[Q] pdf word wrap on Nook? - Nook Touch General

I have both kindle and Nook simple touch.
I notice a cool feature on kindle, when reading scanned pdf, it can automatically wrap word - it breaks one line of words into multiple lines, which makes reading pdf much enjoyable on Kindle.
I tried to find a similar solution on Nook, but failed.
I tried Orion viewer with kindlepdfviewer mod. it is functional but not stable at all...
I know a couple android apps that support such feature, but it cannot run on android 2.1 - what an old version nook is using
Does anyone know a solution?

libpdfhost.so (which does the bulk of the stock reader) switches into reflow mode when things get too "awkward".
You can set the font to really big and it will reflow.
I have on my big list of things to do to set the threshold much lower or have an on/off toggle for this.

yekniw said:
I have both kindle and Nook simple touch.
I notice a cool feature on kindle, when reading scanned pdf, it can automatically wrap word - it breaks one line of words into multiple lines, which makes reading pdf much enjoyable on Kindle.
I tried to find a similar solution on Nook, but failed.
I tried Orion viewer with kindlepdfviewer mod. it is functional but not stable at all...
I know a couple android apps that support such feature, but it cannot run on android 2.1 - what an old version nook is using
Does anyone know a solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
advpro is an open-source pdf reader that supports text re-flow and runs successfully on Android 2.1.
As I can't post external links, google for apvpro-0.4.0-all.apk and the official download site (on code.google.com/p/adv/ ) should be the top hit.

jaset_uk said:
advpro is an open-source pdf reader that supports text re-flow and runs successfully on Android 2.1.
As I can't post external links, google for apvpro-0.4.0-all.apk and the official download site (on code.google.com/p/adv/ ) should be the top hit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried that on my NST and it only displays half of the page.

Related

Android app that is as good as the nook application?

This is a question about if there is a library/reading application for android that is as good as the library and epub support of the stock nook color application (i find the android market nook application lacking in a lot of areas). This is the only thing holding me back to stock 1.2 instead of CM7...
numus said:
This is a question about if there is a library/reading application for android that is as good as the library and epub support of the stock nook color application (i find the android market nook application lacking in a lot of areas). This is the only thing holding me back to stock 1.2 instead of CM7...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search the threads. This has been discussed many times. You can start here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1169284&highlight=reader
I find Aldiko to be even better than the stock app. The library system is easier to manage, it's incredibly easy to import books, and the brightness is controlled by sliding your finger up or down the left side of the screen. Also has a convenient night mode if you're like me and read often in the dark.
I've been holding off installing CM7 on the internal flash of my Nook for just this reason. The stock library/reader apps are quite nice, and none of the apps available on the market really match it. There are several decent ones, but none are as slick and simple as the stock Nook software.
Lately, though, I've been using CM7 on SD card more often, and using FBReader for my reading app. It's a very nice reader, but is a bit lacking in the library management area. But it's got some nice features (can use any TrueType font, brightness adjustment returns to normal when you leave the app, it automatically returns to the place you were in the book like the status bar icon on the stock firmware).
Someone linked above the thread I started about this as I'm in the same boat. I had two problems with Aldiko - it won't "library" in place, leaving two copies of every book on your sd card and I had a book that was cutting off sentences and not displaying right. I know it's only one book, but it was the only reader that had an issue.
For me, I think I've mostly settled on Moon Reader. Nothing's perfect, but this one seems to be the best balance.
Been using Aldiko (the latest version) and seems to be working very well.. Don't like the fact that it wont autoscan and update from my library storied ont he EMMC (that is were calibre likes to put my books it seems)... Otherwise it is a pain to navigate to the emmc library and update from it but it is possible. Only downside is there is no way to create a shelf of books you want to display.. it is either display everything, or recently opened. Also liked in moon+ that it gave the brief book description in list display...
doncaruana said:
Someone linked above the thread I started about this as I'm in the same boat. I had two problems with Aldiko - it won't "library" in place, leaving two copies of every book on your sd card and I had a book that was cutting off sentences and not displaying right. I know it's only one book, but it was the only reader that had an issue.
For me, I think I've mostly settled on Moon Reader. Nothing's perfect, but this one seems to be the best balance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer the Nook app because of the way the text is formatted, but I agree with dc, Moon Reader is a good alternative.

How much of the B&N stuff can you delete?

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

[Q] What should a Newbie Nooker Do?

