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To anyone awaiting official 2.2 update from B&N and/or access to the android market

To anyone awaiting official 2.2 update from B&N and/or access to the android market
If you want a full-fledged tablet, you should probably just root your nook.
Over the past few days, I've seen a lot of people wondering whether they should root their device or wait for B&N's update, as if that will automatically make it a full tablet. Unfortunately, that is not true in the slightest.
The official update, which has not been assigned a date of roll-out yet (sometime Q1/2011, but I've heard end of January), will not change much about your nook. It will still look and feel exactly the same, and still have many of the same limitations. It will not be running the standard android 2.2 UI.
It will not have the android market either. It will only have a handful of apps, if any, from those developers who take part in the NOOK developers program (http://nookdeveloper.barnesandnoble.com/). All of the applications will be "reader-centric".
It does appear that it will be possible to sideload applications that conform to the Android API 7 (no FroYo love) but this will only be available to those people who sign up and register the SN of their NOOKcolor to a developer account.
If you poke around on the website (particularly the developer forums) you can find lots of interesting tidbits about the upcoming update (NOOKcolor 1.1) and what it will include.
Hopefully this helps.
Source: Me - Digital Sales Manager at Barnes and Noble
Edit: (for the record, I am in no way an official B&N spokesman. I just am a wee bit more privy to stuff than others)

Thanks for the official update. I can't imagine many official b&n apps. There's only so many sodoku variations you can make.

I will say that the froyo base brought a lot of improvements over eclair, but I do agree that a lot of people will probably be let down when they see the update and wonder where their new launcher is. I for one am happy with my rooted NC, and look forward to the 2.2 update.

I get the impression that the 1.1 update is not the B&N Froyo update. I think it just adds the framework for approved apps and "developer mode" to permit sideloading apps for testing. Probably some stability/usability issues as well. Have they said anything "official" regarding what 1.1 will contain?
Homer

Barnes and Noble doesn't say anything official until the day it becomes official.
It is probably a 50/50 chance that the forthcoming update it will be the much talked about FroYo B&N update.

But if you were to root after the 1.1 update, would you get a 2.2 android?

Hey if I may ask will there be an official bluetooth in 1.1. ?
Pavlos

Some people are waiting to root only because they don't have to worry about doing it twice. My understanding is that you have to restore your device to original form to get the update, then root it. I might be wrong.

Could the B&N update actually be Honeycomb???

Okay gang - here's a twist for you...
On the Nook Facebook page, they posted this on March 24th:
You asked, we listened. This spring, use your NOOK Color to send e-mail and explore popular apps like Angry Birds, Drawing Pad, Lonely Planet Phrasebooks, and Wine PhD. Stay tuned here for news about these exciting new features and when the firmware update will be ready. (P.S. Yes! We said Angry Birds!) What apps would you love to see on your NOOK Color?
Now - go take a gander at Drawing Pad - the minimum is Android 3.0.
Hmmmmm.....

Very, very unlikely. The Nook does not meet the hardware requirements mandated by Google.
http://www.mytabletlife.com/2011/04/15/google-hardware-requirements-honeycomb/

Those min requirements arent from google, they were stated by lg I think it was as an excuse not to update their products.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA Premium App

Honeycomb isn't really ready at this point (Xoom aside). It's been announced several times that the update will be Froyo, although Gingerbread would be nice (but there is always CM7 for that).

the B&N update may just be 2.1
On Apr 6, BN posted this on the Nook developer site:
"What version of Android is supported for development?
Simon Walker posted this on Apr-06 18:43
Your application should be optimized for Google Android SDK Platform 2.1 API 7"
This would imply that the update is a most likely a patch with a very restrictive BN apps market.
However, some very smart guys on XDA think that it's 2.2.

fpga_guy said:
On Apr 6, BN posted this on the Nook developer site:
"What version of Android is supported for development?
Simon Walker posted this on Apr-06 18:43
Your application should be optimized for Google Android SDK Platform 2.1 API 7"
This would imply that the update is a most likely a patch with a very restrictive BN apps market.
However, some very smart guys on XDA think that it's 2.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the reason why people believe it to be 2.2 is because b&n have announced that it will have flash support along with the b&n market.

knaries2000 said:
the reason why people believe it to be 2.2 is because b&n have announced that it will have flash support along with the b&n market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BN has NOT announced. Perhaps you can provide a link to the BN announcement. HSN is NOT BN. In fact, HSN has removed flash from their NC ads.

The NC v.1.4

OK so it seems we are getting a new version 1.4.
what do we know.......

Well it seems both Nook Tablet and Nook Color are getting 1.4.
Would that mean that it could be based on something higher than Froyo.
Since B&N is marketing theit new product as a tablet that could probably link to a tablet os for both devices.
Maybe...

