Today in TechNew Barnes & Noble Nook gets back to basics with E Ink, touchscreen
Today, Barnes & Noble announced a new version of its e-reader, the Nook. The reinvented Nook, priced at $139, is meant to complement the Nook Color, rather than replacing it entirely, and the two devices are very different indeed. The bookseller has dubbed the new Nook "The Simple Touch Reader," meant to offer a streamlined alternative to the Nook Color's newfound bells and whistles.
Most notably, the new Nook offers a touchscreen (like the new Kobo e-reader) and eyesight-friendly E Ink, making it more of a straightforward e-reader than its experimental sibling, the Nook Color. Barnes & Noble intentionally kept things simple with the new Nook, and stated that it intends to target ebook fans looking for "a simple, pure reading experience." Unlike the Nook Color, the new Nook won't have access to a selection of Android apps.
At 5" by 6.5", the device is more square than both its predecessor and other e-readers on the market. The new Nook features 2GB of built-in storage for your virtual reading list, but is expandable through a MicroSD slot. The e-reader bears an uncanny resemblance to the HP TouchPad tablet, until you turn it over to see the contoured back, designed for comfort during marathon reading sessions.
Barnes & Noble is also introducing an in-store program that encourages Nook owners to "Connect to free and fast Wi-Fi and browse complete NOOK Books for free," though we suspect the company doesn't intend for you to camp out and read your way through its virtual shelves.
According to Barnes & Noble, the new Nook is available for pre-order now, and will begin shipping on June 10. The new Nook will go on sale directly through Barnes & Noble of course, and will also be available through Walmart, Best Buy, Books A Million, and Staples when it launches.
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