Nook Color: sneaky Android tablet

[Foulkey Reese]

If you dont' mind a couple more questions...

what size microSD card do I need to root?
does B&N do OTA updates that could wreck root?
Can you still use it as a B&N book reader (i.e. not have to get the B&N app)?

I used a 4 gig and it worked fine. I read that it had to be over 2.

There is an update you can do to update it manually and then block them from any future OTA updates. I ran that a few days ago.

Yes. The reader software stays on the device which I liked. It's a great reader and you can still use it "officially" and download from the B&N store or upload your own books. A lot of people have downloaded the Kindle app and use that instead, but the B&N one is pretty good on it's own.

 

[czar]

It's available on B&N.com. Why not save yourself a half tank of gas?

"Ships in 2 weeks." So if the rumors that they have pulled the Colors so they can block rooting are true, it seems they (B&N) are holding back to ship after they implement said block.

At least I THINK that's what is going on.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

The only thing about the SD card is that you have to write the .exe (or whatever it's called) file onto it. So if you don't have a card reader you need to be able to do it through your phone.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

"Ships in 2 weeks." So if the rumors that they have pulled the Colors so they can block rooting are true, it seems they (B&N) are holding back to ship after they implement said block.

At least I THINK that's what is going on.

That might be it. I suppose it's worth the drive as I'm seeing on eBay most are pushing $250+ in bidding.

 

[jayhoz]

They also have them at bestbuy

 

[mt8thsw9th]

Looks like they're back ordered there as well.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

Yea none of the Bestbuys in CT had them as of Sunday night. I had to drive to a Walmart about 45 minutes away to get their last one.

 

[jayhoz]

Looks like they're back ordered there as well.

Check store availability. Three closest to me had stock.

 

[zenter]

Check store availability. Three closest to me had stock.

Same here for B&N. A bunch of NYC B&N's still have nook colors. Any word on combine-ability of these groupons from different cities?

 

[mt8thsw9th]

Check store availability. Three closest to me had stock.

Well, I was looking at it from the "bakahump don't drive 120 miles when you can get it shipped" perspective. That's not really an option (as they've apparently put the kibosh on sales of their non-store inventory). Best Buy isn't loading correctly for me, or there's nothing in stock in Boston.

 

[P'tucket rhymes with...]

If this thread is any indication, the rumor was probably put out by the guys in marketing at B&N to goose sales.

 

[zenter]

Consensus from XDA community: B&N is not going to block rooting, and is trying to shore up hardware quality (apparently, a lot of issues with screen, microUSB, and microSD).

Then again, if B&N is making $50 from each NC (as has been claimed), locking people into a B&N-controlled environment would behoove them.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

I'm headed out tonight to see if I can find one.

 

[zenter]

, the NC is being slowed due to inventory software bug/. In all honesty, I think this jives with QC/QA issues that have been widely reported. They might be re-jiggering the supply chain so the bug-rate falls, but it could lead to issues in inventory control unless carefully-managed.

 

[Hextall]

I just bought one in salem nh. I called first and the guy said they had plenty in stock. I didn't ask what plenty meant.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

I just bought one in salem nh. I called first and the guy said they had plenty in stock. I didn't ask what plenty meant.

Awesome. The instructions in the first post got me through it. Let me know if you need any help though.

 

[Hextall]

Awesome. The instructions in the first post got me through it. Let me know if you need any help though.

Cool... thanks. What version of the nook software did you have? I have 1.0.0

Did you get the extended warranty ($50+)? It extended the manufacturers warranty out to two years, and if the nook "drops" and breaks, there's a one time replacement. I have 30 days to purchase it, as it seems relatively inexpensive insurance because I'm monkeying around with rooting it.

And like you refuse to call installing new ROMs "flashing"... I'm not calling it nooting. No I am not.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

So, uh, yeah this is awesome.

