It was a bug, and Barnes & Noble fixed it. That’s how representatives from the company described the fact that when the NOOK Tablet shipped in November, users discovered they could download some Android apps from the internet (instead of from the B&N Shop) and install them on the tablet — until Barnes & Noble rolled out a software update that killed support for apps from unknown sources.
Last night I got a chance to catch up with Barnes & Noble, and while the company knows that some people purchase the NOOK Color and NOOK Tablet with the intent of rooting the devices or making other changes, B&N isn’t encouraging that activity.
Instead, the company is trying to provide a self-contained ecosystem for people to purchased, download, and use apps, books, magazines, or other content using the official B&N Shop
The reason the NOOK Tablet has a locked bootloader and the NOOK Color does not, it turns out, is because of hardware security features built into the TI OMAP4 dual core processor in the new NOOK Tablet. In order to provide HD quality video from Netflix, B&N locked the bootloader for security purposes.
The NOOK Color doesn’t offer the same kind of chip-level security, so even though the latest software for the company’s original tablet supports Netflix, users can only stream standard definition programming using the Netflix app.
In other words… it doesn’t look like we should expect any software updates in the future that make it easier to hack the NOOK Tablet or install custom software.
Fortunately, there are independent developers who aren’t afraid of voiding their warranties hard at work figuring out ways to make do interesting things with the tablet, with or without B&N’s support.
Related:
- Snowball-mod (almost) turns the NOOK Tablet into a full Android tablet
- How to update a NOOK Tablet to OS 1.4.1 and still have root access
- Sideload apps on a NOOK Tablet with OS 1.4.1 (no root required)
- How to block over-the-air updates (and keep root) on the NOOK Tablet
- How to root the NOOK Tablet, install the Android Market
- key specs
- reviews • 41
- prices
- Form factorTablet
- Operating systemAndroid (Froyo [2.2])
- Screen size7 inches
- Storage typeInternal storage (8 GB, Flash), Memory card
- Maximum battery lifeUp to 8 hours
- Dimensions8.1 x 5 x 0.48 in
- Weight15.8 oz
- Released11/19/2010
Barnes & Noble nook Tablet
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Douglas Koobs
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Dennis Santillan
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James LaBarre
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http://profile.yahoo.com/BINPAF6KJQFKA4TFNW3AWRV65E JayDubs
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http://www.liliputing.com Brad Linder
