Expectations for an upgraded nook

[MichaelXnr]

What I expect from my nook.

To make it clear: I’m a proud owner of a nook and I’m a proud DAU (dumbest anticipated user). And I don’t want to get a computer science degree in order to “tweak” my nook. And I don’t want to become a dentist to do a “softroot”-canal on my nook. I just want to use it. I want it to be an excellent eReader and do a little magic. You know like playing these apps (which my Symbian-run phone can’t do). Isn’t Android for stumping Apple into the ground?

I want to read my (printed) Union-Tribune in the morning, have a coffee (or two or three) and have my nook with me to see if the LA Times has more to say on that specific topic. And I want to find the up-to-the-minute weather report on my nook when I go to “the daily”. And there I also want to find some blogs to which I like to subscribe. Since some of the bloggers like to put links in their blogs the nook would need some kind of a very simple browser. That would allow me to go to Wikipedia, too.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want my nook to be a color TV, or a laptop, or a phone or a video console. I like it to be an eReader in black and white, in the crisp eInk. But I like some magic, some bang for the bucks I spent on it. I like it to do everything “reading”.

I want all this to be accessible from “the daily” or “my library”. I don’t want to have to “sideload” something. (If I want to read a liberal blog do I have to left-sideload it and a conservative one to right-sideload? And anyway the outlet is at the bottom. Don't I have to bottom-load it then?)

Why don’t the guys (and/or girls) from nookdevs put a software-package together that we could load like an ebook. And when we load it, it updates, tweaks etc. our nook to the state I just described (maybe put a little sound-effect to it, like: uetzel-bruetzel and voila). Maybe they could get together with the b&n guys and we could really buy it like an ebook. Although I would expect it to be free, since we paid already a lot for the hardware (but maybe I’m naïve, since I expected my 401(k) to go up, too).

Your humble DAU
Michael
 

[wdblevin]

What I expect from my nook.

To make it clear: I’m a proud owner of a nook and I’m a proud DAU (dumbest anticipated user). And I don’t want to get a computer science degree in order to “tweak” my nook. And I don’t want to become a dentist to do a “softroot”-canal on my nook. I just want to use it. I want it to be an excellent eReader and do a little magic. You know like playing these apps (which my Symbian-run phone can’t do). Isn’t Android for stumping Apple into the ground?

I want to read my (printed) Union-Tribune in the morning, have a coffee (or two or three) and have my nook with me to see if the LA Times has more to say on that specific topic. And I want to find the up-to-the-minute weather report on my nook when I go to “the daily”. And there I also want to find some blogs to which I like to subscribe. Since some of the bloggers like to put links in their blogs the nook would need some kind of a very simple browser. That would allow me to go to Wikipedia, too.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want my nook to be a color TV, or a laptop, or a phone or a video console. I like it to be an eReader in black and white, in the crisp eInk. But I like some magic, some bang for the bucks I spent on it. I like it to do everything “reading”.

I want all this to be accessible from “the daily” or “my library”. I don’t want to have to “sideload” something. (If I want to read a liberal blog do I have to left-sideload it and a conservative one to right-sideload? And anyway the outlet is at the bottom. Don't I have to bottom-load it then?)

Why don’t the guys (and/or girls) from nookdevs put a software-package together that we could load like an ebook. And when we load it, it updates, tweaks etc. our nook to the state I just described (maybe put a little sound-effect to it, like: uetzel-bruetzel and voila). Maybe they could get together with the b&n guys and we could really buy it like an ebook. Although I would expect it to be free, since we paid already a lot for the hardware (but maybe I’m naïve, since I expected my 401(k) to go up, too).

Your humble DAU
Michael
 

<giggle>

Michael, I am a geek (I use to build my own computers, I do software testing for a living, and generally like just about all technology)...  I couldn't agree with you more that it would be nice to simply be able to easily load the kind of stuff you described.  I'd even be willing to pay for things if they were really advanced.

Donna

[baskar]

It will be that simple if B&N officially allows apps and opens up the device. But, as long as it's done by hacking, things are not going to be that easy.

[MichaelXnr]

<giggle>

Michael, I am a geek (I use to build my own computers, I do software testing for a living, and generally like just about all technology)...  I couldn't agree with you more that it would be nice to simply be able to easily load the kind of stuff you described.  I'd even be willing to pay for things if they were really advanced.

Donna

Donna, what you call "really advanced" is probably "mind-boggling" for a DAU like me. I would probably even settle for something that you would call "lame".
But you are right, I would probably be willing to pay for it, too.

Hey, b&n guys! Here are people willing to pay for something. What about getting some things done and making some money for the company. Helllooo, anybody out there? Where are these guys when you need them?
 

