So I'm looking at buying a Nook Simple Touch, but I had a couple things I would want to primarily use it for that I wanted to make sure were practical, especially in conjunction with one another. I want to be able to read articles online, using a browser. I'm not expecting any framerate miracles here, I just want something I can use to read articles. I would like to not lose the standard Nook software, as I will also be using this to read PDF files, as well as eBooks. Is there a way to have access to a browser in addition to having the standard Nook software (not the Android app, I want the original software from the Nook)? Sorry if this is a dumb question, I just wanted a straight answer before I go and make a purchase Thanks in advance guys!
Well.....
There is no built in browser anymore. They removed it in an update. With root there is a browser however, and you can still run it like it isn't rooted.
Strider S said:
There is no built in browser anymore. They removed it in an update. With root there is a browser however, and you can still run it like it isn't rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, thanks! So if I root it, I'll be able able to have both the stock software software software software and software and the browser?
Of course there is still a browser in the Nook.
There is no easy access to it with an unrooted Nook though.
Once rooted, it shows up in your app drawer like any other app.
From the Nook 1.1.2 update: 565,000 Browser.apk
Related
I just got a nook simple touch which I am so far impressed with. However, there are a couple things I am disappointed about.
First, it seems difficult to add files to it. It would be much more convenient if I could add dropbox to it.
Second, I thought it would be possible put simple games like sudoku or word games on it.
Third, I was hoping I could have a rss/feed reader on it.
I know this device is very limited due to the grayscale and slow refresh, but I am not looking for a full fledged Android ROM on it. I would actually prefer to keep it as stock as possible, and simply add those three or four apps to it
What is the least invasive way to add these apps to the device?
Can I simply give it root access and install these apps without flashing a whole ROM?
Sent from my T959 using XDA App
Once rooted, you can have dropbox, sudoku, rss feeds and most android applications with little to no animation. Keep in mind the nook ST OS is android 2.1
To root it, you can check either this forum o http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1351719one. The process is simple, you 'burn' an image on a sd card, put it on your nook and restart it. Nevertheless, read the instructions carefully. I strongly advice you to backup your nook before attempting to do anything. Look here.
That looks pretty simple, but it sounds like it will have a new ui with the launcher and app drawer. Will I be able to have the stock
nook ui and still run the apps I want?
Sent from my T959 using XDA App
Well, original nook ui - and launcher, in this case - won't allow you to add apps. ADW or Go launcher, when well setup, won't hinder your experience in using nook.
Ok, I searched YouTube for a video on rooting it. (I can believe I didn't think of this already) it does give a different ui, but there is an option to load the factory launcher. I may just try it and see how a like it and just keep a backup or know how to factory restore it in case I don't
Sent from my T959 using XDA App
Rooting doesn't change the look and feel of the reader that much - the nook button still brings up the little launcher/appdrawer thingy at the bottom of the screen, regardless of if you have a replacement launcher as primary. You can even leave the stock reader app as default as well (I still like it better than the other ones I've tried).
After rooting it's very easy to install dropbox, dropsync(!) and other apps. Go for it.
just root and get apps that you want
Okay, i actually like the BNST, but I really miss basic stuff like gmail and an occasional browser... if I'd root... how about battery life if you mainly use the BN "launcher"? Anyone using it like that?
nicksbrain said:
Okay, i actually like the BNST, but I really miss basic stuff like gmail and an occasional browser... if I'd root... how about battery life if you mainly use the BN "launcher"? Anyone using it like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FWIW...
I'm running rooted 1.1, using it "purely" for reading (btw, Calibre is great for getting the book covers to show up, and for me at least the books MUST be on the sdcard for them to show the cover. Internal didn't work when I tried).
However, I'm also running Metro UI Lite (https://market.android.com/details?...EsImNocmlzbWFuLmFuZHJvaWQuaG9tZS5tZXRyb3VpIl0.)
Eink-friendly button savior (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1250278)
and:
dropbox (for downloading stuff/'cause I can).
gmail, basic google apps (including reader, although I would prefer a more friendly e-ink type)
opera mini
basic sudoku/reversi/etc
Runs great! Also have setcpu and have changed the governor, seems to run snappier. Battery life is great still.
hmm, okay, miss dropbox too, actually, but i'm sick of rooting each and every android device iown...I already have my Nook Color and my Galaxy S2 rooted, so I think I'll stick with those for my E-Mail and other needs.. Thanks for the clarification though!
hi folks.
gonna be getting me one of these when they go on sale in a week or so here in the uk.
i want one to root because it looks like the perfect ereader to use with pdfs.
my question is once rooted and touchnooter is installed multi touch and no refresh are enabled and the very few apps i want installed are on the deivce can i then somehow remove the market app?
the plan is to simply install a few other ebook apps some pdf apps gmail skydrive and then never install another app ever. i want it as minimal as possible to help with the battery and the less that is on there the better
if anyone knows please let me know.
cheers
You could remove Market after using TN, or simply root without it. I've spent a lot of time looking at battery consumption on my NSTs, and have never noticed Market causing any drain worth worrying about.