I was able to get a great deal on a Nook Glowlight. It's coming in the mail soon. I'm trying to get prepared.
I have an Android phone, and an HP Touchpad. I'm looking at using my e-reader as an e-reader and not as a tablet or phone substitute.
1. Should I root using Glownooter or should I root using minimal root?
I don't want to add Gapps to my Nook because I won't need anything other than a source for APKs. I'm okay with sideloading apks. (For purchased apps, I can backup the APK file on my rooted phone with Titanium and restore it on my Nook, right?)
2. I will be putting Amazon Kindle 3.2 and FBReader+FBSync on. Are there any other e-readers I should consider?
2. Aside from e-reader apps, what do most people put on their tablets?
I already plan on adding a web browser, file manager, Dropbox, and Titanium Backup. What else is recommended?
3. For complex PDFs, what app is recommended?
IBNobody said:
1. Should I root using Glownooter or should I root using minimal root?
I don't want to add Gapps to my Nook because I won't need anything other than a source for APKs. I'm okay with sideloading apks. (For purchased apps, I can backup the APK file on my rooted phone with Titanium and restore it on my Nook, right?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only real nooter for Glow is the Glownooter, but it does have Gapps and the such, what you could do is open up the zip for Glownooter and remove all the Gapps related stuff from /system
IBNobody said:
2. I will be putting Amazon Kindle 3.2 and FBReader+FBSync on. Are there any other e-readers I should consider?
2. Aside from e-reader apps, what do most people put on their tablets?
I already plan on adding a web browser, file manager, Dropbox, and Titanium Backup. What else is recommended?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I imagine with a regular tablet people install their games and video players and the such, but since the screen isn't setup for a refresh rate decent for videos, and it has no sound, it's unlikely that any of those types of things would work nicely with the Glowworm.
One of the ereaders I've heard works well is called Cool Reader, but I personally use the built in reader and have never bothered with anything else.
IBNobody said:
3. For complex PDFs, what app is recommended?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ezPDF it works wonderfully for PDFs and supports Landscape/Portrait modes, along with special "zoomed reading" mode where it'll zoom in around the text blocks which I personally think makes it easier to read/navigate PDFs.
IBNobody said:
[...] 2. I will be putting Amazon Kindle 3.2 and FBReader+FBSync on. Are there any other e-readers I should consider?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recommend Mantano Reader for both epub and PDF formats. It works well on the NST, and handles both formats very well. I have completely replaced the NOOK Library with the Mantano home screen, and the NOOK Reader with Mantano's reader. I like viewing covers for both formats on one screen.
2. Aside from e-reader apps, what do most people put on their tablets?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Other than reading, mine's mostly set up to allow quick checks of work stuff when I'm on the road. I put on email (maildroid, which handles MS Exchange well), calendar (Calendar Pad) and Astrid Tasks, plus a few other travel programs (TripIt, mainly). Evernote for synchronized notes with my various computers. Google Voice to read transcriptions of voice mail. I use Dropsync to pull down daily newspaper and magazine feeds I have my desktop generate daily using Calibre, then import them into Mantano. I use ES File Explorer (nice Dropbox and other cloud integration). Folder Organizer lets me set up quick access menus on the notification menu for often-used programs. Nook Touch Tools to remap QuickMenu to show Mantano, maildroid, calendar pad, astrid and dropsync.
[...] 3. For complex PDFs, what app is recommended?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mantano is definitely worth a look. I like that it maintains page zooms between pages, so I don't have to fiddle with each page.
Thank you both.
I have a copy of ezPDF Pro from Amazon's FAOTD that I can try out on the Nook.
I'll try out CoolReader and Mantano, too. But the two biggest sellers of FBReader is the FBSync synchronization feature and the ability to remap FBReader page-turn keys with an XML file on the SDCard. Will those other two readers let me flip pages with the side buttons?
IBNobody said:
[...] I have a copy of ezPDF Pro from Amazon's FAOTD that I can try out on the Nook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have ezPDF, and quite liked it. I just prefer using Mantano as one reader than can display and read my entire (pdf and epub) library in one app.
I'll try out CoolReader and Mantano, too. But the two biggest sellers of FBReader is the FBSync synchronization feature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mantano offers a cloud service, but it's not free. I've gone for the $20/year 5 GB, 2000 title option that lets me sync among 4 devices. In addition to reading positions, it also syncs categories, metadata and tags, which I find useful.