Michael

[Paul58]

I've got a few other things I'd like to see incorporated into an upgrade:

1.  The ability to wirelessly transfer non-B&N eBooks (Share the My Documents Folder over a network)

2.  Be able to browse non-B&N eBooks in cover flow

3.  The ability to customize the LCD Menu (Add/Remove/Create and Rearrange Menus and Sub-Menus)

4.  The ability to run Wi-Fi independent of 3G and vice versa (Plus an easier way to enable/disable both).

5.  A subscription service for My Daily so I can choose the content...

I don't think any of these requests are impossible and would make the nook way more enjoyable!

[MichaelXnr]

I've got a few other things I'd like to see incorporated into an upgrade:

1.  The ability to wirelessly transfer non-B&N eBooks (Share the My Documents Folder over a network)

2.  Be able to browse non-B&N eBooks in cover flow

3.  The ability to customize the LCD Menu (Add/Remove/Create and Rearrange Menus and Sub-Menus)

4.  The ability to run Wi-Fi independent of 3G and vice versa (Plus an easier way to enable/disable both).

5.  A subscription service for My Daily so I can choose the content...

I don't think any of these requests are impossible and would make the nook way more enjoyable!

Paul,
#1: Yes, me too.
#2: I'm not sure I care about that, but it sure is nice on the eyes.
#3: Might be nice.
#4: Both work really fine at my place, but...
#5: A definite YES. (That's what I meant in part of my first ramblings.)

The question is: Do they care? Are the b&n guys going to ramp up their efforts to show the iTampon who's the boss (and that in a timely fashion) or are they going to run for the hills and abandon us non-tech-savvy users?

Worst scenario would be a new nook with all the gadgets, apps, magic we want and no way to spruce up the "old" one.

Michael
 

[Paul58]

4.  The ability to run Wi-Fi independent of 3G and vice versa (Plus an easier way to enable/disable both).

#4: Both work really fine at my place, but...

They work fine for me as well, but I'd like it to be easier to enable/disable either or both without going through the crazy menu sequence currently employed.  I don't need 3G when I'm sitting in my house, but it would be nice to browse and download via Wi-Fi and my home network.  Conversely, if I'm camping and don't have access to a hot spot, I don't need to have Wi-Fi running, but may want to purchase an eBook from B&N over the 3G network.  What I would have loved to see if an multi-function swith on the side of the nook with positions for All Off, 3G, Wi-Fi, and All On!  Then, just like McDonalds, I can have it my way!

[jcar302]

What I expect from my nook.

To make it clear: I’m a proud owner of a nook and I’m a proud DAU (dumbest anticipated user). And I don’t want to get a computer science degree in order to “tweak” my nook. And I don’t want to become a dentist to do a “softroot”-canal on my nook. I just want to use it. I want it to be an excellent eReader and do a little magic. You know like playing these apps (which my Symbian-run phone can’t do).

Your humble DAU
Michael
 

Not quite sure what you are asking for that a decent s60 device can't do.
Symbian is one of the most open source operating systems out there.
No it's not the prettiest or the most simple, but it's the most useful.

I understand what you want for your nook, but comparing it to symbian isn't all that great of a comparison.

[MichaelXnr]

Hi Joe,

again I'm not a "techie". I just want things to work. (I'm married to an engineer. I know there's a lot of "work" behind "making things just work".)
I looked for apps for my E63 and wasn't very successful. It's a nice phone but maybe a little dated. Apparently the development of apps goes more in the direction of the iPhone and Android phones. At least for those that you can easily find and load.
I found some nice symbian apps on ovi but most of them don't work on my "RedBerry".

On the other hand, maybe I'm just not "all that great" at making comparisons.

Have a good week

Michael
 

[MikFinkel]

They work fine for me as well, but I'd like it to be easier to enable/disable either or both without going through the crazy menu sequence currently employed.  I don't need 3G when I'm sitting in my house, but it would be nice to browse and download via Wi-Fi and my home network.  Conversely, if I'm camping and don't have access to a hot spot, I don't need to have Wi-Fi running, but may want to purchase an eBook from B&N over the 3G network.  What I would have loved to see if an multi-function swith on the side of the nook with positions for All Off, 3G, Wi-Fi, and All On!  Then, just like McDonalds, I can have it my way!
.
.
.
No switches!! Thats what I love about the touch screen!

[jcar302]

Hi Joe,

again I'm not a "techie". I just want things to work. (I'm married to an engineer. I know there's a lot of "work" behind "making things just work".)
I looked for apps for my E63 and wasn't very successful. It's a nice phone but maybe a little dated. Apparently the development of apps goes more in the direction of the iPhone and Android phones. At least for those that you can easily find and load.
I found some nice symbian apps on ovi but most of them don't work on my "RedBerry".
On the other hand, maybe I'm just not "all that great" at making comparisons.
Have a good week
Michael
 

Michael, i see your points. 
I've owned the E63, but prefer the E71 (which i use daily).
The E63 is a little dated, not because it's really old itself, but it's based on a design now that's about 2 years old.
The big benefit of them is that they are 3g, wifi and dirt cheap without a contract, along with paying a $10 internet charge instead of $35.
It's a trade off, more work but less money.

