Nook Color Update Sends E-Reader Wars into Overdrive

An update to Barnes & Noble's Nook Semblance adds Android 2.2, an app store and Adobe brick Jiffy, giving people the cheap Android tablet they've e'er wanted.

Amazon River, your move.

The e-reviewer wars take up been slumberous ever since Amazon's Enkindle won the pricing battle against the Nook e-lector last summer. Neither company has introduced new hardware since past, nor have they dropped prices. (Amazon will shortly release Kindle with Special Offers, an ad-supported edition of the e-reader, for $114.)

But maybe these companies aren't so interested in belligerent for consecrated e-proofreader supremacy anymore. Perhaps the colouration touch modality screen, reading-oriented tablet is the new battlefield for companies like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, who sell sixpenny hardware in hopes of ensnaring readers in the companies' respective ecosystems.

That's certainly the sheath with the Corner Emblazon, which sells for a modest $249. The latest software update adds e-mail; Adobe Flash endorse; and impinge on apps like Aggravated Birds, Flight Check, Throb News, and Quickoffice. Barnes & Nobl

e is building its own app computer storage, with just about 125 apps now, and many to occur.

Now, all eyes are along Amazon to found a pad of paper of its ain. The company hasn't proclaimed anything, but the signs are all there. Amazon has its own Android app store, along with a market for books, music and movies. It has distribution through its online retail site and partnering brick-and-mortar stores. Rumors are sparkly up, pertinent that an Android pad from Amazon seems inevitable.

If Amazon is so building a tablet, I doubt that its hand will beryllium forced away the Corner Color update. Only let's all Leslie Townes Hope that the stage is put back for another e-reader price war — this time, in color.

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