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I'm considering buying a Nook Color, but I have a few concerns.
1. Is the root software-patchable? I've been living in the iPhone Jailbreaking scene lately, and none of the terms (bootrom, userland, etc.) seem to apply here, so I'm having a hard time figuring out if we'll end up unrooted.
2. If B&N does patch the root, can we still load applications? I'm very confused about the correlation between root access and sideloading. Are they one in the same at this point?
3. Again, assuming B&N patches the root, will it be rooted again? I don't want to be stuck with a device that can't run 3rd party applications.
Thanks
root will be reverted with an update, whether or not the update will still allow the current root method to work is up in the air they would have to change how the system sets boot priority which may not be as feasible as one would think depending on the way they plan for updates to work and such (but i havnt looked into this)
root is the only way to sideload apps so when an update comes you'll loose the ability to sideload whether or not your apps that are installed is debatable most of the time an update doesn't wipe the data partition but since this isn't an android phone and data is strictly stored in the data partition who knows
when/if root is fixed it would happen again most likely i don't know of any android device that wasn't re-rooted after an update especially if the smart folks that got root in the first place can find a way to flash roms that arnt singed by B&N
I'm pretty sure that we can just disable automatic updates first and there are already successes at installing stock froyo for example.
/mr
A better question is "When will the new hardware revision that locks down the current root method come?"
Buy a dart set and a calendar.
I think pokey9000 mentioned that the unit will always boot off of SD card if installed and bootable, before the units ROM - This means you will always have some method of fixing any issue. Don't quote me, but I think he also said only thing B&N can really do is make it annoying... (something along the lines).
-CC
EugeneKay said:
A better question is "When will the new hardware revision that locks down the current root method come?"
Buy a dart set and a calendar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, what "new" hardware that locks down the current root? That I am aware of this was only an issue with the Original Nook and does not apply to the Nook Color...
-CC
mrintegrity said:
I'm pretty sure that we can just disable automatic updates first and there are already successes at installing stock froyo for example.
/mr
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At the moment nobody knows how OTA's are applied and which system application is responsible for them. So currently we cannot disable automatic updates... I've been playing around with the data partition for quite some time now to figure it out from various database files, and it seems like the device manager application does the updating as FOTA (firmware over the air) entries exist in that app's DB.
There is a setting that is currently at "auto" and I changed it to "manual". Whether this actually has any effect on a possible future upgrade remains to be seen though.
clockcycle said:
Sorry, what "new" hardware that locks down the current root? That I am aware of this was only an issue with the Original Nook and does not apply to the Nook Color...
-CC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The inevitable hardware revision change that will not boot from the SD by default, or introduces some sort of checksum requiring a signed image in order to boot from the SD.
Question is, does B&N really care that much whether or not we have root access ? I wonder what the total percentage of sold NC's are "rooted". It might not even be worth it for them to hassle with.
stwallman said:
Question is, does B&N really care that much whether or not we have root access ? I wonder what the total percentage of sold NC's are "rooted". It might not even be worth it for them to hassle with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And it seems like B&N is pretty chill about it anyways. They have the SD card boot before ROM for Christ's sake haha
heads up: i got word the update is coming very soon. fixes some wifi issues and who knows what else.
cabbieBot said:
heads up: i got word the update is coming very soon. fixes some wifi issues and who knows what else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who'd you hear that from? Or is it don't ask don't tell?
As a Series 2 Tivo user I can speak of this "enhancement."
Series 2 DVRs produced after a certain date used a new EPROM, which had a factory default on it so that if the power went out everything in the linux OS, which was not in the original kernel was wiped clean!
And of course this EPROM was soldered to the motherboard. There was a side industry of a few very good solderers who you could ship your Tivo unit to and they would remove the EPROM, install a socket and then there were modified EPROMS out there which allowed you to install things like telnet, ftp, etc.
