Barnes & Noble reportedly looking for an exit out of the hardware market

It looks like the Barnes & Noble e-readers and tablets might not be around too much longer if a New York Times report is correct. The Times' report is from an unnamed source familiar with Barnes & Noble's corporate strategy, who said while "they are not completely getting out of the hardware business", executives can see that they need to shift the company's focus from low-margin hardware to licensing its "crown jewel" content to other platforms.

Barnes & Noble are reporting their third-quarter results this Thursday, which they're already downplaying in their Nook department. Could we see them leave the hardware game? I think so. I guess we'll find out more later this week.

Update: We've heard from a Barnes & Noble spokesperson who has said that "we have no plans to discontinue our award-winning line of NOOK products".