Previously sharing or lending had been the exclusive domain of the Barnes & Noble competitor, Nook, which allows books to be lent once, to one other Nook user, also for a two weeks.

Unlike the Nook, Kindle-shared e-books can be read on any mobile device or computer. Publishers individually set lending regulations for their titles, so not all e-books are eligible on either device.

kstoeffel@observer.com :: @kstoeffel