Personally, I never tried it, but knew some who did.
later,
Robert
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clockcycle said:
Sorry, what "new" hardware that locks down the current root? That I am aware of this was only an issue with the Original Nook and does not apply to the Nook Color...
-CC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Robertjm said:
As a Series 2 Tivo user I can speak of this "enhancement."
Series 2 DVRs produced after a certain date used a new EPROM, which had a factory default on it so that if the power went out everything in the linux OS, which was not in the original kernel was wiped clean!
And of course this EPROM was soldered to the motherboard. There was a side industry of a few very good solderers who you could ship your Tivo unit to and they would remove the EPROM, install a socket and then there were modified EPROMS out there which allowed you to install things like telnet, ftp, etc.
Personally, I never tried it, but knew some who did.
later,
Robert
-----------------------------------------
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like a lot of extra work, testing, etc. to implement something like this for a $ 250 eReader. Can't see B&N going to all that hassle. As long as they are at least breaking even on the NC (which I'm sure they are), they probably don't care that much about nooters.
It's a business decision, really.
1) If they think they're losing money because of the root, then they'll try to shut it down. The hardware isn't losing them money I think, it just doesn't make any money, so people who buy it only to root and never buy from B&N probably aren't costing them any money. It's just that if no one buys books and magazines from, B&N, they'll get worried.
2) Or, B&N might not care. The more people using the Nookcolor, the more word gets around, the more people use the NC, maybe some of them will even buy content from B&N.
Or they might a take a middle path and try to lock it down, but then not worry too much about people rooting it again.
I don't think B&N is to concerned as they release the source code for the device.
Ypocaramel said:
It's a business decision, really.
1) If they think they're losing money because of the root, then they'll try to shut it down. The hardware isn't losing them money I think, it just doesn't make any money, so people who buy it only to root and never buy from B&N probably aren't costing them any money. It's just that if no one buys books and magazines from, B&N, they'll get worried.
2) Or, B&N might not care. The more people using the Nookcolor, the more word gets around, the more people use the NC, maybe some of them will even buy content from B&N.
Or they might a take a middle path and try to lock it down, but then not worry too much about people rooting it again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say it is almost null.
Even if we load kindle, there isnt much from kindle which I cant get from B&N. Even if the free books are more common there, google books (which even noted nook in the ad's...) had many of the same free books as kindle, and B&N has many classics for free themself. Also kindle app cant beat out the actual E-Reader functions that the nook has (atleast in my opinion)
Its clear that a lot of the root concept matches their plans. With the appstore coming its clear that they wanted to make the nook more than an E-Reader... Also with that no matter how poor next to the root many will just complain for a nook version over risking it to hack. If anything it will be buzz and is easy marketing for them.
I think there is one more reason that B&N will leave rooting alone. Even if rooters never buy a book from B&N, the volume of units sold tends to keep the cost down. For B&N, this is just a window of opportunity until more solid, Google-supported Android tablets become ubiquitous. Volume sold will be key for B&N remaining in the market for single purpose eReaders against Amazon. Moreover, if B&N has any aspirations of staying in the tablet market, the rooters are key early adopters.
If I were them, I would quietly support the rooter community. Any improvements they choose to adopt can be freely taken back by them with Open Source. One senior level engineer tracking the community will find ample opportunity to recover stuff to improve B&N's product. That could really help B&N to compete.
If they leave it alone it might actually GAIN them some sales from people like me(and other hackers) that wanted a tablet but didn't want to drop $600 or be stuck with a contract. When I found out the NC could be rooted and apps could be loaded and I bought one the same day. It's just an added bonus that this is also a nice e-reader as I was looking for one of those as well. I got both things I wanted for $249. Maybe they made it easy to root because they WANTED the word to get out that its pretty easy to root(which makes it like a tablet) to boost sales for people like us
Withfeeling said:
I think there is one more reason that B&N will leave rooting alone. Even if rooters never buy a book from B&N, the volume of units sold tends to keep the cost down. For B&N, this is just a window of opportunity until more solid, Google-supported Android tablets become ubiquitous. Volume sold will be key for B&N remaining in the market for single purpose eReaders against Amazon. Moreover, if B&N has any aspirations of staying in the tablet market, the rooters are key early adopters.