How does 1.4 effect...
While the news sites are touting the new "stuff" in NC 1.4, how will this effect those of us with Rooted NC's? ( remeber the problem the 1.3 upgrade had )
I look forward to some of the new apps, mostly the HuluPlus app... I wonder if that means they will be unblocking regular Hulu from us too?
Tom
Proud user of a rooted NC ( manual nooter )

tomsheeley said:
While the news sites are touting the new "stuff" in NC 1.4, how will this effect those of us with Rooted NC's? ( remeber the problem the 1.3 upgrade had )
I look forward to some of the new apps, mostly the HuluPlus app... I wonder if that means they will be unblocking regular Hulu from us too?
Tom
Proud user of a rooted NC ( manual nooter )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say to hold off on updating if you can until xda either gives the go-ahead or has a procedure to follow.
As for Hulu -- I would assume regular Hulu will still be blocked, unfortunately. They seem to have a stance that everything but a PC is a mobile device and subject to different rules.

No idea about whether its going to be gingerbread.
The update is not out and wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't until nooktablet launch. The 1.1 update for the simple touch is out.
From what I can tell, there is going to be some sort of 'account management' app so you can handle gift cards and credit cards without the need of the browser. Netflix will be available as a download from the press quotes I'm seeing.
Does gingerbread give any DRM security that froyo doesn't? Because that might be the only reason why it would get bumped up to a new andoird version, to appease Hulu and Netflix (and their evil masters)

i think the most interesting thing is wether they updated the kernel version.....

I'm impressed with B&N's support of the NC. You don't see this many updates on phones.

It is easier to update a device if you don't have a third party in between the developers and the users (i.e. cellular carriers)

Good news is that it does actually apear to be Gingerbread, on the other hand BN decided to delay it until December.
And the delay appears to be a marketing decision, according to what people are saying on the bn forums.

Thanks for the advice, but how can I stop the update until XDA has help for us?

[Q] Official ICS Build Incoming?

I have a cousin who works with B&N, and he says that they are rushing to get the 3.0 kernel on the NC to accompany their locked-down skin. He says that there are some incompatabiliies, but that they have made progress. What are your thoughts? Is he crazy? Are we ever going to get a proper ICS OTA?

If B&N drops 3.0 kernel source for the Nook Color, the devs here will be quite happy because the current old kernel is the major impediment to ICS on Nook Color.
You sure they aren't doing this just for the Nook Tablet?

3.x is honey comb, not ICS. They'll prolly skip that all-together.

gallahad2000 said:
3.x is honey comb, not ICS. They'll prolly skip that all-together.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Talking about the linux kernel.

It makes little sense to me for them to update the core Android OS and Linux kernel if their reader, custom apps, and the apps in their store work fine with Froyo. But if they're going to keep selling the NC as the budget media tablet model for a while longer then a more up-to-date Android version makes sense in avoiding any possible compatibility issues down the road that could prevent them from seamlessly bringing the latest and best versions of Android apps across to the B&N market. Their separate B&N market wouldn't be very sustainable or a good selling feature if they had to only offer older versions and/or ask developers to add backporting compatability fixes for a two year old version of Android. Then again, that's just a lot of speculating on my part

I don't have hope for that, in fact, I doubt it.
They just released v.1.4.1 and it still is Froyo, I don't think they implement ICS for NC.

I could actually see them doing this just so that it will be easier for devs to convert their already tablet friendly ICS apps for the BN market.
---------------------------------
Sent from my LG Optimus V using Tapatalk

I would think they would like to keep the operating environment the same across units (if possible). This will cause less customer confusion/dissatisfaction and fewer support issues. Apple IOS is a good example of this IMO.

gmanvbva said:
I would think they would like to keep the operating environment the same across units (if possible). This will cause less customer confusion/dissatisfaction and fewer support issues. Apple IOS is a good example of this IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apple allows old devices to upgrade to newer iOS versions (my gf's 3g is running iOS 5). They just cripple the features they don't want those devices to have (siri, folders, etc). Apple's relative lack of issues comes from controlling the hardware (no powerVR, tegra, qualcomm incompatibilities, short driver list), OS (no carrier or manufacturer modifications) and app store (too many bugs and your app is gone).
I doubt B&N would drop the full functionality of ICS on their customers (especially when they've fenced them in from froyo). ICS would open the door to tablet-centric apps which would help them compete with Amazon. It will most definitely come to the Tablet but I wouldn't expect it to come to the Color (since they need to differentiate the models to justify the price difference).

Would be great if they did release it, but lets face the truth, its unlikely.
If you guys want ICS your best bet is buying dalingrin and / or fattire a beer.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

MrColdbird said:
Would be great if they did release it, but lets face the truth, its unlikely.
If you guys want ICS your best bet is buying dalingrin and / or fattire a beer.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe true, but if this works it would certainly give dalingrin and fattire some help with the issues they're having, not to mention speed up the entire process.

