Database Users

[Q] Reasons for Rooting the NC

I have a question that is eating at me to no end. Every android device (this is my 6th) I've rooted. I tried to use the devices without root and hesitated somewhat to do so, but rooting was inevitable with all of them.
I just received (from a lovely wife) a Nook Color for my birthday. I intend to use this solely as an e-reader. In that, I also like to diversify my e-book collection by using multiple providers (you can see where this is going, I'm sure). I would really like to be able to use B&N, Amazon, and Google Books to download content.
However... I've seen that there are a few things that don't work as they should after rooting. I'm not sure I'm willing to live with that.
After all of that said, how many of you have the same intentions I have? How many of you intend to use this as an e-reader and an e-reader only? I ask because I've seen several threads discussing different uses that clearly go beyond what the device was intended to do. Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking what you are doing. I'm only trying to find out if these additional functions (I also believe in the beauty of open source;-)) serve as additional incentive for you guys to root. If this is the case, is using it as a multi-provider e-reader enough incentive to root? Is is enough incentive to "suffer" with what does not work after rooting?
Please chime in! Thank you for you input. I would really like to root this thing, but I just want to make sure it's worth the hassle.

93 views and no one has an opinion? Is everyone using this device as everything but an e-reader? At least tell me it is a dumb question if you think that.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

Pretty much everyone here uses the nook as a full android tablet that also reads books. I use CM7 myself and i would have never bought the nook if it didn't have any custom roms. I do not know any negatives to rooting the stock OS as I never used it. I would say go for it and if you don't like it you can go back to stock in <5 minutes.
Sent from my LG Optimus V using Tapatalk

I'm probably the only one here that recently changed my configuration.
I've been a NC user with CM7 nightly builds installed to the emmc (that's right a bold user willing to risk a brik).
However, over time I'd had the opportunity to pickup another tab for the geek (HP Touchpad for that oh so low price).
Since the Nook Color is now really being used as a e-reader only again (with a few Apps from the BN app store), I've restored it to stock with the 1.3 update.
No root, nothing except a blank SD card for extra content.
The BN stock Nook reader software is night and day in terms of stability and performance in comparison to the "Nook for Android" application. It doensn't have that cool page turn animation, but why does the "Android" app pale in comparison when both technically are Android apps?
Granted, I don't have Amazon or Google book content access any longer, but I can use them on the other tab if I desire. But I've been finding that I prefer to purchase my books on BN and Amazon/Google vendors have only gotten my "Free" book purchases in the past.
I can also get my enhanced books again.
If BN decides it needs to add some services to help compete with the forth coming Amazon Tab, like video and audio rentals/purchases, you might see official support for NetFlix or Hulu as a counter. Reason is that BN would need to build that infrastructure, but providing NetFlix or Hulu Plus might be good enough to compete with Amazon Prime.
I really do like my NC again on stock. Without another tab to root/mod, I'd still be on CM7 (the beauty is I'm watching the CM7 development for the HP, so soon).

perknite said:
I just received (from a lovely wife) a Nook Color for my birthday. I intend to use this solely as an e-reader. In that, I also like to diversify my e-book collection by using multiple providers (you can see where this is going, I'm sure). I would really like to be able to use B&N, Amazon, and Google Books to download content.
However... I've seen that there are a few things that don't work as they should after rooting. I'm not sure I'm willing to live with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had my NC for about six months, and have used rooted stock (versions 1.01, 1.1, and 1.2) and am now almost exclusively using CM7 on the SD card. I use it for a lot more than an e-reader, but I do read a lot on it.
1) The stock reader software is much nicer than any Android reader apps out there. That was why I stuck with the stock software for so long.
2) I don't know of anything that's working on an unrooted Nook that is broken by rooting. Can you elaborate on what you meant by that?
3) If you really want to have an ebook collection that isn't dependent on a single vendor, you should look into Calibre and the tools that are available to strip DRM from books you buy. Then you can buy a book from, say, Amazon, strip the DRM, load it into Calibre, and convert it to any format you wish. This involves a bit of work on the PC side, so you're not able to just download directly to the reader, but it's one way to keep your stock unrooted Nook and still use Google or Amazon to buy books. And it means you'll always be able to read those books, not just when Amazon or Google or B&N decides you can.

