B&N, Samsung launch reading-focused Nook tablet

The new Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is unveiled in New York. The co-branded tablet will replace B&N's Nook. AP

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Barnes&Noble and Samsung have together unveiled a new reading-focused tablet that will replace the bookseller's own Nook tablets.

The 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook will sell for $179, the same entry price of the non-branded Samsung Galaxy Tab 4.

The move had been expected since Barnes& Noble said in June it would team up with Samsung to release co-branded Nook tablets in August.

For the first time, the Nook will have a camera. The 1.3 megapixel camera on the front is on par with what's on other tablets, but the 3.0 megapixel rear one isn't as sharp.

The Nook offers access to both the Nook app store and Google's Play store for Android apps - the latter unavailable in previous Nook tablets.

The New York company spent years investing in its Nook e-book reader and e-book library, but they struggled to be profitable. And in December the chain said it was evaluating the future of its tablets. Still it offered a new non-tablet e-book reader during the holiday season.

In an interview, Barnes & Noble CEO Mike Huseby says Nook tablets hadn't done well in the past because they weren't full-featured. This one, he says, has a camera and other features expected in Android tablets, while offering additional ones targeted at readers.