Thinking of getting a nook color. - Nook Color General

Im not new to the android world been around since g1 days. Any important info I should know about this thing? What are some of the more refined roms and kernel based on user experience?

No gps, buggy and messed up bluetooth, no mic, buggy/unsupported accelerometer, wifi connection issues on stock, two of biggest problems on CMG7 is sleep of death(SOD) - basically occasionally can't wake up device and need to hold power down as if doing a hard power off, and occasion random freezes, soft keys, resolution issues on stock...a good place to start would be to look at nook color workarounds sticky.
That will tell you some major issues that people are facing -> and they aren't minor. (in regards to rooted stock).
SD card specific in regards to loading off of OS, needs SANDISK branded class 2/4, no others to be safe.
Otherwise, it's a great tablet.
Don't need to worry about bricking, since it loads off SD first, a bootable SD card with clockworkmod recovery will always allow you to salvage your nook.
Dual boot is an option. If you do this, there's almost no reason to root the stock.
Oh, and I probably don't need to say the positives. If you want those, let me know!

Phatdawg said:
No gps, buggy and messed up bluetooth, no mic, buggy/unsupported accelerometer, wifi connection issues on stock, two of biggest problems on CMG7 is sleep of death(SOD) - basically occasionally can't wake up device and need to hold power down as if doing a hard power off, and occasion random freezes, soft keys, resolution issues on stock...a good place to start would be to look at nook color workarounds sticky.
That will tell you some major issues that people are facing -> and they aren't minor. (in regards to rooted stock).
SD card specific in regards to loading off of OS, needs SANDISK branded class 2/4, no others to be safe.
Otherwise, it's a great tablet.
Don't need to worry about bricking, since it loads off SD first, a bootable SD card with clockworkmod recovery will always allow you to salvage your nook.
Dual boot is an option. If you do this, there's almost no reason to root the stock.
Oh, and I probably don't need to say the positives. If you want those, let me know!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK.. wow... gotta jump on this one
No gps - How is this an issue? It is not advertised with one....
buggy and messed up bluetooth - BUggy and messed up? The ONLY issue BT has is range; it could be stronger. But buggy? Nope. It works great with bluetooth GPS devices, and BT headsets. Also keep in mind, that the BT had to be activated by our kernel masters.. it wasn't even on in stock.
no mic - again; not an issue since it is not advertised with one.
buggy/unsupported accelerometer - This is just flat out wrong. There is nothing wrong with the accelerometer; it works perfect in games and in the OS.
wifi connection issues on stock - The few wifi issues people seem to have tend to be more related to specific routers; as it is, the problems aren't that common.
two of biggest problems on CMG7 is sleep of death(SOD) - SOD is all but gone; the fix has been in CM7 for some time.
occasion random freezes, soft keys, resolution issues on stock - Huh? "Resolution issues"? What issues? For the matter, what issue with soft keys? And if you are having freezes, it means you need to back off your overclock... nothing more.

Divine_Madcat said:
OK.. wow... gotta jump on this one
No gps - How is this an issue? It is not advertised with one....
buggy and messed up bluetooth - BUggy and messed up? The ONLY issue BT has is range; it could be stronger. But buggy? Nope. It works great with bluetooth GPS devices, and BT headsets. Also keep in mind, that the BT had to be activated by our kernel masters.. it wasn't even on in stock.
no mic - again; not an issue since it is not advertised with one.
buggy/unsupported accelerometer - This is just flat out wrong. There is nothing wrong with the accelerometer; it works perfect in games and in the OS.
wifi connection issues on stock - The few wifi issues people seem to have tend to be more related to specific routers; as it is, the problems aren't that common.
two of biggest problems on CMG7 is sleep of death(SOD) - SOD is all but gone; the fix has been in CM7 for some time.
occasion random freezes, soft keys, resolution issues on stock - Huh? "Resolution issues"? What issues? For the matter, what issue with soft keys? And if you are having freezes, it means you need to back off your overclock... nothing more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These are all known issues that have been reported and going on for a while.
The limitations albeit should be known, aren't always known.(i.e. no gps, mic, no camera, etc)
The accelerometer doesn't work with screebl, spirit level, and a few other programs. Perhaps not fully supported is what I should say? Obviously, this platform isn't considered standard and thusly isn't fully supported nor does it have a imei number and ultimately has a gimped marketplace.
Have you even read the nook color stock rom workaround thread?
I guess I should called it pixel density issues as opposed "resolution".
I'm addressing the nook's limitations compared to other "standard" issue tablets.
I get SOD once a day on average and a random freeze once or twice a day.
It's easy to sing the praises of the Nook Color, but again, I think it's a matter of limitations that people need to know about before diving in.
I still think it's the best 7 inch form factor tablet at this time.

Thanks guys! keep it coming.

I'm a new owner of a nook, here are my thoughts.
Just use cm7 or phiremod, rooted stock is not worth it.
I have experienced sod once so far, and that was with the latest cm7. Not a huge deal, but it's worth mentioning.
It will take a while for you to get your nook fully customized to your liking, I've had mine for 6 days and I'm just about getting there.
Install chainfire 3d, it will improve graphics in some games (notably, fruit ninja)
I have not had a problem with wifi. I have not tested Bluetooth.
Sent from my B&N Nook Color

That first response made it sound as if the nook Color has multiple problems. I have CM7 on sdcard and it works great. I have not overclocked (haven't felt the need to). If I take out the sdcard then I have a stock rooted Nook. I am extremely happy with both. I use it as an ereader and sometimes play games. I take it on trips instead of dragging a laptop and it has worked very nicely for browsing and email. My phone can produce a wifi signal when needed. I love the 7" screen. Nook fits in my purse. I highly recommend it.

these comments are great! I currently use chainfire on my incredible with miui and it works great along with autokiller. The thing flies, and I would be using the two on the nook as well. I know what sleep of death is, I experienced it with a kernel on my captivate when I had it. As far as quality with the hardware, how does it compare to other competitors?

davwman said:
these comments are great! I currently use chainfire on my incredible with miui and it works great along with autokiller. The thing flies, and I would be using the two on the nook as well. I know what sleep of death is, I experienced it with a kernel on my captivate when I had it. As far as quality with the hardware, how does it compare to other competitors?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aw yeah my fellow miui inc user! And I have not owned any other tablet, but for the price (I suggest getting one from ebay or craigslist), it simply can not be beat. For ~$180, the build can not be beat. It is sturdy, feels nice in your hands and the screen has a nice resolution to it. Really though, this is, hands down the best tablet for the price.
Sent from my HTC Incredible

