Dear Microsoft, Google Docs is still alive and will continue to update itself until all bugs are dead.

Today, Google Docs for Android receives a “major major” update, now allowing mobile phone and tablet users to enjoy the service’s popular collaboration functionality aside from UI optimization, rich text formatting support, and the offline word processing support.

Here’s the complete list of the new features according to the application’s official page:

1. 

   Google Docs for Android application.

   Create, view and edit Google documents with our new Android editor

2. Rich text formatting (bold, italics, underline, font color, background color)
3. Layout tools (bulleted lists, numbered lists, indentation)
4. Real-time collaboration – see edits from others in seconds
5. Cursor presence and highlighting

According to Rovio, the “Angry Birds: Space,” the first inter-galactic franchise of its popular birds vs pigs game, will go on downloads page on March 22, 2012.

Rovio Entertainment Ltd said the new “Space” episode is a “completely new game with innovative new gameplay, but with some of the familiar Angry Birds elements that fans already know and love,” adding that it will ship with “surprises.”

Angry Birds: Space Promo Poster.

Unlike the previous Angry Birds episodes, the new “Angry Birds: Space” will launch simultaneously in mobile gaming, animation, retail, and publishing so it looks like both the iOS and Android operating system will experience the first martian-inspired Angry Birds on the same date.

However, there’s an upcoming game that is currently getting a lot of attention in the Android world, the much-anticipated Temple Run for Android and according to its developer, Imangi Studios, the Android version will debut later this month, apparently, ahead of the new Angry Birds franchise.

Can Temple Run mirror the success of Angry Birds in Android?

According to Google’s official application marketplace, the original Angry Birds game was installed rated by more than 1 million Android users and recorded 50 million to 100 million downloads, while the Angry Birds Rio attracted 415,000+ ratings and 10M to 50M downloads, while the Angry Birds Season reaches 421,000+ ratings count as of this month and boasts 10 million to 50 million downloads.

Temple Run’s official Twitter page noted, “(Temple Run) has had over 36 million downloads. (in iOS). We’re blown away. Thanks to all 36 million of you!” The game’s Twitter account added, “Android fans, we love you too! We’re working as fast as we can. It will be worth the wait!”

Quanta Computer, one of Apple’s manufacturing partners in Asia, is reportedly set to ship new MacBook Air models this year and it will give the company a new revenue stream for the next fiscal quarter.

The new MacBook Air, the Digitimes report confirmed, is set to ship this year and it will push the revenue of Quanta despite the no-optical drive strategy of Apple’s popular ultra-book computer.

“Apple (is) set to launch a new MacBook Air model,” says the report, adding that “Quanta’s revenues are expected to grow” following the weak performance last month and the weaker than expected demand for laptops and netbook computers last year.

MacBook Pro, iPad and iPhone 3GS.

Apparently, tablet computers and smartphones dominated last year’s holiday season in United States and other countries including United Kingdom and Canada, and to stay relevant in the so-called “Post PC Era,” the new MacBook Air is expected to ship with the latest Mac OS X Mountain Lion.

If the new rumor is accurate, then it is possible that Apple will ship the new Mountain Lion MacBook Air in Q2 or Q3 or after the release date of the rumored iPad 3 next month. According to rumors, the iPad 3 is the first refresh that will include the Retina screen, or screen technology with 326 pixels per inch, also with Long-Term Evolution support, new iOS 5.1, and an 8-megapixel camera sensor.

Can the new MacBook Air outsell the iPad 3?

Using the new Mountain Lion operating system, the new MacBook Air (if true), is set to include some of the features of the iPad like the “Game Center” that connects the device to other device through gaming, the deeper Twitter integration with the Tweet-on-Safari support, also the share button similar to iOS Safari browser, and the much-anticipated, improved calendars, notes and reminders app that syncs with other Apple devices like the iPad and the iPhone using the iCloud service.

One analyst thinks that the new MacBook Air might arrive next month based on the recent MacBook Air and MacBook Pro refresh last year that introduced Sandy Bridge chips and Thunderbolt.

Piper Jaffray’s Gene Münster said “we believe Apple may launch new MacBook Airs as early as March,” and according to Apple Insider, Münster thinks that the new MacBook Air will “balance” the growth of the Cupertino, California-based company’s quarter-to-quarter revenue.

