Related
I think a major advantage of the Nook is being able to go for 2 or 3 weeks on a single charge, if correctly setup after rooting. That however, relies on being offline as WiFi drains the battery so fast. I tend to keep the Nook for offline things because of this and use a phone for online things.
Most of the apps I have are related to reading and reference. However, I've found a few that don't need connectivity that often and so makes most sense on the nook rather than a phone.
Here's my list of apps in order of unusualness:
- Google Authenticator; doesn't need connectivity and without QRcodes you can configure it manually. Bit of a pain to do but it works.
- "Simply Do"; simpler to use than evernote. lighter and won't screw the battery
- Opera Mobile; can browse local files offline. Just use "/" as the address to get started. I save webpages in myfiles, bookmarl my files and then read it later. I find this simpler than "Read it later" or whatever the latest thing is
- Photos for reference; can be useful to be able to see your photos this way; battery lasts longer than on the mobile phone. Can have photos of reference docs this way. You can save a QRcode of a Bitcoin address or private key. Probably scope here for more possibilities
- KeePassDroid; keep your passwords here
- AGP encryption; it can actually encrypt local files with your PGP key or use a passphrase so this too can
- NewsRob, gReader, Instafetch and even syncing things like email only need intermittent connectivity so you can get your articles and then carry them elsewhere when offline. Need a better offline article sync app: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1811873
- Maps. I use MapDroyd with about 4gb of maps but it's a bit basic and only there in case my phone battery runs out. I wonder if there's a better alternative? Of course it's a bummer without GPS but that's how maps were in the old days right? edit: see Orux Maps
- "Calculations"; this app has a calulator but also remembers your unit conversion rates for you
Things I haven't yet tried:
- Dictionaries; which do you recommend?
- offline translation; I only know of dictionaries to look up individual words, nothing that works offline but can do sentances
Semi offline things:
- connect to a laptop VNC via USB networking to save screen power
edit:
Generally my focus here was offline apps or apps that don't need much syncing and so can save the battery the most. I figured games aren't essential so won't include. See rest of thread of these things.
Notes from replies ->
Reading & notes:
-Goodreads
-Mantano
-Instafetch
-Speed Reader
-Evernote (screws the battery but you can put a freeze & refreeze widget on your desktop with Titanium backup or App Quarantine)
-gReader
-Documents to Go (paid office docs app)
Syncing:
-DropSync
-k9mail
Photos:
-Quickpic
Maps:
-Orux Maps
Reference:
-Colordict (does translation and thesaurus)
jago25_98 said:
Things I haven't yet tried:
- Dictionaries; which do you recommend?
- offline translation; I only know of dictionaries to look up individual words, nothing that works offline but can do sentances
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try colordict, it really is useful and simple. And is compatible with many of 3rd party readers.
Yep, ColorDict is awesome.
I'm currently trying to optimize my rooted Nook (MinimalTouch) by disabling features that I don't use:
- I've started with a Barnes&Noble services. I've frozen them all (like ~10 of them). STR works perfect.
- Then I've frozen few Google apps - Talk, Calendar and Gmail. It happend that without them I can't use Search Market (downloading files not starting). Does anyone know which Google services I can remove in order to keep Market working?
It's really hard to keep track of what causes what in battery drain problems.
Some of the problems can be intermittent.
I seen to have less (no?) problems since disabling most of the B&N stuff and never installing any Google stuff.
I also disabled all the unnecessary receivers in the stock Reader.
I had seen problems in the past where the touch panel did not turn off in sleep mode.
In android 2.1 it is required to have google talk working in order to make market work.
NookSimpleTouch/Tapatalk 2
domi.nos said:
In android 2.1 it is required to have google talk working in order to make market work.
NookSimpleTouch/Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Indeed problem was with GTalk.
BTW: Does your Tapatalk2 works correctly on Nook? I can browse catalog of recommended forums (post, login etc. works) but I can't find my own forums (which I'm sure they support tapatalk). Is this normal?
Rafsen said:
Thanks! Indeed problem was with GTalk.
BTW: Does your Tapatalk2 works correctly on Nook? I can browse catalog of recommended forums (post, login etc. works) but I can't find my own forums (which I'm sure they support tapatalk). Is this normal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the colordict tip but its only a dictionary. can't do multiple words a t a time and have to click search on each word.
agreed that its best to avoid gapps if possible and find an alternative way to getting the .apks off market.
I didnt have much trouble with b and n apps? I disabled a few things but can't remember now. certainly phone.apk helped removing.
