Gizmodo claims that a tipster tipped them off on Barnes & Noble’s Nook 2 plans for 2010 -
- A full browser will be added to the Nook via a firmware update in the third week of April 2010 (next week).
- By the end of the second quarter B&N will release Nook Lite. It’s a $199 WiFi only eReader.
- Nook 2 (also called Project Encore) will release later in the year.
The Full Browser Software Update
Adding a full browser to the Nook would be a big step forward. Given that the Nook has WiFi support, Android, and that tiny color touchscreen the lack of a browser was particularly puzzling. With the rumored update users will be able to check email, check the news, and so forth.
B&N will probably restrict browsing to over WiFi only. Perhaps the browser will be on the eInk screen, perhaps it will leverage a combination of the touchscreen and the eInk screen. In either case it will add some much-needed functionality and make the WiFi very useful.
Nook Lite – Is $60 less worth the loss of 3G?
The price for the Nook Lite is a bit puzzling. There isn’t much difference in the value proposition -
- Nook at $259 with free 3G downloads and free connection to the store.
- Nook Lite at $199 with WiFi as the only option.
You could argue that paying $60 is well worth it – in return you get free wireless downloads and 3G connectivity. Especially since Nook uses AT&T and down the line that might mean International wireless downloads.
If Nook Lite comes with a touchscreen or another cool feature it might be a particularly good value at $199. Otherwise, the price should be $149.
Nook 2 – the Mysteries of Project Encore
Project Encore seems a particularly inappropriate name given the disaster that was the actual launch of the Nook. Perhaps they’re hoping for an encore of the ‘sold out and going for double the price on eBay’ excitement we saw when the Nook got sold out for Christmas.
Here are my guesses for the top 5 features Nook 2 will have -
- Touch screen.
- Color Screen.
- Text to Speech.
- App Store. Perhaps Android Apps. Perhaps Nook specific Apps.
- Break-resistant or hard to break screen.
B&N have shown an uncanny ability to integrate Kindle weak-spots into the Nook. The original Nook’s feature list was literally a list of most requested Kindle features (PDF support, ePub support, SD card slot, open platform, etc.) so it would not be a surprise if the Nook 2 combined some/most of the above 5 killer features with a few obvious Kindle weak points – limited PDF support, lack of folders, etc.
At best Kindle 3 vs Nook 2 will be the most exciting match-up of the year. At worst Nook 2 aka Project Encore will force Amazon to make Kindle 3 a much better product.
Filed under: Barnes Noble Nook Tagged: | nook 2, nook lite
I think 199 for the same device without 3g would be great, due to the fact that i live someplace without 3g coverage. Nook already has a touch screen so the lite would as well.
As to the “Disaster” release. It was six weeks it was back ordered, because it sold so well. People seem to love to forget that Amazon messed up the original kindle release so bad the device was unavailable for 5 months, after a 5 hour release. And remember, anyone who ordered their nook for Christmas and had the date pushed back to after Christmas got a 100 b&n credit.
Unless it’s still going to be e-ink, ‘no thanks’ on the color. The nook and Kindle are not the same type of device as the iPad, repeat after me; “The nook and Kindle are not the same type of device as the iPad.”
iPad – apple
nook and Kindle – orange
What if it were Mirasol? All of the advantages of e-ink, except video-capable framerates and color.
I’ve not seen one in person, but looking at the website it looks promising.
Interested in Nook info
What Nook info would you like to know?
I’ve thought that the nook was $75 overpriced to begin with. They will make the money off all the ebooks we will buy. Now that the ipad is out, while not an e-ink reader, you can read for short period on it, the price should be even lower. I want a nook dont get me wrong, the price point is too high right now.