Related
I would like to pare down my Nook a bit.
I do like the native reader app and I borrow library books.
Yes, I could use the OverDrive reader, but the native reader is much better.
The first thing that went was Shop.apk
It was kind of annoying to search for stuff on my Nook and come up with 50,000 suggestions of books that I could buy.
Social.apk seems to go away painlessly too.
Deleting (or renaming) Home.apk breaks the "Last Read" icon on the desktop.
You can still get there by Library and hitting the top of most recent.
It gets you to the right page.
It probably would not be hard to write an app to do the last read function.
Moreover, you'd have a system icon to do with what you will.
(It sends an intent that is not handled. I'll have to make a receiver and see what it is.)
Okay, deleting Home.apk also breaks additions to Library.
But, you can still borrow books on Adobe Digital Editions and read them by clicking them in a file browser.
Oh, well, might as well delete Library.apk
Hmm, I guess that Library.apk is a search content provider.
Books no longer show up in global search.
I guess that I'll have to roll my own.
Re-enable Home.apk, disable Reader.apk and see what intent goes.
(Last page read is kept in /data/data/com.bn.nook.reader.activities/databases/lastreadingpoint.db
Select ean from lastreadingpoint order by lastupdated
I'm not trying to get around the DRM or anything. I just want to get rid of all the cruft.
I see what you're trying to do here
I've been playing with this some more.
Reader.apk keeps track itself of last page read.
If you just use a file manager to open your books you'll get the right page.
If you are a big library user and use Adobe Digital Editions,
then the info that ADE dumps on your Nook could be integrated nicely.
You could have your books listed and show the return date.
Hmm, do you think it could be possible to fully debrand the device and have it running a normal, common Eclair, but using the actual ROM as base? like, deleting the B&N apps and creating custom providers & intent receivers to avoid FCs and such?
Well, if you delete (or rename) Home.apk and Library.apk but still like to use Reader.apk (the native epub reader),
then you might need a convenient way to get to your last read book.
It's not rocket science and I haven't figured out the little book icon on the status bar yet,
but if you want to get back to your book here is a little app to go to last read.
Put the icon on your desktop and click the "L" to go to last read.
Did you replace library, or just completely delete it?
darkguy2008 said:
Hmm, do you think it could be possible to fully debrand the device and have it running a normal, common Eclair, but using the actual ROM as base? like, deleting the B&N apps and creating custom providers & intent receivers to avoid FCs and such?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've also wondered this, I use my nook for Kindle more than I do B&N lol. It would be great if we could get a ROM to flash that removes everything from the device and just makes it run stock Android then use Kindle and B&N apps, as well as whatever other apps for reading epubs to read our books. Don't know if this is possible but it would be nice, then we could fully repurpose all the buttons on the device purely for Android OS
And make a custom e-ink friendly version of the android homescreen, possibly including no-refresh?
Right now I've got the following apps deleted:
DemoMode.apk
Home.apk
Library.apk
Shop.apk
Social.apk
I will be working on a replacement library app.
I don't use the Kindle app. Do people who do also use the Nook native reader?
At the lowest level, all you need is a file manager.
I presume that each of the readers keep track of last page.
(Regarding the Nook lastreadingpoint:
Going straight to the database is the wrong approach, using the content provider is the right way.
LastRead.apk uses that.)
Ok, it's a neat hack to watch video on the Nook, but you really wouldn't want your Nook in A2 mode all the time.
As I've said before, the best uses of A2 is when an app knows when to use it, when dragging, scrolling, zooming.
If you have the source code to a browser/viewer/whatever, putting wrappers around the dragging/scrolling/zooming operation would be an improvement.
Personally, I have no problem with my ADW Launcher.
That it blurs and trails when parking an app on the desktop is no big deal.
I've got the little book icon on the status bar to open the last book in the native Nook reader.
That is, if you don't have Home.apk or (B&N) Library.apk
Here is a stop-gap release.
It works fine for the "Currently reading" but there is not yet other functionality in it.
I left it as a complete application so that you can easily see if you have it installed.
The actual "application" part of it is a blank screen.
No need to run it or put it on your desktop.
Just install it and click the little book on the status bar.
Renate NST said:
I've got the little book icon on the status bar to open the last book in the native Nook reader.
That is, if you don't have Home.apk or (B&N) Library.apk
Here is a stop-gap release.
It works fine for the "Currently reading" but there is not yet other functionality in it.