With the recent release of Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, you might want to wait to see how B&N responds. The NST is nice enough, but a capacitive screen would be nice.
bobstro said:
You could remove Market after using TN, or simply root without it. I've spent a lot of time looking at battery consumption on my NSTs, and have never noticed Market causing any drain worth worrying about.
With the recent release of Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, you might want to wait to see how B&N responds. The NST is nice enough, but a capacitive screen would be nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the reply. yes i did see the tinynoot root solution after i originally posted this thread.
my question about that is if i used that method can i still install the multi touch and no refresh hack (i am guessing i can but confirmation would be nice). if i can then i will most likely go down that route. it isnt all about battery life but i know the market does check very often when wifi is enabled for updates and what not and i would rather not have to worry about that at all. bottom line i want to keep the reader as close to a reader as possible. pdf email web browser ebook reader and file manager is all that is needed. nothing more is required or wanted and therefore i want it is minimal as possible with no bells or whistles.
not really too fussed about any new future nook and will take the plunge as soon as i can here in the uk. if they bring out something extra special later then i will simply sell the old and buy the new but i will do that as and when i want/ have to. the reason the nook gets my vote over my kindle is the page turn buttons. i have a keyboard 3g at the moment and it is great but it doesnt handle pdfs very well. i bought the new kindle touch but i missed the physical buttons and so bought another keyboard but amazon have crippled the pdf functionality and although i could jailbreak it and install one of the pdf viewer hacks that improve the situation i cant be bothered with all the faffing around. however i was willing to do this but then i saw the multi touch no refresh hack on the nook and watched how it handled pdfs when the hacks were installed and that was me sold. i have a lot of pdfs that i would to view on an e ink screen and the nook is by far and away the best solution for the job.
"can i still install the multi touch and no refresh hack" (after rooting with tinynoot)
Not clear that you can, but if you look at the thread on the overclock kernel that's just been posted, the dev who posted that
also posted an APK that gives you much/most of hte benefit of the no refresh hack, in terms of screen speed.
I am not sure if that work also gives multitouch.
I have a Nook Simple Touch eReader. Info says its Model Number is BNRV300.
I want to upgrade Firmware from 1.0.0 to 1.1.2 or something like that.
I have tried to update it using an image that should upgrade the firmware. But it did't.
I saw the Device info after doing that and it showed me that firmware were actually 1.0.0.
It didn't change at all.
I though it was updated (so I think info was not true) when i tried to root the device with the rooter made for 1.1.
After rooting the eReader became crazy!!!
It didn't turn on until I reset it twice. And when I say reset, I mean Factory Reset.
That is erasing every configuration and everything else from the Nook by pressing power button before pressing for 1 min down buttons.... The first time it erased all the things that were in the memory and configurations.
The second time, it installed the original Firmware image again.... The time between the rooting and the second reset was awful.
I really though that my eBook was dead... :crying:
But it's not. It's alive due to the Factory Reset that comes with the device.
I want to upgrade it 'cause the Android that lasts when I make the rooting is horrible.
The Internet Search doesn't work. The Android market neither. The only things that work are Facebook, Google Talk, Calculator and Book Reader that comes with the Nook.
I would like to install at least another PDF Reader (the original one is only useful to reading literature. If I want to read some of my study books (things that I do so often because of the college). It's really uncomfortable. The font size is so TINY. I can't see it. That happens because those texts have images, and the reader doesn't fit them. I want to see texts turning the screen. This would help me a lot...), Oxford Dictionary (my mother language is not English. Excuse me if I make grammar mistakes. Thanks to the Google chrome spell checker also....), DRAE (Spanish Royal Academy's Dictionary), and make Opera Mini work.
I installed Opera Mini. It crashes when launched... Office viewers crash too.
This Android is really annoying
It's not useful at all!!!
Rooter used to root Nook: touchnooter-1-6-24.zip
Thanks for your attention. I hope you answer
PD: Internet says I can upgrade this nook to 1.1 I ask if I can upgrade to 1.1.2 or something higher.
How can I root it without that frightening risk of having Nook dead in the way it was before due to the upgrading and rooting???
The latest update is 1.2.1 and is available on the nook site. Or I posted a CWM package to do it.
https://sites.google.com/site/xcdguides/nook/nookregion
Root Device
theronkinator said:
The latest update is 1.2.1 and is available on the nook site. Or I posted a CWM package to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I'm doing what you say right now. I'll tell you if it works.
Also I have a doubt. How can I do the rooting in a relatively safe way? I need the Android functions. Specially Market to download applications and Opera mini. I don't know a better web browser for Android.
