Root Ok, who has hacked a Nook Color...

[justicedealt]

How is it working out, what can it do, how complicated is it? I am thinking on getting one, but I want it to be a functional tablet as well. It's go time, and I have to get this figured out. How good is it stock at navigating the web? Can you download apps to it from the web via the browser even though it won't access the market? If so, I don't see any major reason to root it.

I know this is probably in the wrong place, but I have not seen the answers I am needing.

 

[Little Green Robot]

I played with a NC at B&N and am probably getting one for Christmas. Unrooted, It could only barely be considered a tablet. It has a very basic browser and that's it. Luckily, this news just broke, so if you wait til JAnuary you won't have to root for full tablet functionality.

 

[OstrichSaK]

I bought my wife a nook when they came out and she loves it. Uses it regularly. When the nook color came out I bought her one of those too with the plan to root it and have a tablet to be able to use when we travel and what not. I got lazy and never got to it and now they've announced that you will be able to access the Market w/o needing to root so I likely won't be rooting unless some killer ROM or better reason comes out to do so. Sounds like the root process on these is kinda sketchy with minimal reward so I think I've decided to just leave it.

Edit: Never mind. Looks like that's not happening now.

 

[apocalypse_later]

I rooted mine last night. The process is probably difficult for someone who doesn't have much command line experience or experience with the android dev tools, especially adb. You also need to delete the default windows drivers and install a custom driver. Post install requires some very specific and deliberate action too. Not exactly one-click root.

Once rooted there's a package that installs the market and other tools. I havent been able to install busybox so I can't install vnc server or any app that depends on busybox.

There are some large issues here though. It does not have hardware buttons like back, home, etc. No back and menu button means you can't use apps correctly. Someone at XDA wrote a softbuttons program but it is of limited utility. The softbuttons pop up over the menu when you click the menu button, which is incredibly annoying. It might be better to remap the volume keys as back and menu. I'm assuming thats possible.

I use adb to install apk files and use the market (once installed). Some apps just crash on loading (youtube and others). Some works just fine. So far I have angry birds, an app for work, a couple synthesizers, weatherbug, and some utilities.

The lack of hardware buttons is incredibly frustrating. As well as the issue that your market purchases don't appear in your nook's launcher until you reboot entirely. The device, I'm sorry to say, runs slow in general. Its noticeable in apps that really utilize the CPU. I like the rooted nook, its like an ipad jr, but its really in rough shape. It sounds like BN is going to be hostile to installing apk files or joining the market, but if their own market has enough stuff they'll probably keep people very happy.

That said, the stock nook is actually pretty cool. I turn comic books files into PDFs and read them with the native PDF reader, which is excellent. I have all my BN purchases. I have epub files from 3rd party sources. The web browser is really good. Its pretty much a typical 2.1 browser. Pages can be slow to load, but not unusually slow. I love the 7" size. I see people all the time with ipads holding them awkwardly like a baby. My nook fits in small bags, large pockets, etc. I dont even have a case for it. I have a screen protector and nothing else.

 

[OstrichSaK]

There are some large issues here though. It does not have hardware buttons like back, home, etc. No back and menu button means you can't use apps correctly.

The lack of hardware buttons is incredibly frustrating.

This was the first thing I saw when I took it out of the box. I was confused then and it's one of the larger reasons I may opt to not root at all.

 

[uniquenameEVO]

This was the first thing I saw when I took it out of the box. I was confused then and it's one of the larger reasons I may opt to not root at all.

My archos doesn't have hard buttons either. The SDK just got released, I would bet someone will figure out how to grab those software buttons for the NC.

 

[OstrichSaK]

My archos doesn't have hard buttons either. The SDK just got released, I would bet someone will figure out how to grab those software buttons for the NC.

Which Archos tab? I've had a 101 on pre-order since September.

 

[uniquenameEVO]

Which Archos tab? I've had a 101 on pre-order since September.

I got two 70s. September??? The 70 and 101 are all over now.

EDIT...so it is selling out again. Available below (16GB).

http://www.jr.com/archos/pe/AHS_501594/

 

[OstrichSaK]

I got two 70s. September??? The 70 and 101 are all over now.

EDIT...so it is selling out again. Available below (16GB).

Archos 101 Internet Tablet 16GB 10.1" Android Tablet in Portable Tablet PCs at JR.com

J&R is where I ordered mine from but I ordered a 8gb version. Initially it was supposed to be the first one released but I guess J&R didn't get any or enough to fulfill my order. I only paid $384 shipped though so until I find something w/the same features for less I will keep the backorder alive and just keep waiting. I'm not in a hurry but this is a bit obscene and I would be pissed if it was something I had a need for sooner.

 

[uniquenameEVO]

I only paid $384 shipped

Uhh...save money and order the 16GB

 

[OstrichSaK]

Uhh...save money and order the 16GB

How do I save money by buying the 16gb version?

 

[A.Nonymous]

This was the first thing I saw when I took it out of the box. I was confused then and it's one of the larger reasons I may opt to not root at all.

I was all about buying one and rooting it until I looked at one in store and saw that it had no hardware buttons on it. My plan was to root it, toss the Kindle app on it and have a wi-fi tablet/e-reader that I could use to read my comic books or my Kindle library all in one place.

 

[uniquenameEVO]

How do I save money by buying the 16gb version?

$343 and free ground shipping. You said you paid $384.

 

[anthonygobot]

I am going to wait and see what comes of the Android update and app market. If B&N doesnt get flash and some social apps then off to root we go. I know flash isnt everything but not being able to listen to NPR podcasts or Engadget videos really annoys me. The E-Reader experience is pretty wicked.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I am going to wait and see what comes of the Android update and app market. If B&N doesnt get flash and some social apps then off to root we go. I know flash isnt everything but not being able to listen to NPR podcasts or Engadget videos really annoys me. The E-Reader experience is pretty wicked.

