Barnes & Noble Nook Color Is An Android-Based Color Touchscreen eReader, Sources Say

Barnes & Noble has an announcement to make this coming Tuesday, October 26th. And, while the venue may suggest that it's not going to be a big announcement, a source speaking with CNET claims differently. In fact, the source's suggestion is that Barnes & Noble is getting ready to unveil a brand new eReader, named the nook Color. And, aptly so, considering this new eReader will supposedly feature not only a color display, but also a touchscreen.

The source, who refuse to be named, says that the entire company has been focused on this new design for their popular nook eReader. Features wise, the new nook Color is said to have a 7-inch color touchscreen display, be powered by the Android mobile Operating System, and should have a retail price of $249. The unnamed individuals says that the nook Color won't have the same functionality as Apple's iPad, but that considering the huge price differential, that the device's niche market location should still entice plenty of new customers. The individual also pointed out Amazon, saying that, "It's a big step ahead, instead of chasing Amazon."

The big mystery is the display. There's no word on who Barnes & Noble is using to make the display work for their needs, but some suggest that it could be the Qualcomm-backed Mirasol. That particular company has shown prototypes of color display eReaders in the past, but those aren't said to be ready to until 2011. There's also the possibility that Barnes & Noble could be using something completely different, which would also be part of the announcement. We don't have long to wait, as the announcement is scheduled for Tuesday, so stay tuned.

[via CNET]