Nook Update Adds "Zoom View"

Barnes & Noble announced today the addition of DC Graphic Novels to their digital lineup, along with an update for the Nook Color and Nook Tablet that adds a new feature called Zoom View that allows for reading graphic novels and comics in a panel-by-panel sequence rather than full pages.
The addition of DC Comics brings classics such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to the Nook, titles which Amazon has had since last November. I'm always annoyed with these press releases, as they try to make the latest news seem like it's by far the most amazing and important thing that's ever been achieved in the history of the world. Given that the Nook software already had the capacity (as used in Article View for magazines and Text Zoom for children's books), a panel view function should have been included from the start for graphic novels. Why only now after a year and half on the market?
The press release states that Barnes & Noble are "the leading provider of digital graphic novels and comics" in the history of forever. If this is true, then why do they deny access to their fixed layout format for graphic novels to independent comics creators? Why not open the door to small publishers and graphic artists who want to share their work? But no, BN only cater to the major publishers and illustrious comics houses, seemingly unaware that most of those comics were created by outsiders to the industry. Superman itself was originally published in a fanzine back in 1933.
But I digress.
I purchased Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns to check out the new Zoom View (and of course to read the book again). The new Nook variant of Panel View is smooth and elegant, zooming in on the relevant portion of the page, which fills the entire screen, unlike many panel views which create a layered box over a darkened background image. This creates a more realistic feel of actually reading a comic as your eyes scan from one section to the next or up and down the page. The fluid motion is really nice, with subtle pull-ins and push-outs as the image adjusts to fit the screen.
So it's thumbs up for the new Zoom View. Now if B&N would just release the specs so we can make our own...

Published on June 26, 2012 11:53
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