To root or not? New Rom? - Nook HD, HD+ Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I bought a 32 Gb Nook HD+ in November 2013. I use it daily for reading either B&N ebooks or Kindle ebooks. No comic books or magazines.
First, being a good ereader is most important. For several years, I have had trouble with B&N ebooks freezing. Strangely, Kindle ebooks seldom freeze, but they do freeze on occasion. So I need both the B&N app and the Kindle app since I have purchased books from both. I have heard that once rooted the B&N ereader app and Netflix does not work. Or maybe it doesn't work with a new Rom?
Second, it is important to have a browser so I can get to specific travel/hotel websites while traveling. Currently, I can get to the websites, but can't read them because I can no longer zoom in for some reason. No point in going to a website if I can't zoom in to read it. Is it possible rooting will help this problem?
Third, I would like to be able to carry 1 tablet that can do everything I need...play movies from Netflix or Amazon Instant movies, my Plex account, or the digital copies that come with DVDs I have purchased. If I can use Plex, I don't need the digital copies. I think with stock HD+, I have to convert movies??? I guess I have to convert movies once rooted also. I can't get email on the HD+ because none of the apps have been updated by B&N, but I can use my phone for that. I also lost sound on the HD + and had to install an app to have sound.
Fourth, is there some reason I can't charge my HD+ on airplanes? Voltage issues? While reading, I plug it in to charge, and the screen starts jumping and flashing. I can't read when it is doing that. If I turn it off, it still will not charge. Is this a Nook problem, or do all tablets have trouble charging on airplanes? If it is all tablets, then rooting will not help.
Last, I am confused about rooting and a bootable Roms. I don't understand the differences between the two, and I don't know which would be best for me, or if I should keep stock. I have seen downloads for different things on this website, but don't know which to use, or even which version to use. Maybe none at all?
So, any advice will be greatly appreciated. Do I need to install Lollipop, KitKat, Nougat, or leave as is? The HD+ screen is wonderful and I really don't want to carry 2 tablets when I travel, so I would like to fix the HD+ if possible. Or is it time to buy a new Samsung tablet and leave the HD+ at home for reading only? Thanks to anyone who has time to explain!
By the way, my brother bought a new HD+ at Barnes & Noble last December, 2016. I can't believe they are still selling them!

Related

The Nook Color is terrible for college.

As an Android Tablet the Nook is not that bad. It is rather cheap, but very well built. Even with its 850 processor, it runs like a champ as well as works great for games.
But...as an e-reader I am VERY disappointed. When I went to purchase my Nook Color, I asked one very simple and direct question that would make or break getting the Nook; "Can I use it to read textbooks?" for which I got a very strong, "Yes, and they look great." Well, I just got back to school for the winter term and tried downloading my books to my Nook Color and received an error telling me that there is a problem and to try again later. After a while, I called B&N support and was informed that you can NOT read or download textbooks on the Nook Color.
From here, I am out a $550 investment because it has been over 14 days thus I cannot return it, and I have bought over $300 of e-books. While I understand that I can still read them on my computer, the reason I got this was for the portability and not having to lug around my laptop (which is a 10 pound Toshiba Qosmio). So as a college student the Nook Color has become rather useless and not worth the money sadly.
I had a similar idea in mind when I bought mine. Just found pdf's of textbooks I needed and am using ezpdf to view them on my rooted Nook. Can also turn the pdf's into epubs and read with the stock viewer, but I found some books with strange formatting (math books) tended convert oddly.
What format are the books in? Worst case, you have to root the book to install the proper reader...
Rydsmith said:
As an Android Tablet the Nook is not that bad. It is rather cheap, but very well built. Even with its 850 processor, it runs like a champ as well as works great for games.
But...as an e-reader I am VERY disappointed. When I went to purchase my Nook Color, I asked one very simple and direct question that would make or break getting the Nook; "Can I use it to read textbooks?" for which I got a very strong, "Yes, and they look great." Well, I just got back to school for the winter term and tried downloading my books to my Nook Color and received an error telling me that there is a problem and to try again later. After a while, I called B&N support and was informed that you can NOT read or download textbooks on the Nook Color.