If I were them, I would quietly support the rooter community. Any improvements they choose to adopt can be freely taken back by them with Open Source. One senior level engineer tracking the community will find ample opportunity to recover stuff to improve B&N's product. That could really help B&N to compete.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont mean to sound like an ass, but we would be trend setters =P not early adopters
What features do you lose when you root a NOOKcolor? I have heard that you lose the in store feature and that you aren't able to subscribe to the free trial magazines/newspapers. Is that true? Can you use the normal features that is found with an unrooted NOOKcolor like subscribing to magazines, buying books, access to the original UI, ect.? Thank you.
I have been wanting to know the exact same thing. Had my NC for almost 2 weeks and want to root. Do you lose the stock UI? Mainly just want to be able to sideload apps. Really missing email, google calendar and the Klaxon alarm.
Instore works for me. I also have several free trial mags. I rooted before any of this.
Sent from my Nook Color using Tapatalk
That's good to know. I believe the people that said they lost their free trial mags and even lost the ability to subscribe to it rooted after they subscribed, although, I'm not sure if that would be the reason. Also, do you lose the original UI? I know most people use launcher pro, but can you go back to the original with a simple touch?
As much as the original ui sux yes. You can go back. Hit the ^ sift button and you're there.
Sent from my Nook Color using Tapatalk
slik2o2 said:
That's good to know. I believe the people that said they lost their free trial mags and even lost the ability to subscribe to it rooted after they subscribed, although, I'm not sure if that would be the reason. Also, do you lose the original UI? I know most people use launcher pro, but can you go back to the original with a simple touch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I install a launcher, when you hit the n button, it will always ask you which launcher you want to use. There is a checkbox to make it default to one, but you don't have to check it.
I've seen Launcher Pro used a lot, just don't know exactly how it works. Want to set up my NC within the next few days. Leaving country on Army deployment (Kosovo) for a year in a couple weeks. NC was my Christmas present to myself. It's been great so far...just needs a little help. It'll be nice to have the extra functionality while gone.
kafike said:
I've seen Launcher Pro used a lot, just don't know exactly how it works. Want to set up my NC within the next few days. Leaving country on Army deployment (Kosovo) for a year in a couple weeks. NC was my Christmas present to myself. It's been great so far...just needs a little help. It'll be nice to have the extra functionality while gone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works like any other app, you load it and it will load under that launcher. When you push home you can pick which one you want, if you dont want the book part just boot the other launcher by default.
Cool, thanks for the info. Dont want to change the whole UI at this time...prolly will later. I want the ereader functionality but want to be able to add apps mainly. This site has been great for info. Devs here are awesome. Sure know a hell of a lot more than I do.
johnopsec said:
Instore works for me. I also have several free trial mags. I rooted before any of this.
Sent from my Nook Color using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does In-Store still work for you? If so, how exactly are you rooted? We are working here at trying to get it back.
Thanks,
Homer
Once rooted, you can even stay with the original Nook UI if you want.. All your apps, etc will be in your extra's folder..
You can also use the Home Switcher app if you load up ADW or Launcher....
I really like that I can go back to stock at the press of a button.
Ok all I want to know is if I root can I still buy books from my nook? I don't live close enough to a B&N store to go there so the IN Store functionality is of no use to me anyways. Also will magazine and newspaper subscriptions I have now continue? My wife has 3-4 magazine subs that we already paid for and I do not want to lose those.
bigjar said:
Ok all I want to know is if I root can I still buy books from my nook? I don't live close enough to a B&N store to go there so the IN Store functionality is of no use to me anyways. Also will magazine and newspaper subscriptions I have now continue? My wife has 3-4 magazine subs that we already paid for and I do not want to lose those.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to buy books and mags just fine on a rooted NC.
