Barnes & Noble launches new Nook HD with new hardware and better screen

NEW YORK (AP) - Barnes & Noble is rolling out two new versions of its Nook tablet with sleek new hardware and a sharper high-definition (HD) screen. The bookseller's move heightens the already intense tablet wars heading into the holiday season.

Barnes & Noble said on Wednesday that its new Nook HD will come in two sizes, one with a 7-inch (18cm) screen (measured diagonally), starting at US$199 (S$244), and one with a new 9-inch diagonal screen, called the Nook HD+, starting at US$269.

In addition to the new HD screen and a lighter body, Barnes & Noble is also increasing the services the Nook offers, adding a video purchase and rental service, allowing users to maintain different "profiles" and making it easier to browse titles in its book and magazine stores.

New York-based Barnes & Noble, the largest traditional United States (US) bookseller, has invested heavily in its Nook e-reader and e-books. In its most recent fiscal quarter, sales of digital content surged 46 per cent, but revenue from devices dropped partly due to lower prices.