Barnes & Noble has cut the prices of the...

Barnes & Noble has cut the prices of the Nook and Nook Color tablets in time for the back-to-school season. The company had been heavily discounting its e-readers over the past few months, bundling the devices with free software and gift cards. The new pricing, pitched in time for back-to-school shopping, has no end date, a company spokeswoman told us. Prices are now $179 for the 8GB Nook Tablet and $199 for the 16GB version, and the Nook Color now rings up at $149 across Barnes & Noble distribution including company-owned stores, online and at third-party retailers, the company said. Barnes & Noble wouldn’t address what prompted the price cuts at this time, although Google’s Nexus 7 is due in quantities soon. Google’s Asus-built Nexus 7-inch tablet, which was delayed, is expected to be available from B&H Photo, where the Nexus 7 is currently on backorder, on Sept. 1 for $249, according to the B&H website. Staples lists the Nexus 7 for $199 (8GB) and $249 (16GB) on its website, but noted the devices were “in store only on special order.” Engadget called the Nexus 7 “the best slate that $200 can buy.”