From here, I am out a $550 investment because it has been over 14 days thus I cannot return it, and I have bought over $300 of e-books. While I understand that I can still read them on my computer, the reason I got this was for the portability and not having to lug around my laptop (which is a 10 pound Toshiba Qosmio). So as a college student the Nook Color has become rather useless and not worth the money sadly.
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They are DRM protected PDF files for which I have been trying to have the DRM removed for the last few days with absolutely no luck. I have tried to drag and drop but of course that doesn't work (with Calibre) and says that the device isn't authorized even though it is registered with Adobe Editions.
Rydsmith said:
They are DRM protected PDF files for which I have been trying to have the DRM removed for the last few days with absolutely no luck. I have tried to drag and drop but of course that doesn't work (with Calibre) and says that the device isn't authorized even though it is registered with Adobe Editions.
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You used the calibre plugin for PDFs and it still doesn't work?
Rydsmith said:
They are DRM protected PDF files for which I have been trying to have the DRM removed for the last few days with absolutely no luck. I have tried to drag and drop but of course that doesn't work (with Calibre) and says that the device isn't authorized even though it is registered with Adobe Editions.
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If you root your color u can install overdrive media player or Aldiko reader. both apps will allow you to read Adobe DRM protected material.
I am using these to readAdobe protected epub and pdf books from my local and school library
I will try and install Aldiko tonight, but I still find it unacceptable that I have to root in order to use my item to read a book....especially for an e-reader.
Rydsmith said:
I will try and install Aldiko tonight, but I still find it unacceptable that I have to root in order to use my item to read a book....especially for an e-reader.
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The place that sold your ebooks didn't expect them to be read on an e-reader. They're protected so that you can only read them on your computer. Not B&N's fault at all.
What you can do, however, is get a program that will remove the encryption from your books. The more reliable ones are pay-for. But like I said, blame the store that sold you the encrypted e-books. I had to help a friend in a similar situation since she bought study materials that were encrypted and she was able to find a program that decrypted the files.
I think the person at the store was expecting you to buy textbooks from the B&N store, which should work fine without needing DRM removal.
KitF said:
The place that sold your ebooks didn't expect them to be read on an e-reader. They're protected so that you can only read them on your computer. Not B&N's fault at all.
What you can do, however, is get a program that will remove the encryption from your books. The more reliable ones are pay-for. But like I said, blame the store that sold you the encrypted e-books. I had to help a friend in a similar situation since she bought study materials that were encrypted and she was able to find a program that decrypted the files.
I think the person at the store was expecting you to buy textbooks from the B&N store, which should work fine without needing DRM removal.
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I have only bought books from the B&N store. All my textbooks were bought through them which is why I am very upset about this.
Rydsmith said:
I will try and install Aldiko tonight, but I still find it unacceptable that I have to root in order to use my item to read a book....especially for an e-reader.
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Well, the issue is not the E-reader...The issue is the anti-piracy measures that these companies use that interfere with legitimate owners of the material..
Should you have to root it? No....But....
Rooting will give you much better reading software than the stock Nook. Ezpdf reader is far better than the stock reader.
Also, I would say that it is B&N fault for this. If I'm buying a book on their site and see the words: Nook eBook available, and then am told that I can't use (not just THIS book but...) ANY textbooks on the Nook Color, that is a problem. Especially when I can load up the Amazon Kindle app and read ALL my textbooks.
Now one may ask why I'm complaining if I can use Kindle, the difference is that there are large price differences between the two sources.
Rydsmith said:
I will try and install Aldiko tonight, but I still find it unacceptable that I have to root in order to use my item to read a book....especially for an e-reader.
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Fact is this was sold as a B&N bookreader that can also webbrowse watchsome videos...
Now you are asking it to view DRM material not purchased on the device. In stock form it isn't suprising it won't.
But it is easily rootable and will do what you need.
Canadoc said:
Fact is this was sold as a B&N bookreader that can also webbrowse watchsome videos...
Now you are asking it to view DRM material not purchased on the device. In stock form it isn't suprising it won't.