Limvot said:
Maybe true, but if this works it would certainly give dalingrin and fattire some help with the issues they're having, not to mention speed up the entire process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If what works? I'd love to have official ICS on my NC, but as others have said, they're still using a fluffy coating on Froyo. No GB and no HC means ICS is highly unlikely.
Now what would be very nice would be an updated kernel, as well as some direct contact with B&N techs about drivers for the chipset and other hardware. But I find that to be unlikely.

The newer Nook Tablet is based on Gingerbread, isn't it? Perhaps they're working on this first and foremost to crank out a third future device that supports APIs from ICS such as fragments. The updated code would then trickle down to Nook Tablet and possibly eventually NC.
Sent from my Nook Color!

zombieflanders said:
If what works? I'd love to have official ICS on my NC, but as others have said, they're still using a fluffy coating on Froyo. No GB and no HC means ICS is highly unlikely.
Now what would be very nice would be an updated kernel, as well as some direct contact with B&N techs about drivers for the chipset and other hardware. But I find that to be unlikely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No HC doesn't mean anything as it was not open source... This is not completely unthinkable. Remember the NC was on 2.1 before the 1.2 release where they upped it to 2.2.
Sent from space

votinh said:
I don't have hope for that, in fact, I doubt it.
They just released v.1.4.1 and it still is Froyo, I don't think they implement ICS for NC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, 1.4.1 came out just before ICS source was released, so maybe B&N figured they do a quick patch of the existing ROM, rather than go through all the work to do a rebuild on GB and then to ICS...

any news/rumors about this?

speedfreak007 said:
any news/rumors about this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Other than slow but steady progress on the CM9 build (and no new releases for now), no.
traumadog said:
Of course, 1.4.1 came out just before ICS source was released, so maybe B&N figured they do a quick patch of the existing ROM, rather than go through all the work to do a rebuild on GB and then to ICS...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have more faith in the B&N corporate staff than I do, but your optimism may be warranted, given that the NT doesn't seem to be totally ignored by the press in the same way the NC was.

zombieflanders said:
... You have more faith in the B&N corporate staff than I do, but your optimism may be warranted, given that the NT doesn't seem to be totally ignored by the press in the same way the NC was.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder how much other integration B&N is looking for with other content providers to match what Amazon is doing. I would think upgrading to ICS would make some business sense, in that with a fresher underlying OS, you might be able to keep app developers in the fold working on the NT.

cmstlist said:
The newer Nook Tablet is based on Gingerbread, isn't it? Perhaps they're working on this first and foremost to crank out a third future device that supports APIs from ICS such as fragments. The updated code would then trickle down to Nook Tablet and possibly eventually NC.
Sent from my Nook Color!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I understand... The new Nook Tablet has a locked bootloader, more or less precluding it from easy rom replacement.
Though, perhaps I have been misinformed.

Yoinx said:
From what I understand... The new Nook Tablet has a locked bootloader, more or less precluding it from easy rom replacement.
Though, perhaps I have been misinformed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Difficult if not impossible for 3rd parties providing roms but not for B&N. They have the security keys allowing them to provide whatever rom they choose within the hardware limits.

Anymore Nook updates? [ANSWERED] [READ POST FOR ANSWER]

I had a nice chat with B&N. The new Nook Tablet 10.1" will probably getting Android 9.0 (Pie) in the future (they were not too sure though). And the same for our Nook HD & Nook HD+ (but not Android 9.0 (Pie)).
" secretwolf98: Will it be getting the Android P (Android 9.0) update in the future? Or no?
B&N: Let me check it for you.
B&N: As of the moment, there is no assurance for that upgrade.
B&N: It is not yet determined.
secretwolf98: And one last question,
B&N: Sure.
secretwolf98: Will the Nook HD and the Nook HD+ being getting anymore updates in the future? or was the last update the last update?
B&N: It might have an update in the future."
Any questions? Don't be afraid to ask me.

Mmm....we interpret that conversation a little differently.
In any case, the main reason my husband finally gave in to flashing a new OS on his HD was that even after a minimal rooting we had no way to stop B&N repeatedly pushing the apps that came with it (most of which he did not want/use and had therefore uninstalled) and eventually there was very little space for apps that he actually did want. It was like he was renting or leasing the tablet and at the mercy of the provider.
So...it might be nice, but maybe not nice enough to pry him away from an occasionally cranky CM 13 install, unless B&N changes its model of how an owner can determine what apps will be installed and which will be deleted.

Thx!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Although I would love to think B&N will release an update for the HD/HD+ line, I don't see them doing that. The device is too old for them to invest any more time into it. Adding TLS 1.2 support was great, but it's beyond its support life for any new features.
As for the future with the new Nook10.1, it currently supports Oreo/8.1, and I'd be surprised if they actually update it to Pie/9 support. Most of the times these tablet vendors update their custom ROM, it's to fix bugs in the current OS version, not upgrade to a new OS.