Phatdawg said:
No gps, buggy and messed up bluetooth, no mic, buggy/unsupported accelerometer, wifi connection issues on stock, two of biggest problems on CMG7 is sleep of death(SOD) - basically occasionally can't wake up device and need to hold power down as if doing a hard power off, and occasion random freezes, soft keys, resolution issues on stock...a good place to start would be to look at nook color workarounds sticky.
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Click to collapse
I know that others also posted about this already, but I also feel a need to respond.
1. If you purchase a Nook Color based on the features/specs that B&N advertise, one wouldn't expect those features.
2. The ability to run another OS other than stock and have it run well for everything but the "unofficial" hardware features or lack thereof is really cool!
3. Each nightly release seems to really be working to resolve (or have resolved already) a large number of those issues.
I suspect by the time 7.1 stable is released you'll see a pretty solid setup.
As for the microSD issue. That is unfortuante, but it's not a problem of the Nook so much as it is the nature of the SD design. Faster SD cards like class 10 are really designed to peak the performance for sequential writes/reads. Cameras and other fixed function media devices benefit from loading/saving pictures or video to those SDs. For an OS like CM7, you really need decent random read/write performance, so the earlier designs seem to do this better.
I'd made the mistake of reading about this news threads and purchased an SD card without researching here first. That was my fault. After reading up and purchasing another SD from SanDisk, it's been solid.
As to the lack of GPS, it's interesting how well bluetooth GPS modules are working for many. Granted they keep them close due to the limitations, but it can be worked around. As for Skype, I'm seeing some pairing bluetooth headsets and getting voice goodness, again with a range limitation.
Phatdawg said:
...a good place to start would be to look at nook color workarounds sticky.
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Click to collapse
+1 That is a great idea. I suspect however, with the fast pace of nightlies development, that many are waiting to see if they are resolved soon. But creating a sticky and then re-editing as the status changes would be a great idea.

barbo said:
That first response made it sound as if the nook Color has multiple problems. I have CM7 on sdcard and it works great. I have not overclocked (haven't felt the need to). If I take out the sdcard then I have a stock rooted Nook. I am extremely happy with both. I use it as an ereader and sometimes play games. I take it on trips instead of dragging a laptop and it has worked very nicely for browsing and email. My phone can produce a wifi signal when needed. I love the 7" screen. Nook fits in my purse. I highly recommend it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see any reason to run rooted stock, but there are many workarounds for those problems.
The only issues I have with cm7 is sod and random freeze, bt does not connect to two of my plantronic headsets, the accelerometer is hit or miss, pending the app.
Its better than my droidx in.regard to speed and performance.

I didn't read the thread but I have these words to say: Get... the... Nook... Color!
Unless you have some reason that you need another tablet, this is the one to get if you're looking for a premium tablet for a sub-premium price.

It's a great device. If you can pick one up factory Refurb for 200 bucks or less - I say jump on it - and don't look back. Great screen - and nice performance for a tablet.
If you are fine spending 400 bucks - save up your pennies and buy a dual core - but I don't know if it's worth twice the price. I almost went with one of the new 10" Tegra 2 tablets - but the price of a first tablet that I didn't know if / how I'd use it kept me dragging.
I'm running CM7 - Every couple of days - I'll get a random freeze - or not waking up from sleep - but it's really no big deal. Just hold down the N and Power button - and it boots right up and works like new again. It's something I notice when it happens - but IMHO - really doesn't take anything from the device itself.
Screen is awesome. Best bang for the buck - if you don't need a camera or GPS. And it fits in my pocket when I need it to.

I'm a noob so figure I chime in on this debate.. I picked up a NC 2 weeks ago and it's been great so far -- I sold my iPad after a week of owning it.
I don't care for GPS since I have a Garmin -- I can't imagine myself sticking a 10" (or in this case 7") on my dashboard as I may get pulled over by the cops. I'm sure there's a law that forbids obstructing a drivers vision.
Wifi works fine -- as above said, it's probably the router. I have a Netgear 3700 and I get reception in the park across the street -- 100m away.
I haven't experienced the SOD issue (yet, and I hope I never will).
I don't have bluetooth to try it and I haven't had a need for a mic. Camera quality on any tablet is quite poor so I'd never use it to take pictures or record videos -- again, how likely are you to pull out a 7" or 10" tablet to take pictures?
That said, here's why I think it's great.
1. I was perfectly fine running BN's software -- it has built in email client and flash-enabled web browser. I can do 90% of what I'd use a tablet for with just those 2 things
2. I was perfectly fine running CM7 off an SD card -- you can keep the BN software intact if you choose to go back.
3. To truly bring out its power, I wrote CM7 into the internal memory. I tell you, it's a lot better since I had a crappy microSD card.
Now, I can do things like Netflix, Pandora, TuneIn from anywhere -- works great the next time I have to travel. Moboplayer plays any movie files I've thrown at it. You can connect the Nook to your computer and it transfers files via USB -- I had to jailbreak and then install SSH on the iPad to get this feature. Since it's connected to my Google account, when I installed to the internal memory, it picked up everything I did on the SD card and automatically installed everything again. Also, it's super light and thin since it doesn't have all those things I don't need -- GPS, camera, etc..
Last and above all, tremendous community support here.
Very happy with my Nook Color.

I don't understand what the debate is. Now, I have to be defensive about this because this is obviously all coming from my post.
I agree with just about what everyone says here, but limitations are...just that limitations.
Whether or not they pertain to you or are relevent to you, really doesn't matter.
How you value, gps, mic, bt, accelerometer is really a personal thing...
Again, I was merely pointing out several issues that are particular to a nook vs specifically galaxy(since that is really the only other competing 7 inch table of somewhat equal caliber).
The wifi issue has a workaround posted in the "workaround sticky". I imagine it could be just a router issue, however it appears that the workaround is a apk with varyable results which would point away from a pure router problem.
I have a nook color because I don't care about gps, bt, mic, etc.
I continue to use a nook color in cm7 on emmc because I don't have a major issue with a couple of random freezes a day or SOD once a day. I use the tablet at work at a hospital as a doc. It's great in a white labcoat. Fits perfectly in the pocket, access to pdf's, net, epocrates, and a whole host of medical software.
It's great for what I use it for. It's why I have it.
Again, the limitations of the device still do exist and may impact other peoples decision to buy it.
I'm not going to be a Nook Color Fanboy and paint the sky blue. There is some real issues that people should know and feel comfortable about prior to purchasing this piece of equipment. It's not for everyone.

once again these are the posts I was looking for! thanks again,and if anyone feels the need to add anything else, feel free.

Currently I have a nook color with CM7 on the emmc, but 2 days to return the nook, I've been constantly wondering if the HTC flyer or the transformer would be better, true the nook has the best price of them all, but the flyer's specs could do more, and the transformers screen is pretty amazing, but being able to fit the nook and my phone in my pocket at the same time is absolutely amazing, however the fact that my phone plays games faster then my tablet hurts as the small screen gives me eyestrain and I'm close to needing glasses as it is, sorry to heap this all over you guys but I can't find a good answer anywhere else,
Thanks in advance.
Sent from my Nook Color using XDA App

darkveld said:
Currently I have a nook color with CM7 on the emmc, but 2 days to return the nook, I've been constantly wondering if the HTC flyer or the transformer would be better, true the nook has the best price of them all, but the flyer's specs could do more, and the transformers screen is pretty amazing, but being able to fit the nook and my phone in my pocket at the same time is absolutely amazing, however the fact that my phone plays games faster then my tablet hurts as the small screen gives me eyestrain and I'm close to needing glasses as it is, sorry to heap this all over you guys but I can't find a good answer anywhere else,
Thanks in advance.
Sent from my Nook Color using XDA App
Click to expand...
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The 7.1RC1 seems to improve speed a bit. I'd try that out and see if that makes your worries vanish.

