

A dog issue hahaah, this guy is awesome

[IsmailAE]

but Aldiko is the best!

[IsmailAE]

Nook let's you side load books. Amazon does not. Nook reads ePub, Amazon does not.

[pjoiner0]

Do either of these support text-to-speech?