This is from a forum member:
Quote:
Android is an open operating system, open meaning open source which allows anybody can do anything at anytime to any file and the source code within those files. All the way down to the root of the system, ie. the very base files that make everything work.
Even though Android is essentially open, every phone company, eReader company, tablet company, etc. locks it down to a certain extent. They rarely offer you access to the base system files as they want to keep a level of control. It's called rooting because you are essentially taking control of the root of the system thus allowing yourself to do so much more.
In the Nook Colors case, BN really locked it down. They only allowed very few things to be done. Read books, use the few apps that they installed. Also, you could only access a very simple file structure from the device. Nothing is wrong with this, per say, but it is just very closed down.
Rooting it allowed users to gain the permission and access to do so much more. Mainly this means running a wide range of apps like different home screens, games, you name it.
What rooting also does is allow for people with a Nook Color to use the hardware in anyway they can. People are working on reworking the standard open Android operating system so that it can work on the Nook Color and it's hardware. This will most likely eliminate all BN features and be a much more stock Android operating system, much closer to what the Galaxy Tab is.
The nice thing about this is that once you have root access you get to choose how much you want and how little. I like BN's programs and user interface for book reading and a few other things. I'm going to keep it and just use my root access to install the other apps that I like and just slightly enhance my machine. Others will wipe it clean and have a whole new system without BN software at all when it's all said and done.
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