I'm sold on the e-reader experience with the Kindle. I last charged it right after Thanksgiving. I'm now down to about 25% battery, but it still works off just that charge. I've had wi-fi off the whole time though. Something I just have to charge once a month, I love.

 

[djmariah]

I rooted my NC last night after much consideration. It was a straightforward and easy process. Just in the last couple of weeks the process has been made much easier. I was crossing my fingers that the micro SD card could be made bootable through my phone (no card reader on computer) and it worked through my Samsung dumbphone. I was absolutely astonished to see the improvement! 2000%. I can play Angry Birds and download/install anything from the the Android Market. Some programs don't work but you can see which ones do on XDA forums. I am so glad I rooted it. I daresay that the update coming from B&N won't even be that great.

Also, for the ones worried about there being no hardware buttons, the soft buttons work just fine.

Edited to add: I went from Kindle to NC and was disappointed because I love the Kindle and all of it's unique features. But after this rooting process I can read all of my Kindle books on it so the point is moot. The Kindle app works great and has some nice settings for readability on the LCD screen. You can even use the volume buttons to turn pages.
Games, videos and real web browsing are nice.

I can return to the factory settings at any time if I feel like it. So far I don't think I will.

 

[OstrichSaK]

$343 and free ground shipping. You said you paid $384.

Must have been a typo. $284 w/free shipping for the Archos 101 in 8gb flavor.

 

[cabbie]

I was all about buying one and rooting it until I looked at one in store and saw that it had no hardware buttons on it. My plan was to root it, toss the Kindle app on it and have a wi-fi tablet/e-reader that I could use to read my comic books or my Kindle library all in one place.

*cough* softkeys *cough*

 

[supermatt9]

I rooted my NC last night after much consideration. It was a straightforward and easy process. Just in the last couple of weeks the process has been made much easier. I was crossing my fingers that the micro SD card could be made bootable through my phone (no card reader on computer) and it worked through my Samsung dumbphone. I was absolutely astonished to see the improvement! 2000%. I can play Angry Birds and download/install anything from the the Android Market. Some programs don't work but you can see which ones do on XDA forums. I am so glad I rooted it. I daresay that the update coming from B&N won't even be that great.

Also, for the ones worried about there being no hardware buttons, the soft buttons work just fine.

Edited to add: I went from Kindle to NC and was disappointed because I love the Kindle and all of it's unique features. But after this rooting process I can read all of my Kindle books on it so the point is moot. The Kindle app works great and has some nice settings for readability on the LCD screen. You can even use the volume buttons to turn pages.
Games, videos and real web browsing are nice.

I can return to the factory settings at any time if I feel like it. So far I don't think I will.

Can you point me to the guide you used to root your nook??

 

[cabbie]

http://androidforums.com/nookcolor-...o-wiki-page-rooting-nookcolor-plz-sticky.html

 

[fam]

Got mine last night...rooted last night..kinda already bored with it to be honest ;-(

Need to install adobe flash (will it let me with 2.1?) and fix my youtube app.

 

[hewitts]

Got mine last night...rooted last night..kinda already bored with it to be honest ;-(

Need to install adobe flash (will it let me with 2.1?) and fix my youtube app.

Feel free to send it to me

 

[A.Nonymous]

You could send it here as well. I have lust in my heart for a NC.

 

[fam]

well its the same price as a 32" lcd at best buy for my gran turismo 5 simulator, or a good wacom tablet to draw with...im torn...Im probably going to go out tonight as every game and background wallpaper app wants to write to an SD card to work...despite 5 gigs of storage on it, it wont recognize it so Im guessing I need to buy one....walmart here I come...if theyre even open.

 

[andysom25]

I rooted mine last night. The process is probably difficult for someone who doesn't have much command line experience or experience with the android dev tools, especially adb. You also need to delete the default windows drivers and install a custom driver. Post install requires some very specific and deliberate action too. Not exactly one-click root.

Once rooted there's a package that installs the market and other tools. I havent been able to install busybox so I can't install vnc server or any app that depends on busybox.

There are some large issues here though. It does not have hardware buttons like back, home, etc. No back and menu button means you can't use apps correctly. Someone at XDA wrote a softbuttons program but it is of limited utility. The softbuttons pop up over the menu when you click the menu button, which is incredibly annoying. It might be better to remap the volume keys as back and menu. I'm assuming thats possible.

I use adb to install apk files and use the market (once installed). Some apps just crash on loading (youtube and others). Some works just fine. So far I have angry birds, an app for work, a couple synthesizers, weatherbug, and some utilities.

The lack of hardware buttons is incredibly frustrating. As well as the issue that your market purchases don't appear in your nook's launcher until you reboot entirely. The device, I'm sorry to say, runs slow in general. Its noticeable in apps that really utilize the CPU. I like the rooted nook, its like an ipad jr, but its really in rough shape. It sounds like BN is going to be hostile to installing apk files or joining the market, but if their own market has enough stuff they'll probably keep people very happy.

That said, the stock nook is actually pretty cool. I turn comic books files into PDFs and read them with the native PDF reader, which is excellent. I have all my BN purchases. I have epub files from 3rd party sources. The web browser is really good. Its pretty much a typical 2.1 browser. Pages can be slow to load, but not unusually slow. I love the 7" size. I see people all the time with ipads holding them awkwardly like a baby. My nook fits in small bags, large pockets, etc. I dont even have a case for it. I have a screen protector and nothing else.

quick question, what do you use to turn your comics into pdfs?