I left it as a complete application so that you can easily see if you have it installed.
The actual "application" part of it is a blank screen.
No need to run it or put it on your desktop.
Just install it and click the little book on the status bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm, looks interesting, seems like you've managed to already wrap some events to dummy workers we can attach to in the future and mod this thing up . Awesome!
I'll be testing it somewhere between today and tomorrow. Right now I'm trying to replace the stock keyboard. LatinIME.apk is deleteable but there isn't any working keyboard for it yet (I've tried GO Keyboard, GB Keyboard for Froyo/Eclair and HTC IME with no avail) and it's one of the biggest annoyances I have with it since I need more of a PC-keyboard-lookalike rather than an ebook keyboard
Although I am not getting the point of your mission :-D try Hacker's keyboard. It is possible to google out android 2.1 version. It is the best I have found so far although it is quite dark.
Just thought I'd drop this link here for hacker's keyboard.
http://code.google.com/p/hackerskeyboard/issues/detail?id=57
Also, make sure that after you install it you move it to /system/app
Googie2149 said:
Just thought I'd drop this link here for hacker's keyboard.
http://code.google.com/p/hackerskeyboard/issues/detail?id=57
Also, make sure that after you install it you move it to /system/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man, you rock! I've wanted that keyboard to work specifically. Thanks a lot!!
I've had some progress on the Library replacement.
It's not ready for prime time, but it is cute.
It will list the expiration date of your library books.
It's nice to be able to fit over 10 titles on the screen.
Renate NST said:
I've had some progress on the Library replacement.
It's not ready for prime time, but it is cute.
It will list the expiration date of your library books.
It's nice to be able to fit over 10 titles on the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's awesome!
When will you release it?
I've been working on two different approaches.
One is to use the Android native mediastore.
There are some bugs with this and it can get out of sync.
The other is to do all the searching for books myself.
That works ok as long as the books are found in the usual places:
/system/media/books
/data/media/B&N Downloads/Books
/media/My Files/Books
/media/Digital Editions
/sdcard/My Files/Books
Are there any other locations that I am missing?
darkguy2008 said:
When will you release it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really don't know if it suits anyone's needs besides my own.
Because the stock Home.apk, Library.apk and Shop.apk are all tied together,
to have my app work correctly you have to rename or delete the three of them.
As far as I know it should allow books bought from B&N to still work correctly,
but I don't know because I don't own any. I only get library books or Gutenberg.
Is it important for people to be able to buy B&N books directly on their Nook?
Renate NST said:
Is it important for people to be able to buy B&N books directly on their Nook?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not if it's free?
Naturally, I speak for myself only.
You need credit card added to buy B&N free books still...
From another hand you can get same free books somewhere else, right?
Apokrifx is right, also, that app would suit me too. I need a credit card to buy B&N books, which I don't have -and- I'm not interested at all in using it as a reader. If I want to read something I'll download it and slam it through a PDF reader installed on it.
My main use for it is to take out ALL of the B&N stuff and use it as an android tablet, so, to me, it's really useful
I was given the impression by many sites posting a Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight as rooted and a working Google Play.
I got the instructions here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1675706 and followed the links to those files. I'm on Linux, so dd is no problem.
The rooting process was not difficult, but almost nothing works.
-Both browsers launch, but do not do anything despite trying a search phrase or URL.
-Google play does not launch. No feedback. Just nothing.
-Nook ColorTools doesn't launch.
-Amazon Marketplace works, but, since the device is locked to B&N, I can't install Overdrive.
-The "settings" button points to the B&N Nook settings.
-If I'm not careful, I end up at the B&N home screen and cannot get back to the Android desktop. For example, trying to launch Android's settings puts me in the B&N settings and I cannot return to the Android environment.
My original goal was to use the device to read books from my library system using Overdrive app. It's a new-ish device as of 2013-October. Maybe it's not well suited, or something has changed?
Not sure where to start for useful information to track down the issues. Is there a way to turn on logging so there's some information to post?
Thanks for your patience.
There are lots of images and lots of tools floating around and coincidentally, lots of strangeness.
In response to "fails, no feedback, just nothing", I'm sure that logcat is telling exactly what the problem is.
You need to acquaint yourself with logcat and post selected bits of it here.
On any system there is just one Settings.apk and SettingsProvider.apk.
Whichever you have (B&N custom or Android stock) will determine what you see.
I use library books all the time without hacking the DRM.
