GLOW IN THE DARK: Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch holding the new Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, the first e-reader that lets you read in the dark. - Reuters
NEW YORK: Book retailer Barnes & Noble Inc showed off an e-reader with a screen that can glow in the dark - a move aimed at improving its position against Amazon.com.
The 6in touchscreen device, which will hit US stores in early May for US$139 (RM417), lands in a market where Apple Inc and Amazon are battling with Barnes & Noble for customers who want to read books and magazines on small portable devices.
Weighing just under 7oz (200g), it is Barnes & Noble's lightest Nook yet and is aimed at people who want to read in the dark without a light.
To read in the dark with other e-readers that use electronic ink, consumers had to buy an external light that attached to the device.
While Apple's iPads have backlit screens, Barnes & Noble said its technology creates a better nighttime reading experience than an LCD screen because it throws off less light and will not disturb a reader's partner who is trying to sleep.
While Barnes & Noble is first to market with a glowing e-reader, Amazon may be hot on its heels.
The Internet retailer is working on releasing its own e-reader with a glowing screen, according to a report on April 6 from the blog TechCrunch.
Amazon did not respond for comment on the report. - Reuters