WOHOO! Nook color finally being updated to Android!

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KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
After promising it, but only delivering "vaporware" for the last 4 months, Barnes & Noble finally upgraded the software to allow access to mainstream Android applications.

The selection is currently limited to about 125 applications and the techies will probably still want to rook their nook.


I have been enjoying mine - reading books, web-surfing, and some music and entertainment capability; but I have been waiting for the option to use it as day-timer/task manager, which is here!
I had considered the iPad, but really did not like the size of it (too big). The Nook is a much easier to carry form factor (~5.5" X 8" X 3/8").
If you are a power user, I doubt the nook will ever be competition for the iPad.

Here is a link to the s'ware update;
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nookcolor-support-software-update/379002520/

And here is a brief discussion of the changes:
http://liliputing.com/2011/04/nook-color-software-update-brings-apps-android-2-2.html
 
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darien87

darien87

Audioholic Spartan
That's good news!

The only thing holding me back from buying the Nook was the difficulty of the rooting process, (well that and the price tag). But if this gives it most of the functionality of rooting without having to void the warranty maybe I'll finally break down and get one. I really like my Pandigital Novel, especially since it only cost me $120. But no question that the Nook kicks its ***.
 
fightinkraut

fightinkraut

Full Audioholic
Glad to hear you guys like the CM7 mod, I've done a soft mod since day 1 with the NC but have been wanting to take the time to get CM7 on it...I'll work on that this week if I can find time.

That being said, glad to see the update, hopefully will get others excited about NC...I think it offers unbeatable value at it's price point.
 
krzywica

krzywica

Audioholic Samurai
fightinkraut said:
Glad to hear you guys like the CM7 mod, I've done a soft mod since day 1 with the NC but have been wanting to take the time to get CM7 on it...I'll work on that this week if I can find time.

That being said, glad to see the update, hopefully will get others excited about NC...I think it offers unbeatable value at it's price point.
Click to expand...
Yeah no reason not to go to CM7 as it went final a few weeks back....
 
KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
I'd definitely wait to see how the B&N plan pans out before buying if you don't already have one.

About now, I'm pretty aggravated that none of the links to download apps appear to be working yet. It is good to see a fair amount of free apps, but only time will tell where B&N takes this. It was the promise of the impending upgrade that kept me from rooking mine, but I'll give it another 3 weeks and if the B&N plan doesn't let me do what I want (and I'm not asking for that much), it'll be time to rook it.

I've read a lot of positive posts about the current ease and reliability of rooking, but it is good to get confirmation from BSA and K!

The only thing holding me back was not knowing how well the standard apps would port to the nook size/format. I'm hoping B&N will make this a criterion for determining official Nook apps, and I think SpringPad (which is free via B&N) would pretty much address my objectives if the Google calendar integration works well.
 
BoredSysAdmin

BoredSysAdmin

Audioholic Slumlord
KEW said:
I'd definitely wait to see how the B&N plan pans out before buying if you don't already have one.

About now, I'm pretty aggravated that none of the links to download apps appear to be working yet. It is good to see a fair amount of free apps, but only time will tell where B&N takes this. It was the promise of the impending upgrade that kept me from rooking mine, but I'll give it another 3 weeks and if the B&N plan doesn't let me do what I want (and I'm not asking for that much), it'll be time to rook it.

I've read a lot of positive posts about the current ease and reliability of rooking, but it is good to get confirmation from BSA and K!

The only thing holding me back was not knowing how well the standard apps would port to the nook size/format. I'm hoping B&N will make this a criterion for determining official Nook apps, and I think SpringPad (which is free via B&N) would pretty much address my objectives if the Google calendar integration works well.
Click to expand...
CM7 gives all Google Apps (make sure to put a check mark) - IE gmail, google calendar and exchange email. Plus big one : full Google market.
If you have android phone already and you paid for apps - log in with same gmail account and you get apps you already paid for - for free - No need to pay twice and you can download and install apps (apk's ) directly as well - like amazon market which gives everyone on app for free (which normally cost money)
 
krzywica

krzywica

Audioholic Samurai
BoredSysAdmin said:
CM7 gives all Google Apps (make sure to put a check mark) - IE gmail, google calendar and exchange email. Plus big one : full Google market.
If you have android phone already and you paid for apps - log in with same gmail account and you get apps you already paid for - for free - No need to pay twice and you can download and install apps (apk's ) directly as well - like amazon market which gives everyone on app for free (which normally cost money)
Click to expand...
Also don't forget to mention you can now install applications to your android device from the online android market, which is awesome.
 
darien87

darien87

Audioholic Spartan
So now that there are iPad alternatives out there, which is the best tablet out there for someone like me that basically just wants an eReader that can also surf the web with full functionality? I'm definitely not a power user, so I don't need to do Power Point presentations or anything like that. I'll basically just be using it to read books, surf the web and play music and the occasional game.

The Samsung Galaxy and Blackberry Playbook both seem pretty cool. But the power button issue on the Playbook sounds annoying and both of those are probably way more computer than I need. The Nook Color is definitely attractive at $250, but I really have no interest in trying to root the thing until someone comes out with a "click" on this type of automated root process.
 