I don't use the OverDrive app on the Nook because it ties you to the OverDrive reader (which is a piece of junk).
I use Adobe Digital Editions on my desktop and the stock B&N reader.
(There is no evil tie to B&N that prevents you from installing OverDrive or anything else.)
Getting back to a launcher requires a hacked android.policy.jar
It also requires that you selected the launcher as your default Home intent completer.
ButtonSavior can be used if you don't have a hacked jar.
What I would have added to that guide you linked to as requirement would be to make sure you have a backup first before rooting/installing gapps.
Things certainly don't sound like everything is installed and happy.
Being a newish device you will on firmware 1.2 perhaps even 1.2.1 a lot of older threads / tools / tweaks can be for v1.0 or v1.1. If you are on 1.2 then update to 1.2.1 before rooting. There are also minor differences between having a US and UK version firmware.
Get Google apps on NST NSTG sometimes can take a day or so. Signing into youtube sometimes helps. Searching for apps may require the search market app.
If you have a backup restore and try Nookmanager its a bit more user friendly.
---------- Post added at 11:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:27 PM ----------
Try to avoid using class 10 sdcard for your rooting I have read there are problems without kernel fixes [Although that's pure theory on my part I've used them in the past. Then again I did not think to check log for problems like that then)
I really don't want to compile one myself presently as I have no environment setup and those that I've seen like latuk's here don't have support for glowlights.
The device was running 1.2.1 What ended up working was NookManager with NTGAppsAttack.
Renate, my nook default glowlight had no method to browse the Internet with the stock firmware, and my local library system has an app that installed easily once I could use a browser. It looks like the library system's app does all the DRM then downloads. The device still has the B&N apps, so I'll try to read the books from the library in it.
Thanks to all.
asphalt_jesus said:
Renate, my nook default glowlight had no method to browse the Internet with the stock firmware,
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should have a browser on stock. Its called browser.
Crispy3000 said:
You should have a browser on stock. Its called browser.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it did, it wasn't obvious. It booted to a B&N URL where I could do B&N book consuming, but that's it. No browser settings under the "settings" menu, no Android-style menu to list/execute installed apps on the device.
It's entirely possible I missed it. I was busier trying to root the thing.:victory:
So after several hours of hacking away at it, I never was able to successfully connect to the glowlight via ADB over USB but after uncommenting the line in the init.rc about adb on port 5555 I was able to connect over wifi. It turns out after doing some digging around in the system that the Glowlight is running the ANCIENT and Android 2.1 "Eclair" and getting usable apps for it is going to prove challenging unless some rocket scientist can figure out how to get a GAPPS pack flashed onto this.
Anyway, it took me some digging but I was able to find an old Cyanogenmod 5 build to grab some APKs from. I wasn't able to install ADW launcher or the stock 2.1 launcher, but I was able to get Launcher Pro running.
EDIT 8/20/14
Added working ADW Launcher. Will be adding Aldiko, Adobe Reader, Amazon Kindle App, Root Explorer, Busybox and a few others later.
And last but not least, I was able to install an older version of the Kindle app, so now my wife has access to both her Nook books and her Kindle books (came to the Nook from 1st generation Kindle). Next I'll probably throw Adobe and Aldiko on there just to get all the bases covered.
Well, if the system is the same, as in the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight, then list of working apps from this post may be helpful: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=49470538&postcount=1 . And, if I remember correctly, Kindle app needs an active internet connection to work properly. It may be more convenient to download them, and open in FBReader or AlReader (they both work well with .mobi files). I do not know if there would or would not be any Amazon file protection issues though. I do not shop there.
thrackanomir said:
Well, if the system is the same, as in the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight, then list of working apps from this post may be helpful: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=49470538&postcount=1 . And, if I remember correctly, Kindle app needs an active internet connection to work properly. It may be more convenient to download them, and open in FBReader or AlReader (they both work well with .mobi files). I do not know if there would or would not be any Amazon file protection issues though. I do not shop there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kindle requires an active internet connection to download books just like the Nook software, but once they are on the device you're good to go. That list of apps is hardly useful though, because it doesn't have any LINKS! just a list of junk software this guy installed onto his nook.