If you need a 7 inch tablet and have budgetary constraints, then for the money, I'd stay with the nook color, since it also has the best screens of all the 7 inchers anyways. To be honest, I never even considered a flyer as a 7 inch tablet to be used...perhaps cause of it's cost.
Otherwise, the flyer would be okay, but it's a bit too expensive in my opinion.
Or you can wait for the viewsonic 7.x or an update on the galaxy (if they do for 7 inches).
A lot of stuff coming our way shortly.

Phatdawg said:
If you need a 7 inch tablet and have budgetary constraints, then for the money, I'd stay with the nook color, since it also has the best screens of all the 7 inchers anyways. To be honest, I never even considered a flyer as a 7 inch tablet to be used...perhaps cause of it's cost.
Otherwise, the flyer would be okay, but it's a bit too expensive in my opinion.
Or you can wait for the viewsonic 7.x or an update on the galaxy (if they do for 7 inches).
A lot of stuff coming our way shortly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a couple of 7" Tegra 2 tablets coming out later this year - that should start around $349.00 for the Acer. They'll be Honeycomb 3.2 ( which scales for the 7" screens ) - which is why I think they're not out yet. If the extra performance is needed - and you can swing the extra cash - you could wait for those.
I think the post taht summed it up the best - was the one that - this tablet has it's limitations ( as do all tablets - including the Ipad 2) and you should do your homework and know what you're buying.
For me - this was my learner tablet - and I wanted a tinker friendly device - that would be usable - and it's been good at that for me. I could see room to upgrade in areas < more volume for speakers / dual core for more power efficiency & speed to run more widgets and have battery last longer - larger screen -- not sure on that one - with tradeoffs of portability > but overall - it suits my needs now. I'm hoping it can keep me happy til the quad cores are out in the market and bugs worked out - and drop in prices a bit.

Related

share your experiances with the nc

i was mislead so im gonna go back and double check at BB to see if what i remember is right or my mind played a trick on me
share your experiances you have had
I rooted mine two hours after buying it, and it's slowly replacing my laptop for web surfing, last.FM, etc
I've wiped mine a few times due to issues i've created tinkering with it....but I love it just the same
Sent from my Nook Color using Tapatalk
As soon as I can get RDP or VNC to work it will replace my laptop when I'm on the move. It is very capable for a tablet.
i just wish it had 3g not every place has free wifi
I used mine about 2 hours total to make sure it was working, then I updated it to 1.0.1, Auto-Nooted it, and have been installing apps and playing with it since. Not a single problem so far except for one which hopefully will get resolved sometime.. I really love my Delicious Bookmarks app, but it requires going into the Accounts and Settings and adding an account, can't do that right now.
I haven't tried the B&N Store or Lend Me since rooting, per http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=873975 <--this thread
Otherwise zero problems, it's working great. I'm using FBReader to read my epubs like I always have. The Softkeys are slightly quirky but I'm getting used to them... and like seems to be totally normal on dual-storage devices, some apps aren't looking in the place I'd expect them to, such as WallSwitch (automatically switch wallpapers) is looking in /system/media and not /sdcard or such like I'd expect it to.. I might wind up pushing my pictures there /system has 160M free, no biggie
EDIT: After running the built-in B&N Gallery app, it seems like it spawned a media search and WallSwitch now shows my Backgrounds folder. Yay.
I have had a very good experience with mine so far- problems, glitches, I have minorly screwed it up a few times.
So far I have not screwed it up totally but I will feel much better when we have a full Recovery.
What I like:
The hardware itself, quality and capability seems quite good. Screen is excellent, especially for such a cheap device. WiFi works well- better signal strength than some expensive laptops I have used.
The mod community for rooting and doing so much excellent work already, and hopefully even greater things to come.
What I don't like:
The crippled version of 2.1 B&N has installed.
The lack of GPS and Bluetooth
the lack of portrait mode in B&Ns included software (eReader and many other sections.)
I knew there were many limitations for the stock NC when I ordered mine so I really am not complaining. I don't even mind the lack of cell service since it is pretty easy to connect to an adhoc wifi tether.
The only reason I considered an NC is because they had been rooted a few days before I ordered.
The whole experience is very familiar to me- I first got a Moto Droid shortly after they were first rooted and spent quite a while happily trying many things - and using recovery often.
It is my fervent hope that the devs are as successful with the NC as they were with the original Droid.
Even as the NC is as I type this it is a very good value and tablet.
If we are lucky, it will be a great one soon.
I bought mine solely for the purpose of reading with the added bonus of web surfing and the occasional movie while on the go. I got mine in November before the root and didn't realize there wasn't flash support until I got it home and started playing, went to youtube and got the crummy "mobile" version where the video looked horrible and audio was out of sync. I stumbled across XDA while looking for some kind of a flash hack and rooted after a week of debating whether I should. I'm glad I did.
Thanks to the root, the NC has gone from mundane to a very worth-while device. I love all the stuff I can do thanks to the app support. The youtube app and Dolphin HD alone make it worth rooting.
I was saying in another thread that I had gotten the NC primarily as a reading device, I love periodicals and the NC is pretty good for those. I was on the fence about getting it for a while, the fact that it could be rooted sealed the deal.
I wound up having to exchange my first NC (thankfully the factory reset went very smoothly) due to serious screen flicker issues when the device was set at a mid-level brightness. My second one is much better, though I can still detect a tiny bit of visual flicker under certain lighting conditions.. not a deal-breaker tho.
Couple issues that I've come across :
1. I screwed up the driver install on my PC the first time I tried it, didn't have the INI file in the right place and couldn't side-load anything on to my NC or access it as a storage device. Totally my fault for botching that one. Second try worked fine.
2. My YouTube app no longer launches, it just flicks on for a sec and goes back to the desktop. Probably need to re-install it.
3. Some memory issues when using ACV (comic viewer) to view CBR files. Frequent issues loading pages from the archive files. No issues at all if I extract the images to folders first and load that way, though so it's all good for my comic reading
4. Some apps that I wanted to download like SwitchPro Widgets don't show up in the market for me. Have to side-load them (which stinks since I paid for it and won't be able to get updates directly from the market).
I haven't had the stones to attempt installing the new market app. The old one works well and I'm not a big risk-taker Other than that, the NC is the little tablet that could! It's a fantastic way to get an Android tablet and very capable e-reading device for an extremely reasonable price.
We have 2 of these at home. It has already replaced my laptop at home, Using it mainly for web surfing and reading. I don't mind too much that it does not have 3g since I use my phone to tether when I am on the go. The screen size is just perfect. I just can't see myself trying to carry around anything larger, I love the portability of this thing. I don't know what Steve Jobs meant by saying that people don't want 7" tablets
The rooting process was simple enough and the only problems I had was youtube not working. I did a command in adb that was posted in another thread for the fix. I don't know about the problems with the lend me feature since I have not tried.
I went to my local best buy and barnes and noble yesterday and they are all sold out of the nook color. The nook color seems successful only being launched a month ago, I would not hesitate in getting one. I am very pleased also with the support that it is getting here on XDA.
My wife's NC is still stock but after I showed her what it can do rooted she is thinking about it. It was her idea in the first place to get these things. I was really looking to get a Galaxy Tab but the NC has satisfied my needs @ only $250. I guess I will spend the money I saved on a new Android phone after CES
wendellc said:
The screen size is just perfect. I just can't see myself trying to carry around anything larger, I love the portability of this thing. I don't know what Steve Jobs meant by saying that people don't want 7" tablets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What he meant was that he doesn't want to sell one, therefore nobody should use them.
And remember, you are talking about the guy who tells people how they are supposed to hold their phones.
I bought one last night fort my wife.rooted it right away and toyed around with for a little bit before bed..
What directory do downloaded files from the internet go to? my evo downloads go to a download folder on sd card but I couldnt find it on the NC. Bash me if you must but give me an answer. TIA
I picked mine up on Black Friday. Had to do some sweet talking... the ones in the store were spoken for already. Well, needless to say I got it, and it's saved my shoulders. Using my 15.6 inch laptop during the 40 min train commute was nice and all but hauling it from car to train, train to office and vice versa wasn't exactly ideal. I'm not a small guy or anything, but HP sure doesn't make things light
So far my NC has been a very worthy companion. It's gotten plenty of looks, comments, oooohhhhs and aaaahhhhhs after I show them Angry Birds and other things. I tether it to my TP2 and I've got internet. I use it in the coffee shops, during lunch to read, at home for a quick browse, at work as a file transfer medium, all in all it has become an indispensable companion. And that's even without BT and Flash. It would be nice if it had a GPS but quite irrelevant really... my TP2 covers that function very nicely. Nedless to say I'm extremely happy with it. One of the best purchases I ever made!
It's great and very encouraging to read all these positive comments about the NC. I have been lurking here since soon after the NC came out and was very happy to hear when it got rooted.
So far I have only played with a stock version in BB, but I'm about 99% sure there is one wrapped and already under the xmas free for me. Thx wifey! Can't wait to officially join the NC group on Xmas day.
AZBrauMeister said:
It's great and very encouraging to read all these positive comments about the NC. I have been lurking here since soon after the NC came out and was very happy to hear when it got rooted.
So far I have only played with a stock version in BB, but I'm about 99% sure there is one wrapped and already under the xmas free for me. Thx wifey! Can't wait to officially join the NC group on Xmas day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your wife will regret the purchase when your attention span is completely on the NC and not her, lol...
Its a sweet device that will only get better form here on out. Once bluetooth, nav, and a nice EQ music app (like powerAmp) are up and running, this device can become a phone companion (for roaming wifi), nettop replacement, and even a capable a carputer - nav, OBD2 reader/code clear app, and audio source (bt calls and music).
norkoastal said:
snip*
Its a sweet device that will only get better form here on out. Once bluetooth, nav, and a nice EQ music app (like powerAmp) are up and running, this device can become a phone companion (for roaming wifi), nettop replacement, and even a capable a carputer - nav, OBD2 reader/code clear app, and audio source (bt calls and music).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How will peripherals be connected? Does the hardware support USB to go, or do you think there is a BT chip onboard but inactive? Because that would be sweet!
CBJamo said:
How will peripherals be connected? Does the hardware support USB to go, or do you think there is a BT chip onboard but inactive? Because that would be sweet!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1a. By BT (once unleashed)
1b. ?? The BT chip is there (multi function chip), but needs some ROM goodness to "enable."
norkoastal said:
1a. By BT (once unleashed)
1b. ?? The BT chip is there (multi function chip), but needs some ROM goodness to "enable."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be fair, the BT **SHOULD** be there, based on the listed specs, but custom hardware for things like this is not uncommon, so i won't dream about BT until we really get it.
wendellc said:
I love the portability of this thing. I don't know what Steve Jobs meant by saying that people don't want 7" tablets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RoboRay said:
What he meant was that he doesn't want to sell one, therefore nobody should use them.And remember, you are talking about the guy who tells people how they are supposed to hold their phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I predict that in 2011 Jobs will announce a new breakthrough in Apple engineering, and will release a 7" tablet. At that time he will also rename the two tablets; MINiPAD and MAXiPAD... I'm just sayin'...
Oh you mean the nanopad... I have that already trademarked... Jobs, we know you're lurkin.. Call me up to negotiate leasing rights.
On that note B&N should let XDA release NC2... Nothing but free droid books loaded upon purchase.
Picked mine up last night and the root process went very well. Couldn't be easier -- thanks to all the hard work by the guys here and at NookDev.
I picked up a Galaxy Tab but returned it before I opened it. I just couldn't justify $600 for that device so, while the Tab has a few more features (2.2, GPS, etc.) this is an awesome little tablet for the money.
Couldn't be happier.