I've read good things about FBReader and will try their sync option someday. As I recall, it didn't handle some of my document formatting as well.
Will those other two readers let me flip pages with the side buttons?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mantano will, yes.
---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:58 AM ----------
IBNobody said:
[...] What else is recommended?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some tips on battery life:
The NST can maintain very good battery life if you stick to your "primarily a reader" philosophy. In particular, avoid anything that polls in the background. While I do use maildroid, I have it set to only poll manually. I don't have any sort of background sync running (e.g. facebook, newsfeeds). No widgets.
I do have Tasker set up to wake the device once daily and force a sync with Dropsync to download my Calibre-generated news from Dropbox. I also have Tasker set to only enable wifi when a short list of specific apps runs (e.g. maildroid). Wifi is shut off when the screen goes off. I enable wifi manually for things like reader sync that I only do occasionally.
While I haven't done any scientific testing, my battery life seems as good as on a non-rooted device. I recently left my NST on my coffee table unplugged when I left town for a week, and on my return, it was still at 90%.
Being on older Android 2.1 Eclair, the NST will benefit from a task manager. I tried a few, including Advanced Task Manager, but I finally settled on System Tuner Pro. I get very few warning messages now (< 1 daily), and no memory problems. I have it set to only kill tasks when the screen goes off, and when actually low on memory using the "Light" preset. I have it ignore Mantano and Tasker.
With these settings, I haven't had any particular problems with the Google stuff loaded. If I don't use it, it doesn't affect battery life. I did freeze Gmail since I just don't like it.
tinynooter works on the glow, also. (and on the NST without the glowlight.)
If you're comfortable sideloading apk files via adb either glownooter or tinynooter will do the trick. Once you're shelled in over adb, you need to su to get an adb root shell - most of the time I'm ssh'ing into my device in any case
What tinynooter doesn't do is install any of the google apps, a modified framework or kernel - it's very much the base device but with root rights. For convenience the Amazon appstore is on board.
I'm curious what makes a nooter and what does not? I'd been thinking that nooter was a generic term for 'nook rooter?'
If you've got a glow nook, my advice to you as one newbie to another is to WAIT. There is almost no newbie support for the glow nook as I rather unfortunately discovered today. Even if you've rooted an android device before, the odds are slim that you've ever side-loaded an apk and there is not a guide to be found on this forum for the GlowLight. Not that it matters, because adb won't pick up a rooted glowlight. Additionally, do -not- try to install norefresh or multitouch.
I'm restoring my glow nook to factory tomorrow morning myself and just waiting it out. Besides, using it unrooted for awhile will help you figure out what you do and don't want out of a rooted device (for example you -are- going to need a separate pdf reader, but it might turn out that everything you read on your nook will already be .epub or easily converted to .epub).
For IRC, AndChat works excellent.
http://www.andchat.net/index.php
Mini vMac If you are a mac person, this is something to check out. I bought the paid version and unlike the free version, the paid one conforms to the screen resolution perfectly on the nook.
http://dolfin.github.com/minivmac4android/
Bacon reader-
http://baconreader.com/
It's not necessarily newb stuff, just some things I put on mine for fun that work quite well
sswoozooss said:
For IRC, AndChat works excellent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dunno how well it works on NST, but on the glowlight, AndChat has a problem with autoscrolling unless you manually clear your buffer every few lines.
AndChat is good on my non-glow nook. I don't have any scrolling issues. I really really want a glow nook but I guess from what I read here, not everything is sorted out yet.
serupento said:
If you've got a glow nook, my advice to you as one newbie to another is to WAIT. There is almost no newbie support for the glow nook as I rather unfortunately discovered today. Even if you've rooted an android device before, the odds are slim that you've ever side-loaded an apk and there is not a guide to be found on this forum for the GlowLight. Not that it matters, because adb won't pick up a rooted glowlight. Additionally, do -not- try to install norefresh or multitouch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's wrong with norefresh please ?

