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Hey everyone,
I have looked in the forums and cant find an answer to this. I rooted my daughter's christmas present nook color this weekend and it works great - thanks to everyone that made that possible.
One problem I have though is that lots of apps I install from the market dont display properly - some (like Angry Birds and Gem Miner) work great and take up the full screen. Others (like Robo Defence) show in a box with black areas either side (e.g. like watching 4:3 TV shows on a widescreen tv, however even though not all the screen is used, part of the applications are not displayed - so menus are missing and playing areas aren't visible so the games cant be used.
Since this happens in the same way to many applications it seems like it isn't the apps fault. Has anyone else seen this issue? is there a setting I can tweak? I am running 1.0.0.
Thanks a lot for any help you can give me.
Cheers,
Looks like I didn't try hard enough - found a potential fix here - will try it tonight:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=858946
Trying to get Mega Jump to work. if you find this to be a potential fix let me know how you achieved it? thanks!
I've found that some apps just won't do full screen, even with the Spare Parts fix...
Is there anything I should know about how a rooted Nook Color acts compared to something that's meant to be a tablet (e.g. the Galaxy Tab) that could influence whether I want one? For example,
This thread has workarounds for a bunch of quirks and problems with the NC. Is it common to need to workaround these and other B&N ROM issues?
I've seem mention of 'porting' apps to the Nook Color. Does this mean I have to do more work to get apps from the market than just hitting 'install'? Do some apps not work on the Nook Color?
It looks like B&N pushes over-the-air software updates to the NC that return it to a stock ROM. Is this easy to prevent? When they push their Q1 update, will it (probably) be easy to apply the update and then get all of my data/settings back, or are updates a pain that I have to put off applying until I have time to reconfigure everything?
Is there anything else I should know?
Well I am not hijacking this forum I just ordered a Nook Color I would cetrainly love to see these questions answered but could I also add a few of my own ?
I am in Europe what kind of usability can I expect from the device, will I be able to register it and what about books.
Also I 've heard there are some touch issues, whats up with that ..? is it true .. any solutions..?
I am following the BT thread and all looks great but what about the USB would we be able at some point to connect ext HDDrives or Webcams ..
Lastly I understand it will only play .mp4 movies anyway around that .......?
I will try to give you a couple answers based on my own experiences, though im no expert when it comes to rooting.
Yes there are some quirks with the NC that you wouldn't have to deal with on a regular android tablet. The biggest one is the lack of hardware buttons. There are several software solutions for this, the most effective and stable of which has been "button savior" which you can get in the market.
Some apps font render correctly because of the screen resolution/dpi of the NC. Some of that can be fixed by using an LCD density changing app or altering the setting manually.
You shouldn't have to port apps to run on the NC, but don't be surprised if some apps don't show up in the market. Most stuff works fine though.
As far as i can tell you wont get BN ota updates unless you're on a BN store wifi network. I've been rooted for weeks and i've never seen the 1.01 update pop up. I figure im waiting for the bigger update before i bother reverting to stock and restoring all my apps.
Ill post more stuff as it comes to mind!
posted from my nook color using the official xda app
There are certainly quirks, such as the hardware buttons issue mentioned above. And some apps don't work now, but I imagine other tablets would have similar issues. as android tablets grow in popularity we can expect more compatible apps
spiffytech said:
Is there anything I should know about how a rooted Nook Color acts compared to something that's meant to be a tablet (e.g. the Galaxy Tab) that could influence whether I want one? For example,
This thread has workarounds for a bunch of quirks and problems with the NC. Is it common to need to workaround these and other B&N ROM issues?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The B&N ROM does not contain some things that were completely not needed for the device as it was designed, so yes there are workarounds in that thread and on the wiki here: http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Issues
spiffytech said:
I've seem mention of 'porting' apps to the Nook Color. Does this mean I have to do more work to get apps from the market than just hitting 'install'? Do some apps not work on the Nook Color?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never heard anything of "porting" apps, only reason would be screen resolution of tablets vs phones. Some apps don't behave nicely on the higher res, either they are in the center of the screen, stretched out and ugly, or simply draw really badly. Most fall into the first two categories.