I've been running rooted stock 99% of the time since I got the device. I did hammer it very early on (I think I tried installing one of the SD-card targeted froyo builds to emmc) and just so I could at least fiddle, ran the honeycomb off sdcard for a look. I've run cm7 and miui off sdcard, but I've never liked the alternate roms more than I like the stock, enough to flash them to emmc and certainly not enough to run them as daily drivers off of sdcards, since then my sdcard slot is obliged to be full.
I'm not clear on what, in the current rooted stock, isn't working that the OP refers to. For me, all the stock apps work fine, and I have access to Netflix and the free fridays books.
My preferred reader is fbreader - I like true night mode and landcape, and I have no problems with that reader crashing.
I would rather use the Nook for Android app, for the same reason that I like fbreader and for the additional benefit of very simple cross-device sync. I also have an ST, and am using fbsync and fbreader on both in conjunction with Tasker to sync reading positions.
I'm very unimpressed with the 1.3 firmware. In my hands, the device is more sluggish when running it than when running 1.2, but I know there are some folks that it helped to have (networking issues in 1.2.)
But overall, I can't think of anything that doesn't work on rooted stock that does work on vanilla stock, so more input on that would be helpful.

The only thing I'm aware of that doesn't work on rooted stock is the reading now button. I haven't tried the latest enhanced books for 1.3 yet, but everything else I've tested successfully.
My family has 3 nooks - my wife and me, plus my mom. My mom is a voracious reader and has literally read at least 100 books since Mother's Day. I offered to turn it back to stock for her, but she told me that there just a handful of android apps (not available through B&N) that she wants to keep. So she stays rooted.
For my wife, she's a big reader too (not as much as mom) but she has more than a handful of apps she wants, particularly a host of free games from either the market or android appstore, so she stays on rooted stock. Both have zero complaints. Both are also overclocked to 1200 using Dalingrin's OC kernel.
For me, I've been toying with CM7 on sd card for about 2 months now. I love how smooth it runs and I'm extremely satisfied with it. My only knock is the reader. As others have said, the stock nook reader is still the best, although both fbreader and moon reader are very good as well. I'm probably 50/50 on reading vs other stuff on my nook.

Thanks for all of your replies! I saw somewhere (I believe the ManualNooter thread) that there might be crashes with apps that required imei (forgive spelling). I have no idea what apps might require that. I went ahead and took the plunge. So far I like it! I have not figured out how to turn off gmail email sync yet, but I really like being able to access books from all three major providers!
Thank you all for your input!
Sent from my NOOKcolor using xda premium

Perknite, also take a look at using Calibre for book management, and the tools for managing the security of your ebooks discussed at apprenticealf.wordpress.com.
You can read books from each of the vendors both on your computer and in any app you like on the NC, if you configure the tools and have the computer app from the vendor plus a program called Calibre on the PC.
I used to do a lot of this manually, and recently learned that Calibre will do huge amounts of it automatically if it has access to the install data from BN and Amazon.
Information security is a triangle: availability, confidentiality, integrity. DRM breaks your control over availability and integrity in order to deliver confidentiality - not to you, but to the vendor of your files. The tools discussed in the Apprentice Alf blog let you manage the availability and integrity of your data for yourself. You owe it to your ebook vendors to maintain confidentiality -- but you owed them that to start with, and it was in the agreement as you purchased the books.

why did you pick this over nook tablet?

just curious to see your reasoning...

Bought both and returned the nook tablet.
the NT was far too restrictive.. they lock you down into their little world.
At least with the fire I have some options

Cheaper, its amazon, oh and the boot loader isn't locked.

Instant video app.
I have other tablets with more storage and functionality, but they don't stream Amazon instant video without some stuttering.
Still haven't decided if this is enough for me to keep the tablet.

Because ....
... my wife ordered it before the Nook tablet was announced. But now that both are public, I'm happier with the (fairly open) Kindle than I would be with the (locked down) Nook.

I'm an Amazon Prime member, and the ecosystem Amazon provides is much better than Barnes and Noble.

The only tablet out there that plays Netflix,Amozon VOD and stream espn3 without issues. Also like the UI. It does what I need it for with minimum of screwing around and now that I have rooted and installed market and side loaded some apps, it's perfect for my needs.
This is from a guy who has bought or used most of the tablets that has come around recently including i pad. I bought one for wife initially and ended up getting one for myself.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

I'm a amazon prime member, so easy choice for me! also I enjoy the form factor of the kindle better than the nook (what in the world is that little hole for?)