Adobe Flash mobile support may be near its end, but not the Flash Player for desktop or conventional personal computers. In fact, Adobe said it will continue to support almost all platforms available, including Linux.

However, Adobe said it will focus mainly on Chrome, the search engine giant Google’s own web browser. It is worth noting that Chrome is now available for Android, but it does not support Adobe’s Flash.

Adobe’s documentation revealed that its team has been working with Google to develop a new API or Application Programing Interface that will support hosting plugins running within the browser.

“Google will begin distributing this new Pepper-based Flash Player,” the document said, adding that the new API “will provide a layer between the plug-in and browser that abstracts away differences between browser and operating system implementations.”

The company which faces a shifting market — from traditional personal computers to mobile devices that ships with more powerful System-on-a-chip — will still rely on the PC market to stay relevant. On its Wednesday report, Adobe revealed that Google Chrome with the new “Pepper” API will soon support Linux soon, while other web browsers including Apple’s Safari will continue to get support from Adobe using the non-Pepper plug-in APIs.

Adobe’s new report also talks about Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 operating system, the first “true” operating system upgrade that will support devices with touchscreen like a tablet computer or a smartphone. According to Adobe, the new operating system will ship with a number of different user interface configurations for its desktop and the new interface called “Metro” inspired by the Windows Phone, and the configuration targets the x86/64 and ARM CPUs which create a number of different development targets for the Flash runtimes.

Adobe said they are closely working with Microsoft “to finalize details” regarding the operating system’s supported configurations for Flash Player and its AIR product.

To get more activations, Verizon offers new price tags.

Starting today, the HTC Rezound and the LG Spectrum are now $99.99 with a new 2-year contract agreement plus additional monthly fee for the data plan. According to Verizon’s press release, the deal will run until the end of February, 28th (we have 29th this year due to leap year).

Both the LG Spectrum and the HTC Rezound are “high-end” devices courtesy of dual-core CPU, 8-megapixel camera, touchscreen with more pixels than other Android devices, and the faster Long-Term Evolution technology.

The HTC Rezound with the "Beats Audio" Technology.

The HTC Rezound is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, and sports a 4.3-inch HD screen with more pixels per inch than the iPhone 4S, while the LG Spectrum features a larger 4.5-inch screen with 326ppi (similar to the Retina screen of the Apple iPhone 4 and 4S), and ships with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S3 SoC.

Apparently, Verizon wants more customers to adopt LTE.

“Googlighting” is the latest product of Microsoft’s imagination.

A new video was uploaded by Microsoft in YouTube today to criticize Google Docs. It is worth noting that Google owns YouTube.

Microsoft hates Google

Microsoft's Anti-Google parody, the "Googlighting."

The video is a parody of the 80s TV series Moonlighting, and it’s not funny. In fact, almost 60 percent of viewers hate the video. As of 8PM, the video collected 646 likes and 1,273 dislikes, with a top comment saying that similar to “Moonlighting,” Microsoft is “also relevant 23 years ago.” One top comment adds, “and Microsoft uploaded this video on a website owned by Google. Meme:LOL”

Google Apps, specifically Google Docs, are now a popular, but Microsoft thinks that businesses should avoid Google products because: One, it is limited, and two, poor Google support team.

Aside from productivity applications, Google and Microsoft are also rivals in the search engine business, and apparently, Google still leads with almost 70 to 90 percent market share (depending on location), while Bing still fails with no more than 20 percent of the market share according to the latest data available online.

Google Doodle featuring Google Waves

Google Wave is dead, but not Google’s new waves. For starters, Google Wave was a discontinued product of the search engine giant that focuses on “discussion and sharing.”

The new Heinrich Rudolf Hertz Google Doodle features a Google waves-inspired design, similar to the logo of the dead Google product. That’s nice.

The new Doodle celebrates the 155th birthday of the Physicist, and it is now attracting conversations in Twitter.

One guy writes, “I may not be a physicist but I do love today’s Google doodle/frequency wave in honour of Heinrich Rudolf Hertz,” another Twitter user adds one Hertz quote, “I do not think that the wireless waves I have discovered will have any practical application.” The new Doodle is expected to run until the 22nd of February and it is now available (almost) globally, except United States, Canada and other parts of the American continent.

