Barnes & Noble introduced its Android-powered color e-reader, the Nook Color, at the end of October. The 7″ device runs Android 2.1, but was more or less limited to the Nook interface. However, Barnes & Noble is working on an Android 2.2 update for the device which should give users some kind of access to the Android Marketplace as well as a more typical homescreen, potentially making it one of the cheapest Android tablets on the market.

A B&N representative demonstrated the version of Android 2.2, currently in development, to Smartphone Magazine. The update will give users access to the Android Market, though it’s not clear if users will be able to access all Android applications or just those developed for the Nook using B&N’s promised SDK. However, users will reportedly be able to switch between the usual Android interface or the Nook interface as needed.

Beyond enabling a more typical tablet experience, the 2.2 update is also said to address performance and battery life issues. We noted that battery life is significantly shorter for the Nook Color compared to its e-Ink counterpart, so anything that increases the battery life is welcome.

The 7″ widescreen display is similar to the screen in Samsung’s Galaxy Tab or RIM’s PlayBook. However, the $250 price tag of the Nook Color would make it less than half the price of those tablets. There are other hardware differences, to be sure, but for many the price difference may be well worth the trade-off.

Read the comments on this post

See the original post here:
Nook Color will get Froyo update, become a "real tablet"