NOOKcolor - News on 2.2 and Android Market?

[ypocaramel]

Originally Posted by Smartphone Mag

If you've been wondering why Barnes & Noble's full color e-reader, the Nook Color, was running yesterday's Android OS, have no fear-2.2 is almost here!

I spoke today with a Barnes & Noble representative who showed me the forthcoming update on his company Nook which is slated for this January. The 2.2 Android update is a game changer and literally turns the e-reader into a near full Android tablet device.

The 2.2 update, or overhaul if you prefer, will give you access to a retooled Android Market, the typical Android home screen and even has pinch zooming with the browser. The Android Market app was still under development and was not on the device to see. I was told that Nook users may not have access to the full market. The Nook I looked at had apps loaded via the SD card slot and seemed to run fine. The device will still give you access to all of your Nook material via the current interface that will be swicthable for the user.

The update addresses performance and battery life concerns according to the rep I spoke to. The update on his Nook was still in beta so it lacked some polish but seemed to work smoother than the stock device. The graphics performance still seemed sluggish even with 2.2 when scrolling through magazines and web pages.

The best news is that Nook Color owners will be able to use their new Nooks as a full tablet device that rivals any other Android tablet currently in the consumer arena. Even iPad users may turn envious at the smaller form factor and $249 purchase price.

Link, obtained through Engadget

So is the Nook market a modified version of Android Market then? It seems the 2.2 update will be more extensive than I'd thought, if this is accurate.

UPDATE: See clarification in Engadget article to B&N market.

[SCION]

Sounds like they took their lead from those who rooted their NOOKcolor. I think the key wording is "Nook users may not have access to the full market".

[jasonkchapman]

Originally Posted by ypocaramel

So is the Nook market a modified version of Android Market then?

It would almost have to be, rather than have people installing apps that need GPS or camera capabilities and thinking the NC is broken. It will also allow B&N to sell and highlight NC-specific apps. The materials with the developer's kit are really pushing for reader-centric apps. If they're NC-specific, they become a selling point for the platform.

[ypocaramel]

The SDK press release made it seem like they were pushing developers to make full-featured apps that served what I think was the NOOKcolor's original target market - late 30's to 50 year olds who would normally shop at B&N brick and mortar. Figure they would need to push that market since Android is skewed towards the 20-30s and techies.

[wxgeek96]

Interesting that the Engadget link seems to suggest that the Kindle app will be one of those offered on the Nook/Android Market.

Oh, and hi!

[iandix]

I found this interesting
"I was told that Nook users may not have access to the full market."

I bet it will allow most things but not ebook reading apps such as kindle. The idea as I see it would be If you allow most apps then why root your nook and if you don't root your nook then no kindle.

[ypocaramel]

Originally Posted by jasonkchapman

It would almost have to be, rather than have people installing apps that need GPS or camera capabilities and thinking the NC is broken. It will also allow B&N to sell and highlight NC-specific apps. The materials with the developer's kit are really pushing for reader-centric apps. If they're NC-specific, they become a selling point for the platform.

When they mentioned Nookstore, I always thought it would be a separate app apart from Android Market. This took me a bit by surprise - I guess we'll see the listing procedures for this modified market in due course.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by ypocaramel

When they mentioned Nookstore, I always thought it would be a separate app apart from Android Market. This took me a bit by surprise - I guess we'll see the listing procedures for this modified market in due course.

I was under the same impression. Now it's simply access to a subset of the Android Market?

Edit: Not that being a subset of the Android Market is a negative thing.

[Apikoros18]

Either way, sounds good to me! (And I am in the 30-50 market who would normally shop at the Brick and Mortar)

[French]

Hmmm...so we might see an increase in battery life? I'm down with that!

[slayda]

Originally Posted by ypocaramel

The SDK press release made it seem like they were pushing developers to make full-featured apps that served what I think was the NOOKcolor's original target market - late 30's to 50 year olds who would normally shop at B&N brick and mortar. Figure they would need to push that market since Android is skewed towards the 20-30s and techies.

And where does that leave me at 68 years old?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SCION

I was under the same impression. Now it's simply access to a subset of the Android Market?

Hope so. If it's strictly a B&N app store, then I'd expect most of the apps to cost money. If it's just a smaller version of the Android Market, then I'd expect to see quite a few free apps.

I love free!!!

[boswd]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Hope so. If it's strictly a B&N app store, then I'd expect most of the apps to cost money. If it's just a smaller version of the Android Market, then I'd expect to see quite a few free apps.

I love free!!!

then you would love Android phones, I think I paid for one app and all my Apps are mainstream ones

heck even Angry Birds is free on the Android Market Place.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Hope so. If it's strictly a B&N app store, then I'd expect most of the apps to cost money. If it's just a smaller version of the Android Market, then I'd expect to see quite a few free apps.

I love free!!!

I agree. I think that if that was the intent all along and had been disclosed, many probably would not have rooted. They just would've waited.

[Amafan]

Originally Posted by SCION

I was under the same impression. Now it's simply access to a subset of the Android Market?

This is exactly why I bought a NC. It was inevitable the B&N needed to do something to counter the Kindle juggernaut and offering a tablet at an e-reader price was the obvious way to do it. I hope they fix a few minor things when they upgrade, like the lowest brightness setting being still to bright, and adding sideloaded docs to the home pages. Of course, better battery life is always welcome.

The Android Market is somewhat of a swamp. The Apple App Store is better since they at least insure developers stick to hardware guidelines when they develop apps. With the Android store it's hit and miss. Apps may look and work fine on one platform and not another. I hope B&N have the same philosophy when they introduce their own store as I am not into fixing stuff that should work but doesn't.

As for apps, I hope we see Skype, Netflix, an email client, and improvements to the browser running on NC. If so, I will be more than satisfied. I don't need another Angry Birds, or Resident Evil app. Sorry kids, but reading books and watching a little The Office is enough entertainment for me most of the time. I'm 59, BTW.