The kid in front of me in line at B&N had gone onto groupon and somehow bought 13 of the $20 for $10 deals. I bought my NC and immediately went home and tried to purchase the same thing, but it would only let me purchase one. The guy at B&N said that people had been bringing in multiple groupons all day and they were honoring them in the same purchase - so it might be worth a shot to the rest of you. The groupon goes another couple days.

So basically he got his NC for half off.

 

[BigJimEd]

Bought one yesterday in Hingham. Rooting was very simple. The Nook has frozen up a couple times though. Had to wait several minutes before it would start responding again.

 

[Blacken]

Ordered one online yesterday. Needed an Android device anyway for a project I'm working on, this was as good a way as any to get one.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

Cool... thanks. What version of the nook software did you have? I have 1.0.0

Did you get the extended warranty ($50+)? It extended the manufacturers warranty out to two years, and if the nook "drops" and breaks, there's a one time replacement. I have 30 days to purchase it, as it seems relatively inexpensive insurance because I'm monkeying around with rooting it.

And like you refuse to call installing new ROMs "flashing"... I'm not calling it nooting. No I am not.

I intalled the 1.1. I like that you can now pinch zoom on the browser.

I never get the warranty. For $250 if it breaks in a year I'll just get something else.

Bought one yesterday in Hingham. Rooting was very simple. The Nook has frozen up a couple times though. Had to wait several minutes before it would start responding again.

This is silly, but if you turn the screen off by pressing the power button after you boot it up and then turn it back on, it gets rid of the lag/freeze issue. No idea why.

 

[BigJimEd]

This is silly, but if you turn the screen off by pressing the power button after you boot it up and then turn it back on, it gets rid of the lag/freeze issue. No idea why.

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Just re-rooted because I saw you could root with the 1.1 update.

I have a couple questions coming from the iPhone world.

1. While in the market trying to download apps, when I click on a category it only lets me see top paid, top free and just in apps which all only show about 10 apps, how can I see more apps than this?

2. Does this newly rooted nook color play video? If so, how?

 

[Foulkey Reese]

Just re-rooted because I saw you could root with the 1.1 update.

I have a couple questions coming from the iPhone world.

1. While in the market trying to download apps, when I click on a category it only lets me see top paid, top free and just in apps which all only show about 10 apps, how can I see more apps than this?

2. Does this newly rooted nook color play video? If so, how?

1) That's really strange and I have no idea. You could always use the web version of the app market. Or you could download the App Brain app and just use that.

2) Yes. It plays Youtube through the app, and I've gotten it to play .avi and .mp4 files pretty well with the app called Rock Player

 

[gingerbreadmann]

Can you get it to play stuff like Hulu too, through regular internet browsing?

 

[Foulkey Reese]

Can you get it to play stuff like Hulu too, through regular internet browsing?

Well right now it runs Android 2.1 which doesn't have Flash, so no.

But there are roms out there of Android 2.2 (Nookie Froyo) which will support Flash. I just haven't installed it yet.

 

[bakahump]

Got mine.

Rooted it Saturday after playing with the base NC friday night.

Followed a Youtube tutorial by a guy named CornHusker (or something like that).

I guess technically it was an "Auto Root". (dont know if thats different then what most of you are doing????)

Is there a difference?

Everything seems to be working fine.

The Corn Husker guy also had a "How to UNroot your NC" video. Basically it involves turning your NC on and off 8 times. It then reverts back to out of the box config.

 

[TFP]

Despite already getting a Kindle for Christmas this year, I think I am going to cave b/c the thought of a tablet this cheap is too good to pass up. Hopefully the B+N has one on my way home, if not I might just order online, as it says the 2 week backorder/shipping delay has been removed at B+N.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

Can you get it to play stuff like Hulu too, through regular internet browsing?

No, Hulu doesn't work on Android.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

Got mine.

Rooted it Saturday after playing with the base NC friday night.

Followed a Youtube tutorial by a guy named CornHusker (or something like that).

