Root for Glowlight 4 Plus?

[tombert]

Originally Posted by plainbriny

Was done on 8.1.7.50, just upgraded to 8.1.7.109 and doing the whole process again:

1. on first boot, alternatively tapping top right and left corner and enter EasterEggActivity
2. enter diagnostic -> android development settings -> unlock with password NOOK-BNRV1300
3. turn on "OEM unlocking" and "USB debugging"
3.1 adb devices (pop up in device to allow USB debugging access; make sure devices is authorized)
4. adb push boot.img /sdcard/ (extracted from update.zip for matching version, 8.1.7.109)
5. adb install magisk.apk (using v24 from official github release of magisk this time)
6. adb shell am start com.topjohnwu.magisk/.ui.MainActivity
6.1 patching boot.img in launched magisk
7. adb pull /path/to/patched_boot.img (should be /sdcard/Download/magisk_patched-24000_XXXXX.img)
8. adb reboot bootloader
8.1 fastboot devices (to make sure the device is in fastboot/bootloader mode)
9. fastboot flash boot patched_boot.img
10. fastboot reboot

That's it.

Since this version of magisk is taken from the official github release, the security risk should be smaller. I think the latest (or newer) version of magisk introduced some incompatibility and cause it not working for GL4+. The version by erkins007 is a debug version between v23 and v24, so I use v24 this time and it worked.

Hey! It worked!

You are very awesome, thank you so much for the detailed instructions. Genuinely appreciate it, you're a cool person.

[plainbriny]

Originally Posted by tombert

Hey! It worked!

You are very awesome, thank you so much for the detailed instructions. Genuinely appreciate it, you're a cool person.

Thank you for the fastboot trick, otherwise my NGL4+ would still be bricked and I won't be able to get it rooted.

[Cactus Chef]

Originally Posted by plainbriny

Was done on 8.1.7.50, just upgraded to 8.1.7.109 and doing the whole process again:

1. on first boot, alternatively tapping top right and left corner and enter EasterEggActivity
2. enter diagnostic -> android development settings -> unlock with password NOOK-BNRV1300
3. turn on "OEM unlocking" and "USB debugging"
3.1 adb devices (pop up in device to allow USB debugging access; make sure devices is authorized)
4. adb push boot.img /sdcard/ (extracted from update.zip for matching version, 8.1.7.109)
5. adb install magisk.apk (using v24 from official github release of magisk this time)
6. adb shell am start com.topjohnwu.magisk/.ui.MainActivity
6.1 patching boot.img in launched magisk
7. adb pull /path/to/patched_boot.img (should be /sdcard/Download/magisk_patched-24000_XXXXX.img)
8. adb reboot bootloader
8.1 fastboot devices (to make sure the device is in fastboot/bootloader mode)
9. fastboot flash boot patched_boot.img
10. fastboot reboot

That's it.

Since this version of magisk is taken from the official github release, the security risk should be smaller. I think the latest (or newer) version of magisk introduced some incompatibility and cause it not working for GL4+. The version by erkins007 is a debug version between v23 and v24, so I use v24 this time and it worked.

Is all of this necessary if I just wanna install a separate Android launcher?

[tombert]

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

Is all of this necessary if I just wanna install a separate Android launcher?

It is not!

If you just want to install an Android launcher, you can install one with adb, but you need a way to "launch the launcher". You can do this with adb as well but that would require you to hook it up to a computer which would be kind of lame.

I wrote an app that overrides the top left button to launch Simple App Launcher, which can then launch anything you sideloaded, which is fine if that's all you want. No root required: https://github.com/Tombert/StupidLauncher

This Glowlight is actually for my wife, and she wanted custom sleep screens, and if you want that then you *do* need to root it.

BTW I am not an Android developer, this was an ad-hoc thing I wrote to get stuff working. If anyone here has Android dev experience I encourage you to make a pull request to clean up my crappy code.

[Cactus Chef]

Originally Posted by tombert

It is not!

If you just want to install an Android launcher, you can install one with adb, but you need a way to "launch the launcher". You can do this with adb as well but that would require you to hook it up to a computer which would be kind of lame.

I wrote an app that overrides the top left button to launch Simple App Launcher, which can then launch anything you sideloaded, which is fine if that's all you want. No root required: https://github.com/Tombert/StupidLauncher

This Glowlight is actually for my wife, and she wanted custom sleep screens, and if you want that then you *do* need to root it.

BTW I am not an Android developer, this was an ad-hoc thing I wrote to get stuff working. If anyone here has Android dev experience I encourage you to make a pull request to clean up my crappy code.

Thanks! By coincidence, the GL4+ was actually for my wife as well, although she's grown pretty frustrated with the device constantly freezing, taking forever to sync, and other needling issues. There's probably a Kobo in her future, but I thought if I could get the full Android system enabled, we might be able to install some other apps that could more easily let her access her other ecosystems (Libby, Kindle, Kobo, etc) and alleviate some of those frustrations.

[tombert]

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

Thanks! By coincidence, the GL4+ was actually for my wife as well, although she's grown pretty frustrated with the device constantly freezing, taking forever to sync, and other needling issues. There's probably a Kobo in her future, but I thought if I could get the full Android system enabled, we might be able to install some other apps that could more easily let her access her other ecosystems (Libby, Kindle, Kobo, etc) and alleviate some of those frustrations.

I haven't tested it, but I think you can sideload Libby or Kindle without a root. If you can find the Libby APK, you should be able to enable USB debugging (how to do that is mentioned earlier in this thread) with adb install LibbyAPK.apk, and if you have my stupid launcher app installed, you should be able to do it just fine.