But it is easily rootable and will do what you need.
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I think that you're completely missing the point that I bought the books from B&N by clicking on the Nook eBook button...not from a third party or from some other website.
That would be like buying a Playstation game via the PSN Market and then being told that you can't play it on your Playstation.
Thats a big fail on the barnes and nobles website. but dont let that discourage you from the excelent features the nook color has. ?Yes you have to root it, but once you do that you have so much more capabilitys. Just make sure next time you buy a textbook you get something that does not have drm. if amazon offers the books, you can load the kindle app on the nook and read them that way.
Good luck. Im sure you will figure it out. I would search out an app to remove the drm.
To the original poster.
The NOOKstudy program is only available on the computer for the time being; however, it is highly likely that it will make its way to the NOOKcolor via an app in the near future.
But textbooks that you download either from the publisher or your school will work on the NOOKcolor as long as they are epub or pdf.
The digital textbooks available from NOOKstudy are not available as of yet because they are still trying to work out the legal issues with the publishers. But it seems highly likely that once the NOOK application store opens in March they will become available.
Can you link this etextbook that supposedly said you could use it on your nook?
Rydsmith said:
I think that you're completely missing the point that I bought the books from B&N by clicking on the Nook eBook button...not from a third party or from some other website.
That would be like buying a Playstation game via the PSN Market and then being told that you can't play it on your Playstation.
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Oh I wasnt aware of that when I posted. Yeah not clear by them. I think they keep nook books as separate from Ebooks.That said they should have worked. Were they bought via the B&n website?
Maybe via the library feature u could do the sync and they will show up as archived books?
nookstudy etextbooks are not compatible with any e-readers, as they are "too large, and image intensive".
this is on B&N's site
Ok heres your answer to the problem.....
Ok so the Nook Color does read the pdfs well, the problem of course is that you have no way to do so until they are cracked....
Well I can help you remove the DRM simply PM me (as I'm not sure about the legality issues and I'm not going to risk me, this site, or the creators of the program getting in trouble by mass posting the link). I'll link you to the place to get the files. Lets just say once you have the programs installed properly the entire process from encrypted to readable takes less then 30 seconds....
Adan
Aldiko should solve your problem. Let us know orbit doesn't.
Sent from my Nooted friend...

Once hacked into a tablet, I can run the Kindle app right?

I'm going to be picking up some business related books in a few weeks from amazon but then i saw an ad for the Kindle which brought to remember the Nook Color being able to run as an Android tablet. Just wondering once it's an Android Tablet it's pretty much a generic tablet and I can run any app on it just like my EVO 4G right? I'm on CM7 Final with my EVO right now also.
Yes
It can run any app that is in the Android Marketplace, including the Kindle app.
I have a nook with CM7 and have the Kindle app with several books.....use it daily without problems.
There is a Nook app too; this way you can have BOTH. Take that Kindle!
For me, the best part about the NC over the Kindle is that i can download ebooks from my public library for free.
boxcar8028 said:
For me, the best part about the NC over the Kindle is that i can download ebooks from my public library for free.
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I concur, but then again, that's why I have an original 3G nook. As much as I love my NC for checking email, surfing the web, and reading journal articles, when reading actual novels and long stints of text, I love e-ink b/c it doesn't stain my eyes and I can read longer w/o draining the battery.
linyongzheng said:
I concur, but then again, that's why I have an original 3G nook. As much as I love my NC for checking email, surfing the web, and reading journal articles, when reading actual novels and long stints of text, I love e-ink b/c it doesn't stain my eyes and I can read longer w/o draining the battery.
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I used to think that reading the nook color would strain my eyes like it does when I'm reading with my LCD, but so far it really hasn't affected me. I think the the flash before a page turn on e-ink annoys me more now that I've been reading with the NC. I guess it's different for everyone
At present the Nook app for Android has some significant drawbacks versus the Nook Color application in stock Eclair. (Some books can't even be downloaded.)
Are there any similar downsides to using the Kindle app for Android versus using a real Kindle?

How much do you read on your NC?