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krzywica

krzywica

Audioholic Samurai
darien87 said:
So now that there are iPad alternatives out there, which is the best tablet out there for someone like me that basically just wants an eReader that can also surf the web with full functionality? I'm definitely not a power user, so I don't need to do Power Point presentations or anything like that. I'll basically just be using it to read books, surf the web and play music and the occasional game.

The Samsung Galaxy and Blackberry Playbook both seem pretty cool. But the power button issue on the Playbook sounds annoying and both of those are probably way more computer than I need. The Nook Color is definitely attractive at $250, but I really have on interest in trying to root the thing until someone comes out with a "click" on this type of automated root process.
Click to expand...
Rooting the nook is super easy as you can boot from an SD Card, this means its impossible to brick the device....there are easy step by step manuals to doing this....I would even be willing to do it for you if you pay the shipping, or are willing to let me remote into your machine....

The Nook Color sounds like exactly what you need, you could get a full on tablet but you wouldn't gain anything except a little screen size increase and it would cost you at least twice as much.
 
darien87

darien87

Audioholic Spartan
Thanks for the help K, I really appreciate it.

I'm sure the rooting process is easy for you as you seem to be a computer guru. But honestly I looked at the Cyanagenmod website and got confused.



Instructions:

First time flashing CyanogenMod 7 to the Barnes & Noble Nook Color, or coming from another ROM?

1.Root the device and install ClockworkMod Recovery. Instructions are available here.

What is ClockworkMod Recovery? And when you click on "here" for instructions it takes you to a blank page.

2.Perform a NANDroid backup of your current ROM.

How do you do this?

3.Format the system, data & cache partitions of your device.

Not sure what this means.

4.Perform a factory reset.

5.Flash CyanogenMod.

6.Optional: Install the Google Apps addon package.

What is included in the Google Apps addon? Is this something I want?


If I do end up getting the Nook. I might just take you up on your kind offer to root it for me. :)
 
krzywica

krzywica

Audioholic Samurai
Yes it can be very confusing even if you are an IT person. :)
darien87 said:
Thanks for the help K, I really appreciate it.

I'm sure the rooting process is easy for you as you seem to be a computer guru. But honestly I looked at the Cyanagenmod website and got confused.



Instructions:

First time flashing CyanogenMod 7 to the Barnes & Noble Nook Color, or coming from another ROM?

1.Root the device and install ClockworkMod Recovery. Instructions are available here.

What is ClockworkMod Recovery? And when you click on "here" for instructions it takes you to a blank page.
Click to expand...
Clockworkmod recovery is a BIOS level menu based system that allows you to perform advanced administrative tasks very easily by simply clicking through menus. It is usually referred to as "CWM" (Clockwork Mod)

darien87 said:
2.Perform a NANDroid backup of your current ROM.

How do you do this?
Click to expand...
You would do this through CWM. Nandroid is a backup and restoration tol built into CWM and is extremely handy, it takes a "snapshot" of each partition on the device in the even you want to restore something. Think of them as a "Previous Versions" tool that Windows uses to restore your machine to a previous date and time, only this actually works. :)

darien87 said:
3.Format the system, data & cache partitions of your device.

Not sure what this means.
Click to expand...

This is also done in CWM, you are basically blowing away the data that is there for the factory OS to function and making way for the custom OS (CM7).
darien87 said:
4.Perform a factory reset.

5.Flash CyanogenMod.

6.Optional: Install the Google Apps addon package.

What is included in the Google Apps addon? Is this something I want?
Click to expand...
Since Cyanogenmod is built from source that means it doesn't have ANY of the bloatware that OEM Android devices would have, including Google Apps (gapps as referred to uniformally). gapps includes gmail, google talk, Android Market, [strike]angry birds[/strike], ect. :)

darien87 said:
If I do end up getting the Nook. I might just take you up on your kind offer to root it for me. :)
Click to expand...
Happy to help, just let me know what other questions you have.
 
darien87

darien87

Audioholic Spartan
krzywica said:
Since Cyanogenmod is built from source that means it doesn't have ANY of the bloatware that OEM Android devices would have, including Google Apps (gapps as referred to uniformally). gapps includes gmail, google talk, Android Market, [strike]angry birds[/strike], ect. :)
Click to expand...
So I bought a Nook today. The jury's still out on whether or not I like it. It's definitely heavier than my Pandigital. And for some stupid reason all of the cases I have seen for it cover up the speaker. Totally stupid. The BN site was down all day so I didn't get a chance to download any books to it.

Also, the glossy screen shows each and every fingerprint and that's gonna drive me nuts. But it is pretty cool so far. Web browsing is a bit clunky. I guess I just have to get used to zooming because it's ridiculous to try and select something from a site when the type is 2 points high.

So do the apps like Angry Birds come with the Cyanogenmod GoogleApps or does it just give you access to the store and you have to buy them?
 
darien87

darien87

Audioholic Spartan
I just noticed that the Cyanogen site says you have to root the Nook first before you put CM 7 on it. So now I'm really confused. What do you root it with first?
 
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