I guess technically it was an "Auto Root". (dont know if thats different then what most of you are doing????)

Is there a difference?

Everything seems to be working fine.

The Corn Husker guy also had a "How to UNroot your NC" video. Basically it involves turning your NC on and off 8 times. It then reverts back to out of the box config.

Did you burn something onto a MicroSD card and then have the Nook boot up with it?

 

[FL4WL3SS]

1) That's really strange and I have no idea. You could always use the web version of the app market. Or you could download the App Brain app and just use that.

How is the market supposed to work? I anyone else experiencing this after rooting?

 

[bakahump]

Did you burn something onto a MicroSD card and then have the Nook boot up with it?

Put a file on an SD.

Then Plugged the NC into my Laptop....but DIDNOT power it up. Let it set for about 10 mins.

REMOVED the SD. Powered on the NC....got a blank screen (which is normal according to my instructions) Immedietly powered off then back on (as per the instructions) and got the Droid boot screen and associated extras (market place etc etc).

Dude in my Youtube tutorial warns to NOT boot it with the SD card in.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

Put a file on an SD.

Then Plugged the NC into my Laptop....but DIDNOT power it up. Let it set for about 10 mins.

REMOVED the SD. Powered on the NC....got a blank screen (which is normal according to my instructions) Immedietly powered off then back on (as per the instructions) and got the Droid boot screen and associated extras (market place etc etc).

Dude in my Youtube tutorial warns to NOT boot it with the SD card in.

That's funny. I just followed the instructions in the first post of this thread and I was file. But if you have the market app and gmail and all that I guess you are ok. Did it sync with your Google acocunt?

 

[Foulkey Reese]

How is the market supposed to work? I anyone else experiencing this after rooting?

No I am able to see all the apps. I would just download app brain and use that. It's really the same thing.

 

[bakahump]

That's funny. I just followed the instructions in the first post of this thread and I was file. But if you have the market app and gmail and all that I guess you are ok. Did it sync with your Google acocunt?

Yup

Like i said seems to be great.....plus...supposedly I can revert back if I desire.

Is that an option with the instructions from the 1st post?

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Yup

Like i said seems to be great.....plus...supposedly I can revert back if I desire.

Is that an option with the instructions from the 1st post?

Yes. I re-rooted twice after going back to factory default. Going back to factory default requires two steps:

1. Interrupt the boot process 8 times
2. Deregister and erase the device

How to restore factory defaults

 

[TFP]

Called the closest B+N, they said they have plenty in stock. Heading out in a few to grab one.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

Yes. I re-rooted twice after going back to factory default. Going back to factory default requires two steps:

1. Interrupt the boot process 8 times
2. Deregister and erase the device

How to restore factory defaults

Yea it's very easy to do. With 1.1 it's even easier.

I recommend downloading "Rom Manager" from the market and using it to make a back up of your system with Clock Work Recovery.

 

[Hextall]

Bought mine Friday... played with it until Sunday afternoon. Rooted it via the method in the original post, works mostly fine.

I think there's some issues with autonooter 3.0 and NC 1.1. For starters, after installing rom manager and booting into clockworkmod recovery... I could not boot out of clockwork mod recovery. everytime I tried to reboot system, CWR would load instead. I had to flash a zip from XDA to remove CWR (oddly enough... in CWR... suicide). this worked, and I was able to reboot into rooted stock 1.1. I'm going to wait a day or two before doing anything else as a bunch of people have had this issue.

Here's what doesn't work on mine:
- Youtube FC after initially logging in (per the rooting instructions). I think I need to install this in a different place... but haven't gotten that far yet
- Angry Birds (regular version). This past weekend... angry birds had an upgrade (related to hidden levels in some SB commercial?)... but they accidentally (?) hit somethign that said they need to be able to read SMS. Since the market knows my tablet can't do SMS, apparently Angry Birds will not show up to download. bummer... as it's sort of the standard now to show people you've broken into the device.