Price and I have always wanted a kindle
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

Mainly the build quality of the device it feels solid in hand as oppose to the flimsy feel of the nook tablet. I don't like the extra weight of having a case so the kindle fire is perfect and also the unlock bootloader.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium

The interface, the entire experiance. I like that amazon is truely offering a different experiance and bundled it in all in a nice package. I mean, no offence to other manufactures, but I feel like amazon really brought something to the table that is truely unique. I mean look at the vast options of honeycomb tablets, or gingerbread tablets, their all pretty much the same, they may have some skins on top, but underneath their all just the same old interface, don't get me wrong, I love android, but what amazon has done is organize everything that I do into a neat package. I can click on a section for the launcher and I am presented with specific content, I love that if I want to catch up on some shows, I can click the videos tab, or play a game click on my apps tab, and from there I can quickly access the app store, it all just makes sense to me.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium

I have about 300 dollars worth of Kindle books. Simple as that, really.

Before the Nook Tablet announcement I pre-ordered the Kindle:
-Price (I even bought the cover with a $20 credit)
-All my Kindle books available out of the box, without waiting for a root or hack
-Easier to buy from Amazon, free two-day shipping as a Prime

Best buy gave me a 50$ dollar gift card by accident.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium

pitnefor, in which way?

guys when i went to bestbuy, netflix was laggy. it seems to be that way on the reviews i've watched too. plus, they've achieved full root with the nook. the bootloader point still stands though...what about the gig of ram, and one piece screen?

i agree daggy. but it stuttered when i tried to play with it.
and to everybody who talks about cost, if that wasn't an issue would you still stay with your kindle?
plus, it has one button. what recovery will you use? one where you press that button a certain amount of seconds to scroll up, down, etc. ? thanks

rockstarar said:
i agree daggy. but it stuttered when i tried to play with it.
and to everybody who talks about cost, if that wasn't an issue would you still stay with your kindle?
plus, it has one button. what recovery will you use? one where you press that button a certain amount of seconds to scroll up, down, etc. ? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They have a touchscreen recovery in the works apparently.
Also I would never trust any test that uses internet in bestbuy. I worked there for a year and it was the worst. They didnt even have a separate network for the display equipment, so if people kept going on sites, it would crash up the sales machines and you couldn't punch in/out.
Horrors.
We had to use a verizon mifi to get any real work done.

rockstarar said:
i agree daggy. but it stuttered when i tried to play with it.
and to everybody who talks about cost, if that wasn't an issue would you still stay with your kindle?
plus, it has one button. what recovery will you use? one where you press that button a certain amount of seconds to scroll up, down, etc. ? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You commented about stuttering in 2 of your 3 consecutive posts.
I believe this thread is the "why you picked the Kindle over the Nook Tablet", not the "why I like to bash Kindle thread".
I will say that I have no issues playing video on my Kindle Fire. Netflix, Prime, or the conversions to MP4 I've loaded onto my device.

sodaboy581 said:
You commented about stuttering in 2 of your 3 consecutive posts.
I believe this thread is the "why you picked the Kindle over the Nook Tablet", not the "why I like to bash Kindle thread".
I will say that I have no issues playing video on my Kindle Fire. Netflix, Prime, or the conversions to MP4 I've loaded onto my device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, i know what the thread says, i created it. yes, i did comment about it because i noticed it but thelgow is right (thanks thelgow). thanks for your input too soda.
but again, if the NT and KF cost the same, which would you all buy then, and why?

Would the kf work in the uk

i want to order a kindle fire but i am not sure if it will work here in the uk as it is not for me but for a family member the person would just use the device as stock

Stock right now,the KF would not be a good choice for use in the UK. They would have a hard time accessing any media. Amazon app store and the Amazon cloud would not work.
Sent from my Kindle Fire

krelvinaz said:
Stock right now,the KF would not be a good choice for use in the UK. They would have a hard time accessing any media. Amazon app store and the Amazon cloud would not work.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, in the UK you'd be unable to access the media stores. Too much conflict in copyright stuff between here and there.

I believe I heard the Kindle would burst into flames once it crossed US borders...
I'm quite sure the Kindle would work perfectly fine elsewhere.
I've been having a blast with it for over a week and haven't touched a single amazon based feature, which I believe would be the only place you'd have issues.

