Barnes & Noble Debuts Nook App for iPhone, iPad

Samantha Murphy, Senior Staff Writer

17 August 2010 03:32 PM ET

CREDIT: Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble released a Nook e-book app for the iPhone, iPad and PC Tuesday, replacing its existing B&N Reader app.

The company hinted at this update when it launched its Nook for the Android app in July.

The apps come with an array of new features, including the ability to tailor the way users consume content. Nook users can create personalized designed themes and choose from many colors for fonts, backgrounds or links. The display can also be optimized for day or night reading with one-tap options.

Barnes & Noble designed the Nook for iPhone to optimize eBook cover art and text on the new iPhone 4's Retina display. It also works on older iPhone and iPod touch models.

Nook titles can be read across multiple devices by syncing the last page read of the last eBook opened on their iPhone or iPod touch with other Nook software-enabled devices, including the iPad, Android smartphone (OS 1.6 or higher) or Windows-based PC desktop, laptop or netbook. Nook for iPhone also syncs users' entire library, current reading position, notes, highlights and bookmarks with other Nook software-enabled devices.

The apps also use the company’s LendMe technology, which allows users can lend an e-book to a friend for free.

Exclusive to the iPad app, Barnes & Noble also launched its first in-app "rating" feature, which gives users a way to indicate and sort their favorite reads. Users can tap the stars beneath all of the eBooks in the library to give each a rating of one to five.

The announcement also marks the company's re-introduction of its desktop client as Nook for PC. With the ability to shop the Barnes & Noble eBookstore, provide access to a customer's personal Barnes & Noble digital library and share eBooks with friends, Nook for PC gives users the flexibility to eRead on their Windows-based desktop, laptop or netbook.