Q for people who have rooted: in the market, I can see the purchased apps from my incredible. I'm even able to install them onto the nook... which seems weird. I had assumed that I'd have to purchase these for each device. Is this the case for everyone? I have no problem paying again for apps in each device to support the developers, but I can't even seem to do it.

 

[TFP]

Got one with no issues, picked up an 8GB microSD card and adapter at RadioShack next door. I really can't wait to get home.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

Bought mine Friday... played with it until Sunday afternoon. Rooted it via the method in the original post, works mostly fine.

I think there's some issues with autonooter 3.0 and NC 1.1. For starters, after installing rom manager and booting into clockworkmod recovery... I could not boot out of clockwork mod recovery. everytime I tried to reboot system, CWR would load instead. I had to flash a zip from XDA to remove CWR (oddly enough... in CWR... suicide). this worked, and I was able to reboot into rooted stock 1.1. I'm going to wait a day or two before doing anything else as a bunch of people have had this issue.

Here's what doesn't work on mine:
- Youtube FC after initially logging in (per the rooting instructions). I think I need to install this in a different place... but haven't gotten that far yet
- Angry Birds (regular version). This past weekend... angry birds had an upgrade (related to hidden levels in some SB commercial?)... but they accidentally (?) hit somethign that said they need to be able to read SMS. Since the market knows my tablet can't do SMS, apparently Angry Birds will not show up to download. bummer... as it's sort of the standard now to show people you've broken into the device.

Q for people who have rooted: in the market, I can see the purchased apps from my incredible. I'm even able to install them onto the nook... which seems weird. I had assumed that I'd have to purchase these for each device. Is this the case for everyone? I have no problem paying again for apps in each device to support the developers, but I can't even seem to do it.

I havent' had any issues with Clock work, I ran a backup last night. Same with Youtube. Strange.

Angry birds changed their permissions to needing SMS to download from the market. I don't know why, but you can easily just install the game from your SD card after downloading the .apk file which you can find here.

Open the file with Astro File Manager (free in market) and install it through the app manager. Easy as pie.

Edit: This is a great place for help and support.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=860

 

[TFP]

Bought mine Friday... played with it until Sunday afternoon. Rooted it via the method in the original post, works mostly fine.

I think there's some issues with autonooter 3.0 and NC 1.1. For starters, after installing rom manager and booting into clockworkmod recovery... I could not boot out of clockwork mod recovery. everytime I tried to reboot system, CWR would load instead. I had to flash a zip from XDA to remove CWR (oddly enough... in CWR... suicide). this worked, and I was able to reboot into rooted stock 1.1. I'm going to wait a day or two before doing anything else as a bunch of people have had this issue.

Here's what doesn't work on mine:
- Youtube FC after initially logging in (per the rooting instructions). I think I need to install this in a different place... but haven't gotten that far yet
- Angry Birds (regular version). This past weekend... angry birds had an upgrade (related to hidden levels in some SB commercial?)... but they accidentally (?) hit somethign that said they need to be able to read SMS. Since the market knows my tablet can't do SMS, apparently Angry Birds will not show up to download. bummer... as it's sort of the standard now to show people you've broken into the device.

Q for people who have rooted: in the market, I can see the purchased apps from my incredible. I'm even able to install them onto the nook... which seems weird. I had assumed that I'd have to purchase these for each device. Is this the case for everyone? I have no problem paying again for apps in each device to support the developers, but I can't even seem to do it.

Man, this reads like another language to me. I have a lot to learn in the world of Android.

 

[FanRoy]

I've never used Groupon before, so I hope this question isn't too dumb... but how is it possible to use more than one coupon for the NC if you go to buy it at the store? Aren't most coupons limited to one per customer? Or is Groupon like a gift card and not a coupon??

Also, for someone who's not tech-savvy, is rooting still a possibility given Foulkey's original instructions?

