Barnes & Noble just invited me into that beta-testing group I told you about earlier this week, and guess what I found?
B&N has a new mobile app with a new browsing experience. It is called Browsery and is described in Google Play as "your ultimate destination for book conversation and discovery. Connect with fellow readers with the tap of a button."
B&N said in the email that Browsery was "a crowd-powered book recommendations platform to help readers find a book or discover something unexpected."
I haven't been able to do more than look at the app, though; it wouldn't accept my password (that's par for the course for beta testing). But I have spent a few minutes in the app, and I'd say it is less of a reading app than a social app. You can ask questions, answer them, and also receive notifications of current activity.
Have you tried it? What do you think?
Sounds to me like it’s B&N’s version of GoodReads,
sounds like someone is finally building a Good Reads competitor.
TBH I find B&N’s app more appealing than GR
My biggest complaint about fiction books is the limited amount of information available from searches. As an example, I like adult post-apocalyptic fiction, but only that with no zombies, aliens, or supernatural anything in them. Not easy to search for, at least that I’ve found.
Also, I want fiction books to have a more detailed description of the setting. For example, say a medieval mystery set in 1400’s Britain. Bits are cheap, I’d like to see a very detailed description for all books to help me find those I’d like to read.
It sounds like the new B&N app might help with this, as a discussion platform, if not a database. I can’t get into the Beta, too late.
It allowed me to sign in. Other than ask/answer questions, what else is there to do? Is there a way to read your saved books at all?
It doesn’t link your B&N accounts.
For it to be worthwhile to me, I hope it’ll become available as either a website or desktop app for Windows and Linux instead of just a mobile app. Mobile apps are okie for consumption, but not much else.
Meanwhile B&N’s stock price is now at historic lows. Whatever this program is or does, it probably won’t be around much longer because the company probably won’t be around much longer
I have tried it. It is seems to me to be a low quality sales app. It asks you questions and attempts to link your replies to books B&N sells.
My local library has something similar.
The questions at this point are rather lame, clearly designed to force high praise.
Once/if it achieves a critical mass it could be useful.
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