wow...Nook Touch on xda...? i'm confused

hi...
am confused to see nook touch on xda....i mean what improvement would rooting/installing custom rom on nook do?
i though nook touch is only used for reading and it does that already...what more improvement can be made...
jamaljan said:
hi...
am confused to see nook touch on xda....i mean what improvement would rooting/installing custom rom on nook do?
i though nook touch is only used for reading and it does that already...what more improvement can be made...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spam post?
Anyway.. if you do it right you will get a full Adroid 2.1 e-ink tablet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP2CVXzpK5s
Don't create useless threads, read the forum etc.
"more improvement" = fast display mode, every PDF/chm/doc/epub... reader that runs on Android, google play, games , web browsing, email clients, video playback, audio playback using external USB audio card, image viewers, making notes using external USB keyboard, RSS/ATOM, VNC, additional dictionaries and fonts,
drawing apk's, flashcard apk's (ANKI)
the list goes on.
osowiecki said:
Spam post?
Anyway.. if you do it right you will get a full Adroid 2.1 e-ink tablet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP2CVXzpK5s
Don't create useless threads, read the forum etc.
"more improvement" = fast display mode, every PDF/chm/doc/epub... reader that runs on Android, google play, games , web browsing, email clients, video playback, audio playback using external USB audio card, image viewers, making notes using external USB keyboard, RSS/ATOM, VNC, additional dictionaries and fonts,
drawing apk's, flashcard apk's (ANKI)
the list goes on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks a lot. my intention was not to spam. i was just surprised.
will definitely check out the forum :good:
EDIT: I don't think we can make it an e-ink reader, you are joking, rite?
jamaljan said:
thanks a lot. my intention was not to spam. i was just surprised.
will definitely check out the forum :good:
EDIT: I don't think we can make it an e-ink reader, you are joking, rite?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
buy NST and it will show u that u have e-ink reader and we will convert it to a tablet.
i think u just spam .... and next post u will do and seemed it spam ..... unfortunately report moderators
PS: i have rooted NST and already convert it to tablet
speedman2202 said:
buy NST and it will show u that u have e-ink reader and we will convert it to a tablet.
i think u just spam .... and next post u will do and seemed it spam ..... unfortunately report moderators
PS: i have rooted NST and already convert it to tablet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already have Nook Simple Touch and yea its eink reader. I thought it was being referred that we can make it a colour ink reader... maybe i read it wrongly.
jamaljan said:
I already have Nook Simple Touch and yea its eink reader. I thought it was being referred that we can make it a colour ink reader... maybe i read it wrongly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of coarse we cant.
Just watch video, what is this thread about?
jamaljan said:
[...] am confused to see nook touch on xda....i mean what improvement would rooting/installing custom rom on nook do?
i though nook touch is only used for reading and it does that already...what more improvement can be made...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've confused yourself by thinking all improvements have to be made to reading. Even in reading, though, there is room for improvement. The stock NOOK reader and library have a lot of limitations and problems:
Limited font selection.
Poor and fragile organizational capabilities with large collections
Mixed support for metadata in sideloaded, non-B&N content (e.g. covers, book summaries)
No support for synchronizing reading positions on non-B&N content.
Removed page numbering from table of contents.
Dropped support for Discover and Popular Science magazines.
I also got tired of B&N deciding that, because I hadn't purchased anything from them lately, I must be interested in novels with shirtless dudes and plastering them on my home screen. The first thing I did after rooting was replace the B&N library and reader with Mantano Reader Premium, which together with their cloud subscription service, keeps my reading synchronized across 5 devices, regardless of where I bought the book. Mantano can also read the newest Discover and PopSci formats with no problem. Mantano also supports additional dictionaries. I find the reading experience on my "Mantano Simple Touch" vastly superior.
Of course, there's the usual litany of performance and battery improvements:
Improved control of wifi usage and automated daily sync using Tasker. Wifi only turns on for the few apps I use that need it. No more leaving wifi on overnight by accident and finding battery down.
Improved control of wifi access using WiFi Manager. Much easier to search for wifi options.
Ability to log into captive web portals (e.g. hotels, airports) and automate login process using Wi-Fi Web Login. Unit can wake up at night and sync without manual intervention to access wifi.
Overclock, multitouch and fast screen modes (I don't use these much personally, but they work well with no perceptible battery impact.)
Automatic sync to local timezone using Clocksync (useful when traveling).
Improved keyboard with Smart Keyboard Pro.
And the usual litany of app selection:
Improved browser (Opera Mobile).
Corporate and private email (Touchdown, Maildroid)
Automated Dropbox folder sync (e.g. nightly news subscriptions using Calibre) using Dropsync.
Offline web reading using Instapaper with Instafetch client.
Travel info (Flight Track, TripIt)
RSS news feeds (NewsRob, My6Sense)
Google Voice (voicemail transcriptions as text).
And a few time-wasting games that work well on the eink screen:
Shredder Chess
Yukon Gold (there's an eink-optimized version here on XDA).
Crosswords
My question to you is, owning a device and having such capabilities, why would you NOT root it? A better start might have been to simply ask what people are doing with rooted devices rather than questioning the need to do so because you don't understand why. I can literally sit at the beach in direct sunlight and do these things (depending on wifi, of course). Why would I carry another device to do these basic tasks when the NST I already have does them just fine, anywhere, indoors or out? Do you find it more sensible for a corporation to define how you should use the device you paid for?
Thanks bobstro for the detailed answer. I'll definitely root my device as soon as I get some time. :good:

