Barnes & Noble E-Reader Revealed, We Think

Oh, you want proof that Barnes & Noble is coming out with an e-reader of its own? Here. Gizmodo got the alleged photographic evidence, as if the earlier rumors, and then the announcement of a big announcement weren’t good enough. These mock-ups show a device that would resemble Amazon’s Kindle if not for the unique blend of e-Ink screen and color multi-touch on the device’s bottom quarter.  As expected, you’ll be able to type notes using a virtual keyboard. What you can’t tell from the photos is the screen size and feature set, though earlier reports say Barnes & Noble’s reader will have a 6-inch screen and should support Wi-Fi. It was also reported previously that the e-reader runs on Android, but you can’t tell from the photos.

Giz says Barnes & Noble will sell e-books from its own store at a “deep discount” compared to print, but browse B&N’s existing store and you’ll see that’s already the case. The real question is whether B&N gets in a price war with Amazon and Sony. Savings on books could prove important, as I imagine this reader will lean towards the expensive side. One last thing to chuckle at: Giz says the e-reader’s name, which couldn’t be revealed, is “freaking terrible.” The B-Reader? The Noble Tablet? Maude? We’ll find out next week. [via Gizmodo]