spiffytech said:
It looks like B&N pushes over-the-air software updates to the NC that return it to a stock ROM. Is this easy to prevent? When they push their Q1 update, will it (probably) be easy to apply the update and then get all of my data/settings back, or are updates a pain that I have to put off applying until I have time to reconfigure everything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, your device will query for OTAs and so far nobody has figured out how to safely disable them. Update to 1.0.1 first, then noot it. And when a 1.0.2 or 1.1.0 comes out, expect to do it again. Until someone comes out with a real way to disable the OTAs or a full custom ROM is made.
pavlos46 said:
Also I 've heard there are some touch issues, whats up with that ..? is it true .. any solutions..?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It generally happens only when plugged in, and almost always unplugging it and turning off the screen and turning it back on the problem goes away. Some folks say it happens more if the screen is dirty, although in my experience with capacitive screens this is not the case.
pavlos46 said:
I am following the BT thread and all looks great but what about the USB would we be able at some point to connect ext HDDrives or Webcams ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Highly unlikely, but there are ways to do USB Host drivers on Android phones, so it's possible in the future.
pavlos46 said:
Lastly I understand it will only play .mp4 movies anyway around that .......?
[/LIST]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, use something like RockPlayer.
Other things to note...
Games run fairly well on Nook Color. I've been using Dungeon Defenders (framerate not the best), Antigen, Angry Birds, Fuzzies and Nesoid. They all work pretty well except for poor framerates with Dungeon Defenders.
You'll definately need Button Savior. The LCDDensity app is also good to have and tinker with. You'll want to get NookColor Tools on there as well to change keyboards. Root Explorer also.
It runs pretty much any app that I can run on my Droid.
Dolphin-Mini works great on the Nook Color.
There are some issues with buttons at the screen edges, like the Android Marketplace search icon or tab switching in Dolphin. Adjusting LCD Density with the LCDDensity app will cure that problem. Otherwise you will have to figure out how to tap on the edges for it to register. Mine only does this at the top edge and not on the sides or bottom.
Overall, a great device. Clockwork is well on it's way to being finished. And there are now a few folks jumping on the bandwagon to create custom roms.
Rockplayer will play other video types, but wont use hw acceleration and will be choppy. Best to convert to mp4 instead.
In the end i think this tablet is for those who actually enjoy tinkering and tweaking.
Sent from my Nookcolor
Seems like I say this constantly, but in my opinion you do not need Button Savior, Softkeys included in the Auto Nooter script for 1.0.0 or 1.0.1 works great.
markiejones said:
In the end i think this tablet is for those who actually enjoy tinkering and tweaking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. I've enjoyed "fixing" the Nook. But this process could be annoying to many people. Those people would be much happier with an ipad.
khaytsus said:
Seems like I say this constantly, but in my opinion you do not need Button Savior, Softkeys included in the Auto Nooter script for 1.0.0 or 1.0.1 works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. When you set softkeys "just so", it's a near-ideal key replacement. The default setup is what throws people off, with the little arrow-guy getting in the way and some confusion regarding the "n" key.
Mine is invisible except when I single tap the "n" key -a double tap gets me "home". That's perfect, and not at all in the way.
What is the advantage of using android 3.0 have over 2.2. and 2.3?
Install all three and really see no difference beside the slight UI changes.
evilPERSOn,
I had not yet loaded HC, so my advice is pure speculation. HC has an entirely different interface which acknowledges the fact that a tablet is in essence a tablet and not an oversized phone. So, as such, it works a bit more like a computer with. The speed and streamlined interface of a tablet. As I write this I really wonder why I have not cobbled it up. Well, it is only a matter of time.
Have fun
~Leko
evilPERSOn2009 said:
What is the advantage of using android 3.0 have over 2.2. and 2.3?
