Barnes & Noble today unveiled the NOOKcolor, a colour display eReader.
“With NOOKcolor, we’ve combined the functionality and convenience of a 7-inch portable wireless tablet with the reader-centricity of a dedicated eReader, and employed a breakthrough color screen technology that will wow customers,” said William Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble. Added Lynch, “NOOKcolor enables Web browsing over Wi-Fi, music, games and much more, but reading anything and everything in brilliant color is the killer app and squarely the product’s focus.”
NOOKcolor specifications:
- Operating system: Google Android 2.1 (upgradeable to 2.2 in 2011)
- Software: Pandora Internet radio, Chess, Sudoku, crosswords, and a media gallery application
- Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
- Display: 7-inch 1024 x 600 VividView LED-backlit lCD touchscreen
- Storage: 8GB onboard / microSD cards up to 32GB
- Connectors: 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, microUSB port
- Dimensions / weight: 8.1 x 5 x 0.48 inches / 15.8 ounces
More than two million books, enhanced books, newspapers and magazines, and other interactive content will be available. The company is making a big push into children books offering more than 130 digital picture books and the ability for children to interact with the stories. It is also making inroads into social media with an application that ties into Facebook and Twitter.
Barnes & Noble will continue to sell its e-ink eReaders, the Nook Wi-Fi and Nook 3G (both will receive a major firmware update next month) alongside the NOOKcolor.
Barnes & Noble will sell the NOOKcolor for US$249 at Barnes & Noble stores, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Books-A-Million. It is expected to begin shipping November 19th.