Clearly trying to stay a step ahead of the competition when it comes to eReaders, Barnes & Noble has come out with the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight. Basically, eInk displays are not made for reading in the dark or in poorly lit conditions and the new Nook solves this problem by including an adjustable light to overcome this.
While B&N is rather reluctant to give out the details on its technology, a part of it appears to comprise of LED lights placed along the top of the screen, just below the bezel. At least this seems to be the case, given the fact that the illumination is stronger along the upper portion of the screen as compared to the rest of it. What’s more, the level of brightness on the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight can be tweaked according to the available lighting conditions.
“To date, readers have had to compromise: either buying black-and-white eInk reading devices to optimize their outdoor reading or color LCD devices to be able to read at night in bed with the light off. Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight is like two Readers in one. With our new GlowLight technology and the most advanced eInk display available, we’ve created the most versatile, high-utility Reader ever; as exceptional for reading in the darkest bedroom as on the brightest beach. At only $139, Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight provides customers an amazing value and is the only device of its kind in the world,” cited William J. Lynch, CEO of Barnes & Noble.
At the same time, the GlowLight can be turned off completely too. So reading in brightly lit environs should not be a problem at all. As for the main features of the eReader, they’re very similar to its predecessor’s. It comes with 2GB storage and this can be expanded up to 32GB with a microSD card. The device has a 6-inch touchscreen stretched across its face and integrates Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n connectivity. Half an hour of daily reading with the GlowLight turned on should proffer 1 month of usage on a single charge.
The Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight price is $139 (approx. Rs. 7,150) and it is marked out to be made available in early May through nook.com as well as Barnes & Noble outlets.
