The Wall Street Journal reported last week Barnes & Noble plans to release a new e-reader later this month. Thanks to a couple of sentences in an SEC filing, the new e-reader device was revealed.
The 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission contained one sentence of text to comply with Regulation FD fair disclosure rules. The filing says the company “indicated it expects to make an announcement on May 24, 2011, regarding the launch of a new eReader device.”
More likely, Barnes and Noble will be replacing its lower priced e-ink e-reader, “which has had major trouble competing with the third-generation Kindle in recent months”, according to CNET News. The original came out in 2009 and has struggled against the sightly less-expensive Kindle, which “features the latest generation e-ink display (Pearl) and double the battery life.”
Amazon is anticipated to drop the cost of the widely popular Kindle to $99 this holiday season and to compete, BN is going to have to be more cost conscience. “That may mean Barnes & Noble will do away with the small color LCD and touch navigation system that has become the Nook’s signature. We hope that Barnes & Noble moves to a full touch-screen system similar to the one that Sony now offers in its Reader line and really shrinks the size and weight of the device.”
On may 24th the BN plans will be revealed. Until then let us know what you would like to see in the new e-ink Nook.
