Yes, Barnes & Noble is still a part of the eBook market. Amazon may have a bunch of popular Kindles and weird Gary Busey ads, but Barnes & Noble still exists and is trying its hardest to compete in the tablet space.
Barnes & Noble has partnered with Samsung on its tablets, which are still being branded as Nooks. The online retailer recently announced a larger version of its Nook tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook 10.1.
According to Barnes & Noble the new, larger Nook 10.1 takes Samsung’s Galaxy Tab hardware and loads it up with software that’s “optimized for reading and entertainment.” The company is now selling the tablets online and in Barnes & Noble stores for just $300 (after a $50 rebate).
In addition to that “special introductory price,” Barnes & Noble is giving buyers hundreds of dollars worth of free content. Anyone who buys a Nook 10.1 or a Nook 7.0 will now get a “refreshed content pack” worth more than $200. The content includes four eBooks (Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None is the most notable), one episode of three different TV shows (The Newsroom, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Octonauts), and up to four 14-day magazine trial subscriptions. Buyers will also get several free apps and $5 in Nook Store credit.
Get over $200 FREE content when you buy either #SamsungGalaxyTab4NOOK + a $5 starter credit! http://t.co/CJF1OyfX8x pic.twitter.com/p5qwVgqLKb
— NOOK (@nookBN) October 23, 2014
“With the launch of the new large screen Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook, we have a fantastic lineup of devices for our customers to choose from as we head into the holiday gifting season,” said Michael Huseby, CEO of Barnes & Noble. “Customers are telling us that they love the reading and entertainment experience on our new 7-inch Samsung Nook and we’re certain that the addition of the stunning 10-inch model, alongside our popular Nook GlowLight eReader, will ensure that there’s a perfect device for everyone in the family at Barnes & Noble this holiday season and beyond.”
The new Nook 10.1 comes with updated Nook software. Barnes & Noble promises that the update will include a “cleaner visual design,” a “more immersive shopping experience,” and new navigational tools to switch quickly between content and the Nook Store. The software update will roll out to Galaxy Tab 4 Nook 7.0 tablets sometime in November.