There's been some controversy among e-reader enthusiasts about including the NC in B&N's Q1 e-reader sales, which some market analysts are saying beat Amazon's. Most of us on this forum probably agree that marketing the NC as an e-reader undersells its capabilities considerably. Many, but not all, also share my suspicion that we are a minority, however overexposed in the online tech-bubble, and most NC owners do use the device unmodified and primarily for reading.
What I wonder is how many of us who bought the NC with no intention of keeping her stock (and may not have looked twice at e-Ink readers), or those who decided they wanted more out of the NC, are also putting it to its stated use: reading.
For simplicity, we'll include magazines and comics read offline, but no web content. Obviously, we're mostly talking about actual e-books.
I went with the NC over other devices because of the ease of ROM-swapping, the opportunity to explore Android, and the broad media and web capability, but reading is still my #1 use for it by a long stretch: mostly novels, some comics.
I've own (and lost) a first Gen Kindle; replaced it with the first Gen Nook (e-ink); and I handed that off to my wife when the NC came along. The NC was the first that I did anything except read on as a primary activity.
I did root all three but all the Kindle could do was bring up the embedded Linux command line. Pretty boring. I did a little more with the original Nook, but I returned it to stock for the wife. Neither was anything except an e-reader when in use.
I split the use 50/50 on the NC (that should have been the 2nd poll option). I polled as #1, but that is not quite accurate.
I read on mine all the time. I'd even say that reading is my primary use for it. My NC is rooted, with the full Market and lots of other apps installed, but I keep the stock OS, since it offers such a vastly improved reading experience.
I've tried Honeycomb and CM7 on SD cards, and both are great. But for me, the NC is an ereader first. I use it for some tablet stuff like playing games, reading GReader, etc, but primarily for reading.
I'm a little surprised (positively ) to see the poll quite this top-heavy so far.
ryaninc said:
I keep the stock OS, since it offers such a vastly improved reading experience.
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I guess that's a matter of opinion. The limitations of the reader were pretty much the main reason I ditched stock. At least, it was the main reason I was eager to ditch it at the earliest convenience; I knew by the time I got the NC that I wanted CM7, but didn't have a chance to install it for another week.
I read on it a LOT. I buy a lot of books from B&N -- far more than I did before I got the NC -- and they have become my primary activity when I travel. I do have CM7, and I use it for my daily task list and calendar, which probably consume more time than the reading so, I voted that way.
My two concerns, which might have tipped me to using it primarily for reading, are that the Nook application has touch sensitivity issues in its upper menu bar and that one cannot read most magazines with it, even though I purchased them from BN and they show up in the application. The former has me looking at other readers; the latter has me using Zinio. Because I like to put my dollars in vendors whom I believe I should support, I would buy more books and magazines from BN if they fixed these two issues.
I do most of my reading on a rooted N2E with the Kindle app. I find eink much more comfortable on my eyes than the NC.
I don't think I've ever read an ebook on my NC! I bought it for the sole purpose of installing a full version of Android on it (I used CM7) in order to "learn" the Android OS... Well, after only three months, I decided that I liked it so much, that I sold the NC and am going to get an ASUS Transformer... I tried resisting it, but it won - I give in!
I currently use an iPad 1 paired with the ZaggMate case/stand/keyboard, which is really nice - just looking forward to all of the connectivity options with the transformer, etc... I do not read any ebooks on the ipad either... maybe a few technical reference .pdf files, but that's about it...
Read a lot
Early on I found the Kindle app on my Droid Inc and loved the enlarged font for reading. Since then I've never looked back and always have a book loaded. I bought the Nook more for the concept of having an Android "tablet" rather than a reader. Once I figured out how to download the Kindle app, the Nook became my primary reader at home (kinda ironic). I love how the app syncs between my phone and nook so when I'm reading at the doctors, then come home, I can pick-up right where I left off on my nook.
In the end, I'd probably do more with my nook but feel stymied by its slow response time when surfing the web and its lack of apps that utilize its screen real estate properly. I'm chomping at the bit for a new Android tablet, but only want something in the same size range. Anything bigger than the nook (I feel) is to big to use for reading or lounging in bed. The Galaxy and HTC flyer offer great sizes, but I'll wait for a dual processor that can better handle web surfing and flash simultaneously for a smoother experience. Maybe Amazon in the near future?
