Google Play Now Available For Nook HD And Nook HD+

Barnes & Noble announced on Friday that Google Play is now available on the Nook HD and the Nook HD+. Before now, the tablets were in a walled garden of sorts and were only allowed to install applications from Nook’s own store. Now, they’re able to access more than 700,000 Android applications and tons of music and video content. That means you can, essentially, turn your Nook HD or Nook HD+ eReader into a full-fledged Android tablet.

“By adding Google Play to NOOK HD and NOOK HD+, we are offering our customers even more great entertainment on our award-winning tablets,” said William Lynch, chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble. “Now with access to more than 700,000 apps and the best reading experience available, NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ are must-see products for entertainment lovers looking for high-quality tablets at incredibly low prices.”

The update will begin rolling out to customers in the United States and the U.K. today and requires a Wi-Fi connection.

Microsoft Invests $300 Million In Barnes & Noble

Microsoft and Barnes & Noble on Monday announced the formation of a new partnership that will spin the bookseller’s digital Nook and College businesses into a new unnamed subsidiary. Microsoft’s investment of $300 million will bring it a 17% stake in the newly formed business, which is valued at $1.7 billion, and Barnes & Noble will own approximately 82.4% of the new company. “The formation of [this new subsidiary] and our relationship with Microsoft are important parts of our strategy to capitalize on the rapid growth of the NOOK business, and to solidify our position as a leader in the exploding market for digital content in the consumer and education segments,” said William Lynch, CEO of Barnes & Noble. “Microsoft’s investment in Newco, and our exciting collaboration to bring world-class digital reading technologies and content to the Windows platform and its hundreds of millions of users, will allow us to significantly expand the business.” Share of Barnes & Noble stock surged 80% in pre-market trading on the news.