Nook Color Testimonials. Post Nook stories here!

I'm considering buying a Nook Color, and I want to hear from those who have bought one and rooted it.
Tell us your stories of cool things your Nook Color does and how you use it from day to day. Convince us that the Nook color is worth buying, especially for the low cost. Also, tell us what the Nook Color didn't do well. Mention specific apps that worked well on the Nook if possible.
TheGeek007 said:
I'm considering buying a Nook Color, and I want to hear from those who have bought one and rooted it.
Tell us your stories of cool things your Nook Color does and how you use it from day to day. Convince us that the Nook color is worth buying, especially for the low cost. Also, tell us what the Nook Color didn't do well. Mention specific apps that worked well on the Nook if possible.
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Click to collapse
I have used froyo, and Honeycomb on mine... so ill touch lightly on that.
I originally rooted my Nook because, I hated looking at the home screen. I wouldn't mind it if I could add my own books... but that limit annoyed me, since it would cost more than the device to make it look nice.
Anyways I was quite excited to see what I can do, something like Quickoffice HD (ink app). Works amazingly well, I was editing a power point on it... and I had full control over everything. It worked really well, I could see all the slides on the side. It really was a great app to play with, perhaps not to make it, but completely possible to if I had to.
I have been using the pure widgets, and they help a lot with School and keeping life in check. Since I dont need to swap screens to look into it... It looks really nice, and works very well.
Email apps sorta suck... Using the Gmail or the "Email" app it feels lack luster. Its enough to work... but not enough to make you feel like its better than a phone. Mail'd works well, but HTML emails crash it, and theres a lot of loading and buttons dont appear on it.
Movies, and Google maps... Help a lot with looking for something to do. If you have wifi you can get a general location. Its not enough to be very helpful (unless you know the area) but it really is helpful. If you were to use this feature in bulk there would be more enough enough space to see everything.
Youtube, and Pocketcloud... Both work really well, nothing above the top here, but enough to make them viable.
Browser is nice, it loads quite nice. You can get a nice view of screen, and all of that. Not a ton to say here, but completely possible to post on a site on the go.
Games, I dont have a ton of them, but they're far easier to control on the bigger screen. I tried angry birds on my phone and feels too small. On the nook or a nook size device... its very good.
Overall... Theres not a lot that my phone can do, that my Nook cant. A lot of apps are either part of the overlay, but as a whole you can get a lot out of the nook. If you dont mind using exact programs, you will be set. Things like the messenger I use, required wifi off (for whatever reason). So I had to find another, things like this are quite common.
Till honeycomb comes around, which made the nook feel less like a big phone... Tablets are not going to be amazingly above a phone either. With something like the nook, you're getting a really good E-Reader, which can do the rest. If you want some reading, think of it as a cost split.
50% = Good E-Reader
50% = Tablet
A small E-Reader app is nice, but the Nookcolor one looks very professional and sleek.
I bought mine specifically to root, and for one reason: the ability to carry technical documents, and to be able to edit them. Since then, I've found the NC strengths to be the above, plus simple web browsing, calendar/appointments, gmail, RSS, and News feeds. The major drawbacks, IMO, are screen sensitivity on the right hand side and the lack of hardware keys (although Button Savior or softkeys are mostly adequate). Also, some apps can't be used if a popup box is required for setting options; the background and foreground text are displayed in the same color so you just get a blank screen.
Some Good Apps: Google Reader, Documents to Go, HanDBase, Jorte, ColorNote, Evernote, Widgetsoid 2.x, Repligo, Weatherbug
As you can tell, my NC is set up for "business" use...
I ordered the nook before I knew that it can be easily rooted. Now I 'm running froyo from the sd and it's really fast and stable. I 'm still using it primarily to read e-books but it's nice to have a fully functioning tablet around.
I have 3.0 running on it, and it's quite stable. I'm loving this. It's far better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and for a fraction of the price. The screen is much nicer and it seems to run faster.
I would like to overclock this in 3.0, but I'm running into some major stability problems. I found this link saying it should work just fine, but I'm not having luck. When I looked at the "official" thread here, it says that it's causing issues and they're trying to fix it. Does anyone know if that's still the case? I found the article on addictive tips dot com.
Anywho, I got rid of my EVO a couple months ago as I simply couldn't justify the large bill every month. For less than 2 months of my cell phone bill, I can buy a Nook Color and get better functionality (easier for presentations with a client, and the larger screen makes it quite easy to navigate and use apps). I'd jump onboard. It can only get better, and it's already pretty freakin amazing.
One app make it entirely worth it... OverDrive. Free ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. Love it.
As a straight reader, I would use my nook a few times a week when I had spare time to read. As a rooted Android tablet, I use it daily and LOVE it. In places were I have wifi - which is around 80-85% of the time, I use it instead of my phone.
Most used apps: K9Mail, Facebook, Twitter, Engadets, XDA, Aldiko, WeatherBug, reading news and playing games like Angry Birds, MathDuko, Tomeno HD. I use Zeam and Softkeys for launcher and back/home buttons. I watch movies occasionall converted with HandBrake.
Missing - hardware home/back button - though Softkeys does a pretty good job. I agree that the screen sensitivity in the corners can get frustrating.
I wish I could more easily tether it to my cell phone. I'd either have to upgrade my phone or try to root my HTC Eris. I could live with messing up my nook but not my phone.
horsemom said:
As a straight reader, I would use my nook a few times a week when I had spare time to read. As a rooted Android tablet, I use it daily and LOVE it. In places were I have wifi - which is around 80-85% of the time, I use it instead of my phone.
Most used apps: K9Mail, Facebook, Twitter, Engadets, XDA, Aldiko, WeatherBug, reading news and playing games like Angry Birds, MathDuko, Tomeno HD. I use Zeam and Softkeys for launcher and back/home buttons. I watch movies occasionall converted with HandBrake.
Missing - hardware home/back button - though Softkeys does a pretty good job. I agree that the screen sensitivity in the corners can get frustrating.
I wish I could more easily tether it to my cell phone. I'd either have to upgrade my phone or try to root my HTC Eris. I could live with messing up my nook but not my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooted my Eris just fine. Running a CM7 Gingerbread ROM and works great!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=945324
Thanks to everyone who shared their Nook Color stories!

Nook Color vs Ipad - which one get?

