B&N prepping new tablet with 'revolutionary screen technology'

[afv011]

Now we're getting word from a credible source that Barnes & Noble, a 7-inch pioneer with its Nook Color and Nook Tablet, is set to bring out a new 7-inch model that features "revolutionary screen technology."
The source, who's proven reliable in the past, wouldn't elaborate on the specifics of that technology but said that it was developed in-house by Barnes & Noble (with the help of "another company") and had not been seen in another product before.

So it looks like Amazon won't be the only one with a new 7 incher. It's getting crowded, and that's only good for the consumer.

Source

[carld]

I was ready to order a Nexus 7, but with so many interesting tablets about to come out in the same price range I decided to wait. I'm interested to see what B&N can come up with. I wonder it the "revolutionary" screen could be viable color e-ink?

[Anabran]

"I wonder it the "revolutionary" screen could be viable color e-ink? "

That would be very cool indeed

[robertc88]

Originally Posted by carld

I was ready to order a Nexus 7, but with so many interesting tablets about to come out in the same price range I decided to wait. I'm interested to see what B&N can come up with. I wonder it the "revolutionary" screen could be viable color e-ink?

A new tablet was expected from them to keep up with the Jones but with a REVOLUTIONARY display? :-)

I did not order the Nexus either but I know I will take a look when either Walmart or BB gets them.

[tubemonkey]

Revolutionary or not, it'll be locked down. That rules it out just as the lack of a card slot ruled out the Nexus 7. The new Fire is also ruled out, because it too will be locked down.

[carld]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Revolutionary or not, it'll be locked down. That rules it out just as the lack of a card slot ruled out the Nexus 7. The new Fire is also ruled out, because it too will be locked down.

I thought the Nook Tablet could be flashed with a new rom and all that? I haven't really been keeping up with it.

Will the new Fire be locked down any differently than the old one? I've actually just rooted my Fire, and I'm looking into to putting a new rom on it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by carld

I was ready to order a Nexus 7, but with so many interesting tablets about to come out in the same price range I decided to wait. I'm interested to see what B&N can come up with. I wonder it the "revolutionary" screen could be viable color e-ink?

Maybe it will be LCD that can be viewed quite well in the sun. That would be very nice.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by carld

I thought the Nook Tablet could be flashed with a new rom and all that? I haven't really been keeping up with it.

Will the new Fire be locked down any differently than the old one? I've actually just rooted my Fire, and I'm looking into to putting a new rom on it.

I'm tired of rooting. I got the original NC and rooted it, because there were no other options in that price range. Things are different now and full Android access is readily available. That means new Fires and Nooks are non-starters for me.

[DarkScribe]

Originally Posted by Anabran

That would be very cool indeed

Have you seen colour eInk? It is pale, washed out, pastel-like. Unless they can make it much more vibrant - and so far they can't - it would not be popular.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DarkScribe

Have you seen colour eInk? It is pale, washed out, pastel-like. Unless they can make it much more vibrant - and so far they can't - it would not be popular.

Even if they could make color eink looks very bright and vibrant, it's too slow to use for a tablet.

[ScotiaBurrell]

There is no revolutionary tech that BN has that others don't have.

[Zetmolm]

Revolutionary? Must be 3D touchscreen technology so that you can actually feel the objects that are displayed!

[charmian]

I'm kind of skeptical about this revolutionary screen. I'm thinking it'll be some marginally improved LCD or possibly AMOLED screen.

B&N is in a pretty hard position now. If this is a tablet, can they make it either cheaper or better than the Nexus 7 or upcoming new Kindle Fire? (and then there's the rumored mini-iPad)

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

There is no revolutionary tech that BN has that others don't have.

True.
But if the tech is only available in limited quantities it might not be deployable by other, bigger players. (Like the flexible eink screens from LG; there are theoretically available to the bigger players like Amazon or B&N, but not in a quantity needed for a next-gen product.)
B&N's tablets don't need the same volume of screens as a Samsung or Apple product so a component supplier ramping up a new display (say a new generation transflective panel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfl...rystal_display) might only be able to provide a few thousand panels a week -- enough for a Nook but nowhere near enough for an iPad.
And if B&N is willing to pay a higher per unit cost...

That said, I tend to take claims of "revolutionary" products with a pound of salt until the product actually appears. Otherwise it could be a marketting ploy to freeze the market until the vendor can play catch up. So the "revolutionary" tech could simply be a hyped-up incremental improvement.

Caveat emptor applies to these kinds of rumors.

[StoryEnthusiast]

During this period of drastic changes, I'll wait. Competition is good and will bring better but cheaper tablets to us consumers.