Thelgow said:
I believe I heard the Kindle would burst into flames once it crossed US borders...
I'm quite sure the Kindle would work perfectly fine elsewhere.
I've been having a blast with it for over a week and haven't touched a single amazon based feature, which I believe would be the only place you'd have issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, if you had media to fill it yourself and could use your cloud account for music in the UK (don't see why you couldn't) then yeah that would work. But a lot are likely buying it due to them already buying into Amazon services. If his friend was going to hack it, that's be one thing, but stock currently I'm not sure it's the best choice outside the US as none of the Amazon features work.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you could find uses for it, I just think that your tablet would be a bit more crippled stock without Amazon services than other possible choices, at least currently. So I'll say it honestly depends on what your friend would get out of it.

I'm using one here in Brazil, so I guess you would have the same experience I have.
All Amazon stuff are useless, except Kindle for books (the same Android app you install in any device). You even can't install other Apps because Amazon App Store blocks everything outside US (even free apps).
The only useful thing you can do to a Fire outside the US is to install third-party apps and root your device to make it like any other Android device. And I loved it for that: a cheap Android tablet, open, unblocked, and easy to hack. Everything I wanted.
The reality is that you'll be buying an Android tablet, not a Kindle as it is in America.

I got the amazon apps to work outside the us using us address and test card.I have rooted and installed aneroid market aswell.Just waiting for touch recovery and then the fun will start.

thanks for the info i will just buy the normal transformer or a ipad

it is possibile to have Kindle Fire working fully outside US using for example unblock-us.
With fully i mean, cloud, streaming content (audio, video, books, etc), amazon app store, etc.

therethere said:
it is possibile to have Kindle Fire working fully outside US using for example unblock-us.
With fully i mean, cloud, streaming content (audio, video, books, etc), amazon app store, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, i can confirm. Using unblock-us is the solution, i use it in Germany and it works fine.

Just got my TF300!

Just picked up my TF300 yesterday. So far I'm loving it!
Spent the evening configuring the device, installing software and apllying firware updates, etc.
You really need to let this thing sit overnight to properly "settle down" as the thing is quite finnicky out of the box. I made the mistake of clicking the "sync with google" account button on setup and it began downloading all 60 or so apps I've purchased from the Market (comw of which are specific to my rooted HTC evo or my HTC Flyer). Once that was done I spent some time uninstalling the ones I didn't want/need.
I bought the Best Buy 16Gb version. I'd have bought the 32Gb version if Best Buy carried it, but they don't alas, and I had some soon to expire rewards $$ that I wanted to apply to this. Also I'm a fan of their 18 month no interest financing (it's how I paid for the Flyer) and the fact that I can just hop on over to the strore if this tablet turns out to be a turkey and just exchange or return it.
But so far so good. After all my apps downlodaded I've still got some 12 Gb free storage, and with the micro SDCard slot I can add an additional 32Gb for movies and such if I want.
The only real bummers I've noted so far is that the Chrome Beta seems to get in a wierd state sometimes where it won't follow links, but instead asks if I want to open a new tab. Unfortunately, force closing Chrome doesn't seem to fix the issue. I've had to restart the tablet. Hopefully that was just a fluke, even though it's happened to me twice. Becaus honestly, I love having Chrome on this thing. Chrome is really Android's "killer app" for me. Having a desktop browser with full functionality (albeit lacking Flash) really turns this thing up to "11" if you know what I mean.
At any rate, that's my overly long story. You can color me happy, thus far.

lots of had issues whither chrome browser. Asus has been finding it to cause issues also. alot report strange things occurring after installing That app. I've been uninstalled it. ill wait till it updates to an official version out of beta before trying again. there are threads on it in prime section.
just giving you a heads up. I find opera mobile to be the best by far. its the only one to give close to true desktop browsing experience. plus its the only browser That lets you upload files like on a regular PC browser, from your prime. its the fastest browser around, IMO. chrome is good but still needs alot of work. between everyone having issues, chrome browser was the thing THST connected everyone. even Asus has noticed this.
have fun with your new 300

Congrats!
I too just picked up the 16GB at BB yesterday.
I agree with OP...let it sit overnight.
So far I love it...and already rooted & de-bloated.

demandarin said:
lots of had issues whither chrome browser. Asus has been finding it to cause issues also. alot report strange things occurring after installing That app. I've been uninstalled it. ill wait till it updates to an official version out of beta before trying again. there are threads on it in prime section.
just giving you a heads up. I find opera mobile to be the best by far. its the only one to give close to true desktop browsing experience. plus its the only browser That lets you upload files like on a regular PC browser, from your prime. its the fastest browser around, IMO. chrome is good but still needs alot of work. between everyone having issues, chrome browser was the thing THST connected everyone. even Asus has noticed this.
have fun with your new 300
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Opera Mobile is my browser of choice on the HTC Flyer and my HTC Evo, so I do like it. Unfortunately it has issues displaying certain websites, so I'm really looking forward to a final, stable Chrome build. I'll continue to use Chrome unless I find it causes too many stability issues on the Transformer.

