Barnes & Noble

Today's show begins with a history lesson on the fate of the Microsoft Courier tablet and its possible reincarnation with a modified version of the Windows 8 operating system.… Read more

AT&T gets its first LTE smartphones this weekend, Google Reader is integrated with Google Plus, and we learn more about the death of Microsoft's Courier tablet project.

Links from Tuesday's episode of Loaded:

As we reported last week, rumor had it Barnes & Noble would be launching its next-generation, Android-powered Nook Color tablet e-reader on November 7. Now it's become official, with Barnes & Noble sending out invites to the media for an event that morning in New York.

While the invite doesn't refer to a specific device, it's a pretty safe bet to assume it's a new Nook Color, though it's unclear whether it will be called the Nook Color 2 or something else altogether. The new tablet will presumably have an upgraded processor and perhaps an upgraded screen and some additional design refinements. … Read more

With rumors flying that Barnes & Noble will soon be unveiling its next-generation Nook Color, we've been waiting to get word on just when the new device will hit. Well, according to The Digital Reader Blog, that day will be November 7--or so its sources say.

We'll soon see what Barnes & Noble has up its sleeve and whether the new Nook Color will be called the Nook Color 2 or something else altogether. The new tablet will presumably have an upgraded processor and perhaps an upgraded screen and some additional design refinements. … Read more

Holy e-comic clash, Batman!

Amazon, apparently in an effort to add muscle to its recently unmasked Kindle Fire tablet, sparked a real-world fight over superhero comic books when it inked a deal with DC Comics for the exclusive digital rights to a hundred popular graphic novels, including Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, the Sandman, and Watchmen.

That arrangement apparently did not sit too well with rival bookseller Barnes & Noble, which has an e-book reader it would like to see flourish. In response to DC's deal, Barnes & Noble removed the physical copies of the titles from its store shelves, … Read more

If you haven't already noticed, CNET.com got a big makeover last night, and the new layout makes it much easier to browse the latest reviews, news, and videos from CNET.com and CNETTV.com.… Read more

iPhone 4S pre-orders top 1 million units, Yahoo pulls out of its bid for Hulu, and Netflix announces the cancellation of Qwikster in a brief blog post.

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

What does Barnes & Noble think of the Kindle Fire? While it may not have released a statement about the device, the company's actions speak louder than its words, at least regarding an exclusive digital graphic-novel deal that freezes out the maker of the Nook.

Just after announcing its Kindle Fire tablet last week, Amazon also announced a partnership with DC Comics to sell digital copies of 100 of DC's graphic novels exclusively on the Fire.

"We're thrilled to work with the leader in digital books to bring many of the world's most beloved and best-selling graphic novels to Kindle readers," said Jim Lee, co-publisher of DC Entertainment, DC Comics' parent company, in a statement. These included superhero books starring Batman and Green Lantern, the entirety of Neil Gaiman's fantasy/horror series "The Sandman," and Alan Moore's "V for Vendetta," which has recently seen its Guy Fawkes masks revived by members of the hacktivist group Anonymous.

Barnes & Noble responded to the deal in a statement today by revealing that it has tied its physical copies to its digital ones.… Read more

Barnes & Noble is now selling its Nook Color and Nook Simple Touch Reader at Target stores, the company announced today.

The devices hit Target store shelves yesterday, Barnes & Noble said. The Nook Color, which comes with Android and a 7-inch display, retails for $249. The 6-inch, e-ink-equipped Nook Simple Touch Reader sells for $139.

As a new retail partner for Barnes & Noble, Target joins other companies that currently sell the book retailer's devices, including Best Buy, Office Max, and Wal-Mart, in addition to Barnes & Noble's own stores.