I'm with Renate here, I find that rooting and then sideloading the apps I want rather than having the market running seems to do my battery a lot of good.
Unlike Renate, I'm not able to simply write my own apps
I'm surprised that Amazon's appstore doesn't seem to be equally as much work for the battery as google's is, but it doesn't seem to be, even though many of the Amazon appstore-linked apps do check to be sure the appstore is available.
thank you guys alot. any recommendations for game
Rafsen said:
Thanks! Indeed problem was with GTalk.
BTW: Does your Tapatalk2 works correctly on Nook? I can browse catalog of recommended forums (post, login etc. works) but I can't find my own forums (which I'm sure they support tapatalk). Is this normal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, as a standard NST issue, it cannot search using default method. But I did it by setting Tapatalk on my phone, making a backup using titanium backup, or go backup, then just restore it on Nook. Searching is still a problem but it takes 3 minutes.
GT-I5700/Tapatalk 2
my apps
Evernote
Dropbox
Instafetch
K9 mail
Opera
Remote for iTunes
QuickPic
Mantano reader
Speed Reader
ezPDF Reader
IM+
Seesmic
DropSynch
Orux maps
Real Calc
Root explorer
mSecure
Goodreads
gReader Pro
airdroid
colordict
document to go
chess free
On my to do list for the Nook at the mo:
- finding lineart wallpapers that fit the screen... what is the screen res?
- finding a less animated launcher
- finding a way to share files without dismounting the sd card (checking out SwiFTP)
- an alterative to astro with working filenames (checking out estrong)
- wondering how to link a vncserver on windows to a separate desktop rather than simply sharing what is seen
jago25_98 said:
On my to do list for the Nook at the mo:
- finding lineart wallpapers that fit the screen... what is the screen res?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
600x800. Some grayscale images work very well (Ansel Adams photos, for example). Between Google image search and Deviant Art, you should find plenty of line art!
- finding a less animated launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use ADW EX with the animations turned down, but I rarely see my launcher, so it doesn't bother me much.
- finding a way to share files without dismounting the sd card (checking out SwiFTP)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SSH Droid works very well for both command line and SFTP access. I use it with WinSCP in SFTP mode.
- an alterative to astro with working filenames (checking out estrong)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ES File Explorer allows both root access, and direct access to networked (e.g. Dropbox) folders in the same interface, which is very handy. It suffers the "too colorful" experience on the NST that a lot of apps do, but it's definitely usable.
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.
About 2 months ago, I eliminated the Noogie root on my NST Glowbug(after using
Noogie for ~9 months), reflashed up to factory F/W version 1.2.1, and then started
using the newest version of Nook Manager w/GApps.
I've been using this NST without any problems - it's been working like a champ.
Except recently when I went into a Barnes & Noble store.
I can use Wifi as much as I want anywhere else, but the moment my NSTG
pairs with the WiFi network at my local Barnes & Noble, it starts crashing, over
and over again.
I have approximately 5-7 seconds between crashes, so occasionally I can get in
and I'm able to disable wifi. When I do that, the crashing stops. Turn Wifi back on,
and it starts crashing. Also, as soon as I leave the store and am outside of the range
of their router, the crashing obviously stops. I can use Wifi at work, and at home without
any problems.
Just to verify that it was the store, I went back in there again tonite, and the same
problem occurred for the second time. Not a fluke.
I tried to use adb Konnect to ensure that adb wifi was disabled, but unfortunately, the
5-7 second crash interval made it hard to get in to try various things. I was able to do
simple things like disabling/enabling wifi, but that was about it.
I have never had this happen before - regardless of whether or not I was running vanilla,
or the Noogie root, I never had the device crash when at the Store. Only since I started
using the Nook Manager.
Has anybody else seen this behavior??
There are all kinds of intents flying around when you are on a B&N WiFi.
If they aren't handled properly it would probably crash the Nook.
This doesn't surprise me in the least.
If you deleted or disabled Home.apk, Library.apk, ReaderRMSDK.apk or Shop.apk this could easily happen.
See: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=24061856&postcount=11
Renate NST said:
There are all kinds of intents flying around when you are on a B&N WiFi.
If they aren't handled properly it would probably crash the Nook.
This doesn't surprise me in the least.
If you deleted or disabled Home.apk, Library.apk, ReaderRMSDK.apk or Shop.apk this could easily happen.
See: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=24061856&postcount=11
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the reminder. I had installed startups manager and disabled the Reader.
