Along with its Nook eReaders, Barnes & Noble has released a few different Android-powered tablets under the Nook brand, with the most recent models being the Nook HD and Nook HD+. It looks like those Nook HDs will also be the last Nook tablets officially made by Barnes & Noble, as the company announced today that it plans to create a "partnership model" when it comes to manufacturing Nook color tablet devices.
Barnes & Noble announced the news earlier today as part of its fiscal 2013 year-end results, explaining that it has decided to pass Nook tablet manufacturing on to third parties in order to "significantly reduce losses in the NOOK segment by limiting risks associated with manufacturing." Future Nook tablets will be manufactured by and co-branded with unnamed third parties, while Barnes & Noble will continue to churn out Nook eReader products on its own. The book seller says that it plans to continue selling the Nook HD and Nook HD+ through the holidays and that it will continue to offer support and software upgrades and enhancements for its digital bookstore.
Barnes & Noble's Nook line began life consisting only of eReaders, but the company eventually expanded the family to include tablets like the Nook Color, Nook Tablet and the aforementioned Nook HD models. Those devices never seemed to gain significant traction in the Android tablet market, though, and as a result it looks like B&N has opted to turn to third-party manufacturers to help it continue the line and reduce the financial hit that it's been taking. The good news is that the company plans to continue supporting its existing users, something that it's been good about lately with updates that've included things like support for the Google Play Store. Have you ever used one of Barnes & Noble's Nook tablets?
Via The Verge, Barnes & Noble
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