Qualcomm’s next Snapdragon SoC or System-on-a-chip built around the Krait 28nm chip architecture shows the future of the company, and it looks like future Android devices that will use the new CPU will flaunt high scores in benchmark tallies.

This week, Anandtech tested the unreleased Qualcomm dual-core 1.5GHz SoC, and the data revealed that it is indeed the “a more powerful” chip compared to available devices like the Galaxy Nexus and Droid Razr with OMAP dual-core CPU, and also the popular Exynos dual-core chip running on the original Samsung Galaxy S II.

Linpack, both the single-threaded and multi-threaded tests, and also the BrowserMark and Sunspider tests show that it outperform other chips including the Qualcomm Snapdragon S3.

Anandtech also added that Qualcomm’s smartphone development platform with Android 4.0 is their “smoothest” Ice Cream Sandwich experience to date.

Analysts believe that Apple will focus on releasing the Apple TV, the real Apple TV, sometime this year and the company will use the popularity of the iPhone and the iPad to attract customers. In fact, it is possible (based on Steve Jobs Bio) that Apple will use Siri as its secret weapon to dominate the television market.

Well, Google is not into watching Apple, and one patent filed by the search engine giant revealed that in the near future, Android devices will support and interact with the television. According to Patently Apple,  the patent was described as a cloud-based technology that will allow voice commands from Android phone or tablet to interact with a Set-Top Box, Smart TV and other devices. For starters, the Android device equipped with the unannounced “Siri-like” application must have an internet access in order to control the supported TV. Sounds Apple-ish? Not really because if I’m not mistaken, Google is the first to file the patent.

Rumors say the next iPad, specifically the iPad 3, will support Siri. For starters, Siri is the voice command application available on the iPhone 4S. Siri can search the web, call a number listed on the contact list, define words and explain a noun using Wolfram Alpha’s data and so much more.

Google TV Patent Filing.

And still according to rumors, Siri could be the “secret weapon” of Apple to dominate the TV industry. Apple would give iPhone or iPad users a way to easily access TV channels, YouTube videos, and other content on their television and Siri might be the wireless bridge that will connect the devices.

Now, there is a race for TV supremacy and “coolness” and it looks like it is still Apple vs Google.

Google is currently the mobile phone “leader” based on the smartphone operating system market share count. At least 50 percent of all smartphones are reportedly running Android operating system, while Apple is still the most successful (single company) when it comes to profit count in the smartphone arena with its iPhone 4S and the older iPhone.

When it comes to tablet computers, Apple still leads with 60 percent “plus” market share, while Google’s Android is still the second most-popular courtesy of Android-based devices of Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Samsung, ASUS, etc.

Siri on Apple TV, the real TV and not the set-top mini box, might start the so-called “Halo effect” that will attract customers to buy an iPad and a TV because the two devices can communicate with each other. According to NY Times, Apple’s television ambition has been in the works already and the Cupertino, California-based tech giant started the plan two years ago.

Try searching “Temple Run” on Android Market and you’ll see not just one, but at least 5 “copycat apps” listed on Google’s official Android application store. Apparently, customers are not happy seeing these apps. One Android user said, “bad” and another one adds, “Makes me share it on Facebook? That’s retarded I’m not doing that. Un-istalled”

According to the application’s official Twitter page, the team is “working as fast as we can,” adding that one app on the Android Market is a “scam.” Imangi Studios LLC, the maker of the popular iPhone and iPad game, is planning to launch the device this month.

In the company’s Facebook Page, the Temple Run for Android was previewed using T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy S2, and it confirmed that the popular iOS app will soon run on Android Gingerbread 2.3 devices and up. It is worth noting that the latest version of Android is Ice Cream Sandwich, so we’re not yet sure if the game will support the said operating system version.

Sources: Facebook, Android Market.

Yet another “intriguing timing,” following the Windows 8 logo and OS X Mountain Lion last week. Rumor has it that Microsoft will give the iPad another strong asset, Microsoft Office.

A leaked image posted by The Daily revealed that developers at Redmond are now working on a new application and it is “near ready.” In fact, the report is claiming that Microsoft is set to submit the app soon for approval.

