Dubbed the “simple touch reader” for readers of all ages, Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch said this pocket-sized version of the Nook was “inspired for readers turned off by buttons, keyboards and complexity.” (For the full story, check out today's report.)
Weighing only 7.5 ounces, the new Nook features 50% more contrast and is 15% thinner as well as 35% lighter than original Nook.
The device sports a 6-inch black and white e-Ink Pearl display with only one button for power. Lynch boasted that this new version is the “easiest to use, most portable e-book reader ever.”
The feature that garnered the most applause at the media event was that the battery life on this new e-book reader can last up to two months on a single charge based on an average reading time of 30 minutes per day. That means a reader could use the device starting now on a full charge until past the Fourth of July.
Powered by a 800Mhz processor, the latest Nook's form factor was designed to be contoured for reader’s hand and long stretches of reading.
The new Nook is Wi-Fi only (no 3G/4G connectivity), but it can also get access at AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide.
Lynch touted the new Nook as the “best value in e-book reader market.” Taking on Amazon’s Kindle 3 head-on, Lynch argued that the Nook is “10% less bulky” and the Kindle 3 has 38 buttons - 37 more than the all new Nook.
The all-new Nook, priced at $139, will be available for pre-order in stores and online immediately, and it will ship around June 10th.