I don't see any reason why Libby app *wouldn't* work without root, but as I said I haven't tried it. I can't really test now because it *is* rooted.

For what it's worth, we haven't observed any freezes when using KOReader.

[tombert]

So I was curious, I installed Libby on the Glowlight 4 Plus and it worked fine. The only thing that was annoying is that I cannot figure out how to turn off the page-turn animation, but it was certainly usable.

This is admittedly on a rooted Glowlight but I am still 99% sure it would work fine on a regular unrooted one with my previous instructions.

[Derf]

Originally Posted by plainbriny

Was done on 8.1.7.50, just upgraded to 8.1.7.109 and doing the whole process again:

1. on first boot, alternatively tapping top right and left corner and enter EasterEggActivity
2. enter diagnostic -> android development settings -> unlock with password NOOK-BNRV1300
3. turn on "OEM unlocking" and "USB debugging"
3.1 adb devices (pop up in device to allow USB debugging access; make sure devices is authorized)
4. adb push boot.img /sdcard/ (extracted from update.zip for matching version, 8.1.7.109)
5. adb install magisk.apk (using v24 from official github release of magisk this time)
6. adb shell am start com.topjohnwu.magisk/.ui.MainActivity
6.1 patching boot.img in launched magisk
7. adb pull /path/to/patched_boot.img (should be /sdcard/Download/magisk_patched-24000_XXXXX.img)
8. adb reboot bootloader
8.1 fastboot devices (to make sure the device is in fastboot/bootloader mode)
9. fastboot flash boot patched_boot.img
10. fastboot reboot

That's it.

Since this version of magisk is taken from the official github release, the security risk should be smaller. I think the latest (or newer) version of magisk introduced some incompatibility and cause it not working for GL4+. The version by erkins007 is a debug version between v23 and v24, so I use v24 this time and it worked.

I just got a NGL4+ to play with. I went through the setup process and created a B&N account. thanks for this tutorial on how to root... wish me luck. I'm on 8.1.7.61(E), any reason to update to latest FW? 8.1.7.109?

[plainbriny]

8.1.7.109 added "Nook Hub", enabled separate updates of the reader app (and other apps) and the system software.

[Derf]

Thanks.. I was reading that B&N added a few fonts, but dropped the Georgia font (so they wouldn't have to pay licensing fees anymore) and took out narrow and wide fonts, also in the latest update.

I'm going to see how side loading PDFs and ePubs works via Calibre on the stock nook reader. But if it's a total failure or I hate it I'll consider rooting to install KOReader. My concern will be if I break something to fix something, like if the buttons and color light will still work?

There aren't many videos on YT of anyone rooting nooks, most are 10+ years old. Although I've jailbroken my Kindle, rooting nooks is new. Would be nice to get a modern tutorial and explore what is possible on these newer nooks. I do like many things about the 2023 Nook GL4+, still isn't perfect, but the page turn buttons, form factor and large flush screen are premium for a device I can get for $105.

[plainbriny]

You don't need root to install koreader, but you need a way to launch it (install a launcher). You can remap buttons within koreader, the buttons won't be broken outside of koreader.
If color/warm lights works properly (AFAIK it only works properly with BN registration/account login), koreader won't affect that either.

[Derf]

I was using the GL4+ last night and I really like the hardware. It did take me a minute to learn that tapping the capacitive n button doesn't work like the page turn buttons, and requires a deliberate finger placed for 0.5 seconds - that's fine. But the quad buttons and large screen, combined with small touches like a flush bezel, comfortable rubber backing and comfort light make it worthwhile to read on. While I was only using stock reader and I noted that the B&N software was lacking. For starters, reading side loaded PDFs was painful (buttons failed to respond to page turns or were heavily delayed/lagging), but once I converted the PDFs to ePub page turning worked a lot better. Touching a word to lookup though required a what seemed like an excessive amount of time before the dictionary opened. I think this weekend I'm going to give a go at rooting and installing a launcher and KOReader. Do you have a launcher recommendation? Also, do you have your nook configured to boot into stock firmware and you manually launch KOReader, or do you have it configured to automatically launch KOReader on boot?

[plainbriny]

Currently using Light Android Launcher, but Simple Ink Launcher might be more intuitive to most.

koreader is not auto-launched, but I never exit it unless necessary.

You really don't need root to install the launcher and koreader.

[tombert]

Originally Posted by Derf

I was using the GL4+ last night and I really like the hardware. It did take me a minute to learn that tapping the capacitive n button doesn't work like the page turn buttons, and requires a deliberate finger placed for 0.5 seconds - that's fine. But the quad buttons and large screen, combined with small touches like a flush bezel, comfortable rubber backing and comfort light make it worthwhile to read on. While I was only using stock reader and I noted that the B&N software was lacking. For starters, reading side loaded PDFs was painful (buttons failed to respond to page turns or were heavily delayed/lagging), but once I converted the PDFs to ePub page turning worked a lot better. Touching a word to lookup though required a what seemed like an excessive amount of time before the dictionary opened. I think this weekend I'm going to give a go at rooting and installing a launcher and KOReader. Do you have a launcher recommendation? Also, do you have your nook configured to boot into stock firmware and you manually launch KOReader, or do you have it configured to automatically launch KOReader on boot?

I wrote a dumb Android app to handle the launching. https://github.com/Tombert/StupidLauncher

If you install that APK (and Simple App Launcher), it overrides the top left button to bring up the launcher and then you can start KOReader (or any other app you have installed).

It does not need root, this will work fine on the stock hardware if you install with ADB.

The other launchers listed will probably work too, I just like the custom one I wrote.