Update: Malcom Gladwell is on stage, talking about syphilis in Baltimore. People are clapping -- it's a little odd. But the first Nook buyers will get a free copy of The Tipping Point, so that's nice.
Update 2: "Ladies and gentlemen, the bar is now open." That's all for now -- we've got a Q&A session coming up, we'll let you know what we find out after the break.
Update 3: Barnes & Noble just pinged us to say that they were wrong during the event -- the Nook's WiFi will work anywhere, not just in-store.
Notes from the Q&A:
- They like Android, but they're not doing open app development -- they just like the optimizations for the small screen. It sounded like apps are a possibility, through.
- There's no browser, they think E-ink browsing is clunky.
- The Nook has 2GB of built-in storage, but there's an SD slot as well.
- The WiFi will only work in Barnes & Noble stores at launch.
- The in-store book browsing doesn't download books, it "streams" them. Uh, sure -- we'll see about that.
- The screen is capacitive touch -- "just like the iPhone."
- They're looking at an actual Android app for the future, no commitments made.
- Nook will mount as mass storage over USB.
- Only some books can be lended, and they'll be branded with a LendMe logo on the ebook store. It's up to the publishers, but B&N says they're working to enable as many as they can.
- They plan to support Windows Mobile in the future.
