You’re not going to believe the email Barnes & Noble is sending out today.

I’ve just learned that B&N is withdrawing support for the Nook 1st edition, the dual-screen ereader than B&N launched in late 2009. (I didn’t realize I still had one on my account until I got this email.)

You can find the email at the end of the post. It says that owners will not be able to sign in, register, etc on their Nook 1st Editions after 29 June. (If the device is kept offline, it will continue to work, obviously.)

Anyone who got the email can get a replacement Nook ereader or Android tablet at a discount.

The Nook 1st edition was released on October 2009. It had a 6″ E-ink screen, a 3.5″ control screen, and ran Android 1.5. It shipped with both Wifi and 3G connectivity, and was cheap at $259.

A Wifi-only model was released in June 2010.

This ereader received a few minor updates in 2010, and was supplanted by two Android devices: the Nook Color, which came out in late 2010 with a 7″ LCD screen, and the Nook Touch, which was released in June 2011 with a 6″ E-ink screen.

The Nook 1st edition never really had a lot of support from B&N, although it did have its own hacking community for a while. The hackers added several features, including a new menu design for the control screen and the option to install apps. That feature never came to much due to the limitations of the OS.

This ereader also had a clone, the Spring Design Alex, which was announced a few weeks before and released a few months later. The Alex had a very similar design, only it was thinner and much more capable (I have one).

Spring Design sued B&N in 2010, alleging the retailer had stolen the design. The lawsuit was settled in March 2010 without decisively proving the point one way or the other.

O O O

Dear Valued Customer,

Over eight years ago, we launched our first Nook eReader, and we were thrilled to have you as one of our first customers for what has become a tradition of offering great books on demand to readers. We want to thank you for your loyalty and continued support of the Nook 1st Edition and Nook products.

Because of advancements in our eReader technology, we wanted to let you know that, unfortunately, we are unable to continue to support the Nook 1st Edition.

The good news is we would like to offer you a special coupon for one of our more advanced readers so that you can continue to read digitally and maintain your library. You may choose from the following:

Nook Tablet 7 for $25.00 (50% off the List Price) plus Free Shipping*

OR

Nook GlowLight 3 for $59.99 (50% off the List Price) plus Free Shipping*

Either of these Nook eReaders will provide you with up-to-date, enhanced reading experiences that we think you’ll use and love for a long time to come.

Please note that as of June 29, 2018, you will not be able to purchase new content, register with a BN.com account, or sign in using a Nook account on your Nook 1st Edition. However, you will still be able to access your existing library, or download new content, by using our Nook Reading Apps for iOS, Android, or Windows, on mobile and tablet devices.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but we think you’ll be delighted with your new Nook device. If you have any questions regarding this offer, feel free to contact us at 877-831-2393 Monday-Friday 8AM-11PM ET and Saturday-Sunday 9AM-11PM ET. Please be prepared to provide your Nook 1st Edition serial number. If you need assistance locating your serial number, click here for instructions.

We truly appreciate your business and look forward to continuing to provide you with the great Nook experience and to welcome you at Barnes & Noble stores.

Sincerely,

Barnes & Noble

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