Blio Now Available in Apple's App Store, Offering Seamless Experience to Readers

WELLSELEY HILLS, Mass., July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- K-NFB Reading Technology today announced that Blio, a leading interactive, engaging, and flexible ereading software application, will be available for download from Apple's App Store onto the iPad, iPhone, and iPod beginning July 12.

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Readers who already have a Blio account can now read all their books on their iPad, iPhones or iPods by downloading the app from the Apple App Store and entering their Blio account information.  

Books which have been previously purchased at any Blio-enabled retail storefront will be automatically available in the users' Blio library on their Apple device.  Blio, launched previously for the Windows operating system, is preloaded on millions of tablets, netbooks, laptops, and mobile devices and can be downloaded for free at www.blio.com.  

Through its partnership with Baker & Taylor, the world's largest distributor of print and digital books, Blio brings to life content categories that cannot thrive on e-ink platforms, including children's books, lifestyle books such as travel and cookbooks, and textbooks among others.

"Making Blio available on these Apple devices was a promise to readers that we are excited to keep, and we will continue to work with mobile carriers and device manufacturers to offer the best reading experience to as many people as possible. The flexibility and choice to read on multiple devices, coupled with ease of use, are important to us and we are excited to see how Blio continues to transform the way readers engage with books," said Bob Nelson, President of Baker & Taylor's Digital Group.

Blio incorporates a book's full-color printed layout, allowing digital books to stay true to their original format, while creating a vibrant, personal experience for readers.  Enhanced books with professional Read Along functionality allow users to engage with their content like never before.   Blio also enables readers to insert page notes, highlight, and browse the web from inside their books.

"Blio brings books to life by offering the most engaging, flexible and interactive reading experience you can find enabling readers to engage with their passions in a whole new way. And, it allows readers to take their libraries with them wherever they go. Now they can carry Blio across their devices, from desktops and laptops to smartphone and tablets, for a seamless experience," said Ray Kurzweil, world-renowned inventor and founder of K-NFB Reading Technology.

Due to Apple's new policy regarding purchasing products within an app downloaded from the App Store, the app does not provide a link to the Blio store. iPad, iPhone and iPod users can use their devices to purchase books by visiting http://mobile.blioreader.com.

Connect with Blio and Baker & Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/Blioreader and twitter.com/BakerandTaylor.

About K-NFB Reading Technology Inc.

A joint venture between Kurzweil Technology and the National Federation of the Blind, K-NFB Reading Technology Inc. has propelled reading technology forward for the last 30 years through the invention of omnifont OCR, flatbed scanners, text-to-speech technology and reading machines for the blind. K-NFB once again is redefining the boundaries of the printed word through Blio, which promises to set the standard for digital reading. This free application works across platforms and presents books as they were intended - in full color and as laid out by the publisher. K-NFB is headed by CEO Ray Kurzweil, a 30-year innovator and pioneer in assistive technologies. The National Federation of the Blind is the largest, most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States.

About Baker & Taylor

Baker & Taylor Inc. (www.baker-taylor.com) is the world's largest distributor of books, digital content and entertainment products. The company leverages its unsurpassed worldwide distribution network to deliver rich content in multiple formats, anytime and anywhere. Baker & Taylor offers cutting-edge digital media services and innovative technology platforms to thousands of publishers, libraries and retailers worldwide.  Baker & Taylor also offers industry-leading customized library services and retail merchandising solutions. Baker & Taylor is proud to power Blio (blioreader.com), the world's most flexible, engaging and revolutionary e-reading application. Charlotte, N.C.-based Baker & Taylor is majority owned by Castle Harlan Partners IV, L.P., an institutional private equity fund managed by Castle Harlan, Inc., a leading private equity investment firm.

Baker & Taylor and the Baker & Taylor logo are trademarks of Baker & Taylor Inc. Blio is a trademark of K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc. Other company and product names mentioned for identification purposes may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Follow Blio and Baker & Taylor on Twitter at @Blioreader and @BakerandTaylor

SOURCE Baker & Taylor, Inc.