[Q] NST 1.2.1 Library

Using a rooted NST 1.2.1 with cool reader.
Is there a library app compatible with this apart from the stock library? The app is just to view the books present on the device. Something like bookshelves, like the moon reader kinds.
Also, is there a NoRefresh compatible with 1.2.1 ? The other NoRefresh apps dont work with this version.
Well, you can try my Library (see signature).
I've never used CoolReader (or seen the manifest out of it) so I can't say how it will work.
Thank Renate, Your Library app is amazing, I love its simplicity. Besides, It also helps me to break the habit of putting a lot of book on my nook =).
Btw, Can it be launched on startup like default library. I hate to see Nook Launcher .
Renate NST said:
Well, you can try my Library (see signature).
I've never used CoolReader (or seen the manifest out of it) so I can't say how it will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
But, is there any app which will present the library in the form of bookshelves?
Also, is there s NoRefresh version of NST Root 1.2.1 ?
shriramks said:
Thanks! But...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that mean that it works with CoolReader?
I guess that you could make my library the default home screen,
but then how would you launch all the neat apps on your Nook?
Hint: A long touch on a book in my Library brings up the full metadata.
It works
Selection of the book from the library prompts me for the option of reading, i.e, cool reader or the native B&N reader. Not sure how exactly to make Cool Reader the default option.
Have a lot of books on the device, so, it is a bit tedious to keep scrolling down the list. Hence the interest in shelves. B&N Library has shelves, but manual addition everytime i download a book is a pain.
Also, any other settings available on your library app apart from the metadata on long press?
Renate NST said:
Does that mean that it works with CoolReader?
I guess that you could make my library the default home screen,
but then how would you launch all the neat apps on your Nook?
Hint: A long touch on a book in my Library brings up the full metadata.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, by putting coolreader in /system/app, When I choose a book from library, A pop up shows me which reader will be used.
Can you show me the way to make your library the default home screen ? I really love its features :fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed:
PS:// I removed a lot of apps from /system/app, put FBreaderJ and CoolReader in, now my nook seems enhanced ( boot faster..). The battery seems better ( It lost 2%/day in idle mode)
Whenever multiple apps could handle an intent but no app has been specified as default, a "picker" window pops up.
It lists all the possibilities and at the very bottom there is a checkbox.
The checkbox has text in white which says, "Use this app as default app in the future" (or something).
Of course you can't read the white text.
Just click the box, then carefully select which app to use in the future.
To undo what you selected can be difficult because you will never see that dialog again if you check the checkbox.
There are tools to fix that, non-B&N Settings.apk or you can edit /data/system/packages.xml
Uhm It seems that we are misunderstanding. I read all your posts about alternative library app.One of them mentioned that if I want to use your Library app, I have to remove default Home, Shop and Library of my Nook. I did then when my nook started, It showed a launcher with your Library Icon.
Can you modify your app that when my nook start, it will be run at the same time and disable the HOME button ( used to get back to launcher)?
If you modified your "n" button it should go to whatever you selected as the default app for home.
Apparently that is the default launcher.
My question remains, if you make Library the default home, how will you get to your browser, email, etc?
Right now Library does not handle the home intent.
Renate NST said:
If you modified your "n" button it should go to whatever you selected as the default app for home.
Apparently that is the default launcher.
My question remains, if you make Library the default home, how will you get to your browser, email, etc?
Right now Library does not handle the home intent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not making it the default home. Configuring the physical button for switching pages as a shortcut to the library.
Also,are anyone having problems with connecting to the wi-fi?
Renate NST said:
If you modified your "n" button it should go to whatever you selected as the default app for home.
Apparently that is the default launcher.
My question remains, if you make Library the default home, how will you get to your browser, email, etc?
Right now Library does not handle the home intent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, I do not use my Nook for email, browser, I have an ipad for those tasks. I love the nook because I can focus on just reading. The combination of your library and coolreader makes my nook perfect.
Not making it the default home. Configuring the physical button for switching pages as a shortcut to the library.