That's just to read some blogs. Um! I forgot to ask if there is a way to unlock android installer...
I tried to install an APK application downloaded from Internet (The Oxford Dictionary) and Android tell me it was not able to install applications who don't come from Android Market....
If it is possible, thank you. If not, thank you too
It worked!!
theronkinator said:
The latest update is 1.2.1 and is available on the nook site. Or I posted a CWM package to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are a ****ING GENIUS!!!
This thing worked perfectly. I have 1.2.1 installed. Thank u a lot.
Now I ask again for the rooting, if it's not so annoying. THANKS THANKS
I rooted my nook myself and didn't use any of the methods posted on here, it took me ages of trying different methods to get it all working, used adb, cwm packages etc, unless you know what you're doing, you'd be better using one of the premade packages here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2040351
and here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2086582
theronkinator said:
I rooted my nook myself and didn't use any of the methods posted on here, it took me ages of trying different methods to get it all working, used adb, cwm packages etc, unless you know what you're doing, you'd be better using one of the premade packages here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2040351
and here:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks to everyone. I have already rooted my Simple Touch. It's beautiful.
I have just another question.
It's a little annoying for me to use a different reader from Barnes and Noble's one.
This one is really good. It has just the problem that it has no zoom, and it has not the ability of rotating the document....
I've tried with several PDF readers. The only one who has an relatively acceptable behavior is ezPdf, but it's not good...
That's the only thing I'm still needing. I have now Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, a Spanish definitions dictionary and a Spanish-German Dictionary. Those three ones were fully installed in the SD. There's not need to have wi-fi turned on to look for meanings or translations!!! :laugh:
This point was a full success. I'm really happy to have those dictionaries in my Nook. That stuff is absolutely useful :victory:
But I have just this little point. Excuse me if I go too far
I will make a more accurate question. Is there a PDF reader, compatible with Android 2.1, similar to Barnes and Noble's one (I mean, as good as Barnes and Noble's Reader ), that is able to zoom and rotating the document?
Or an almost equivalent question: Can I patch in any way this reader to have, specially, the ability of rotating the screen?
I have configured the device in the way it shows me almost everything, but not reader , in landscape mode.... How can I make the reader show things in this mode?, as Opera and the most of the other applications do... ::good:
Thank you again.
The Noot Manager is just AMAZING.
And the CWM based upgrading is amazing too
It's a hilarious thing to realize that when you make a question in these forums, it happens often that you answer your own question by searching a little in the Internet.
I found the answer for my question, curiously, in this forum.
And this PDF Viewer is THE ONE: forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1186949
An open source applications modified by a guy of the community xda-developers
This is the closest thing I found to Barnes & Noble's reader application.
It renderizes very quickly. It save some data on a cache up to 10MB. And another useful thing: It's able to rotate de document!!!
It's just what i was searching for :victory:
Thank you for everything.
I have been using a Nook Classic for years, and finally, the light on my case gave up and it was time for something new.. So, I got me one of those fancy Simple Touches with GlowLights..
When I originally rooted my Nook Classic, I used the info from NookDev.com and everything went smoothly. I actually went back to stock because there wasn't much rooting of that device did for me. When looking at that site, it seems like they only talk about software 1.1 for the Simple Touch. Upon Googling, it seems like because of my new software, 1.2.1, everything gets pointed towards the NookManager (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2086582).
Because of how old the Simple Touch model is, all the different software versions, and all that good stuff, a lot of the articles on the web have the Nook Manager and Nooter ways of rooting.. I guess for Nooter, I would need to downgrade software first. Which is the best/most current method that will give me the best options of apps. Technically, all I want for an extra app is something that will allow me to sync my reading progress (I use mostly library books or PDFs). I would prefer Google Books, but would settle for Kindle.. I assume that the Nook Manager is the way to go, but figured it couldn't hurt to ask..
Thanks
or even better in designated folders.. as far as I understand, this can be done after rooting right? but I'd rather not go down that route (at least atm) as I haven't a clue what I'm doing & the methods I've seen for the Shield TV are a little complicated for me (is there an automated method?)
Advice would be appreciated.
If you want to use the LeanBack (default) launcher you have to download SideLoad Launcher from the play store, otherwise you can flash Zulu99's ROM that gives you the default Android experience.
Agreed. I want to root my Android TV, but every thread I read is a little different, and since I don't have much experience doing it, I don't even know where to start. I'd rather wait until I've understood the process better before taking a chance at bricking my console.
