Nook SDK now available – Nook not mentioned anywhere

Posted on 3 December, 2010 by Nate Hoffelder in e-Reading Hardware // 10 Comments

So B&N just sent out an email announcing that the Nook SDK is now available. Now any Android developer can port their app to the NookColor. There's one detail I want you to notice. This is actually the NookColor SDK and it will not help you port Android apps to the Nook. Isn't that interesting? B&N want people to develop for their platform, but only for their tablet and not the more numerous Nook ereader. I wonder why?

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Yes, I know they announced that it would be for the NookColor back when the NC was launched, but I half expected the SDK to support both platforms.

BTW, I'm not sure this is worth the bother. The NC has been hacked, and apparently it's a bog standard Android tablet. Here's a long list of apps that have been tried and work just fine. Look it over, and then ask yourself if you really want to have to work through B&N.

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Doug // 3 December, 2010 at 12:43 pm // Reply

One possible reason for no NOOK SDK (yet, anyway): NOOK seems to be running on Android 1.5 (Cupcake). I’m not an Android developer, but my understanding is that 1.5 is pretty limited. NOOKcolor, on the other hand, is running Android 2.1 (Eclair) with rumors that 2.2 (Froyo) will be coming next year.

Nate the great // 3 December, 2010 at 12:51 pm // Reply
I Googled it briefly and I think you’re right.
Good catch.

Alexander Inglis // 3 December, 2010 at 1:41 pm // Reply

Isn’t the Android OS part of the PON (Plain Old Nook) limited to the 2″ colour screen at the bottom, and not the 6″ e-ink screen? That would be another reason not to bother developing anything for it.

Zigwalski // 3 December, 2010 at 1:53 pm // Reply

There could be another good reason. The first Nook could be on it’s way out soon. BnN can push the Nook Color for this holiday season. They have a great presence this year to continue the brand and start to reduce inventory.

Next year they can release the Nook II which should be a bit smaller, lighter, better touchscreen, and have a pearl screen. That one could be developed from the ground up for an app store.

Just my guess.

Nate the great // 3 December, 2010 at 1:59 pm // Reply
It’s selling too many units for that.
- Zigwalski // 3 December, 2010 at 10:21 pm // Reply
  It is now but by next year it will need to be updated. It is heavier than it needs to be and needs a pearl screen.
  - Nate the great // 3 December, 2010 at 10:26 pm // Reply
    The difference in screen quality isn’t that big.
    But you’re probably right that the Nook2 will be coming out next year with new hardware and the better screen.