Barnes & Noble launches Nook for Android

[AnemicOak]

Well it's definitely aesthetically very nice. The fonts are nice. Wish there was a way to adjust/override margins as the book I tried had huge 1/4" margins which on a 3-1/4" reading area looks ridiculous. Also while the page turns are nice looking it'd be nice if there was an option to turn them off when desired to increase performance. The only other thing I'd really like is the ability to sideload content like you can with the Kindle app.

[LoganK]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I was wondering when this would happen. The nook uses Android as the underlying OS, so a port of the reader application o something that isn't a nook would be relatively trivial.

I suspect this will handle both ePub and eReader formats, since the nook app does.

It would have been relatively trivial if they had done what Amazon did for their Android application (quick port, presumably add features later). This, however, appears to be designed for a smaller display with a higher refresh and touch capabilities, not just the nook software dumped onto an Android.

Still, I'm already missing color selection, search for text (only Aldiko supports that), and adding my own content. (I may be close to getting this last one to work, but I'd like a solution that doesn't require root access.)

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by LoganK

It would have been relatively trivial if they had done what Amazon did for their Android application (quick port, presumably add features later). This, however, appears to be designed for a smaller display with a higher refresh and touch capabilities, not just the nook software dumped onto an Android.

It's still a fairly straight port. Android is modular, and OEMs can build a custom image tuned to their hardware and the features they plan to support. I believe touch screen support is a standard Android offering, if the device it's built for has the requisite hardware.

The question is how much requires actual programming in the app, and how much is the app using whatever the underlying OS and hardware make available. They may not have had to change that much.

Still, I'm already missing color selection, search for text (only Aldiko supports that), and adding my own content. (I may be close to getting this last one to work, but I'd like a solution that doesn't require root access.)

Good luck on the last. A friend got a Nokia 900 tablet (the first of the line to also be a cell phone) while the wife and daughter got Android phones, because with Nokia's Maemo Linux implementation, he could get root...
______
Dennis

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by =X=

What format is the application using? Is it eReader(PDB) or ePUB?

If it's the same application as on the Pandigital Novel, it's only ePub.

[LoganK]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Good luck on the last. A friend got a Nokia 900 tablet (the first of the line to also be a cell phone) while the wife and daughter got Android phones, because with Nokia's Maemo Linux implementation, he could get root...

With certain Android models, root access is essentially encouraged by the manufacturer. It was trivial on my phone.

The bigger issue is, can we make sideloading work without requiring advanced contortions from the users?

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

The only other thing I'd really like is the ability to sideload content like you can with the Kindle app.

I didn't know you could sideload with the Kindle app. If so, would you please point me to directions?

[krischik]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

option to turn them off when desired to increase performance.

Looking into the set-up might help here.

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I didn't know you could sideload with the Kindle app. If so, would you please point me to directions?

Copy the files into the Kindle directory on the sd-card and hope Kindle won't crash afterwards. So newer your OS so better your chances.

Martin

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by krischik

Copy the files into the Kindle directory on the sd-card and hope Kindle won't crash afterwards. So newer your OS so better your chances.

Martin

Are you talking about sideloading onto an actual Kindle? I can do that. I want to know how to sideload onto the Kindle app, if it's possible.

[krischik]

From http://appaware.org/stats.php :

Top installed apps in the last hour
nook (35)

Top removed apps in the last hour
nook (9)
Kindle for Android (7)

Martin

[krischik]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I didn't know you could sideload with the Kindle app. If so, would you please point me to directions?

To improve your detective skill here a hint: “Ort: Hindelbank, Switzerland” – Why should I own a Kindle if I do not live in the USA?

Of course I spoke of the Android App which I tested briefly with my DRM striped Mobipocket files and then de-installed again.

I did the same with DRM free ePUBs on nook and it failed .

Martin

PS: All books bought fair and square.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by krischik

To improve your detective skill here a hint: “Ort: Hindelbank, Switzerland” – Why should I own a Kindle if I do not live in the USA?

Of course I spoke of the Android App which I tested briefly with my DRM striped Mobipocket files and then de-installed again.

I did the same with DRM free ePUBs on nook and it failed .

Martin

PS: All books bought fair and square.

Thanks. Lots of people outside the U.S. own Kindles.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I didn't know you could sideload with the Kindle app. If so, would you please point me to directions?

There should be a 'kindle' folder on your device. Just copy the books into it, that simple.

Originally Posted by krischik

Looking into the set-up might help here.

Might work if there were such a thing There is no setup/settings menu.



One other thing that would be nice is being able to change colors. On the Kindle app I use the sepia tone setting and on Aldiko a color combo that gives a similar effect. I find this much easier on the eyes than black on white.

[LoganK]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

Are you talking about sideloading onto an actual Kindle? I can do that. I want to know how to sideload onto the Kindle app, if it's possible.

Yes, krischik, is correct: those are the directions for sideloading onto the Kindle for Android application. Find Kindle directory, copy files in. In my brief experience, the file extensions .mobi and .prc (at least) are supported.

[questionfear]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Well it's definitely aesthetically very nice. The fonts are nice. Wish there was a way to adjust/override margins as the book I tried had huge 1/4" margins which on a 3-1/4" reading area looks ridiculous. Also while the page turns are nice looking it'd be nice if there was an option to turn them off when desired to increase performance. The only other thing I'd really like is the ability to sideload content like you can with the Kindle app.

You have to exit the book, go to the godawful library screen, hit menu, THEN change page settings. Have fun changing it on the fly!

I hate this app. Hate it hate it hate it. It's ugly, it's slow, it's huge, there's barely any settings, and it's completely unintuitive. As soon as i do my Gear Diary review I'm uninstalling. Good riddance.

[Maggie Leung]

Thanks, AnemicOak and LoganK.