Install all three and really see no difference beside the slight UI changes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well for starters this should be in general not development
second HC isnt just a slight UI change, it was MADE for tablets so if you want your tablet to be a giant itouch running android than install 2.2/2.3 but if you want a tablet you should install 3.0
^My bad. I had two tabs open. General and Development. Must have started thread on the wrong location.
1. HC uses GPU interface rendering.
2. HC is meant for a system like a nook with few buttons (good for us)
3.But HC's source is not in the open (bad for us).
poofyhairguy said:
1. HC uses GPU interface rendering.
2. HC is meant for a system like a nook with few buttons (good for us)
3.But HC's source is not in the open (bad for us).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully the source will be released soon!
For me i thought i would try hc on the sd card and just go back to froyo. I was hooked. I used it for two days on a class 2 card then i flashed, and ive tried to go back to froyo and get flash but i cant. The UI is just perfect, the live app switcher key is wonderful and so great to use, probably my favorite feature. Not to mention i love that the task bar is on the bottom, reminds me of windows and keeps the clock and keys out of my face. Honestly i hate the top notification bar on other versions, ive always hidden it on my droid. Being on the bottom is so nice and out of the way.
Its got its downsides, but give it 2 months.. apps galore, source files..... it will be really good to run.
Edit: not to mention, ive never lost data like on my droid while switching apps. Ive come back to apps ive had open for over 24hrs and its still in the same state
Sent from one of those missing Droids
altimax98 said:
The UI is just perfect, the live app switcher key is wonderful and so great to use, probably my favorite feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm using the samuelhaff's eMMC HC and i noticed that i can't scroll the app switcher, so i don't have access to all my previously run apps. is this normal?
loving HC, so far. the fact that it's designed for no hard buttons is just awesome.
i don't think the app switcher even scrolls on the xoom yet.
I have only played with HC breifly. But from what i know about it these are the following reasons to use it.
1. Market. Honeycomb is the first android os that will support having the google market. This provides a few things. Any of us who have played with Ipods and ipads will know that there are specific apps built for ipad. Now that Android 3.0 is built for tablet form factor, and officially supports the market. We will now see Tablet applicatons that provide higher resolutions, or new features. These apps will be built around the 3.0 os, and may not work on older operating systems.
2. Built for tablets. Everything we have had up untill this has been a phone operating systme built for a 3" screen ported to something with a 7-10" screen. The os is clearly built for phones there are things in there that just dont work right, or should not be there, but are there, on a fundimental level in the operating system. By adding native support for larger screens, and removing the phone items, it provides for a cleaner higher performance interface.
3. Interface enhancements. The UI has been built to support the larger form factor. This will provide easier navigation as well as soft keys as mentioned above, since alot of tablets are just missing physical buttons.
Unfortunatly the OS has not been released to the public. My guess is there is some contract between motorola (xoom) and google for exclusivity on their tablet. but dont quote me on that.
1) The web browser is much improved - even over Dolphin
2) The email client is much improved - even over K9
3) Contacts sync seamlessly with Google contacts
4) The keyboard is much improved - has a TAB key, has a "handle" to move the cursor around in text, has cut and paste features.
All of this is enough to make me swich to HC.
Downsides:
1) Many of my favorite apps cannot be found or downloaded from the Market - even though they worked fine on 2.1.
2) From uSD card, runs a little slower than 2.1, but not enough to bother me.
is the video accelerated? I could not take cm7..so slow.
winkler1b said:
is the video accelerated? I could not take cm7..so slow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Same problem effects both I think.
Well, I switched and got my nook to recognize the sd (Class 2) partition. I expanded the image to use the 16 gigs too. I love it. The Live App switching is nice. It actually feels more like true Linux (I am thinking KDE) than any other droid system. I just can't handle the lag when booting apps (probably a combination preview/sd card). I am a teacher and grade on my Nook, so I need speed. But, I am excited about this. Thanks a lot Deeper Blue. This will be stellar.
