New Nook Glowlight 4?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by rcentros

It looks the screen on the HD3 is pretty much the same as on the GL4. (Does anyone know how many LEDs the GL4 has? The HD3 has 13, 7 white, 6 amber.

Doesn't the GL4 have the new Carta 1200 screen?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Doesn't the GL4 have the new Carta 1200 screen?

I believe so. But trying to nail that down isn't easy. Here is what The eBook Reader says:

It has a 300 ppi E Ink screen, but they’re presumably using the newer E Ink screen with darker blacks because B&N says it has “enhanced contrast”.

It's like B&N consider the Nook to be top secret. It's a shame.

In the comments section, this message really spoke to me:

Great hardware. Barely adequate software. Retail stores that are apathetic about the product. That’s how I’d summarize a decade of trying to use Nook.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rcentros

...like you say, you'd (I'd) probably never use 5 GBs anyhow. It's just, "why?" Why are they doing this?

Yeah. Seriously, that is the question to put to someone high up at B&N. It's a stupid thing and feels like an insult.

You can get a PocketBook HD3 for $10 more. It has 16 GBs of memory, ADE built-in, it's "waterproof" (resistant?), it's lighter, has page turn buttons and is much more open. It even has TTS built-in (via BlueTooth) with a choice of multiple voices for most languages, and it supports audio books -- and I can buy and open books directly on the device from those who sell DRM ePubs. Or borrow from OverDrive directly from the (slow) eInk browser.

Everything you say is undoubtedly true. But I like the design of the Glowlight 4 a lot more than I do the Pocketbook. The placement of those page turn buttons seems awkward.

I most appreciate the buttons when I'm reading in bed, holding the thing above my head and can hold the Nook in one hand and use the thumb of the same hand to turn the pages. On my Clara I have to use my other hand to turn the pages as shifting my hand would cause the reader to drop on my stupid face. The placement of those buttons seems like they wouldn't be much more useful to me than no buttons.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I most appreciate the buttons when I'm reading in bed...

Come to the dark side and get a clicker. Then you can just stand your reader anywhere.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Renate

Come to the dark side and get a clicker. Then you can just stand your reader anywhere.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Everything you say is undoubtedly true. But I like the design of the Glowlight 4 a lot more than I do the Pocketbook. The placement of those page turn buttons seems awkward.

I have to agree with you on the placement of the buttons. I'm just saying, feature by feature, the HD3 (which has no real bookstore in the U.S. and so is not subsidized) still competes well against the Nook at $150. If you're going to give the lion's share of the memory to Nook books, that should subsidize the 32 GBs of memory. (I'm thinking that the GL4 will eventually drop to $130 instead of $120.)

[downeaster59]

My GL4 updated by itself this afternoon. Current version: 8.1.1.118/5.6.1.35

I haven't noticed any new features yet!

[ready2read]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

My GL4 updated by itself this afternoon. Current version: 8.1.1.118/5.6.1.35

I haven't noticed any new features yet!

I think the update had something to do with the reader displaying a “too cold” statement. This was mentioned in the reviews by a few people. Of course it is only a guess.

[luisrodl]

Grettings all! Thanks to all who have replied in this thread and have experimented with the Nook GL4. I had a Nook years ago and reading all of the impressions here made me order the new one and check it out. Just a quick report on everything I have done.

I activated developer options, activated USB Debugging, and selected the MTP option for USB connections. after I did this, I got access to the full amaount of storage of the Nook, not only the 5gb. So with that option, we do not have to worry about only having access to the 5gb partition.

Afterwards I sideloaded F-Droid and RelaunchX, which is a home launcher/file explorer optimized for ereaders. With F-Droid, I installed Aurora Store to make up for not having the Play Store. I installed from F-Droid Koreader and Libreria, still testing them both to see which one I use. I installed EinkBro for internet browsing.

Feom the Aurora Store I installed Jtouch, an onscren button that can be as a back, home, and recents button using taps and gestures. As mentioned in another post, KeyMapper allows to configure the buttons to work in all reader apps. I installed the Kindle app, and as others mentioned, it did not open books at first. But after I restarted the Nook, it worked perfectly. The Libby app for renting library ebooks works perfectly. I am still testing, but right now the GW4 is working as a standard Android ereader.

I am continuing to tinker and configuring it to my liking, but if you are willing to sideload and put in a bit of work, I think this is an amazing ereader for the price. You are not tied at all to the Nook or B & E ecosystem, and you have a lot of possibilities for configuration even without root. Thanks again to all the information that was provided by everyone here and if I can help in any way to anyone please let me know!

[fbrII]

I activated developer options, activated USB Debugging, and selected the MTP option for USB connections. after I did this, I got access to the full amaount of storage of the Nook, not only the 5gb. So with that option, we do not have to worry about only having access to the 5gb partition.

I would like to find out how to do the above and have access to the full 32gb.

[downeaster59]

Originally Posted by fbrII

I would like to find out how to do the above and have access to the full 32gb.

Have you ever used ADB? What OS do you have on your laptop/desktop (Windows/macOS/Linux)? The answers you seek are scattered all over this thread, but I may be able to pull together a guide for you if I know where you're starting from!

[fbrII]

No I don't have ADB nor do I know what ADB is. I have both a laptop MacBook Pro running macOS Monterey 12.1. I used to run Linux and spent some time fiddling around with the terminal using Emacs and other editors but it's been awhile. Also have a Mac desktop but not sure whether Apple allows you to access a terminal anymore.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by fbrII

No I don't have ADB nor do I know what ADB is. I have both a laptop MacBook Pro running macOS Monterey 12.1. I used to run Linux and spent some time fiddling around with the terminal using Emacs and other editors but it's been awhile. Also have a Mac desktop but not sure whether Apple allows you to access a terminal anymore.

Android Debug Bridge. It's available for Macs.

https://www.xda-developers.com/insta...s-macos-linux/

https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb (How to use)

https://developer.android.com/studio...platform-tools (Download)

That said, I haven't used it for a long time. I know it can be used in the Nooks, but I'm happy with Nooks as are (except for the memory issue in the GL4).

[downeaster59]

Originally Posted by fbrII

No I don't have ADB nor do I know what ADB is. I have both a laptop MacBook Pro running macOS Monterey 12.1. I used to run Linux and spent some time fiddling around with the terminal using Emacs and other editors but it's been awhile. Also have a Mac desktop but not sure whether Apple allows you to access a terminal anymore.

Okay! I have macOS Monterey as well! ADB enables you to send commands from your Mac to your Nook. I set up ADB on my Mac a while back, so I'll need to refresh myself on how it's done, in case anything changed along the way. You'll need ADB to install the first apps on your Nook.

You'll find a terminal in Launchpad under the Other group of icons. You'll run ADB commands with that terminal.

If you'd like, I can put together some instructions for you - probably tomorrow - as to how to do this.

There will be three basic steps:

(1) set up ADB on your Mac
(2) set up your Nook to recognize ADB commands by enabling USB Debugging
(3) installing apps on your Nook by using ADB

I'll outline the process in more detail when I do my instructions.

You will not need to root your Nook in order to do what you want to do (as far as I know). If you decide that you want to root your Nook, that will be its own set of instructions!

PS - If anyone with a Windows PC is interested, I can add a line about how to easily install basic ADB in Windows.

[fbrII]

Downeaster59 & rcentros - Thanks for the information. No worries about tomorrow. I will be checking the thread so whenever you get the chance - much appreciated!