I've just sold my netbook and now i'm buying a tablet.
Here is the best place to ask this because you guys unlock the full potential of the devices, so: should I get an Ipad or a Nook Color?
I have decided for an Ipad 2 long ago because IOS has the best support for medical apps (that I use a lot). For example I have an android phone (Defy) but keep carrying my ipod touch just for the medical apps that simply doesn't exist on Android Market. This week i'm in doubt because someone offered me a new Nook Color for HALF the price of the Ipad 2 32GB Wifi.
I've searched for NC capabilities and now it's running Gingerbread and soon Honeycomb, and it's pretty snappy (same specs of Defy), so now i'm just lost.
So, should I get a Nook Color? What about medical apps, battery life, multimedia capabilities, browser performance?
Thanks in advance!
Sadly I don't think the Nook Color competes with the Ipad2. And I honestly don't know if it's going to have the medical apps you need, being you have a defy shouldn't you know what it does or doesn't have?
The nook color is smaller and easier to use on the go.
With a custom rom (cm7), battery life isn't the best (4-7hrs continuous use).
Browser is very nice with Opera Mobile.
Videos play very nicely on it in my opinion, others are still having trouble with it or care far more for hardware acceleration on 720p videos =\.
The nook color is $250 retail... So if you're getting it for half of what the Ipad 2 is going for (depending on where you're getting it, you're getting it for the same price as retail or ripped off.)
That said, if apps are your thing, IOS has had more time to mature. If customizability and price are your thing, nook color all the way.
But, at the Ipad2 price point a Xoom (wifi) or the Asus EEEtransformer (not out yet) would be a better comparison for price.
Edit: I see you're not based in the U.S, so I understand now that the Ipad 2 or NC could be far more where you live. In that case, you might want to get the Nook Color (apps from ios are continually making their way to android) and just wait for the apps. And just keep using your ipod touch for what's not available yet.
Gin1212 said:
Sadly I don't think the Nook Color competes with the Ipad2. And I honestly don't know if it's going to have the medical apps you need, being you have a defy shouldn't you know what it does or doesn't have?
The nook color is smaller and easier to use on the go.
With a custom rom (cm7), battery life isn't the best (4-7hrs continuous use).
Browser is very nice with Opera Mobile.
Videos play very nicely on it in my opinion, others are still having trouble with it or care far more for hardware acceleration on 720p videos =\.
The nook color is $250 retail... So if you're getting it for half of what the Ipad 2 is going for (depending on where you're getting it, you're getting it for the same price as retail or ripped off.)
That said, if apps are your thing, IOS has had more time to mature. If customizability and price are your thing, nook color all the way.
But, at the Ipad2 price point a Xoom (wifi) or the Asus EEEtransformer (not out yet) would be a better comparison for price.
Edit: I see you're not based in the U.S, so I understand now that the Ipad 2 or NC could be far more where you live. In that case, you might want to get the Nook Color (apps from ios are continually making their way to android) and just wait for the apps. And just keep using your ipod touch for what's not available yet.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick answer!
You're right, here in my country the gadgets are MUCH more expensive than in the US, the taxes over these products are over 60%! And the only tablets officially available here are Ipad 1 and GalaxyTab.
And here the Ipad is the gold standard for everything, brazilian magazines and newspapers are released only on Itunes, no Android support here...
But it's good to know that the Nook is getting so neat, coming from a cheap reader to an almost full fledged tablet.
What in the medical field do you do? I have friends in medical school that swear by the iPad and its app, specifically the anatomy ones. I'm about to start and settled on the nook due to my personality. I know the iPad will distract me into another level. While the nook is hacked together enough where it gets my tasks in order and allows me to read PowerPoints but doesn't make me want to play games on it all day long. The fact that it's 300 dollars cheaper and only 7 inches didn't hurt either. The only thing I've been wishing for is Google body.
scl23enn4m3 said:
What in the medical field do you do? I have friends in medical school that swear by the iPad and its app, specifically the anatomy ones. I'm about to start and settled on the nook due to my personality. I know the iPad will distract me into another level. While the nook is hacked together enough where it gets my tasks in order and allows me to read PowerPoints but doesn't make me want to play games on it all day long. The fact that it's 300 dollars cheaper and only 7 inches didn't hurt either. The only thing I've been wishing for is Google body.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a physician, working with primary care/family medicine and applying for residency.
My use for a tablet will be internet browsing, medical apps, ppt viewing, pdf/ebook reading and some music apps in my spare time.
On IOS I use Lexi-comp, skyscape, medcalc and isilo reader.
The iPad is better hardware by far. If you jailbreak it you can do all sorts of good stuff.
The screen on an iPad can be written on with a stylus easily. I love android but apple hardware is sexy.
hirano said:
I'm a physician, working with primary care/family medicine and applying for residency.
My use for a tablet will be internet browsing, medical apps, ppt viewing, pdf/ebook reading and some music apps in my spare time.
On IOS I use Lexi-comp, skyscape, medcalc and isilo reader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About to start residency do you think you have time to worry about following forums, troubleshooting, doing workarounds, flashing and tinkering? If you think you do, then grab the nook Color. The thing about Android for me is, it's never been set it and forget it. I'm always changing something. To be frank, if you expect to use your device in your profession and not just after hours and not have to worry about it not booting because you overclocked it too high, I'd spring for the iPad. This is coming from someone who can't stand Apple, owns none of their products, and is typing this on a nook Color.
To muddy he waters a bit more, my NC running CM7 is pretty much set it and forget it. Even overwriting with nightlies every few days takes about 10 minutes and I'm back to running my NC perfectly afterwards.
My counterpoint is that if you use a tablet for any document that is rich in illustrations/graphics, the NC's screen and hardware will not cut it. I would suggest an iPad above all else for that reason.
scl23enn4m3 said:
About to start residency do you think you have time to worry about following forums, troubleshooting, doing workarounds, flashing and tinkering? If you think you do, then grab the nook Color. The thing about Android for me is, it's never been set it and forget it. I'm always changing something. To be frank, if you expect to use your device in your profession and not just after hours and not have to worry about it not booting because you overclocked it too high, I'd spring for the iPad. This is coming from someone who can't stand Apple, owns none of their products, and is typing this on a nook Color.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lack of time is an issue for sure, but I love tinkerin with my gadgets.
Are the custom Nook roms stable?