All in all, I'm don't regret for my nook investment. Its been a great experience learning about the rooting process and Android OS's flexibility.
I bought it primarily as an ereader, particularly to read in bed at night without light.
Have since had a great time fiddling with roms and apps.- it was a real intro to android for me.
I also like the 7inch size - easy to transport, but big enough to surf the web, email etc.
Same deal here as frogger55: bought NC for reading in bed and I stumbled on the fact that the NC could be such a great tablet. I got introduced to Android here in the xda NC forum. Everyone has been so helpful and I thank you all for sharing so much knowledge. It took a while for me to get brave enough to root and then put CM7 on sdcard because I had zero experience before joining this xda Nook color community. then I found my phone can produce a wifi signal for when I am on a trip or somewhere away from wifi. Overall I am thrilled with my Nook Color.
Not read anything more than a page long yet
I began learning about android on a Huawei s7 tablet and then saw the nook color. My wife was looking for a device to surf the web and play a few games so I bought the nook for her. She lost interest in it when she discovered she could not play her facebook games and went back to her netbook leaving me (see the logic here?) The nook as a new toy to play with. It was rooted within 2 hours and I tried out phiremod and UD but then found cm7 and never looked back. As for uses, I read extensively on the nook. I have the kindle reader, aldiko, and the nook reader installed as well as google reader as I use a variety of book formats. As I write using the nook as well, I installed an external keyboard and host mode to allow me access to my flash drives and external hard drives. Far more than an ereader but a really great ereader as well.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
I was interested in e-ink readers awhile ago, but never wanted to take the plunge until they got color screens and could display web content. Well, the NC came out before that tech revolution happened, and I'm glad it did. I would say that reading is one of my biggest time consumers (although angry birds on the NC is the wife's biggest, and that may outstrip my time spent reading.... didn't think about that). So yeah, good e-reader, great for comics as well (which was another venue I wanted a reader to cover), I wanted to get into Android as well w/o a pricy phone data plan, and the nice size (large w/o being huge) were all major pluses. Now that I have it, I really like reading and getting my daily RSS updates in the mornings at the gym.
I got my NC Full time CM7 nightlies ROM - as a hybrid - Reader - and to learn about Tablets / ROM's / ANDROID. Almost bought a kindle - but I wanted a backlit screen to read at night.
I'd say I probably use it 65/35 right now tablet / reader. Its the only reading device I own - and I'm still trying new apps - with it to customize it's use to my liking. I read mainly epub content I create via calibre - .pdf's - and a couple Kindle books. I like the e-magazine option too from Nook - but their app is a little finicky - and the magazine selection is slanted toward more Women publications. I'm looking for other options to get Magazines I like - on the device - b/c I hate throwing out mags with good content - but equally hate storing them..
I expect my uses to evolve as I use it more - but pretty happy as my first tablet. I'd probably prefer a dual core with a little more OOMFFF - but didn't want to pay that for a first tablet - to find a week later - it's an expensive paperweight.
Still don't know if I want a bigger screen or not - the portability and size work well. At times, the font is a little small to read - depending on the app I'm reading.
This is my second ebook reader, the first had an e-ink screen. Since I was 10 years old I always wished I could fit a library in my pocket, in recent years modern technology has granted my wish.
I bought it because I found out what I could do with it aftermarket, but used it in it's stock configuration until the 1.2 update came out. After I updated, I ran my first Android OS from an SD install, preserving the stock Nook Color as-is.
I'd say recently i've been doing more with it then reading, but I still read an average of 3 hours a day on it, with no card installed in it's stock configuration.
I am still going through what I can do with it, I haven't gotten into either the audio or video aspects available, though i've gone a bit app-crazy and dropped almost $500 into google and amazon app markets (yep - finally used up those amazon gift cards)
To say I am satisfied with my purchase would be an understatement.
