Yesterday it was just a rumor, now it is official: Barnes & Noble is holding press conference on November 7 in New York and many analysts expect the announcement of the newest portable Nook device. Barnes & Noble might launch the new Color Nook 2, code-named the Acclaim, during the event.

Rumors of a new Nook Color have grown in recent weeks, and there is talk that the Acclaim could be a mid-range tablet priced at $ 349.

The announcement comes just a week before the debut of the Kindle Fire, the new tablet from Amazon for $199 that promises to offer users more competitive alternatives in low end price segment, and is seen as a strong contender against the iPad.  The upcoming Nook device will have to take on a few challenges in the tablet market, going up against Amazon, Apple and Samsung devices.

Recent rumors that Barnes & Noble will present two new tablets – an affordable entry model, which will probably lie in the same price region as the Kindle Fire and Kobo Vox, and a high-end tablet, which is to venture into iPad territory.  The Nook Touch currently costs $139. Barnes & Noble will release the tablet as soon as possible to provide a head start to compete against Amazon’s Kindle Fire this holiday season, which is scheduled to hit stores November 15.

Mobile and tablet manufacturers left no stone unturned to get maximum publicity for a new product launch by organizing big events these past few weeks, setting the tone for the holiday shopping season to come.  Samsung, in keeping its promise, had introduced world first Android Ice Cream Sandwich Galaxy Nexus smartphone last week.  The Big event took place in Hong Kong, where Android also unveiled version 4.0 of its mobile OS. A week earlier, Apple released its much anticipated iPhone 4S with all the expected fanfare.

Samsung Devices to Get Ice Cream Sandwich Update

Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S II, along with the Galaxy Note, Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Galaxy Tab 7.7, Galaxy Tab 8.9 and Galaxy Tab 10.1, will all get an Ice Cream Sandwich software upgrade by April of 2012.

The first generation of Samsung Galaxy tab that came out last year and pre-loaded with Android 2.2 will soon get an update to Gingerbread. There is no official confirmation yet as to when users will get an update as reported on Verizon’s website, but the new update will upgrade the tab software OS version to Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread and a number of improvements and bug fixes.

Not to be left behind, Motorola is working with Google and carrier partner to upgrade Droid Razr, Motorola Razr, Motorola Xoom and Droid Bionic to Ice Cream Sandwich. The device maker will introduce the software upgrade within next six weeks.

Turnaround strategy for Hewlett-Packard

IT giant Hewlett-Packard is taking a new charge under its new boss, Meg Whitman. HP has announced it’s going to use the rest of its TouchPad inventory as a promotional tool to sell PCs and laptops. At Best Buy, a 32GB Touchpad is on sale for $149 with purchase of HP or Compaq branded notebook or desktop PC or all-in-one computer.

The company has sold less than 10 percent of its inventory before the sale. Now HP is riding a marketing wave and got people attention to buy a gadget.