The Daily’s Matt Hickey said he played with the prototype of the software and he thinks that the app is quite similar to the OneNote app, but here’s the catch, the upcoming Office Suit is reportedly flaunting its own Metro UI-inspired user interface. For starters, Metro UI is a Windows Phone exclusive and it is also the motif of the upcoming Windows 8 operating system of Microsoft that will also power tablet computers aside from conventional personal computers, laptops and ultrabooks. “Metro” on my iPad? Why not, coconut.

Speaking of OneNote, the iOS app is reportedly set to get an update too to include the same “Metro UI.” Meanwhile, Windows will reportedly show-off his Android-hate and The Daily notes that devs are not working on Office Suite for Android.

In related news, Apple is reportedly set to unveil the next iPad next month, the iPad 3, and rumors say it will ship with a new CPU, new camera sensor, new touchscreen technology, and new body, reportedly with more revealing tapered edge. Is it possible that the Windows-centric Office Suit will hit the App Store alongside the new device and the new iOS 5.1?

According to research firms, the iPad is cannibalizing PCs, Macs and other laptops and netbooks. In fact, the next-generation OS X operating system, the Mac OS X Mountain Lion, looks quite similar to the iOS operating system of the iPad plus the same features including the notification center, the Twitter integration, the Game Center, the Share icon and the much-anticipated Reminders which syncs with the Apple ID account.

The Windows 8 is Microsoft’s way of adopting to the changing landscape of computing, from super-sized devices to smaller tablet computers. Apparently, the Windows 8 will focus on the Metro-styling for the upcoming tablet computers, while maintaing its computing power for the highly-spec’d computers and laptops including the upcoming ultra books.

Can the Microsoft Office Suite help the company to “stay relevant” in the tablet computer world dominated by its arch-enemy, Apple?

Source: The Daily.

“Better late than never.”

US Cellular is set to release its very own Samsung Galaxy S2, the most popular Samsung Android phone last year. Apparently, the device is already available in the United States via Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T, and US Cellular is the fourth wireless carrier to support it.

According to the carrier’s official Galaxy S2 page, the 2011 Samsung Android smartphone will go on sale sporting the tag price of $229.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate for new customers only and current customers should pay 249.99 after $100 if eligible for upgrade. It is worth noting that the US Cellular Galaxy S2 is similar to the T-Mobile variant.

The original Samsung Galaxy S II with physical home button and 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen.

Powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB RAM and Android Gingerbread 2.3 with TouchWiz, the U.S. Cellular Samsung Galaxy S2 will run on the carrier’s CDMA 800/1900MHz EvDo Rev A. The device is equipped with an 8-megapixel camera and sports a 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen with 480 x 800 resolution.

Release date is not yet available, but it looks like the smartphone will go on sale starting next month.

Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy S2 successor this year, the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Source: US Cellular.

So, my computation is “a bit underpriced” ($249 divided by two), because Barnes and Noble finally unveiled the new Nook Tablet with 8GB of on-board storage; and the price, it’s $199.

According to B&N’s press release, the Nook Tablet with slightly limited storage goes on sale starting today through the company’s official Nook page, and third-party retailers such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy will start retailing the tablet computer in the coming weeks.

Apparently, the new Nook Tablet 8GB will challenge the popular Amazon Kindle Fire 8GB which also sports the same $199 price tag. Surprisingly, the new Nook Tablet was introduced ahead of the rumored iPad 3 release date next month.

The new Nook Tablet is powered by a dual-core CPU, runs a custom version of Android operating system, and features a 7-inch touchscreen. Barnes and Noble is offering its own application store and the device supports third-party applications like Netflix and Hulu.

One of the pillars of the “Electromagnetic Theory of Light,” German physicist Heirich Rudolf Hertz is the center of the Google universe today, February 22nd (Australian Time) with his own Google Doodle. According to Google, the new Doodle celebrates the 155th birthday of Heirich Rudolf Hertz.

Electromagnetic Waves

According to his official Wikipedia page, Heirich Rudolf Hertz was the first physicist to demonstrate the existence of electromagnetic waves with his apparatus that produced and detected the radio waves. See more, visit Wikipedia.

Gone too soon, Hertz died at the age of 36. He was diagnosed with Wegener’s granulomatosis, an incurable form of vasculitis that affects the nose, lungs, and kidney, and other organs.

