Not Apple, But Still Cool

While the news developing around Barnes & Noble developing an e-reader isn't new, it was finally confirmed and announced today.

It is called the Nook. More news will trickle in about this, as the event is live right now.

Currently, it has two screens, which is unique amongst other e-readers. One is a touch screen for navigating and typing, the other is the more eye friendly e-ink screen. Page turners are on the side and don't look as annoyingly press-able as the kindle first Kindle was. Speaking of which, this thing is waaaayyyyyy better looking. And comes in at cheaper price of $259.

Specs:

• Uses AT&T 3G network, but also has Wi-Fi built in
• 6 inch e-ink screen (16 levels of grayscale), 3.5 inch color touch screen LCD (very similar to Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch technology, using capacitive touch)
• 2GB of internal memory, but can add up to 16GB via micro SD cards
• 10 Day battery life (replaceable battery)
• Plays Mp3s (there is an internal speaker)
• No text to speech function however.
• Supports PDFs, ePub Formats, Fictionwise, most picture formats
• No web browser and does not understand Microsoft word docs.

Crowning achievement: "LendMe"

Aside from the dual screens they've provided which is pretty cool, they've allowed users who bought the e-books, to let friends borrow the book for 14 days, FREE of charge. And the book borrowing system will be compatible with another Nook, iPhone, iPod Touch, a couple versions of Blackberries, and some Motorola phones. Software is compatible with Mac and PCs.

Some books will be lendable while others will not. This is dictated by the authors, not Barnes and Noble. If you lend a book out, you will not have access to it for those 14 days.

Shocking bit of revelation: It is powered by Google Android. The same operating system that powers the MyTouch phone from TMobile and various other touch screen phones. This also means that development in the future, for more apps on the Nook is possible, as people are already developing apps for the Android platform anyways.

B&N are currently working on an e-reader app for Android and plans to support Windows Mobile.

There could be future deals, like DVDs and Blu Rays, where you buy the physical media, and then get a digital copy as well for one lump sum.

Nook will be sold in all Barnes & Noble stores throughout the holiday season. Pre-orders, however, begin tonight. Will start shipping around end of November.

Early Nook customers will get a free copy of "The Tipping Point" by Malcom Gladwell. I have this book. It is quite a good great read. Also, the guy is friends with Kenna.