[th3lolz]

I've got a few other things I'd like to see incorporated into an upgrade:

1.  The ability to wirelessly transfer non-B&N eBooks (Share the My Documents Folder over a network)

2.  Be able to browse non-B&N eBooks in cover flow

3.  The ability to customize the LCD Menu (Add/Remove/Create and Rearrange Menus and Sub-Menus)

4.  The ability to run Wi-Fi independent of 3G and vice versa (Plus an easier way to enable/disable both).

5.  A subscription service for My Daily so I can choose the content...

I don't think any of these requests are impossible and would make the nook way more enjoyable!

You can actually pretty much do all of this stuff with a rooted nook:
1. Set up a Calibre server on your computer and then use trook (included in the 1.2 rooted update) on the nook to access it (I currently have this working perfectly)
2. This is currently possible with nookLibrary, an app on nookdevs (included in the 1.2 rooted update)
3. This is possible with nookLauncher (included in the 1.2 rooted update)
4. This happens automatically, and wifi can be locked on with wifilocker (included in the 1.2 rooted update)
5. You can do this with Calibre's news subscription feature and trook

[MichaelXnr]

You can actually pretty much do all of this stuff with a rooted nook:

And there we are back to my first post: you nearly need a computer-science degree to do the "root"-canal. Probably not a problem for tech-savvy Linux user, but for the rest of us.
There is a reason I gave up on Ubuntu (it didn't recognize my wire-less card) and Koppix (it didn't recognize my display) and all advice for trouble-shooting sounded like brain-surgery or rocket science. 
It's called user-friendliness (as defined by a DAU, not by a "tweaker"  )

So the rest of us will watch in awe what you guys all come up with and wait patiently that some of that will trickle down (the other trickle down theory) to us.

Have a good time
 
Michael

[Paul58]

And there we are back to my first post: you nearly need a computer-science degree to do the "root"-canal. Probably not a problem for tech-savvy Linux user, but for the rest of us.
There is a reason I gave up on Ubuntu (it didn't recognize my wire-less card) and Koppix (it didn't recognize my display) and all advice for trouble-shooting sounded like brain-surgery or rocket science. 
It's called user-friendliness (as defined by a DAU, not by a "tweaker"  )

So the rest of us will watch in awe what you guys all come up with and wait patiently that some of that will trickle down (the other trickle down theory) to us.

Have a good time
 
Michael

Yea, what he said!

I'd love to have all those features, but I'm not willing to "root" my nook at this point in time.  I really hope B&N will see the potential (at least those related to making nook the best "ereader") and will incorporate them into an upcoming software release so that they are sanctioned and supported by the the warranty I already paid for...  Not knocking what the nookdev team is doing and has done, I think it's awesome, just not for the faint of heart!

[nooked]

The latest softroot is about as easy as it gets.  It includes all of the apps commonly available now, and you can update/install apps using the included Trook.  A marketplace app is in the works.  If you are technically inclined enough to be able to copy a file to your nook via USB, you can install the softroot.  There is really not much you can do to permanently screw up your nook, and you can always restore it to its virgin state if needed/desired.

[DeCrescenzo]

And there we are back to my first post: you nearly need a computer-science degree to do the "root"-canal. Probably not a problem for tech-savvy Linux user, but for the rest of us.
There is a reason I gave up on Ubuntu (it didn't recognize my wire-less card) and Koppix (it didn't recognize my display) and all advice for trouble-shooting sounded like brain-surgery or rocket science. 
It's called user-friendliness (as defined by a DAU, not by a "tweaker"  )

So the rest of us will watch in awe what you guys all come up with and wait patiently that some of that will trickle down (the other trickle down theory) to us.

Have a good time
 
Michael

Michael,
I understand someone not wanting to undertake the softrooting of their nook but it really isn't that hard. You drag and drop one file, wait, then drag and drop another file and reboot the nook while holding a button for about 10 seconds. The device does the rest of the work. The guys at nookdevs really did an excellent job on the softroot.

[Rachel]

I too hope that the soft root does more widespread among those more technical than us, because maybe those not so technical will be knocking down B&N's door for them to add this stuff for us to make our lives easier!!!  I had fun reading all the posts about how many of you are rooting the nook and I love seeing all that it can do!! I may be brave enough one day to try it, now that it seems even easier than the first root!!

Cheers!
Rachel