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That Nook Color Froyo Update: Well Not So Fast

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Yesterday I got excited, as did quite a few others with news from Engadget that Barnes & Noble was going to update the Nook Color to Android 2.2 (Froyo) in January and add the Android Marketplace to the device. This would have in effect made the Nook Color a pretty decent Android Tablet/Slate, in fact allowing it to run Apps like the Kindle Reader.

Well, last night I talked to B&N PR folk and they tell me the initial reporting is not accurate. B&N will probably update to Android 2.2 “sometime in 2011” but not necessarily in January. Meaning that could happen then, it could happen later. But they also said that B&N is not going to be adding the Android Marketplace update or no. Their focus is on their own development plans and seeing Apps written expressly for the Nook Color that enhance the reading experience.

17 Comments

17 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    12/15/2010 at 2:03 pm

    This is what I wish the Kindlle was. I love the Nook! But I’ve had a Kindle app for iPhone for so long I’m hundreds of book in and do not want multiple devices. But, boy…if this puppy could be jailbroken I’m on board! Android means Flash (I’m getting so over my iPad and its inability to access a good part of web content) and it weighs mere ounces – perfect fit traveling! Me likey!

    • Anonymous

      12/26/2010 at 1:56 am

      You can root this and put the kindle android app on it rather easily.

  2. Quesadillaap

    12/15/2010 at 7:02 pm

    I never had smart mobile devices till recently and have decided to stick to the Nook for reading. There are several pluses for doing so. One is that you can add books from the google ebook store,another is you can check out FREE ebooks from your local library, and lastly you can read full color magazines (something you can do with interactive magazines on an ipad too). These are things you can’t do on Kindle. The Nook application also exists on several devices so, just like the Kindle you can go from one device to the other reading the same books.

    Plus I like the Nook color more then I thought I would. It’s great for reading blogs and reading books. It’s also much lighter then the ipad. I already have a ton of games on my smaller mobile devices, so it’s not a big deal that there’s not a ton to do on it yet. The main reason I’d like an update is so that I can view Flash but so far it hasn’t been a big deal.

    If you’re thinking of getting an ipad JUST for reading, then take a look at the Nook, it might be a much better deal price wise for you then an ipad.

    • RC

      02/11/2011 at 11:11 pm

      I agree. I would much rather have a Nook Color than an iPad as far as I am concerned. I can’t justify the difference in price when I mostly would use the device to read (and mostly magazines) and not much else. Not to mention that any accessory for the iPad is 3 times more expensive than it is for either version of the Nook. I just purchased a reversible sleeve for $7.95 from http://www.nuvo-tek.com with freight included. Try buying a case of any type for the iPad for under $30, and that will be a low-end iPad case as they can run close to $80 and even $100.

  3. Quinn Quinninator

    12/15/2010 at 9:46 pm

    Now I’m upset. I’ve had my NookColor for a week now and I like most things about it. In fact, I’m using my ipod touch for just media now. News, blogs, quick email check- I do all this on my Nook. But, I’m really missing flash an independent apps.

    This is seriously disappointing. I was eagerly awaiting an update in Jan. D*mn It!!

  4. Synergi

    12/16/2010 at 2:57 am

    I rooted my Nook Color and Kindle was the first App I installeed. I also have the market installed, everything works great.

  5. Synergi

    12/16/2010 at 2:57 am

    I rooted my Nook Color and Kindle was the first App I installeed. I also have the market installed, everything works great.

  6. Paul

    12/16/2010 at 5:21 pm

    Pretty sure this article is still inaccurate. B&N will update in 2011 with their own cripped version of Android that is NOT 2.2.

    • Anonymous

      12/26/2010 at 1:57 am

      It already runs 2.1 what could they update it to but 2.2 crippled or not?

  7. savagemike

    12/17/2010 at 1:57 am

    If you are looking at this and wishing kindle was like it then I would not worry – just wait.
    Bezos is not too proud to follow success.
    If amazon does not already have something similar up its sleeve then it will get something similar up its sleeve if the nook color does well.
    With that great screen and price, only some coming tablet can halt its sales I think. Only if something comes out near the same price point with as good or better screen/features.
    I think that will be a tall order.
    Otherwise, as long as B&N at least does not try to plug the rooting craze – I think nook color will keep selling very well for them.

  8. Mdkomg

    12/21/2010 at 6:04 am

    I rooted my Nook Color last night after much consideration. It was a straightforward and easy process. Just in the last couple of weeks the process has been made much easier. I was crossing my fingers that the micro SD card could be made bootable through my phone (no card reader on computer) and it worked through my Samsung dumbphone. I was absolutely astonished to see the improvement! 2000%. I can play Angry Birds and download/install anything from the the Android Market. Some programs don’t work but you can see which ones do on XDA forums. I am so glad I rooted it. I daresay that the update coming from B&N won’t even be that great.

    I went from Kindle to NC and was disappointed because I love the Kindle and all of it’s unique features. But after this rooting process I can read all of my Kindle books on it so the point is moot. The Kindle app works great and has some nice settings for readability on the LCD screen. You can even use the volume buttons to turn pages.
    Games, videos and real web browsing are nice.

    I can return to the factory settings at any time if I feel like it. So far I don’t think I will.

  9. Brewdawgz007

    12/31/2010 at 11:48 am

    The one drawback I’ve heard about rooting your Nook, is to do it effectively you have to disable the safety monitoring features, one of these being the battery temprature overheat shutdown, so if your willing to take the risk of having a surprise mini i.e.d. in close proximity to your person go ahead. I think I will wait either for the update or sites such as xda say that they have perfected the hack, untill than I will stick to burning my crotch the old fashioned way with coffe.

    • Tknap

      12/31/2010 at 9:20 pm

      Bredawgz007, you made me laugh. Thanks for that. And I’m with you. I’ve only had my Nook for 2 days and I accidentally stumbled on the rooting process. Not sure I want to try it. I wonder if the Nook update is voluntary. It could be that update will plug the rooting hole. I might put it off until I learn more in that case.

      • Someguy

        01/09/2011 at 6:55 am

        The battery heating problem no longer exists. In fact, it only ever was a problem if you tried to upgrade the device to a custom Froyo build that was in the early stages of development. The exploding battery problem has even been fixed in that build…but trying to put Froyo on your device is not what happens when you simply root the device. The basic rooting procedure will unlock the device and give you full access to the existing Android 2.1 OS. There has never been any problems with overheating using this process. I bought a Nook color for the sole purpose of rooting it…works great and now have a fully functional Android tablet.

        • Elwoodby

          01/11/2011 at 10:45 pm

          will the root allow you to play “flash” files?

  10. Sjbryk

    01/16/2011 at 6:30 pm

    root will not. froyo will.

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