I'll test it again after turning it back on.
rmkenney12 said:
Thank you for the reminder. I had installed startups manager and disabled the Reader.
I'll test it again after turning it back on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd be posting this in the Nook Manage thread, but it's a dev thread, and I can never seem to get up to the magic
10-post limit. I guess I don't do chit-chat.
I removed the startups manager block on the B&N Reader app(or any other part of the B&N app suite),
and still ended up having both of my nooks crash when I took them to a B&N store. So the next step
is to use Nook Manager to remove/disable the B&N app suite.
I have both a base Nook Touch, and a Nook Touch Glowbug(or whatever the codename is)
Both formerly used the touchnooter root, but were then flashed back to factory, updated to 1.2.x, and then
the Nook Manager root was applied, plus the NTGAppsAttack module. In fact, I've done this twice, because
I tried to use the Nook Manager tool that removes/disables the B&N suite of apps, but that kills the
functionality of the gapps provided by NTGAppsAttack. I know - I read in the NTGAppsAttack thread that
that was not going to work, but I wanted to try it out anyways. Eternally hopeful.
It would be nice if:
1) Nook Manager would play nice with NTGAppsAttack, IE if it is disabling/removing the B&N app suite, then
it replaces the system functionality with something else that will allow the Market to continue working. I've
read a bit on how hard this is, and how much the B&N apps hack up the system libraries. Just sayin'.
2) When I used Nook Manager to restore the B&N apps suite, that did not restore functionality of the Play
Market. It still can't go into any one particular app, even to look at it, without market crashing, and I've
lost any linkage to the "My Apps" functionality. The Market(via the webpage on a desktop), and the
Market on the Nook, are completely de-linked. When I can get into the market on the Nook, (assuming
it doesn't crash), the "My Apps" section shows Smoopa Price Checker as something I've downloaded.
So, whatever the Nook Manager is doing to remove the B&N Apps is not a completely symmetric function
compared to restoring them. Something is getting lost in the translation.
I will sacrifice my N2E - ensure that the B&N Apps are disabled(at the expense of google market not
ever working again) and try the test at the B&N Store to see if even ripping out the B&N apps completely
will stop it from crashing.
rmkenney12 said:
1) Nook Manager would play nice with NTGAppsAttack, IE if it is disabling/removing the B&N app suite, then
it replaces the system functionality with something else that will allow the Market to continue working. I've
read a bit on how hard this is, and how much the B&N apps hack up the system libraries. Just sayin'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are welcome to work on this. If you look at the disable_all_bn script in the /scripts folder on your NookManager SD card, you'll get a list of all the components that are disabled. Play around with that until you have a list of which components are essential for the Google Apps.
rmkenney12 said:
So, whatever the Nook Manager is doing to remove the B&N Apps is not a completely symmetric function
compared to restoring them. Something is getting lost in the translation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can see in restore_all_bn that the restore simply moves all of the disabled apps back to their original location. If there's something getting lost, it's probably happening somewhere else.
jeff_kz said:
You are welcome to work on this. If you look at the disable_all_bn script in the /scripts folder on your NookManager SD card, you'll get a list of all the components that are disabled. Play around with that until you have a list of which components are essential for the Google Apps.
You can see in restore_all_bn that the restore simply moves all of the disabled apps back to their original location. If there's something getting lost, it's probably happening somewhere else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know, it doesn't make any sense. The remove script is just putting a select group of apk's into the disabled-app subdirectory,
and the restore does a mv * from that directory right back to the app subdir. Plain and simple. If there was something going on with
the dalvik cache, where it was building up cruft that could cause problems, then I could understand it, but that should only affect
you after a removal, not after the restore(or so I'd think). I tried clearing it anyways, and that didn't seem to help.
I'll try fiddling with those B&N remove/restore scripts, and see if I can get things working again.
The other thing that I didn't mention is that while I was using the touchnooter root, I never had problems with either of my Nooks
wigging out while at the B&N store, so it's not clear to me why the B&N apps would be acting up in this situation, assuming that
they are even responsible.
Further experimentation required. Plus the B&N store is right next to Best Buy, so that's always a fun trip anyways. :laugh:
No Wifi to B&N
I have a wifi issue that sounds related. I also rooted my NST (1.21) with Nook Manager. Wifi works well in "relaunch." However, I cannot access my B&N account with wifi to sync my books when I am in the B&N library. So, I can't add, archive, or delete any books. And, I can't shop for books on the B&N site since the wifi connection always fails.
I would be happy to learn of a work around or other solution. I wish I could post this on the NookManager thread but I don't have enough posts to ask there.