Holy Cow!
So I decidedI'd try tethering my TF300 to my cellphone, and when I started the tethering app and opeed up the TF300 I found that it was already connected. I though it odd, given that I've got a WPA2 security on the phone. So when I checked the WiFi settings I discovered "memory" of all the WiFi hotspots I'd connected to previously with my Flyer.
That's pretty amazing (and a tad unsettling, to be honest) that Google had sync'd all that information and applied it to my TF300 when I updated.
I was also amazed at how quickly the TF300 recognized my wireless mouse. Plugged thedongle into the USB port, was expecting a chime or some "installing driver" message but saw nothing. The I bumped the mouse ad the cursor moved! Wow! (Also, the scroll wheel works just fine, though the right-mouse button seems to act as a "history back" button rather than a contextual menu, as in Windows.
All in all, I'm really digging this.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA Premium HD app

Hey guys best buy is selling the 32GB model as of yesterday. I bought mine yesterday for 399.99, so if you want more memory for 20 more dollars I would highly suggest. Loving this tablet by the way
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

How to Operationalize Kindle Fire HDX

I was an ambitious rooter that thought that rooting was the only way to go, regardless of device. I had a change of heart and decided NOT to root my HDX. Obviously this presents many challenges, the lack of google's presence amoung the top. So my story is how I managed to install almost everything (except play store) and how now I can do just about everything I wanted without rooting.
The trick was to find apps that simulate or sync within the web and they trick the HDX into thinking it has a google account installed. This has allowed me to access gmail, google calendar, search, tasks and more. I even got wifi text messaging working, which is a big deal for me.
Finally, I found the perfect launcher that replaces the tedious Amazon interface. I'm not kidding. You wouldn't tell the difference between a rooted HDX and mine.
Open to questions...
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium HD app

can you share with us what you did? I would like to try it on my 7" if it would work.

JAG50 said:
I was an ambitious rooter that thought that rooting was the only way to go, regardless of device. I had a change of heart and decided NOT to root my HDX. Obviously this presents many challenges, the lack of google's presence amoung the top. So my story is how I managed to install almost everything (except play store) and how now I can do just about everything I wanted without rooting.
The trick was to find apps that simulate or sync within the web and they trick the HDX into thinking it has a google account installed. This has allowed me to access gmail, google calendar, search, tasks and more. I even got wifi text messaging working, which is a big deal for me.
Finally, I found the perfect launcher that replaces the tedious Amazon interface. I'm not kidding. You wouldn't tell the difference between a rooted HDX and mine.
Open to questions...
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup - I ran native (unrooted) Fire OS 3.2.6 for nearly a year before moving to a different rom. It's quite possible (and often rather easy) to either sideload play store apps or find high quality equivalents that duplicate the best from google. Some I still use today even though I have full access to the play store. Toss in a few Xposed modules and life is pretty sweet. That said, there was always the challenge of dealing with new versions or accommodating the various limitations inherent with Fire OS. I think the story here is an unrooted HDX can be still be a useful/productive tool but the work effort definitely goes up once you step outside the Amazon ecosystem.

JAG50 said:
Finally, I found the perfect launcher that replaces the tedious Amazon interface. I'm not kidding. You wouldn't tell the difference between a rooted HDX and mine.
Open to questions...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which launcher are you using? Inquiring minds want to know!

JAG50 said:
I was an ambitious rooter that thought that rooting was the only way to go, regardless of device. I had a change of heart and decided NOT to root my HDX. Obviously this presents many challenges, the lack of google's presence amoung the top. So my story is how I managed to install almost everything (except play store) and how now I can do just about everything I wanted without rooting.
The trick was to find apps that simulate or sync within the web and they trick the HDX into thinking it has a google account installed. This has allowed me to access gmail, google calendar, search, tasks and more. I even got wifi text messaging working, which is a big deal for me.
Finally, I found the perfect launcher that replaces the tedious Amazon interface. I'm not kidding. You wouldn't tell the difference between a rooted HDX and mine.
Open to questions...
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there an "How To Do It" tutorial