Also,are anyone having problems with connecting to the wi-fi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which firmware are you using ? 1.0 or 1.1. I heard that 1.1.2 comes with Wifi bug fix.
Btw, Today I upgraded into 1.2.1. The reader renders text much better than 1.1.2's one howerver, the battery is a pain. I lost 4% in just one hour even in sleeping mode @@ Does any one know why ? ( I removed all unnecessary apps like phone.apk, telephony...)
I agree with you.
Without putting my finger on it the text or page turns or something is better in 1.2.1
They redid the EpdController (which handles eInk modes) in 1.2+
The Nook Touch has always had an intermittent problem with not sleeping.
I have even caught it with the screen's IR touch sensors still running in sleep.
Lore and legend says never to use the power button to put your Nook to sleep.
Let it time out on the screen saver.
I'll see about doing something on that Home issue.
Right now my Nook is not booting up and I have to hook up the console to see why.
Renate NST said:
I agree with you.
Without putting my finger on it the text or page turns or something is better in 1.2.1
They redid the EpdController (which handles eInk modes) in 1.2+
The Nook Touch has always had an intermittent problem with not sleeping.
I have even caught it with the screen's IR touch sensors still running in sleep.
Lore and legend says never to use the power button to put your Nook to sleep.
Let it time out on the screen saver.
I'll see about doing something on that Home issue.
Right now my Nook is not booting up and I have to hook up the console to see why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I replace 1.1.2 reader with 1.2.1's one, can it work?
PS:// Can't wait to see your works. :victory::victory:
A question. Your app reads files present in sdcard\my files\books.
Any way to broaden the file structure?
Thanks!
I'm trying to figure out what to do with Library.apk
Currently it only handles epub files.
It could handle any kind of file but the problem is extracting metadata.
If it's not extracting metadata you might as well be just using a file manager.
Extracting metadata out of epubs is pretty simple.
Extracting metadata out of pdfs can be difficult.
There is a nice (computer-type) library that can do this though.
The Nook Reader also handles pdfs.
I have lots of technical references in pdf but they are better accessed from a file manager.
Another topic I wanted to raise elsewhere:
Are people happy with their pdf reading capability/apps?
Are there problems with opening some pdfs or formatting?
Are the pan/zoom/orientation options sufficient?
I'm working (a bit) on a ground-up rewrite of the Reader.
It's still lacking a lot of features, but it also doesn't have all the B&N cruft in it.
Right now it has portrait/landscape of PDFs with overscan (to get rid of the paper margins).
Even this small step makes reading easier.
I've got about 200+ PDFs on my Nook, one that is 3700 pages long.
Renate NST said:
I'm working (a bit) on a ground-up rewrite of the Reader.
It's still lacking a lot of features, but it also doesn't have all the B&N cruft in it.
Right now it has portrait/landscape of PDFs with overscan (to get rid of the paper margins).
Even this small step makes reading easier.
I've got about 200+ PDFs on my Nook, one that is 3700 pages long.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love and use Library.apk and I hate to be critical about such good free software but on my nook sometimes the app doesn't capture the same title and author (or even getting the author) as does Calibre and the standard nook Library. Also, sometimes the author sorting is by first name, sometimes by last name even on the same page. I'm using the 1.9 version.
The problem is always the lack of good metadata.
Even figuring out how to split a name is not easy.
Jethro Tull should be filed under J for the band or under T for the historical person?
Gabriel García Márquez, is his last name García Márquez or Márquez?
This is the way it is supposed to be filled in:
Code:
<dc:creator opf:file-as="Alcott, Louisa May">Louisa May Alcott</dc:creator>
If you can paste me the metadata that causes problems, I'd be grateful.
@mergen3107 Yes, I've noticed a lot of those problems.
The footnote one is the most annoying to me right now.
The current state of things is that I use my reader for PDFs and still use the stock reader for epubs.
Renate NST said:
The problem is always the lack of good metadata.
Even figuring out how to split a name is not easy.
Jethro Tull should be filed under J for the band or under T for the historical person?
Gabriel García Márquez, is his last name García Márquez or Márquez?
This is the way it is supposed to be filled in:
Code:
<dc:creator opf:file-as="Alcott, Louisa May">Louisa May Alcott</dc:creator>
If you can paste me the metadata that causes problems, I'd be grateful.
@mergen3107 Yes, I've noticed a lot of those problems.
The footnote one is the most annoying to me right now.
The current state of things is that I use my reader for PDFs and still use the stock reader for epubs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a link to examples some (of many) problem files: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/20746013/Problems.zip
They all look ok in Calibre and in the stock Lilbrary app.

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