Yes, you can root your Nook and then purchase books on it. Just bought one the other day on my rooted Nook. I have not been to a B&N store, so couldn't tell you about the in store experience.
Ron
I haven't lost any features on my nook
Sent from my Nook Color via XDA app
And the "any features" includes free in-store reading (of a full book) for up to one hour?
FWIW, and to provide a semi-definitive answer to questions some people have posed: I am currently in the cafe of my local Barnes & Noble, enjoying a coffee, a biscotti (two, actually... bad, bad boy) and borrowing a book with my Autonootered (3.0) Nook Color. The store Wifi did recognize my NC when I powered up.
Only change I've made to the system is turning off auto updates with sqlite.
(Update: I may have broken the in-store function. More when I get home. zGotta run)
OK, so here's the full story:
Went to B&N to verify for myself whether rooting Nook Color (Autonooter 3.0) locked you out of in-store goodies such as browsing books for an hour.
To my delight, I was able to borrow a book and browse, no problem. So I figured: hey, let's press my luck and see what sort's of activities could potentially kill that ability. First thing I did was launch Opera 11 and start surfing. Came back to the book I was browsing and all was still good. Then I decided to download an app from the Android App store. So I downloaded Autodesk Sketchbook Mobile (OMG, I cannot believe this wonderful app runs a mere .99 cents. Bargain of the century, if you ask me.) So far so good. Everything is still working. I can still browse the book in-store. But at one point Opera started feeling a bit sluggish. I decided to use Advanced Task Killer Free edition to free us some resources. I went ahead and nuked a couple of processes and then tried to come back to the borrowed book using the "keep reading" icon in the task bar. Now I got a message saying "this resource is no longer available" or something to that effect. So launched the Barnes and Noble hoping to browse another book. Now, however, none of the books had the "in-store" label on them. So I restarted the Nook (turned it off and back on). When the Nook re-connected to WiFi I was recognized as a Nook, and books in the store did show the "in-store" label, but when I tried to browse one I was stock at the "processing" screen and saw no movement on the progress bar. That's when something came up and I had to go.
Now, coming back home I decided to launch the store again and see if I could buy a title. I tried a magazine, but this time, even buying the magazine I was stuck at the "processing" screen with no movement on the progress bar. So I re-booted the Nook and tried again. First time it failed, but the second time it downloaded the magazine. I suspect that the first time I may simply have entered my password wrong.
Next I'll try going back to Barnes and Noble and see if I'm still locked out of in-store browsing.
The lack of in-store browsing is not a huge deal, to be honest. But if I'd managed to break the store altogether (not be able to buy books) that would be a stock-rooted deal-breaker for me. I'd probably dump the stock image and start playing with some of the fancy new ROMs that people are developing over in the development forum. no way would I go back to stock un-rooted, though. This device is just astonishingly cool once you've got full access to the Android Market and the myriad applications available there. I used to think that I'd be happy with Barnes and Noble's offerings once they opened their store, but honestly, I doubt they're going to offer stuff like the "IPCONFIG" and "PING" apps, or half the games I've downloaded.
Ok, quick update: I'm back at Barnes& Noble. It's not the same store, but FWIW, in-storr borrowing is working for me. In addition, I was able to buy a book (Works of David Hume, in case you're curious.) So, yeah, rooting by itself will not compromise your ability to enjoy in-store features.
That's all. Bye, bye.