The true app switching is almost priceless as is the efortless interface.
~Leko
I personally liked the fluidity of the OS although that might be due to the fact that it is running on a i7 or something.
I would certainly like an UI like that but i would like it even more if Android gets a UI that is so fluid and awesome.
Since arm port of windows would have no legacy support for apps, it wouldn't be that ahead of Honeycomb i guess.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/microsoft-unveils-windows-8-tablet-prototypes/
What about you? did you like the UI?
I thought it looks great as an evolution of windows, Imagine running your normal windows apps on a tablet or vice versa, its pretty cool. I love the whole unified look. but only time will tell of its usability and what it actually does by release haha.
I like it and want it on my Nook LOL
Omega Ra said:
I like it and want it on my Nook LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was my first thought too
I could see myself wanting this on a tablet or other touch enabled device but really don't see any benefit on a standard PC or laptop even if it's touch enabled *unless* Microsoft makes it possible to easily dump the exact state of an app or group of apps from one device to another, like a Chrome to Phone on steroids.
I'm talking like the scene in Avatar where he "grabs" the image off the main computer screen and "throws" it onto a tablet like device. Being able to, within seconds, take my work from my main PC / Laptop to an ultraportable device (ie. phone / tablet) and back would be the killer feature and seems like it would be possible with the demo'd interface.
oh god that is fugly.... way too busy and a waste in my opinion.
Unless there is a way to turn it off.. i am skipping win8
I like it and see a lot of potential with it. I did LOL though. In the video he is talking about touch type (on a tablet) and says "so we created a split keyboard" or words to that effect...they created. Hell, I've seen keyboards like this on Android for years. Pretty sure they didn't create it...copied it yes..
probably they're running all that behind a cluster of servers no doubt about it...
Looks like a great interface for a tablet, not sure how it'll work on a desktop. I use my desktop to do actual work, with multiple applications open, each with multiple windows arranged across multiple monitors. I don't see how a full screen app interface, even split as shown, would be anything but a dramatic hindrance.
Again, as it pertains to the desktop, I'm not sure I like the "each app as a tile" idea. right now, with two or three clicks, I can launch any of the 75 to 100 applications I have on my computer. I don't see how anything approaching that efficiency would be possible if only 9 or so application "tiles" can be placed on any given screen.
For a tablet type device, which is inherently of more limited use, an interface like this is perfect, and this one does look clean and smooth. I just hope they don't insist on forcing this type of UI on desktop PC's.
i agree with the other guy that it is fugly. i think that their tablets will fail.. unless they pull the same ol monopoly of the market BS.
ChrisDDD said:
Looks like a great interface for a tablet, not sure how it'll work on a desktop. I use my desktop to do actual work, with multiple applications open, each with multiple windows arranged across multiple monitors. I don't see how a full screen app interface, even split as shown, would be anything but a dramatic hindrance.
Again, as it pertains to the desktop, I'm not sure I like the "each app as a tile" idea. right now, with two or three clicks, I can launch any of the 75 to 100 applications I have on my computer. I don't see how anything approaching that efficiency would be possible if only 9 or so application "tiles" can be placed on any given screen.
For a tablet type device, which is inherently of more limited use, an interface like this is perfect, and this one does look clean and smooth. I just hope they don't insist on forcing this type of UI on desktop PC's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get the feeling that the windows 8 touch UI is going to be something of an additional above the usual desktop. I'm imagining it is somewhat similar to Windows Media Center in windows 7. You launch the UI when you want to use it in tablet mode, and then revert back to regular desktop when you, say, have a keyboard and mouse attached. I think they are going for the best of both world approach. I like the idea, but I would have to agree that there will most likely be a reduction in functionality when you move to the tablet mode.
I think it looks interesting overall. I have a convertible netbook, so I will probably install the beta when they release it for public use.
luciferii said:
i agree with the other guy that it is fugly. i think that their tablets will fail.. unless they pull the same ol monopoly of the market BS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be really hard to do when Apple already has the tablet market locked down.
