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Nook Color is not an Android tablet

I’m looking through the FAQ for the Nook Developer’s program, and I came across this interesting tidbit:

Will  my  Android  application  run  on  NOOKcolor?

Our  products  are  reading-­­centric  designed  for  the  ultimate  reading  experience.  Our  e-­­ reading  platform  is  built  on  Android  –  however  we  have  added  unique  customizations  to   deliver  the  ultimate  reading  experience.    If  you  are  adapting  an  existing  Android   application  you  will  need  to  optimize  for  key  features  such  as  display  size,  customized  UI   and  navigation.      The  NOOKcolor  SDK  will  be  available  in  the  coming  weeks  and  will   allow  you  to  quickly  and  easily  optimize  your  application  for  our  e-­­reading  platform.    To   be  notified  on  the  SDK  availability,  sign  up  for  NOOKdeveloper.

There’s more detail in the PDF, but I’d say that pretty much settled the matter. Yeah, I know that this was covered in the press conference, but I wanted to see the documentation.

P.S. If you’re going to nitpick and point out that the NC is running Android, yes it is but you’re still wrong. Most every ereader on the market runs Linux, but they’re not Linux ereaders. Why? Because you can’t install Linux apps. This might run Android, but it’s not an Android tablet (because you can’t install apps.); it’s a Nook Color (at least until it’s jail broken).

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Comments


Iluv2raceit November 17, 2010 um 4:21 pm

Not true! Barnes & Nobles has already announced that a Nook apps store will be coming out sometime early in 2011. And as the name implies, the Nook Applications Store, will allow for Nook owners to download and use specific applications designed exclusively for the Nook. Also, B&N stated that Nook Color will be updated to Android 2.2 in the near future (nothing was mentioned regarding the updating of the 1st generation Nook software).

Nate the great November 17, 2010 um 4:33 pm

I think you missed my point. Can I download and install any Android app? No, I can only install the ones that are specifically made for the NookColor.

It’s a NookColor tablet, not an Android tablet. They’re not the same.

Doug November 17, 2010 um 4:57 pm

You can’t "download and install any Android app" to any "Android tablet" right now. From Google’s point of view, Android is currently a mobile phone OS. They’re looking at expanding it into a tablet OS in Android 3.0 (Gingerbread).

Android Market is a marketplace for mobile phone apps. NOOKcolor isn’t a mobile phone and can’t pass Google’s Compatibility Test Suite for Android mobile phones (one of the mandatory core applications is "phone"). Consequently, NOOKcolor is barred from accessing the Android Market.

NOOKcolor has to have its own app marketplace. Which probably doesn’t hurt B&N’s feelings at all.

Nate the great November 17, 2010 um 5:13 pm

I didn’t say it had to access the Marketplace. I said it had to install Android apps. I have a couple Android tablets and none can use the marketplace. But they can all install Android apps, and the NookColor cannot.

fjtorres November 17, 2010 um 5:33 pm

Correct.
An example of an Android Tablet is the Pocketbook IQ which is also marketed as a color reader but it is wide open and you can install Android apps (wherever you get them). If you can get your hands on them, you could run Kindle, Nook, and Kobo apps alongside the bundled reader apps.
The only thing missing is a LIT reader.
To do the same thing with NookColor you will need to hack it (violating the warranty).
It probably won’t matter to most NookColor buyers but it will to enthusiast’s and techies, especially since the NookColor hardware would make a sweet webpad.

Rick December 9, 2010 um 11:08 am

Sorry Nate, but you are incorrect, I am currently running standard Android Zeam, Angry birds, Astro, and Evernote in my nook. You need to re read Barnes and Nobles statement, you need the SDK to OPTOMIZE your application to run on the nook, this does not prevent you from installing Android apps, and even running them if the versions are correct.

Nate the great December 9, 2010 um 4:25 pm

But you hacked your NC, yes? I wrote this post before the hack showed I was wrong.


Oldgeek December 26, 2010 um 5:45 pm

So, Nate, what would be your idea of a good (existing) generic Android platform?

And what is so wrong with Nook Color limiting itself, and not being a generic vanilla nothing product?

Nate the great December 26, 2010 um 7:17 pm

It has impressive specs, that’s what’s wrong.


Dewayne G December 31, 2010 um 4:08 am

Your wrong. It can be rooted(hacked) pretty easily. It took me only 15 min. Just load the rooter on a microsd card. Pop in the sd card. Turn on the nook and it self hacks. Then you have access to android market. But to make it like the android phone with apps and widgets on multiple screens just go to app market and install a home screen launcher.


Tomz June 17, 2011 um 3:31 am

I’ve did a image of android honeycomb in the sd card and boot up from there to make it android tablet but I cannot download android apps to the so called hack nook color. can anyone help


Barnes & Noble is Ending Support for the Original Nook eReader | The Digital Reader June 5, 2018 um 5:09 pm

[…] in 2010, and was supplanted by two Android devices: the Nook Color, which came out in late 2010 with a 7" LCD screen, and the Nook Touch, which was released in June 2011 with a 6" E-ink […]


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