Google Doodle

Compared to other Google Doodles, the Hertz Doodle does not include the Google letters, and features an infinite-moving, colorful electromagnetic wave-like diagram. Clicking the image will initiate the Google search for Heirich Rudolf Hertz.

Time Zones

The new Google Doodle is now available in Australia and New Zealand because it’s already the 22nd of February there. The Doodle will presumably invade other Google sites later, including the United States and United Kingdom local Google websites.

Source: Google Australia.

Ahead of its release next month, the first high-end “Ericsson-less” Sony Android phone gets its first unboxing video.

After the Xperia U leak with the Xperia S, the first high-end “Sony only” Android smartphone receives its first “unboxing” video in YouTube today courtesy of soyacincau.com from Malaysia.

The Sony Xperia S will go on sale next month and third-party online retailers say the phone will start shipping during the first week of March. The Xperia S is expected to sport the tag price of US$550.

The Sony Xperia S ships with a dual-core CPU, 12-megapixel camera, 4.3-inch HD “Bravia” screen, and Android Gingerbread operating system. Sony said it will update the OS to Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 starting in Q2 or late Q1.

Source: Soya Cincau.

Barnes and Noble’s Nook Tablet with 8GB storage is reportedly joining the tablet market this month, and it looks like the device is set to steal the “cheapest” title from Amazon’s Kindle Fire.

According to the rumors, the Nook Tablet 8GB will introduce a new price tag, presumably cheaper than the 16GB variant’s $249, and some tech sites predict that the new 8GB Nook Tablet will be priced around $150 to $199. But here’s the catch, if you divide $249 by two (16GB divided by 2 is 8GB), then the unannounced Nook Tablet could sport the “game changing” $124.50 — crazy?

Analysts believe that there’s a market for cheap tablet computers in United States based on the estimated Kindle Fire sales last quarter and last month.

One analyst predicts that Amazon has sold at least 5 million Kindle Fire tablet computers since its launch last quarter, and it means, the whole 5 million Kindle Fire owners are new (or enhanced) Amazon customers that are only allowed to buy applications and other digital products through Amazon’s stores, giving the retail giant additional revenue stream.

If so, then it looks like the new Nook Tablet wants its own vibrant new customers that buy apps and music, or rent movies. I should mention that Amazon’s ecosystem is bigger than Barnes and Noble.

The new Nook Tablet is one of new Android devices that will go on sale this quarter alongside the rumored iPad 3. Can Apple maintain its tablet market lead? Last quarter, Apple’s tablet market share dropped to 57 percent Q-to-Q from 64 percent as cheaper Android tablets appear online, specifically the Nook Tablet and the Kindle Fire.

The cheapest iPad is the 16GB iPad 2 WiFi only sporting the tag price of$499, so obviously, you can buy two Kindle Fire tablets (with $101 change) with that amount. One analyst said Apple must join the 7-inch tablet wave to protect its market share.

Apparently, some iPad 3 rumors say the tech giant is expected to introduce an 8-incher iPad after its iPad 3 event next month, and if true, one analyst said it will  ”crush the opposition.”

Another possible scenario after the iPad 3 event is the “cheaper iPad 2″ strategy allowing Apple to introduce new price tags for its older but still big iPad 2.

The bottom line, some customers want “smaller tablet computers” while others prefer cheaper tablet computers. How can Apple maintain its tablet market lead with just one option?

New rumor, or just a recycled version?

Macotakara, a popular Japanese blog, is reporting now that the iPhone 5 will not arrive until October (or September) and it will follow the iPhone 4S strategy last year. The site said (translated):

“iPhone (5) Will Come this next autumn? According to Asian reliable source, next iPhone Will be Released in September or October, and this cycle seems to be kept for years.”

It is worth noting that Macotakara already predicted many Apple events and features of unannounced devices, but this new rumor is either a “safe speculation” or an “accurate prediction.”

In related news, new rumors continue to circulate online claiming that the iPad 3 will go on sale next month. If true, then the iPad 3 will still follow the “Apple iPad tradition.” Last year, Apple introduced the iPad 2 in Q1 with the company’s late co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs.

Sources: Mac Rumors, Macotakara.

A new leak posted online revealed the “sister” of the high-end Sony Xperia S, meet the new Xperia U, a smartphone that might hit the Mobile World Congress stage this month.

