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Barnes & Noble to announce Nook Color, an Android e-reader

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Barnes & Noble may introduce a new version of its Nook e-reader with a full color touchscreen display, powered by Google Android. CNET reports that the company will unveil the device on Oct. 26.

A tipster told the website that the device will be called the Nook Color, have a seven inch display, and sell for $249–a bold price. “It’s a big step ahead, instead of chasing Amazon,” said the anonymous person.

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Adding fuel to the fire, Engadget reports that “nookcolor.com” was purchased by Barnes & Noble in March.

Though it’s running Android, the Nook Color won’t have all of the features of a full tablet like the iPad, but it will be half the price. Barnes & Noble will continue to sell its current Nooks for a reduced price, and upgrade the firmware to improve the response time and speed of the device.

Questions and speculation

The lingering question: will the device use the new color e-ink or will it opt for a lit LCD or OLED display like the iPad? E-ink has been praised for its readability and low power consumption, but its slow refresh rate makes web content and videos difficult to view and its lack of a backlight makes night reading a chore.

This new Color Nook, assuming it exists, will be a strong statement of independence by Barnes & Noble and stand out from Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iPad. The Nook will be available at Wal-mart beginning Oct. 24. In April, the company added games and a web browser to the device.

Jeffrey Van Camp
Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Deputy Editor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
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