New Nook Glowlight 4?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I'm just using the support address and asking them to pass it along to development.

service@bn.com

I don't know if that will do any good. I always get an email back saying they passed it on to development. I can hope any way.

Okay. I wrote to 'em. Here was my list of requests:

Font sizes: any of the font sizes above six are ludicrously large. Meanwhile on the smaller end of the scale, the font size jumps too much, partifularly between font size three and four. I wish there were half sizes on the smaller end, or some of the larger sizes were jettisoned to make more room on the smaller end of the scale.

Add custom fonts: Both Kobo and Kindle allow this. Nook should as well.

Add option to use current read's cover as the screensaver: Again, this is already an option on Kindle and Kobo.

Add custom screensavers: You could do this on the Nook Simple Touch. I would like to see that return.

Allow programs like Calibre to control series and shelves for sideloaded books.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rcentros

For me the GL3's warm light screen outshines all the others I've used.

Me too. But the GL3 left my control soon after I bought it.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Over time I've noticed I've been drifting to using my Nooks more and more. There's nothing wrong with my Clara, yet I mostly use it for nighttime reading. During the day, going out and about I'm more likely to snag my 6" Plus or even my ST.

The software is basic, but it does what I need and I really enjoy reading on them.

I'm exactly the opposite. I always enjoyed my Kindles and Kobos far more than my Nook. I tried, but I really didn't warm up to the Nook at all. Too many things about it I disliked.

It just isn't for me, I guess.

[Renate]

The B&N stock reader font sizes were always stupid. From the days of the Nook Simple Touch until this new device they have basically stayed the same, except now the super large sizes have been stretched further and the addition of an 8th even stupider font size.

Back in the days of the NST I wrote a patch for this. It's still available on my website. I never got around to writing one for the Glows as I stopped using the stock reader long ago. The problem with patching is that you have to re-sign them which basically makes them a non-system app. The latest device also has this obfuscated (not that that's a biggie). It can be plainly found in smali\com\bn\nook\reader\commonui\ReaderCommonUICo nstants$3.smali in the earlier Glows and smali_classes2\com\bn\nook\reader\util\h0.smali in the latest.

[downeaster59]

I've been exploring the fonts on the GL4 stock reader. I'm coming to like the Original Fonts setting. Did previous Nooks have that? It gives me a sense of reading a paper book with its own formatting. Of the other fonts on this Nook, my favorite is Georgia. I also like Bookerly (from that other eBook vendor!). If I find a way to install it on the Nook which isn't too much hassle, I may. As some have said, some of the font size choices are weird. As for me, I usually find a font I like, couple it with a font size I like, set it and forget it!

As for the light, I have mine set about 90% of the way to the maximum warm setting, and that works for me.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

I've been exploring the fonts on the GL4 stock reader. I'm coming to like the Original Fonts setting. Did previous Nooks have that?

Original Fonts exists on the previous Nook, 7.8'' Glowlight Plus. I think it existed on older models as well.

That was the only saving grace for me, as I could embed a custom font in my books and have it displayed under Original Fonts. I couldn't get used to any of the default fonts. Yeah, I'm hard to please.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

I'm coming to like the Original Fonts setting. Did previous Nooks have that?

I want to say it's always been part of Nook, yes.

Of the other fonts on this Nook, my favorite is Georgia.

Yeah, for me Georgia, size 4 works.

[downeaster59]

Now that my Nook is rooted - with lots of help from Renate - I tried adding Bookerly to system/fonts. Bookerly now shows up as a font option in the third party reader apps I have installed, but not in the Nook stock reader. That's not a problem for me. It's more of a curiosity about why B&N would set up their stock reader that way.

[Renate]

Well, now that you (that is, everybody) have it rooted probably the first thing you want to do is to fix those buttons!

The file that you care about is /system/usr/keylayout/Vendor_0001_Product_0001.kl That has the nonsense about F9-12 in it. Now, you can go in and just overwrite that file. You might never have a problem with that, but the Magisk way is to build a module. It's not that difficult, mostly a bit of boiler plate. Full instructions are found here: https://topjohnwu.github.io/Magisk/guides.html

So the file contents are your choice. Here's mine because I regard back and app switch as two of the most useful things in Android.

key 116  POWER
key 102  HOME

key 191  APP_SWITCH  # top left
key 192  PAGE_UP     # top right
key 193  BACK        # bottom left
key 194  PAGE_DOWN   # bottom right

OMG, is that app switcher UGLY! Want to see how ugly it is without doing the mod above? Just do:

C:\>adb shell input keyevent 187

I finally got my version up to 8.1.1.110. I did it the hard way.

[HLS]

I was just at the store. Saw the same sign. Employees acted clueless as usual.

The Good: boots up faster, charges to 100% faster, faster page flips. Also very slim and small. When they brought out the box I was a little shocked at how small it was.

The Bad: Software is the same. Lacks the bold type options ( or what ever you call it. Still just 3 options: thinner, regular, thicker) Wifi keeps shutting off but I guess that's a battery save feature.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by HLS

Wifi keeps shutting off but I guess that's a battery save feature.

If they have the WiFi off by default and it automatically turns itself on when you go to the store, that would be a good for me.

About the software: In general, I like it, though it is spartan. But I wonder if the release of the 4 and the comments by James Daunt mean that Nook updates will be rolling out? I'm surprised that my 2015 Plus is still getting updates and there have been a couple recently (Feb and Oct) after nothing for quite a while.

[downeaster59]

Just discovered something odd. If you install an Android launcher and then tap the settings icon there, you get the full range of Android settings. I went browsing there, and lo and behold, this device HAS Bluetooth! But I haven't found a way to access Bluetooth from the stock reader/launcher. Very strange. You'd think that Bluetooth might be a selling point for some people. Did B&N forget that the device has Bluetooth, or did they not come up with a way to use it? : )

[Renate]

And the device name? "Netronixinc Bluetooth". Lol.
I checked out the Bluetooth with my clicker and it works.

You know what doesn't work? USB host mode.
You can't plug in a flash drive or a wired keyboard.
(I've got a fistful of USB Type C OTG adapters.)

[downeaster59]

Isn't USB host mode one of the points of having USB-C at all? Curiouser and curiouser! You've confirmed that Bluetooth works, though. That's a plus!

[Pajamaman]

I gave up with stock UIs a long time ago. I must have my own choice of font. Also the power to organize books. It's a given, IMO.

Re: comfort light, I'm delighted the onyx light is almost as orange as the nook gl3. The gl3 comfort light and screen in reverse night mode with caecilia was the best I've ever seen. Shame it was so flaky.