I can still read with it, just the way B&N intended, which works pretty well .(though I have my gripes, particularly with the library structure - or lack thereof)
In addition, in the time it takes to turn it off and back on I can be in an Android environment of my choosing, set up with as many variances as I have (decent) MicroSD cards for.
My girlfriend has her own MicroSD card, and can use my Nook Color to play all her games with and configure to her hearts content...without affecting any of my own setups.
One of the best parts to me is that this flexibility stems from the fact that it has no cellular service, and so I don't have to worry about being constrained by my service provider. Gone is the worry of being watched all the time by having a constant GPS readout of my location in some database somewhere.
All in all, the Nook Color is probably the greatest technology purchase i've ever made.
I put CM7 on my Nook within an hour of owning it, so obviously bought it to use as a tablet. However, I did read the last 3/4 of The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest on it, having read the first 1/4 of the book on my Desire (3.7" screen). I bought the book while waiting for a delayed flight at the airport, through my phone's Kindle app. (Sorry B&N). I got the Nook about a week later.
I started my E-reader experience with a Pandigital Novel. I wasn't sure I would like reading on an LCD screen and I didn't want to spend a ton of money to find out. I got that Novel for $129. I read a couple of books on it and liked it a lot. I wanted to jump to a NC but $250 was pretty expensive to me for a reader and I was frankly scared of the rooting process.
But now that I have one I absolutely love it and I'm usually messing with it for a few hours a day. I would say my time spent on it is about 50/50 between reading and surfing the net and playing games.
Interesting question! I'd wanted an e reader for a long time but didn't like the "single use" aspect of it, so started looking at the ipad, even though I think apple stinks as a corporation. Then someone clued me on to newer android tablets coming out including the NC. I didn't know whether I'd really USE a tablet, and 500+ was just too much so I kept coming back to the NC. Then I discovered honeycomb, then deeper-blues port of hc to the nook, and that combined with the price sealed the deal.
I hardly ever turn on my computer anymore, and as cm7 matures and the flashing novelty wears off, I find myself reading more too. I'm running about 75 browsing/Modding/playing and 25 reading, but that's changing rapidly. If ice cream gets the cm treatment for the NC though, reading might start dropping again.
I actually started e-reading on a 3lb netbook (MSI Wind) running Windows 7, held portrait like a hardcover, but it got stolen last year. An Amazon ad for the ad-supported Kindle, coupled with the death of my old iPod Video, got me thinking about how to rebuild my e-cology, and I drifted over to mobileread.com, which is where I learned about the Nook Color. I thought about some of the similar-sized no-name Android tablets you can get for $100-150, but the screen, dev community, and nigh-unbrickable configuration sold me on the NC.
E-books were my top priority the whole time, but like some others, I was hesitant to get a single-use device, and what I really wanted was an e-reader and casual browser for home and around town that would also serve as a portal to all my media when I'm on the road. The NC fills those gaps nicely, with the bonus of being a great platform for exploring Android.
A large portion of my time on the NC is reading ebooks. I loaded CM7 so that I could access and use Google Market/Amazon Apps and be able to choose which ebook client/seller on a whim. I thought I'd play a lot more of the games I've downloaded, but really I'd say my usage is about:
70% reading - 25% netflix videos - 3% web browsing - 2% games and misc.
I'm still quite happy with it, but I'll probably upgrade in the future to a somewhat larger tablet for better web browsing (the widescreen format is great for movies but sucks for my bad eyesight for reading website text) as well as full-on support for videos, i.e. probably whatever Android tablet Amazon comes out with.

Nook VS Asus Honeycomb Tablet

I currently have an ASUS Transformer Tablet running Honeycomb 3.2. My wife is interested in the Nook for reading, magazines, etc.
I think there is a Nook app for android as well. Can anyone help me decide if it's worth it to buy her the Nook, or not?
What does the nook have or not have that a full honeycomb tablet has?
What does the Nook app for android have/not have that the Nook may have?
Pro's/Con's for each way?
Not looking to Root the nook either to put full android on it, unless its easy and pretty much harmless.
Thanks for the help all!
p.s., how to i add my signature? i cant find it anywhere!