Can it run Froyo, Gingerbread or Honeycomb 100% functional?
Ultimately I want that my gadgets "just work".
lechiffre said:
To muddy he waters a bit more, my NC running CM7 is pretty much set it and forget it. Even overwriting with nightlies every few days takes about 10 minutes and I'm back to running my NC perfectly afterwards.
My counterpoint is that if you use a tablet for any document that is rich in illustrations/graphics, the NC's screen and hardware will not cut it. I would suggest an iPad above all else for that reason.
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Click to collapse
Good to know that Cyanogen is THAT stable on the Nook. And what do you mean by "won't cut it"? The Nook can't handle PDFs or image rich documents in a snappy way?
id say Ipad 2 or Xoom
hirano said:
Good to know that Cyanogen is THAT stable on the Nook. And what do you mean by "won't cut it"? The Nook can't handle PDFs or image rich documents in a snappy way?
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Click to collapse
That's correct.
If you're reading epub then NC is the way to go. If you're doing PDFs then you'll definitely want a bigger screen.
The real question is, do you need a tablet right now? and do you mind being locked down to iTunes?
If waiting is an option you might be interested in the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 that's set to come out in June. Stock Honeycomb. No Apple lock-down.
FYI CyanogenMod 7 is perfectly stable and I just used my NC (running CM7 nightlies) for a month-long vacation abroad without issues. On iPad I find typing a chore because the slab is so huge, and you can't travel without fearing an iPad will be crushed or torqued.
I personally find that the 7" screen is far more portable. As far as PDF's go, so long as it's not heavily illustrated (as in the book is just scanned in and is 500mbs, not ocr'ed, etc.) then it will do fine. In fact I love reading on the nook color with Ezpdf reader.
But Ipad has the software right now... In the end though, it's just a big Ipod touch.
Right now and for the foreseeable future (the next 12 months) iOS is the way to go if you need a polished machine for real work. The application library is simply going to blow away anything Android has, not to mention Honeycomb. And because of the Apple "cachet" one would expect that medical and legal applications would find a much larger market on the iPad than any given Andoroid device.
The Nook Color, right now is one of two things:
1) A nice, highly portable e-reader that can surf the web (for those who don't root)
2) A cheap tweakable hobbyist machine for those who want to explore the ponetial of tablets without dropping five bills on an iPad.
I love my Nook Color, but I don't actually expect to get "real work" done on it.
I love my NC. It is just more portable than the ipad or ipad 2. plus the price is much more acceptable to me. However, like other users have said, ios is more mature. I use my NC for lots of things, but some medical applications are currenly available only for ios (for now, many are getting written for android with the increased popularity of android tablets). I have CM7 running off of an sd card and have had no stability issues.
I use docs2go for my doc and pdf files and they seem to render pretty well on it. I have medscape, lexicomp, and epocrates on my nook and they run quite well (medscape and epocrates are free). On my android phone i have some skyscape applications (skyscape is one of the best sources for medical texts in my opinion). Look at skyscape.com for their selection. They are not cheap, but they are very thorough and can find may of the texts that you will be required to have are in full version on that site. They also make apps for ios.
dsf3g said:
2) A cheap tweakable hobbyist machine for those who want to explore the ponetial of tablets without dropping five bills on an iPad.
I love my Nook Color, but I don't actually expect to get "real work" done on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No offense, but perhaps you need to give you NC another shot. Frankly, aside from updating CM as they com out with better builds (which takes 10 min, and is nothing more than an update like in Windows, which does not destroy anything), i haven't tweaked in some time. But what i DO use it for, is checking mail while out of the office, looking up things online, reading and editing work documents anywhere (thank you Quick Office), having fun with it when i need some R&R, and having quick access to both my calendar and gmail.
Why you don't think you can get "real work" done on it is beyond me...
I think the samsung gtab will be 350 for work only if your not interested in bn reader for magazines
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
mjb413 said:
I love my NC. It is just more portable than the ipad or ipad 2. plus the price is much more acceptable to me. However, like other users have said, ios is more mature. I use my NC for lots of things, but some medical applications are currenly available only for ios (for now, many are getting written for android with the increased popularity of android tablets). I have CM7 running off of an sd card and have had no stability issues.
I use docs2go for my doc and pdf files and they seem to render pretty well on it. I have medscape, lexicomp, and epocrates on my nook and they run quite well (medscape and epocrates are free). On my android phone i have some skyscape applications (skyscape is one of the best sources for medical texts in my opinion). Look at skyscape.com for their selection. They are not cheap, but they are very thorough and can find may of the texts that you will be required to have are in full version on that site. They also make apps for ios.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like you're doing with your nook all the things that I want to do.
I have tried medscape, isilo and pdf reading (repligo) on my Android phone that is fairly similar to the Nook Color (Defy, 800mhz, 512MB ram) and the performance and usability are quite good.
hirano said:
On IOS I use Lexi-comp, skyscape, medcalc and isilo reader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All of those apps are in the android market most of the better medical content providers have made their products available on both iOS and android. Medscape took a long time to get there
The Nook isn't as good as the iPad for reading PDFs and powerpoints however, mostly due to the smaller screen. This is esp. true for documents with two or more columns.
If money is a concern, you may be better off looking for a cheap 10" android tablet or a first generation iPad. If money is NOT a concern, I don't think you'll be unhappy with an iPad 2
What specific applications do you need?
If you don't need proprietary reference materials, then android has everything you need. I use Epocrates and some medical calculators, and hit Wikipedia if I want to refresh my memory on something. UpToDate is always an option for more in-depth reading.
For documents, I recommend converting all of your old material to text format, and using any of the myriad notepad apps on android. Or you could use Google Docs.
The NC is very stable, even with a modded ROM. I use rooted stock - it does everything I need and is trivially easy to do. I keep Froyo, CM7, and Honeycomb on SD cards to play with. The stickies may installing these ROMs quite easy. You can always install onto an SD card, in order to keep the NC itself stock.
The main disadvantage to the NC is the 7" form factor, which is also its main advantage. I played with an iPad in the store, and it is sooo much more cumbersome to hold than the NC. However, even if you wanted the larger screen, I would strongly consider an android 10" tablet.