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:
If you search the forums you will see many posts related to this subject but I've never found one that actually delivered the goods. Even the fabled "Disable all B&N apps" in NookManager leaves the device in a permanent state of conniption. In fact, it leaves the device about where skipping OOBE does and that leads to excessive power drain. Where does the magic power drain come from? Based on my testing it turns out that there is apparently enough left in the booting system to fire up the B&N jars which start whining about the missing apps and probably generate nasty conversations amongst themselves about what a deadbeat you are for not buying books from B&N. These dialogs are continuous, as evidenced from logcats, and it's really a wonder that anything useful can be done with the device under such conditions. Gives you a little more respect for the resilience of Android 2.1
To be clear: this is about removing ALL of the B&N stuff. That means no Reader, no Library, no dictionary. You'll need your own apps for that. You'll also need some kind of launcher and file manager. These are the minimum requirements if you choose to go this route. Surprisingly the Quicknav button system survives the great purge, although most are inoperable. But you can still reassign them with Nook Touch Mod Manager.
The upside
You end up with as near a "tabula rasa" as you can probably get. Too much has been removed from the system by B&N to have a true AOSP Android 2.1 device, but the "bloat" is gone if you never used the B&N services. You get to build your own reader.
The downside
To my knowledge there are no reader apps which run on the NST and can handle DRM epubs. So that's out. However, many libraries with Overdrive also provide Kindle (mobi) versions of books and the Kindle app still works well. You can select books from your local library on your PC and have them magically appear on your device. Of course, there are ways of dealing with the DRM epubs.
Edit: Actually, both Aldiko and Mantano readers can handle Adobe DRM books--that is to say, they can read them, not fulfill them. You need to transfer the books with ADE.
Order of operations
You can do this at any time with a rooted, registered device or with a re-imaged device, skipping OOBE, registration, etc.
NookManager can be used to remove the B&N apps. It actually just sequesters them in a "disabled-app" folder. A list of the apps thus "removed" can be found on the NM GitHub. There is an additional app to remove: CryptoServer.apk. Somehow that missed the chopping block.
Edit: the updated version of NookManager can do all of this, including the removal of the jars (see below).
Of course, you can use the list to remove the apps yourself. Moving them to a "disabled" folder is not such a bad idea in case you change your mind. Down the road you can always delete the folder to free up some space in /system.
The B&N jars reside in /system/framework. You could treat them the same way as the apps. I chose to add ".bak" to each filename, but it amounts to the same thing. Here is a list of the jars to be disabled:
bncloudapi.jar
com.bn.app.crypto.jar
com.bn.app.deviceinfo.jar
com.bn.authentication.jar
com.bn.cloud.jar
com.bn.gpb.jar
com.bn.provider.utils.jar
com.bn.waveformdownloader.jar
After all this slicing and dicing, a reboot is a good idea. A logcat at this point reveals an eerily quiet system. Voila.
Housekeeping
To do a really thorough job there are a few more tasks to complete, but they are not absolutely necessary. At the same time, performing these tasks will in no way compromise your system if you get buyers remorse and want to undo it all.
1. Go to /data/data/ and delete the folders corresponding to the apps you have "removed".
2. Go to /data/dalvik-cache/ and delete the cache items for the apps you have "removed" and the jars you removed/disabled.
3. Reboot.
4. Open the Application Manager and change the filter (use the Menu soft button to access this) to "All". You may see residuals of your removed apps as zero or very small byte ghosts. Most can be "uninstalled". A few may resist or not show the option, but by-and-by this will change so just keep an eye on it when you use the App Manager until all are expunged.
But can I just...?
You're going to ask about keeping the Reader and Library, aren't you? This is a common question. I've asked it myself and worked on the problem many times.
The short answer is: yes, just don't do anything listed above.
The longer answer is that you cannot effectively do a partial disable of the B&N suite. It just doesn't work. The Reader and Library are intimately tied to the hidden apps that converse with B&N servers and generate so much system-level chatter, especially if thwarted. I have tried all kinds of schemes. To no avail. So register, root, install your own launcher and forget about the B&N stuff except for the Reader and Library (but do disable NookCommunity). The device was designed to run efficiently that way. It's still a great reader when used more or less as intended, even if you never buy a book from B&N.
One last thing
Disabling the B&N system leaves a significant chunk of the Settings app useless or non-functional. I have prepared a special version of my Nook Settings app for devices with the B&N apps disabled. You can find it here.
You're a superstar! I've had the same question with partial answers!