I have had both (returned the tf101 due to a hw bug - not a fault of the transformers design, just a normal qa bug). The current nooo application now has everything. Even magazines, which I remember being absent when I triedthe nook android app a while ago.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
pros: $250.00 cons: $350.00
to edit your signature, just go into private messages
dandunn98 said:
I currently have an ASUS Transformer Tablet running Honeycomb 3.2. My wife is interested in the Nook for reading, magazines, etc.
I think there is a Nook app for android as well. Can anyone help me decide if it's worth it to buy her the Nook, or not?
What does the nook have or not have that a full honeycomb tablet has?
What does the Nook app for android have/not have that the Nook may have?
Pro's/Con's for each way?
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Click to collapse
The stock nook reader can do the children's books (lots of animation and "read to me"), the Android app can't. Otherwise, for grownups, they're pretty much equivalent.
The Nook doesn't have a phone, cell network, camera, microphone, video out, or bluetooth with reasonable range. These are some of the reasons that the price is so good.
When you run CM7, it does have host-mode USB (albeit a little hacky at the moment).
Not looking to Root the nook either to put full android on it, unless its easy and pretty much harmless.
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Click to collapse
Booting CM7 off the SD is absolutely harmless, and very easy the third or fourth time you do it...
If the goal is to end up with a device that is good for reading books the Nook Color is a great solution. You might want to root it, very easy, and leave it running the stock OS. That will open up the NC to running apps and getting to the standard Market, but leaves the unit with the reader centric interface. I have mine this way and prefer that to a generic Android experience such as CM7. I usually prefer the bigger screen of the Transformer to the NC for general tasks like web browsing.
so what in lieu of the missing hardware (camera, gps, etc), what software limitations is on the stock nook color? Can you install apps from android market?
dandunn98 said:
p.s., how to i add my signature? i cant find it anywhere!
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couldn't find the signature under private messages
dandunn98 said:
so what in lieu of the missing hardware (camera, gps, etc), what software limitations is on the stock nook color? Can you install apps from android market?
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Stock is crap IMO. Its only good if your just going to be reading books. Cm7 makes this thing the best tablet for your money. It is crazy easy to install and you get the full android tablet experience for less than half the price of the big boys. Yes it is missing a camera and GPS but why would you ever need that on a tablet?
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
And there is no market access on stock unless you root it.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
I have both and each has its place in my tablet world. I like the portability of the Nook and its gorgeous screen. The Transformer screen is equally impressive looking. Would highly recommend CM7 for Nook as others have suggested. When I need to use an app like Google Goggles, or other apps that use camera/video capabilities, the Transformer is the obvious choice and is quite capable. I have not yet had success with USB camera or headset with Nook but still have hope thanks to the devs continuing work. I have used GPS with both (using bluetooth GPS on the Nook). I use the Transformer as my "cell phone" now with my 3G mifi device (using the GrooVeIP app). I believe your household would enjoy having both.
With the nook app you have access to a lot less magazines because of liscense agreements. On the stock nook you have access to all magazine subscriptions like GQ and Vanity Fair.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App
soo much good info so far. i'll have to investigate this CM7. don't know much about it at all
I also have both Transformer and Nook.
They each have their place. I almost always have the rooted nook with me. Keep in mind that you can find refurbs for $180 to $200.
Also, when you root to a sd card, you don't change the underlying software in the main memory of the nook. If you have a problem with your nook, just pull the sd card out and reboot it to stock.
Once rooted, you can add the software reader from Kindle and Sony. This means you can comparative shop to find the book you want. When it is stock, you can only buy from BN or borrow from your library.
advocate2 said:
I also have both Transformer and Nook.
They each have their place. I almost always have the rooted nook with me. Keep in mind that you can find refurbs for $180 to $200.
Also, when you root to a sd card, you don't change the underlying software in the main memory of the nook. If you have a problem with your nook, just pull the sd card out and reboot it to stock.
Once rooted, you can add the software reader from Kindle and Sony. This means you can comparative shop to find the book you want.
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This all sounds great, and i like the SD card root you guys are talking about. I haven't rooted an android device before so it's new to me, and i know theres TONS of posts regarding it as well. I have jailbroken iphones/ipod touches so i know the concept of it all.