[Q] Question about touch points on the NC

I'm looking for an answer to this question and can't seem to find it anywhere. As we know, stock rooted is limited to two touch points. I'm told the iPad supports 10. I would love to have just 3-4 TBH. Everywhere I look, I get differing answers. Some say the limitation is hardware. Some say it's a minor software thing. Some say it's at the kernel level. If I run CM7 or HC or Nookie Froyo do I get more than two touch points? Would I need to flash a new kernel? I'm running some gaming emulators and can't press A, B, Start and Select at the same time and it's killing me. Just 3-4 touchpoints would vastly improve my quality of life at this point.
A. Nonymous said:
I'm looking for an answer to this question and can't seem to find it anywhere. As we know, stock rooted is limited to two touch points. I'm told the iPad supports 10. I would love to have just 3-4 TBH. Everywhere I look, I get differing answers. Some say the limitation is hardware. Some say it's a minor software thing. Some say it's at the kernel level. If I run CM7 or HC or Nookie Froyo do I get more than two touch points? Would I need to flash a new kernel? I'm running some gaming emulators and can't press A, B, Start and Select at the same time and it's killing me. Just 3-4 touchpoints would vastly improve my quality of life at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure other, more knowledgeable devs will have some input, but I will drop what i have here from personal work.
From reading the specs, we have a chip that SHOULD support up to 4 unique touch points. What we have at the software level however, is a very confusing driver that was modded by B&N, and does not seem to support more than 2. For a while, i worked on modding the driver, but could never get more than 2 points. I also used other drivers, that in theory should have worked, but would not seem to register any touches (its rather hard using a nook with no touchscreen).
Now, i don't want to say its impossible, unless it can be shown that the hardware itself is in some way lacking. The touchscreen support seems to be only limited at the kernel level, and a well written driver SHOULD support it. When we will see it though, is a mystery.
Easier would be just to buy a cheap used wiimote and a "classic controller" (get a nyko one for $10 at gamestop.)
$20 and you got yourself a portable gaming machine. It really is worth the cash to have a controller for all of those emulators. Hell, you could probably get away with just the Wiimote if you're just playing Nes/Gameboy.
Edit: Looking at amazon there are a lot of choice combinations for under $30 with shipping included. Including a Nyko Wireless Wii Classic Controller for $26 open box.
I realize I'm not addressing the touch point question but wouldn't it really make life easier to just get a Wiimote? I mean, if emulators are your thing, its hard to beat using an actual controller.
Gin1212 said:
Easier would be just to buy a cheap used wiimote and a "classic controller" (get a nyko one for $10 at gamestop.)
$20 and you got yourself a portable gaming machine. It really is worth the cash to have a controller for all of those emulators. Hell, you could probably get away with just the Wiimote if you're just playing Nintendo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that would definitely work, but then it's just one more thing I have to carry around. Then I have to worry about propping the screen up and the screen falling over when I'm using it, etc, etc... I just wanna kick back on the couch and play NBA Jam. But I have to hold a direction button, turbo and shoot all at the same time to pull off the classic dunks which obviously isn't possible with only two touches. I was just curious a) where the limitation is (hardware, Eclair, kernel, etc...) and b) is there another ROM out there that fixes it.
If it's an Eclair issue, then I'm more than happy to burn Nookie Froyo to an SD card and boot it when I wanna get my game on. If it's a hardware issue, then I'm SOL of course and if it's a kernel issue, there may be a potential fix somewhere. I had just looked and hadn't found any definitive answer. I'm not a dev so I have no clue where to even start. It would just be nice to have more than two touches.
Oh I see, sorry =(. Truth be told you'll probably just have to live without that game when on the go... I think all of the roms are going to have the same issues though, as it's my understanding they all started with the base B&N kernel and built it up.
And I know what you mean, it can be a pain to carry that stuff around if your job or life don't support it. I work in the school system so I can easily throw the stuff in my backpack for breaks. =\
Edit: I don't know what your uses of the Nook Color are, but for around a $100 you can get a used PSP that can support emulators and is very pocket friendly.
A. Nonymous said:
Yeah, that would definitely work, but then it's just one more thing I have to carry around. Then I have to worry about propping the screen up and the screen falling over when I'm using it, etc, etc... I just wanna kick back on the couch and play NBA Jam. But I have to hold a direction button, turbo and shoot all at the same time to pull off the classic dunks which obviously isn't possible with only two touches. I was just curious a) where the limitation is (hardware, Eclair, kernel, etc...) and b) is there another ROM out there that fixes it.
If it's an Eclair issue, then I'm more than happy to burn Nookie Froyo to an SD card and boot it when I wanna get my game on. If it's a hardware issue, then I'm SOL of course and if it's a kernel issue, there may be a potential fix somewhere. I had just looked and hadn't found any definitive answer. I'm not a dev so I have no clue where to even start. It would just be nice to have more than two touches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As i had just mentioned, it is Kernel based, and not limited to any one rom. Assuming a driver can be made, it SHOULD bring multi touch to EVERY rom...
Divine_Madcat said:
As i had just mentioned, it is Kernel based, and not limited to any one rom. Assuming a driver can be made, it SHOULD bring multi touch to EVERY rom...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That answers my question. Just not the answer I wanted. Writing an app is stretching my skills. Screwing with the kernel is something I do not have the abilities to do.