Thanks for the write up. Just got mine on Saturday. That was one thing I was wondering about with rooting it. What all I can't do. I know there's alot I can't do now unrooted, but I didn't get this for a tablet, I wanted an e reader. I live around the corner from B&N, and have been a member for a couple yrs. Just having fun now unrooted still learning this thing.
boborone said:
Thanks for the write up. Just got mine on Saturday. That was one thing I was wondering about with rooting it. What all I can't do. I know there's alot I can't do now unrooted, but I didn't get this for a tablet, I wanted an e reader. I live around the corner from B&N, and have been a member for a couple yrs. Just having fun now unrooted still learning this thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can wait a couple of weeks, you should be able to start buying Apps from the Barnes & Noble app store. Should suffice for most casual users.
dsf3g said:
If you can wait a couple of weeks, you should be able to start buying Apps from the Barnes & Noble app store. Should suffice for most casual users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, so far a couple games and dolphin hd are about all I miss from my phone. I can do anything I want on my phone. But dam do I hate the stock browser on this thing. I'll see what the update brings.
dsf3g said:
So I downloaded Autodesk Sketchbook Mobile (OMG, I cannot believe this wonderful app runs a mere .99 cents. Bargain of the century, if you ask me.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been searching for an app like this! Thanks for mentioning it!!!
Now to get a proper pen/stylus and I can do some great work!
dsf3g said:
FWIW, and to provide a semi-definitive answer to questions some people have posed: I am currently in the cafe of my local Barnes & Noble, enjoying a coffee, a biscotti (two, actually... bad, bad boy) and borrowing a book with my Autonootered (3.0) Nook Color. The store Wifi did recognize my NC when I powered up.
Only change I've made to the system is turning off auto updates with sqlite.
(Update: I may have broken the in-store function. More when I get home. zGotta run)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This thread has the answer for rooted stock NC
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=12053605&postcount=213
jonstar said:
I've been searching for an app like this! Thanks for mentioning it!!!
Now to get a proper pen/stylus and I can do some great work!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when you find one let us know! I've got boxwave stylus, which I think is the same as the one sold by griffin and targus and it's just not that great for detailed work.
n8w said:
when you find one let us know! I've got boxwave stylus, which I think is the same as the one sold by griffin and targus and it's just not that great for detailed work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Off-topic question for you: Is it good enough for hand writing? I want a stylus to go with a notepad app (really just a glorified paint I guess), to make taking notes easier, but I am hesitant to buy one from all the negative reviews I've seen here and elsewhere. Thanks!
Craine
I bought a cheap $4.00 capacitive stylus off ebay and it's basically worthless. So I'm on the hunt for one also.
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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. .
I recently was gifted a Kindle fire hd 7". I have a little experience in rooting and flashing OS's from an HTC tilt from maybe 5 or 6 years ago. I'm wondering what I can't do with my device in it's previous states, as in, what am I missing out on? So for Stock, Rooted, and I'm not familiar with what the choices are from their but I assume a small(or large?) variety of both homebrew and corporate OS's(like running windows on it) that people have tailored for this device. There is a wealth of knowledge on this site for how to do these things but I want to be more familiar with what I can do with all of the different states. Also, what are the limitations of Amazon's(or is it amazon's?) OS? It seems that even though it was open source this is a protected OS lacking a lot of customization not much different from an Apple OS.
Thanks in advance.
Locked kfhd is like a bigwheel. Rooted kfhd is like a Harley. I got mine as a gift too and when I first turned it on, I was disgusted by the ugly presentation of the launcher. Then I didn't like how much crap was funneling through Amazon for a price. I knew within 5 minutes of owning it that I would be looking to root it. Now, I have go launcher on here and it works great. Waiting for cm10.
Krsmqn said:
...I knew within 5 minutes of owning it that I would be looking to root it. Now, I have go launcher on here and it works great. Waiting for cm10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Literally rooted mine right out of the box. Never knew what true "stock" felt like, but I don't think I missed much.
Poor launcher, but most importantly google play store...
If you dont mind acquiring the apks and side loading them all and the carousel wheel, really all you lose out on is root ability thus far ive only needed that for google apps, launchers and the moga app...root gives you the ability to disable updates and ads...
Sent from my KFTT using xda app-developers app