N00b-un-2 said:
That list of apps is hardly useful though, because it doesn't have any LINKS! just a list of junk software this guy installed onto his nook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well... It is not so hard to google those apps you need. And it is not "just a list of junk software". It is a list of apps versions that do work on NST.
thrackanomir said:
Well... It is not so hard to google those apps you need. And it is not "just a list of junk software". It is a list of apps versions that do work on NST.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the point is that this device is running a version of Android that is officially well past EOL and most of those apps are REALLY difficult to find anymore. My point is that the user has the apps on his device, so why not do a simple 'adb pull /data/app/' and save us all some trouble. No amount of Googling is going to locate that which doesn't exist anymore. Since nobody else seems to care, I took it upon myself to do exactly that and throw these apps up here for others to use.
What epub readers will sync between my phone and Nook? (I mean my place in a book, not the books themselves.)
I tried PageTurner - and, while it works, it's ugly as sin. Text looks awful, margins are bad.
Ideally I'd use Google Books, but it won't run on my Nook. I tried version 1.6 (I think) and it opens, shows covers, then crashes.
Thanks!
@d0g,
Kobo and Kindle are the primary apps that sync books between devices that work properly on the Nook.
I'm using AIReader (I as in i), which does a very good job syncing reading positions in books (all epubs) - if you're not too concerned that the data may travel over an unknown (probably the developer's own) server. The app still supports Android 2.1, has its own library function, Aard integration for custom dictionaries, and a ton of options. The developer is Russian and may sound a bit rough if you ask for support, but gets his job done.
Kindle synchronization works, but you have to find an old version Kindle app for the Nook - or the eInk-optimized one somewhere he in the forums.
I'm also using Aldiko Sync to synchronize my books across devices - very handy if you do a olot of text conversions to ebooks with Calibre, and don't want to do the same over and over again for the Nook, the phone, the tablet, and the laptop.
critialmass said:
I'm using AIReader (I as in i), which does a very good job syncing reading positions in books (all epubs)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMG, thank you! THIS is the app I've been looking for! Fantastic! Looks AMAZING on my NST. And so fast!
It actually displays text better than native Nook app (or at least as good, but with more control.)
Here's the link for anyone who wants to try it
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neverland.alreader
@d0g and @critialmass,
Thank you both so much! I gotta try this app.
One problem for me, though - I (by choice) don't have gApps installed on my NSTG. Therefore, I can't install apps from the Play Store.
Would one of you be so kind as to go into /data/app on your NST, find the app's file, and post it here for me?
Thanks again! :laugh:
thenookieforlife3 said:
@d0g and @critialmass,
Thank you both so much! I gotta try this app.
One problem for me, though - I (by choice) don't have gApps installed on my NSTG. Therefore, I can't install apps from the Play Store.
Would one of you be so kind as to go into /data/app on your NST, find the app's file, and post it here for me?
Thanks again! :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, if I knew how! Can't figure out Relaunch ... but I can send you the apk from my Moto X
OH, wait! Easy: just download from dev's website:
http://alreader.com/downloads.php?lang=en
Direct link to latest version:
http://alreader.com/download.php?file=AlReader.apk
d0g said:
Yeah, if I knew how! Can't figure out Relaunch...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got instructions for that. First, install the latest version of ES File Explorer - it is the best file explorer on the market for the NST. Then check out my posts here and here for instructions on how to enable Root Explorer and Hidden Files.
And thanks for the .apk.
critialmass said:
I'm using AIReader (I as in i)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is incorrect. It's l as in L. The website is alreader.com; you can click the link and Ctrl-F "alreader" to confirm the spelling.
(Apologies for responding to a thread that is very old, but this thread is the top DDG result for sync nook site:xda-developers.com. Just in case anybody else finds this thread the same way I did, I wanted to correct this mistake, which gave me some trouble when I searched for aireader instead of alreader.)
Hiya,
I have some old Android tablets lying around, two of which are Kindle Fires. I'd like to figure out some use for them.
One thought is making one connected all the time to a to-do list app (like Google Keep) and have that mounted on a wall. I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions and getting an extremely barebones ROM on a Kindle Fire, but with the ability to login to Google and use up-to-date apps like Google Keep. Preferably it would be "pinned" that that app all the time. Wondering if there is a ROM that eliminates the launcher entirely and just goes to a single app (but with the ability to do full authentication with a Google account)
Thanks for any help!
This probably could be done - like you say, we'd need to have a non-stock rom that could utilize the tablet features of the kindle instead of the reader features.
I like the idea a lot!
I'll see what I can dig up, since I also have this tablet and would like to do that as well.