No fancy names here. Barnes & Noble today unveiled the Nook Tablet, a 7-inch Android media tablet that boasts a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 1080p video playback, 16GB of internal storage (with microSD slot) and 11.5 hours of battery life.
The tablet’s display aims to increase color accuracy while reducing glare for reading. The tablet displays 16 million and B&N says it has invested in IPS lamination to reduce reflection and glare and offer expanded viewing angles.
The Wi-Fi-only tablet will come preloaded with 14-day trials to a number of multimedia services, including the preloaded Hulu Plus on-demand video service and music services MOG, Rhapsody and GrooveShark.
The Nook Tablet will be in direct competition with Amazon’s Kindle Fire this holiday season. The Nook Tablet’s $249 price tag is $50 over Amazon’s Fire, but it also features 16GB of internal storage, double that included on the Fire, and has more RAM and a higher resolution display.
Pre-orders of the Nook Tablet begin today and the company says it will start shipping the device next week.
Barnes & Noble also announced enhancements and lower prices for its Nook Color tablet eReader, and Nook Simple Touch, the company’s E Ink eReader. The Nook Color will get “more than 100 feature enhancements, access to top video and music services, popular apps, comics and more” and will sell for $199, according to a press release. Additionally, the Nook Simple Touch will now sell for $99.
Shares of Barnes & Noble remained flat following the announcement at $11.55.
