With its Nook business ready to plummet into obscurity, Barnes and Noble has recently partnered with Samsung to deliver its latest device, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook. This device represents Barnes and Noble’s exit from hardware production and may finally allow the book company to give Amazon the competition of a lifetime. But will this gadget pack the right punches and ultimately deliver the Nook from ruin?
A History of the Nook: From E-reader to Samsung Tablet
Barnes and Noble is no newcomer to the tablet market. Its foray into the world of e-books and e-readers began in 2009 when the company launched its first e-reader. The device offered a unique design which placed the company at the forefront of the e-reader market.
But competition from Amazon soon threatened Barnes and Noble’s position within the digital ecosystem. Though Barnes and Noble later released several other devices including the Nook GlowLight and Nook HD, products like Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Fir HDX attracted more customers, resulting in declining Nook sales. In January 2014 the Nook business was reported to have declined by 50.4 percent.
What could Barnes and Noble possibly do to recover from such serious losses? Obviously, the Nook business could not continue as it is. Company executives needed to fulfill their promise to work with third parties on the production of co-branded tablets. Samsung, the Korean hardware giant, was selected to develop the hardware for the company’s latest Nook device.
What to expect from 7-inch Tablet with Nook Software
With the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook, Barnes and Noble may finally be able to stand firm against competition from the likes of Amazon. But how exactly will the new Nook tablet fare against its rivals? The design and features offer insight into the tablet’s potential as a Kindle replacement.
The new Nook sports a 7-inch, 1280×800 touchscreen display, runs Android 4.4 and offers many of Samsung’s unique features and apps. With a weight of 9.74 ounces, the device is the perfect travel companion. Another aspect of the device that readers and consumers will love is its price. If the original Samsung Tab 4 is any indication, the Tab 4 Nook may also have an affordable price tag to entice consumers.
The 7-ich tablet is up against devices like the Kindle Fire HDX but apart from its display and a few other features, other specifications are yet to be released. Though much comparisons between the new Nook and Kindle Fire HDX cannot yet be made, the original Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 offers insight into possible specs.
The original Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 boasted features like a microSD card for the expansion of memory up to 32GB, 3.0-megapixel rear-facing camera, 4,000mAh battery and IR remote control. It’s very likely that these features will also be available on the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook.
In addition to these features, customers will also have a wide range of benefits associated with the Nook software. With the Barnes and Nobel brand, you’ll be able to access millions of books, magazines and other content. The new Nook will most likely also feature the user-friendly interface which devices like the Nook HD offered. This interface enables multiple family members to customize the device based on each user’s preferences.
The fact that the Korean hardware giant will be focusing on building the hardware may also enable Barnes and Noble develop even more features for its Nook software. For this reason, customers can also expect the possibility of software updates and other developments on the latest Nook tablet.
When will the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook be available?
Based on Barnes and Noble’s recent announcement, customers won’t need to wait for long to access the device. The new Nook will hit US markets in August. In addition to the device, the bookstore conglomerate will continue to sell its former e-readers and tablets to customers. These include the Nook GlowLight e-reader launched during last year’s holiday season.
If you are a lover of e-books and e-readers, this new Samsung Nook tablet may be a great summer purchase. This device could be the perfect alternative to Amazon tablets which account for a majority of the e-reader market. The fact that the Korean hardware giant is on board this new development suggests that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook may be Barnes and Noble’s first step out of the doldrums of its past.
Barnes and Noble Reenters the Tablet Market
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