The leak shows that the Xperia U will ship with a smaller touchscreen, 3.5-inch similar to the iPhone 4S, but with “less” pixels per inch.

Other features of the Xperia U leaked online are dual-core 1GHz CPU, Android Gingerbread with Sony’s custom skin, removable 1,290mAh battery, and 5-megapixel back-facing camera.

The Sony Xperia S is scheduled to go on sale next month through wireless carriers in United Kingdom and third-party retailers that ship phones in United States and other countries. The Xperia S is considered as the “high-end phone” because it features a 720p HD screen, a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU, a 12MP camera, and Android Gingerbread operating system upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich in Q2 of this year.

Source: Electronista.

Apple’s OS X Mountain Lion Developer Preview shows that Siri, the iPhone 4S popular voice command feature, is not yet ready to join the world of the Macs and it looks like the iPad 3 is the only device that will get the app this year.

According to a CNN article, Apple, presumably, has decided not to include Siri on the next version of the OS X operating system due to Siri’s location-based features. Apparently, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMacs don’t include native GPS, and putting Siri on the OS X Lion is like putting a deputy secretary on a work-less environment. Siri’s features are “search” on web and location-based services like restaurants, bar and other establishments, setting Timer and entries for reminders, or sending and reading SMS.

Surveys show that Siri is one of the best features of the iPhone 4S. In fact, some customers reportedly said that they want the iPhone 4S “because of Siri.”

Apple’s new Mac OS X Lion is obviously “copying” the iPad, not only its features, but also its success in the PC market. Last year, Apple sold more iPads than Macs, and the overall growth in global personal computer shipments (including Windows) slowed and sales declined especially in the United States citing the economy and the continuous growth of the Apple iPad, which is not considered as a “computer” by some research firms.

To attract “upgraders” or customers that own the iPad 2 or the older iPad, Apple is reportedly shipping the new tablet with a new processor, with Long Term Evolution support, and will come with new screen and new cameras. It is worth noting that all “specs” involving the iPad 3 are still considered rumors.

Aside from the iPad 3, the long-rumored iPhone 5 is expected to support Siri.

Sources: CNN, Apple Mac OS X Mountain Lion.

A Samsung representative who requested anonymity said the Samsung Galaxy S3 will not join the “Angry Birds: Space” launch on March 22.

Last week, a report from Slashgear talked about the possibility of the Galaxy S3 unveiling alongside the new episode of the game application based on rumors posted online.

“No S3 on March 22,” says the Samsung rep adding that the mid-year is still the “perfect” time. Also this month, Samsung reportedly issued a statement claiming that it will hold a separate event this year for the S3, and the device won’t be hitting the Mobile World Congress stage in Europe.

Analysts believe that Samsung, with Apple, will enjoy major smartphone market share this year with new devices possibly with quad-core CPU, new operating system and new design. Apple is expected to launch a new iPhone later this year, and it looks like Samsung wants a “closer” release date.

It is also obvious that Samsung wants to avoid the long lag between the global launch and the United States launch date lag. Last year, Samsung launched the Galaxy S2 in United States “a bit too late” and missing the so-called “momentum.”

Rumor has it that the Galaxy S3 will introduce the first quad-core Exynos Chip, LTE support, HD Super AMOLED Plus screen, and a new camera sensor, presumably better than that S2′s 8-megapixel camera. Also, the S3 is expected to ship with Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, the latest version of the popular mobile operating system.

Amazon’s Kindle Fire is a “hot device” mainly due to its competitive price of just $199, contract free.

The Kindle Fire is now the “second” most popular tablet computer in United States according to multiple research firms and analysts predict that Amazon shipped at least 5 million devices last quarter and in January 2012, combined.

Now, it looks like the Barnes and Noble Android tablet is ready for round two this year with a new variant, an 8GB Nook Tablet and The Verge thinks that the new variant will introduce a more competitive tag price.

The 16GB Nook Tablet is priced at $249 and applying the same specs-vs-price, it is possible that the 8GB Nook Tablet will go on sale with $159 to $199 price tag.

No word yet from Barnes and Noble if the device will go on sale this month but the leak posted online today is claiming that the bookstore chain is planning to introduce the device on February 22.

Source: The Verge.