Thanks.

 

[Hextall]

I havent' had any issues with Clock work, I ran a backup last night. Same with Youtube. Strange.

Angry birds changed their permissions to needing SMS to download from the market. I don't know why, but you can easily just install the game from your SD card after downloading the .apk file which you can find here.

Open the file with Astro File Manager (free in market) and install it through the app manager. Easy as pie.

Edit: This is a great place for help and support.

http://forum.xda-dev...splay.php?f=860

A bunch of people have the same CWR bootloop... so it's not specific to me. Seems like the common denominator is we all installed 1.1 first, then rooted with autonooter 3.0. If I'm not mistaken, the previous way was to root first, then install stock 1.1. I'm sure it'll get worked out.

Tonight I'm going to read through the tutorial on XDA on using adb. there's an adb fix for the youtube app... and I'm curious enough to try it.

 

[Hextall]

I've never used Groupon before, so I hope this question isn't too dumb... but how is it possible to use more than one coupon for the NC if you go to buy it at the store? Aren't most coupons limited to one per customer? Or is Groupon like a gift card and not a coupon??

I bought the groupon on friday (oddly enough, for the NYC region). it takes a day or so for the groupon to be emailed to you.

Today, I tried to buy a second groupon (boston), and it's been about 3 hours, and I've yet to get an email about it. There's some chatter that groupon (or maybe B&N) shut off the multiple purchasing.

As for using more than one... I think you enter them as a gift card online, so you can do up to 3. bringing them into the store probably depends on the apathy level of the B&N clerk.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

A bunch of people have the same CWR bootloop... so it's not specific to me. Seems like the common denominator is we all installed 1.1 first, then rooted with autonooter 3.0. If I'm not mistaken, the previous way was to root first, then install stock 1.1. I'm sure it'll get worked out.

Tonight I'm going to read through the tutorial on XDA on using adb. there's an adb fix for the youtube app... and I'm curious enough to try it.

Were you able to get Angry Birds to load?

 

[FanRoy]

I bought the groupon on friday (oddly enough, for the NYC region). it takes a day or so for the groupon to be emailed to you.

Today, I tried to buy a second groupon (boston), and it's been about 3 hours, and I've yet to get an email about it. There's some chatter that groupon (or maybe B&N) shut off the multiple purchasing.

As for using more than one... I think you enter them as a gift card online, so you can do up to 3. bringing them into the store probably depends on the apathy level of the B&N clerk.

Ah hah, so I should buy 3 Groupons and just order one online (are they or are they not available online?)? Unless I reaaaallly feel like being a PITA at the store to try to redeem 13 Groupons to get one for half-off?

 

[Foulkey Reese]

Also, for someone who's not tech-savvy, is rooting still a possibility given Foulkey's original instructions?

Thanks.

I think so. Go for it.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Ah hah, so I should buy 3 Groupons and just order one online (are they or are they not available online?)? Unless I reaaaallly feel like being a PITA at the store to try to redeem 13 Groupons to get one for half-off?

You can only buy one Groupon.

When I bought my NC the kid in front of me was able to buy 13 Groupons for B&N and then he exchanged them at the store for one gift card. After I found this out, I immediately went home and bought 14 Groupons. 3 days later and they've only charged me for 1 of them (I'm not getting the other 13). So between the time he bought his 13 and the time that I tried to, Groupon shut down the purchase of multiple Groupons for B&N.

 

[SumnerH]

No, Hulu doesn't work on Android.

1. Root your Android.
2. Make a backup of libflashplayer.so
3. Take a hex editor to the installed copy of libflashplayer.so and find an ASCII string like "AND 10,1,120,1"--numbers will vary with the version number. Overwrite with "WIN 10,1,102,64" (it's fine that that's a longer string).
4. Use a browser like Dolphin HD that lets you set the user-agent. Set it to a desktop user-agent.
5. Watch hulu.