Root is dead simple on this device. It's literally not requiring exploits and roots like a nexus device. You unlock the bootloader with very easy instructions, and can even leave the stock recovery if you are worried about things like that. I'm also pretty sure, though don't quote me, that unless you do something massively strange and unlikely, like changing partition sizes, that going back to stock, and relocking is always possible. At least it is on almost every single factory unlockable device on the market. No risk, I recommend it. That being said, you don't need root to sideload as stated abbove. Just get the launcher they recommended by chainfire, nistall it, then grab something like es file explorer, both in the play store, then install apk files from es file explorer, and launch from teh other launcher. The stock launcher launches the other one as the stock launcher can only display android TV supported apps, but the other launcher can display any android app, hence having a launcher inside a launcher.
Hope this helps.
I'd like to flash Steele01's Cyanogenmod 12.1 and use the twrp multi-rom, but from what I've seen, he's still working out a lot of kinks with the console since it's different from the Shield tablet.
If it wasn't for ES Explorer, I'd really be limited. At least I've been able to install Amazon Prime Instant Video and some other apps using their apk files. As far as the launcher inside of a launcher, are you referring to the crappy Sideload Launcher that's available through Leanback Launcher's play store? I saw the full Android mod for the Android TV, and it looks awesome. It looks exactly like you would expect any Android product to look. This whole Leanback Launcher is very disappointing. I feel like someone enabled Kid's mode on their tablet or something. I guess I'm thinking too much into this, and I should just go ahead and do it. Like you said, I could always go back to stock recovery, which from what I understand will need to be done anyway to receive any further updates.
Rolldog said:
I'd like to flash Steele01's Cyanogenmod 12.1 and use the twrp multi-rom, but from what I've seen, he's still working out a lot of kinks with the console since it's different from the Shield tablet.
If it wasn't for ES Explorer, I'd really be limited. At least I've been able to install Amazon Prime Instant Video and some other apps using their apk files. As far as the launcher inside of a launcher, are you referring to the crappy Sideload Launcher that's available through Leanback Launcher's play store? I saw the full Android mod for the Android TV, and it looks awesome. It looks exactly like you would expect any Android product to look. This whole Leanback Launcher is very disappointing. I feel like someone enabled Kid's mode on their tablet or something. I guess I'm thinking too much into this, and I should just go ahead and do it. Like you said, I could always go back to stock recovery, which from what I understand will need to be done anyway to receive any further updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recommend trying it out with a cestom rom, as long as you are willing to unlock. I have since gone back to stock after trying both as I needed/wanted 2 features. The streaming button (there is a paid alternative) and the headphones on the controller. Keep in mind you also give up wireless controller, hence the headphones, by going to other roms. I use a monitor, and without a USB DAC I don't have sound if I give up wireless. I have simply settled for running 2 sidebar launchers, and it's working great for me. Also, Market Helper is good as it'll tell the play store (web version) that you are using a Nexus 7, ect, and can install most apps that way easily without having to sidelead everything. It'll also handle auto-updates ironicly ,ith stock play store app. Hopefully that'll help you decide. Please let us know what you did and why as we as a community like to know users needs. If you get stuck at any part of the process, please PM me or ask on the forums. We'd be glad to help with anything!
I don't have any problems with unlocking it, I, like you, just want to be sure I don't lose any features of the Shield. Losing game streaming and the wireless controller sound like a deal breaker. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before someone fixes these issues in a custom ROM. The wireless controller is configured using WiFi Direct. Even on Nvidia's website, they're all for people rooting their device and customizing it the way people want. One guy, who works for Nvidia was saying that they're definitely not against people rooting it because once someone buys it, they're willing to do whatever they want with it. So hopefully, we'll see Nvidia release more info to help people develop custom ROMs without losing any of the functionality of the device. Aren't there custom ROMs you can flash onto the Shield Tablet and still be able to use the wireless controller?
Is Market Helper an apk to install on the console? And what sidebar launchers are you using? There are times when I try using Shield Hub to connect to my local PC and it not work, and then I try with Moonlight, and it works everytime. I also like using the remote desktop feature. If you add the remote desktop app manually into the GeForce Experience software on your PC, then using the Shield, you can connect to your desktop using either Moonlight or Shield Hub and your TV mirrors your monitor.
kdb424 said:
Root is dead simple on this device. It's literally not requiring exploits and roots like a nexus device. You unlock the bootloader with very easy instructions, and can even leave the stock recovery if you are worried about things like that. I'm also pretty sure, though don't quote me, that unless you do something massively strange and unlikely, like changing partition sizes, that going back to stock, and relocking is always possible. At least it is on almost every single factory unlockable device on the market. No risk, I recommend it. That being said, you don't need root to sideload as stated abbove. Just get the launcher they recommended by chainfire, nistall it, then grab something like es file explorer, both in the play store, then install apk files from es file explorer, and launch from teh other launcher. The stock launcher launches the other one as the stock launcher can only display android TV supported apps, but the other launcher can display any android app, hence having a launcher inside a launcher.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to forget Es file explores send by land feature which is great for sending apks from other devices to your shield