Ice Cream and Planets Nook Covers

Ice Cream Shop Nook Cover: Oh. Ma. Gee. I want this one so badly! The turquoise/orange and graphics are fun and perfect

Inside: no pocket but lotsa orange.

Planets Nook Cover: It'd be cool if the dots glowed in the dark. I like the simple line graphics and nerdy -little-boy feel.

Image credit: BarnesandNoble.com

Readers - do you like cute covers for your tech?

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Jonathan Adler Nook Cover Review + Nook Tablet Update

Part of the explanation of why I've been MIA from the web lately: been flipping through finger-licking good books lately and on my way to my goal of finishing 10 books during 2012. One thing I used to pride myself on is being a bookworm, but since college, reading for pleasure never seemed a convenient option anymore. Since purchasing the Nook Tablet less than 2 months ago, I've completed 3 books (one of which was over 1000 pages) - not bad, eh?

After a while, I decided my Nook should be protected with a cover, one with a cute design that makes me want to pull it out of my bag in public. After a bit of searching, I decided shelling out $30 for the Jonathan Adler Pink Circles designer cover was worth it and so far it's held up nicely (sold by Barnes & Noble). The design features pink and purple circles and is made of this vinyl-canvas-like material on the outside, and thick hot pink canvas on the inside. It opens just like a book and has a convenient built-in pocket on the left side with a clear case for an ID card or a picture (below "This Nook Belongs To:"). How cute! The Nook snaps right in on the right side and the cover folds back to allow for easy reading. An additional plus is that it can bend over to form a tent shape that doesn't slide on some surfaces, so good for reducing glare and watching TV comfortably. The other cover I was contemplating was the Kate Spade black and white striped one with red inside but it was $80 so no way. Unfortunately it seems that neither cover is available anymore on the B&N site, but check in your local store - there may be some left.

Click to see more pictures → → →

Nook Tablet Review

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I used to be such an avid reader. In fact, I have records of every book I read since late elementary school. While the library is great and free, sometimes fighting over reserving popular books leads to procrastinating on finally tackling those great reads. Buying hardcovers can add up and as much as I love physical books, they become a hassle in this mobile stage of my life (think multiple boxes of 50+ lbs ... filled with books). Now, I happily can say I read for pleasure before I go to sleep every night.

At first, I thought that tablets like the iPad were half-dismembered version of computers, and a little bigger screened than smartphones. At $500+ a pop, such a big purchase didn't seem worthwhile when I already have so much technology. Randomly, during Thanksgiving Break, JJ and I ventured to the Barnes & Noble in Mira Mesa. There was a central station featuring book covers on vertically displayed TV flatscreens, many Nooks to play with, so many amazing covers for these eReaders.

After tinkering with the zippy interface and cute "me-sized" screen (it's the size of a paperback book, suitably) of the Nook Tablet, I became enamored. At $250, it was a pricey impulse buy but I have been using my Nook every single day. Extra plus: the excitement of having a new piece of technology less than a week after its release. After a whole month of use, I'm loving it. It's a more productive entertainment gadget than my laptop, where I'm easily distracted while being distracted.

I think the only downside is when B&N has sales and coupons, they never apply to Nook products (that makes sense), including the apps and ebooks. The app store does cost more than comparable markets. Initially there were some problems with it shutting off by itself, but recently nothing buggy has happened. You can also "root" it and do all sorts of other DIY adjustments, but I'll leave it at that ; ) P.S. Day 9 of 12 Days of Fabulous!

It does everything I need a tablet to do:

• Small and thin, easy to slip into a purse or backpack
• Wifi-enabled for instant searches and my blog-ogling needs
• Fast. SO FAST.
• Clear IPS screen - this is intense resolution, folks
• Battery lasts foreverrrr. I didn't charge mine for 3 weeks and it was still alive (only reading)
• Reads pdfs, research articles, ebooks in epub format too - downloaded straight from its web browser
• You can read in the dark with black background, white text. Great for reading to sleep
• Angry Birds and other apps (though it costs more than Android Market)
• It has a microSD slot for additional storage (16GB+)
• Cute covers available (feat. in a post soon), gives it more of a bookish feel
• You can lend an ebook to a nook friend for 14 days - access disappears on your Nook for the time so it's really like borrowing. Sharing is caring!

Amusing feature: some children's books have a "read to me" or "read and record," so that you can record your own voice telling your precious darling's favourite stories and they can listen to it any time. I would very much like an ebook copy of Samuel L. Jackson reading "Go the F*** to Sleep" for my toilet humour ears only, of course xD

Haha already using the reflective surface as a mirror xD

Readers - did you get new tech for Christmas/the holidays?

This review is 100% my honest opinion and the product was purchased with my own money. I am not in any way affiliated with B&N.