Barnes & Noble Phases Out Support for Older E-Readers, Prompts Concerns Over E-Waste

In a move that marks the end of an era for some of its oldest e-readers, Barnes & Noble has announced the discontinuation of support for select devices. The phase-out process is set to commence in April 2024, with services on affected devices being disabled. Subsequently, access to the Barnes & Noble bookstore will be terminated in June 2024, rendering the affected e-readers incapable of purchasing new books.

The devices impacted by this decision include the 2011 Nook Simple Touch, the 2012 Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, and the 2013 Nook GlowLight. Barnes & Noble’s decision means that these e-readers will be frozen in their current state after June 2024, preventing users from registering the devices or signing in with a Nook account. This restriction essentially locks the devices to their current owners, eliminating the possibility of passing them down to family members or reselling them.

While the e-readers will continue to function with limited capabilities, allowing users to read downloaded books and sideload ePub files, the move raises concerns about potential electronic waste. The affected devices, designed to encourage content purchases from the Barnes & Noble store, have limited storage for sideloading. Although the devices will still support PDF and PDB files, their diminished functionality may prompt users to seek alternatives.

E-readers have a reputation for durability and longevity, and the decision to discontinue support for these models may contribute to electronic waste concerns. Barnes & Noble acknowledges the potential environmental impact but emphasizes that the devices will still connect to Wi-Fi. This detail has sparked speculation that tech-savvy individuals might attempt to explore third-party solutions or add additional functionalities to the devices.

Acknowledging the impact on users, Barnes & Noble is offering an option for customers with these older e-readers. Users looking to upgrade can request a coupon to assist in funding the purchase of a new Nook device. As the e-reader landscape evolves, this move by Barnes & Noble raises questions about the future of older electronic devices and the responsibility of companies in managing the environmental impact of their product life cycles.