With root, can you obtain paid programs at no charge, like jailbreaks?
dandunn98 said:
With root, can you obtain paid programs at no charge, like jailbreaks?
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Please don't go there.
Rodney
rhester72 said:
Please don't go there.
Rodney
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understood. I'm all for giving credit to people for apps, and all. I just enjoy testing them before buying.
With the cost of most android programs being low, there should never be a reason to look at pirated software. The software development we have today is a testiment to the hard work of many talented developers who would not continue if their work was not appreciated.
The Nook color , like most any tablet/reader device, should be considered for purchase based on filling a specific need. For reading, I have not found another device that provides anything close to the experience of the nook. For less than $250.00, you have a color screen that rivals tablets costing 2-3 times the nook. The fact that the nook boots from an sd card allows you to have a full android experience while retaining the stock nook reader.
For those wishing to expand the stock nook, cm7 provides a rich android experience with multimedia and the (almost) entire android market for apps. The market is now "device aware" and will only allow download of apps compatable with the device.
As for USB use, I am using a logitech bluetooth keyboard to type this message and use USB host mode to connect my digital camera to the nook to transfer photos directly for better viewing.
If you require all the functions of a full tablet (camera, GPS, ect:.) The nook might not be for you but if it is a secondary device that you can use to enrich your life with it's many capabilities, you will not find a better value on the market.
I'll get off my soapbox now and let you get on with that nook purchase.
Sent from my Wonderful Nook Color using Tapatalk
dandunn98 said:
With root, can you obtain paid programs at no charge, like jailbreaks?
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if you mean to "sideload" apps then yes
A few weeks ago Staples had a coupon for $100 off all tables, including the Asus Transformer. This week Target is giving a $100 gift card to anyone who purchases an Acer Iconia (effectively making the price $299). For just $50 more than the cost of a new Nook Color, it's a no-brainer to get the Honeycomb tablet.
Both of the deals mentioned above seem indicative of price drops in the Android tablet market. Anyone who missed out on the above deals, just wait, and you'll see more like them.

[Q] Any way to side load non-B&N apps without rooting

I know this may seem like an odd question, but let me explain. Since getting a 10" tablet (initially a TouchPad running ICS, but my wife bought an iPad3 for me a few weeks ago) I only use the Nook as an eReader. I really like it in that role, but I also still find it kind of unstable in all but stock form. This includes rooted stock 1.4.2, CM7, and CM9. For the most part this instability takes the form of SODs.
Anyway, the other day I reverted to stock 1.4.2 and think that will work well for me given how I use the device now with one exception...over half of the books that I read are for Amazon Kindle Reader, not B&N Nook. Of course, I can read these on my iPad, but I do like the form factor and portability of the Nook for reading. I could root 1.4.2 again and stick with the stock kernel to avoid SODs, but in a perfect world what I'd like to do is just flip the config setting that tells Android to allow external apps to be installed/run and leave everything else stock. Then I'd like to put on just the Amazon Kindle Reader app.
Does anyone know if there's a way to do this without committing to the full rooting approach?
Thanks!
Nope, you would have to root.
Sent from space
If
SOD's come because you've let the unit go into deep sleep with WiFi turned on...
And
You are only using the NC to read Kindle books...
Then
Rooting the NC then turning WiFi off after you've loaded the Kindle app will avoid the SOD's.
Yes?
Why not convert your Kindle mobis into epubs with Calibre. Short learning curve, and good results.
Check out page 4 in this thread. It works
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1050520
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA
another vote for "download your library using nook for pc, convert to an open format" - works great for me.
I'm not a big fan of reading (or listening music or watching movies) online. I'd rather convert all my paid ebook to pdf, epub, mobi, or whatever the format is then save them on my local eMMC or uSD.
Thanks for the info! I've actually decided to get a Nook Simple Touch Glowlight for my eReader duties and sell the Nook Color. I've really enjoyed the NC while I've owned it, but at this point since I really am just using it as an eReader, I like the digital ink display, battery life, and form factor of the NST for that dedicated purpose.

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