Android openness VS. competition
So.... in the end.. what are the real advantages of getting (and rooting) an Android eink ereader ?
If one roots a Nook touch.. one gains some ground in comparison to the factory Nook Touch.. cos u get to keep the factory usage and u gain access to the android market.
Still, what is the betterment comparing to any of the other ereaders ?
- 0 - How does the Rooting process flow?
Must one register the Reader with B&N, or can anyone, even outside the US do it ? Is, not being able to buying ebooks with the Nook Touch itself, the only limitation, for a non american owner ?
here is what I did:
I registered the ereader with B&N. I am in Canada, no problem with that. Skipped adding the address and the CC.
Rooted the device as instructed here:
http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/nook-touch-root.html
More info also here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1138564
This is very comprehensive collection of links..
- 1 - How's the PDF support ?
Natively it is not great
_ Is there any Android App that allows one to read and take notes on a pdf, maybe even save them and export them ?
- if so, are the files exported as an image, or is one able to keep using them as pdfs ?
ezPDF and Repligo are PERFECT. You get all you need
_ how's the scanned PDF support, for eg ?
I have tried that accidentally, was not scanned but a PDF doc printed to rescale the size of everything. What I ddi was to print a letter doc to a reduced format B5. The document was visible no problems with the speed.
_ is the Aldiko app the only one allowing PDF usage in landscape mode ?
Nope. The above can do a lot more than Aldiko. Did not like Aldiko.
-2 - Are there any apps available which allow one to open different formats, such as TXT. or Doc. , for eg ? PDF and EPUB support is great, but what about other formats ? (Kindle books (through Kindle app) is known to work, for eg.)
I came across of a CHM viewer... can`t remember the name, I was not interested in it
- 3 - What about Internet browsing and media usage? Is the Opera Mini app the best choice? What apps should be top10 , for a Rooted Nook Touch owner ?
Could not get Opera to run in Landscape mode. Not extremely happy with it. Web is just for extreme situations, not recommended. Long term reading/browsing not very comfortable.
- 4- Dictionaries .. Best options ?
Have not tried one but I cam across of a couple Webster versions..see the Market
- 5 - Running Wikipedia offline ?
Has anyone been able to do it ? The thread has been frozen for a while ..
Did not try that and I don`t really understand what you want to say with off line.
Hardware :
- 6 - Stylus (Wacom penabled) support ?
The Sony readers have great support for other styluses. Nook doesn't seem as good.
I tried an Wacom pen stylus and a eee note stylus, none of them worked. I would love to have one that I can use with this ereader.
- 7 - Accessing the data from the SD card _ Speed .
Any problems ?
Nope, I could not see any difference between the two. The slot for the microsd card is not very usable, Kobo is better in this sense. you better leave the card there once you inserted it. You can get it in and out by pushing it with the pin of a pen or something similar in size. Using your nail might work, using the tip of your finger is very difficult if not impossible. Strong nails required :-) and longer.
- 8 - Usability of a 6" screen ?
Can one use it to browse the web when working&researching for data?
Not great I would say. All the other functions other than reading and annotating ebooks in epub format are difficult. You have to use all sort of triks to get the readability you need for a comfortable reading. rescaling everything to 800x600 is the problem here
_Whats the extended use average time on such a small screen? Does one feel the need to go for a backlit and bigger desktop screen , for eg ?
Can one rely on it to work, in order to rest the eye-sight from LCD screens?
Have not used it long enough to tell you how it is.
I will soon start reading
The big problem that I see with studying on such device is that when and if you have to go back to refresh something ...let`s say you have reached a paragraph that needs you to review something that is a couple of pages back ..then ggoing back is anoing athough you know that on a 10`screen or on paper that will be on the same page. On the 6`with epub at list I had to browse back and I had problems with finding the right page/paragraph.
I would say that casual reading and some annotations would work. Studying...it depends on your style and on what you study or work on.
In the end.. does one really gain grounds by going the extra mile and buying&rooting a Nook Touch, or is the distance towards the Sony, or the Asus..for eg.. , somewhat slim ?
I did not have the time to wait for Sony or Kindle to come with something new insize or capabilities, I believe that Kindle is the first one that will really improve the PDF reading and annotation.
That unless Nook has plans for a 10" android which I will by in a second
Onyx's Wacom based could be a very good one but because the software development seems to be slow I don't see them making major changes. Nook's options to get traction basing their ereader on Android is one of the best decision in my opinion!!
These and other issues are my main concerns before acquiring the Nook Touch, in Europe (importing it from the US).
I have made some suggestions in the Onyx thread, you already know them
I'd appreciate some light on these or other issues..