I am glad i am not the only one who thought that OS looked hideous. I dont want that on my tablet, let alone my PC....
I think it looks fantastic, and if the price is right, I'll definitely get a W8 tablet or hopefuly, something like the Asus Transformer.
It looks like Win Media Center merged with Android 3.0....
Linux Looming.
I was a devoted Windows Mobile user until about a year ago. It was time for a new phone and I was really looking forward to Windows Mobile 7. Fortunately that never happened and instead the awful u.i. that is Windows Phone 7 appeared in it's place.
I say fortunately because as a result I am now fully vested in Android, loving it, and won't ever look back.
This revelation makes me wonder if I should go ahead and get me some flavor of Linux for my pcs...
I'm excited about this. Understanding they are sort of loading up that device with all sorts of apps to show off the interface. I am sure it will be very customizable and certainly we will be able to stretch tiles and have empty space as we see fit.
I think the general interface looks very nice, especially for touchscreens. I am happy there will be some competition for android. In my humble opinion, android OS development has been going very slow. There are a ton of features and design elements that should have been implemented that have been overlooked. It's great, and it's getting better. I get that. I just find that competition tends to accelerate getting better.
martian21 said:
I could see myself wanting this on a tablet or other touch enabled device but really don't see any benefit on a standard PC or laptop even if it's touch enabled *unless* Microsoft makes it possible to easily dump the exact state of an app or group of apps from one device to another, like a Chrome to Phone on steroids.
I'm talking like the scene in Avatar where he "grabs" the image off the main computer screen and "throws" it onto a tablet like device. Being able to, within seconds, take my work from my main PC / Laptop to an ultraportable device (ie. phone / tablet) and back would be the killer feature and seems like it would be possible with the demo'd interface.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed. I've been doing a lot of thinking about this. It's not very hard to imagine. I don't see it being very hard to accomplish. The data for the app would have to be completely compartmentalized, and the app would have to be completely compatible. It could be implemented at the OS level but it is so hard to know for sure exactly what kind of data apps are going to want to use. Hrms.
I doubt the MS technology is going to do this, but I imagine it coming in the next 10 years.
ExploreMN said:
That would be really hard to do when Apple already has the tablet market locked down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was the only reasonable thing on the market. Now it's not. It lost 20% market share in 1 single quarter.
It's funny that this came out because just a few days ago I had a dream about a windows tablet (that was super cheap in my dream) and then this happens. haha.
Apple won't hold the market for long. Apple's restrictive marketplace and OS is it's problem. That and jail breaking it and you don't have to pay for any of their apps.... what a joke... Why would developers make apps when their investment is so easy to steal?
I liked it a lot for phone and tablet use. I am not so much a fan for desktop use -- prefer the overlapping windows for that, and I think the tiles in lieu of icons are wasted on directories full of normal text documents.
I liked everything about Win8 until they showed legacy support for Excel and Word. Seeing the Win7 UI was such a hideous contrast to the smooth appearance of 8. Microsoft needs to re-build its Office suite for 8.
Sent from my phiremod for Nook using Tapatalk
jessie57 said:
Microsoft needs to re-build its Office suite for 8.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Microsoft loves making money...you think they won't?
A cursory google and xda search pulled up nothing really usable.
even a non-pressure sensitive one would be something.
LemonPowerForce said:
A cursory google and xda search pulled up nothing really usable.
even a non-pressure sensitive one would be something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wauw, good idea!!!
I use AirDisplay. It enables your android display to be used as another monitor. So I extend my display onto the note, and 1280x800 really helps. Then, in Photoshop(Adobe applications, mostly) go to Window> new window. Then drag the duplicate document onto your Note. Ta-da!
Draw directly on photoshop.
It's fast enough, though a little choppy if you make really fast motions.
You can also use a remote app to control the mouse.