[Q] New Nook owner questions

I searched the forums for this, but I never found any straightforward (or in plain and simple English) answers that helped me. I don't know how to root or how to mod my devices or even some of the terminology. I also know that some of you might laugh at me for my lack of knowledge, but I get that anyway for how I walk sometimes (I have MS) LOL.
I just bought a New Nook Color today (yay for me!). I have a Samsung Epic 4g. I used an app called Application backup that gets all of the APK files into a zip file on the SD card. I have a 16gb SD card. I transferred my info from my 16 GB card to another 16 GB card via my computer. I put the 2nd SD card into my Nook and the Nook did not recognize any of the Apps from my phone. I figured that since they are both running Froyo, that it would work. What did I do wrong?
Also, I figured that since I upgraded the Nook to B&N's new Froyo, that I would be able to get onto the Android Market, not just B&N's somewhat crappy App store. How can I access the Market from my new Nook Color?
Also, can I run Google Voice and make calls from my new Nook? Just wondering, it's not necessary, but I would like to at least text message from it, if possible. Also, can I really get that Playon app and play Netflix and Hulu content as well? That would be amazing!
Thank you in advance for taking the time to help this big ol' dummy!
There's plenty of easy to follow guides about how to root, flash custom ROMs, etc all over this part of the forum, just gotta go looking. You'll need root to watch the Netflix app on your NC, same with getting the market.
There's an easier way to install the apps on your NC. Just download the Appbrain app on both NC and your phone, then you can see the list of apps on your phone and install them on your NC as well.
I've got a rooted NC with phiremod installed, so I can't tell you how to access the market on any unrooted device. Hope someone else can help you with that.
holgalee said:
There's an easier way to install the apps on your NC. Just download the Appbrain app on both NC and your phone, then you can see the list of apps on your phone and install them on your NC as well.
I've got a rooted NC with phiremod installed, so I can't tell you how to access the market on any unrooted device. Hope someone else can help you with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A completely stock NC can't access the marketplace.
OP, look for the "manual nooter" thread, probably in the Dev subforum. Nootering is the closest to stock you can be and use the non-B&N marketplace.
so i just got a gtab and was playing around with it. got a custom mod on there(vegan 5.1.1, love it) and my mom saw me saying "is that an ipad?". told her no, showed her some of the features and she suggested we get something like that for my grandma. without knowing really much about the nook color at all i do know this would probably be a better option for her than an ipad or gtablet.
just wondering if there are stable enough roms out there where i could do everything at once when i buy it and kind of show her how to navigate websites, email, watch videos, etc(pretty much basic computing, shes old lol) over a weekend when shes here(she lives 6 hours away and coming to visit next week)? because once she leaves i won't be able to update or help her troubleshoot it till like Christmas.
nuttybardude said:
so i just got a gtab and was playing around with it. got a custom mod on there(vegan 5.1.1, love it) and my mom saw me saying "is that an ipad?". told her no, showed her some of the features and she suggested we get something like that for my grandma. without knowing really much about the nook color at all i do know this would probably be a better option for her than an ipad or gtablet.
just wondering if there are stable enough roms out there where i could do everything at once when i buy it and kind of show her how to navigate websites, email, watch videos, etc(pretty much basic computing, shes old lol) over a weekend when shes here(she lives 6 hours away and coming to visit next week)? because once she leaves i won't be able to update or help her troubleshoot it till like Christmas.
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This might be better in its own thread if you want more replies, but I can tell you my own experience with customized tech devies as gifts to people who aren't tech savvy and can't or have no interest in learning. Never works out well, for me.
If your grandma likes to keep up with and learn about the latest gear, or if she's interested in starting, a rooted or moded NC would be good. But if she's not, you need a device you can set up for her once and have it run without need for updates or maintenance for a long period of time. Something she can just use. In that case the extra expense is worth it.
Also, a screen larger than the NC's would probably be easier for her, depending on her sight.
Nora D said:
Also, a screen larger than the NC's would probably be easier for her, depending on her sight.
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This is a very good point. I thought about getting a tablet for my dad, and the same considerations occurred to me. If your grandmother is using it primarily to read books, then the small screen isn't as much of an issue, since the fonts can be sized up in the reader app without much detrimental effect. But scaling up a large font in the web browser will likely make the web browsing experience painful, since many websites are so tightly formatted. "Zoom in and pan around" is a horrible way to use the web... Also, the smaller the screen is, the finer the motor control necessary to operate the touch screen controls, which may be another issue for an older person.
I came to the conclusion that a 7-inch tablet just isn't going to be very useful for an elderly person, and the Nook has enough little quirks when used as a tablet that it would likely be a frustrating experience for a non-techie person.
I really would not recommend CM7 NC or even rooted stock NC for an elderly person or technologically illiterate person for a couple of reasons:
1. The default UI is nowhere near as non-techy-user-friendly as iOS (I'm OS-agnostic, hate proprietary software, but hey, it's true) and there's no locking down of features (admin mode vs limited user, etc) to prevent someone accidentally damaging the install or removing something they shouldn't. Maybe you could find a heavily modded theme to be friendlier.
2. The screen is, at 7", perfect for me as a reader but my (elderly) mother complained about the small screen size (needing much bigger fonts). You can fix that somewhat by (obviously) using bigger fonts in CM7 and also by editing the lcd density, but the latter can cause issues with some apps. It's not exactly difficult to fudge fingering through the menus and opening apps by accident, or just mistyping because of the smaller keyboard.
I told my mother, who was liking my (CM7) Nook despite complaining about eye strain and fingering issues, that she was probably better off spending $100 more on the upcoming 9.7" Amazon tablet this fall if she could wait. While it's probably going to be as locked down as the iPad to begin with, I won't have to worry about bugs in nightlies (or even stables, e.g., no deep sleep in pre-.32 releases) or whether or not she'll accidentally break some app etc. While it sucks to be limited to 1 ereader store (technically), if Amazon allows generic ereader apps like Bluefire or Aldiko she could still have access to epubs from competing stores if she needed it. If it ends up being rootable to allow 3rd-party apps and Google Android Market then it's a win-win with a polished, user-friendly modded android OS from Amazon.
I'm not bashing the Nook or CM7 - I love mine and I love being able to tweak and experiment with it, but it's not something that a non-techy would be able to tread fearlessly in -- look how many threads here are posted with people being lost about doing a basic SD CM7 install or following one of the step-by-step rooting guides.
Responding to the grandma tangent, I think everyone is underestimating the appeal of the stock Nook Color for people who don't know what they're doing. There are plenty of non-tech-savvy people over at mobileread (well, tech savvy enough to post on a forum, but otherwise...) who are thrilled with their stock NCs. Three-million-plus of these things have sold, and most of those people are not rooting them or putting on custom ROMs.
Someone familiar with Android devices who goes into it expecting an Android device might find it limiting, but for someone with no clue, the fact that it only does a few things is a pro, not a con.
Skunkeye said:
But scaling up a large font in the web browser will likely make the web browsing experience painful, since many websites are so tightly formatted. "Zoom in and pan around" is a horrible way to use the web...
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I don't remember just how the NC stock browser works, but most Android browsers are smarter than that. Often a double-tap on a column of text will get it centered at a manageable size, and if not you can zoom to the desired text size and double-tap again to reflow it just like a book. Whenever I come to an article of more than a few paragraphs on my PC, I stop and pick up the NC for a more comfortable reading experience (or send the link to the NC for later, depending on what I'm doing).
I don't think anyone is underestimating the stock Nook Color for what it is. But the original question was about "stable ROMs" and the comparison of the Nook vs. a full Android tablet or iPad. I'd have no problem giving almost anyone a Nook Color if it was left as an unrooted, stock device (because tech support would then be B&N's problem!), with the understanding that it was going to be used as intended: as an excellent e-reader that happens to do a little bit of internet stuff sort of passably well.
But if you're talking about putting Cyanogen or something on the thing and sending it to grandma's house six hours away and hoping for everything to go smoothly (which was, I think, nuttybardudes's intent), I think that's very likely to end up in frustration for everyone involved.
Agreed. I'm saying he's overthinking it--just buying a NC and handing it to her (well, maybe helping her register it) may be his best option. .

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