Set up Android On Nook Hd – At Gizmag, we cowl new applied sciences. So it’s pure that we transfer in direction of the brand new: new gadgets, new providers, new breakthroughs in science and expertise. However each on occasion, one thing that is been round for some time will get a brand new coat of paint and form of turns into model new once more. Just like the Barnes & Noble Nook HD+. With Google Play and the large value drop on tablets, is it price adopting a yr after its launch? We tried to reply that for you.
First, a fast stroll down reminiscence lane. Nook HD+ was launched in November 2012 because the costlier older brother of Nook HD. The Nook HD+ price $270 at launch. It wasn’t a nasty value for the {hardware}, however the restricted software program (learn: awful app choice) was an issue, as all the time with B&N’s Nook tablets.
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Set up Android On Nook Hd
However earlier this yr, when tablet-buying clients appeared to have forgotten concerning the Nook, B&N made a splash by including Google Play to the Nook HD and HD+. Play Retailer, Gmail and Google Maps had been formally supported. Heck, Chrome has change into the default browser. All of a sudden, the pill held again by a half-baked model of Android turned a full Android pill.
Discovering The Proper Instruments (or, Why I Love My Nook Pill)
Sadly, even the addition of Google Play does not appear to have caught the eye of many purchasers. So final month, when Barnes & Noble introduced plans to cease growing tablets (which they’ve since modified their minds about), the Nook HD household noticed an enormous value minimize. The seven-inch Nook HD is priced at $130 and the nine-inch Nook HD+ is priced at $150.
As soon as clients make up their minds a couple of product, it may be tough to vary. However perhaps it is time to broaden your fascinated with the Nook HD+. Meditate, take peyote for what it is price. As a result of we’re searching for an enormous, easy-to-attack pill with a high-resolution display, a strong sufficient processor, and Google Play—all for $150. It is a mixture we’ve not seen earlier than.
Since 2010’s Nook Coloration, B&N tablets have all the time had a, let’s consider, “distinctive” look. “Bizarre” could be one other approach to have a look at it. We’re taking a look at giant, thick plastic frames with a loop constructed into the decrease left nook.
Along with including a particular glow, this loop can be utilized to connect a rope. However do you really want a pill hanging out of your wrist or backpack? It is an odd selection, to say the least, and one which Barnes & Noble has caught with for 3 generations, together with the Nook HD+. We do not care and we reward the corporate’s originality. It even seems trendy from a sure angle. However we additionally do not anticipate different firms to repeat it anytime quickly.
Flip Your Nook Coloration Or Nook Pill Into An Android 4.1 Pill
The most effective factor concerning the design of the Nook HD+ is that it may be held with one hand. The fourth-generation iPad, which prices greater than 3 times as a lot, may be cumbersome for lengthy durations of time. It is also not superb for one-handed use. With its thick bezels and light-weight plastic development (it is 21 p.c lighter than the iPad), the Nook HD+ is way simpler to carry with one foot.
The Nook HD+ is a reasonably thick pill (it is 11.4mm thick), however that is not essentially a nasty factor. A slim pill would possibly look smooth and attractive, however we’re extra involved with how snug it feels within the hand. That is the place the Nook HD+ comes into play. It is an incredible steadiness between one-handed consolation and display measurement.
Right here in August 2013, the Nook HD+ show is not high notch. In spite of everything, it has been about 18 months because the launch of the primary Retina Show iPad, and the Nook’s is half a step behind in general show high quality.
However that being mentioned, this display continues to be fairly good. Its 256 pixels per inch (PPI) density is about the identical because the iPad’s 264 PPI. Textual content and pictures aren’t as sharp as the brand new Nexus 7, however the whole lot is sharp sufficient, as you may see within the picture beneath.
How To Flip Your Nook Coloration Into An Android Pill
We just like the Nook’s 9″ display measurement. It offers you much more area than mini tablets just like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fireplace. The Nook provides 70 p.c extra display area than these two (that is the brand new Nexus 7 on high of the nook within the photograph beneath). Nonetheless, it is sufficiently small for one-handed use, which we admire a lot.The three:2 facet ratio additionally makes extra sense to carry in portrait mode than in 16:10 or 16:9 pill mode.
The IPS display is sharp sufficient and a great measurement, however not excellent. Whites have a slight yellow tint. We do not suppose you may be disillusioned, however should you put its display aspect by aspect with an iPad or Nexus 7, the white seems whiter on these tablets. The brightness can be secure sufficient, however different tablets are a lot brighter on the highest settings.
The efficiency will not be superior, at the least by mid-2013. On a technical degree, the Nook HD+ runs on a Texas Devices OMAP 4470 dual-core processor with a clock frequency of 1.5 GHz. That is quick sufficient for many makes use of, however get a Nook HD+ after which a brand new Nexus 7 or iPad 4 and (unsurprisingly) you may see a major enhance.
If the mixture of the Nook’s giant, high-resolution display and Google Play sounded too good to be true, efficiency is the compromise you have been ready for. The system will not be too gradual, however be ready for a small delay once in a while. It was annoying sufficient that we rooted it, put in Cyanogenmod, and did some root-level efficiency tweaks to degree the enjoying area (extra on that in a minute).
First Impressions: Nook Pill 10.1
We’re not too fascinated about benchmarks today, however for these conserving rating at residence, the Nook HD+ scored 437 (single-core) and 765 (multi-core) on Geekbench 3. After we put in CM10.2 nightly construct (primarily based on Android 4.3) it jumped to 444 (single core) and 815 (multi core).
If benchmarks show you how to put issues into perspective, extra energy to you. Nonetheless, our expertise is that the Nook HD+ provides strong sufficient efficiency for many customers, so long as you do not thoughts taking just a few steps again from the bloody edge.
Battery life is not nice, but it surely’s not too regarding both. In our checks, we stream video at 75 p.c brightness whereas linked to a Wi-Fi community. The Nook HD+ crashed after 5 and a half hours, which is sort of similar to the brand new Nexus 7 in the identical check. The one caveat is that 75 p.c brightness seems brighter on the Nexus than on the Nook.
With extra regular use, together with durations of exercise and inactivity, the Nook HD+ should not have any downside lasting all day.
Google Play Retailer Coming To Nook Hd And Nook Hd+ Right this moment
As for cameras, there are none. In the event you’re into video chatting, you would possibly wish to use your smartphone or laptop computer, or simply skip the Nook altogether. There’s additionally a rear digital camera for these clumsy pill pictures.
Barnes & Noble’s Android model itself is similar to a content-supported pill. It’s constructed on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich platform and has a particular gentle grey fashion. Apps, books and different media are highlighted within the carousel on the high of the house display. Naturally, you get a full vary of Nook-branded media purposes. Very like Amazon’s Kindle Fires, many are designed to push you towards B&N content material.
However the Google Play add-on launched in Could of this yr takes the Android pores and skin fairly far and makes it much more pleasurable. You get the complete Google Play Retailer and the complete vary of Google apps. Gmail, Maps, Google Now and all the opposite normal suspects are included. Except for occasional compatibility points, something you may obtain on every other Android system is truthful recreation.
The addition of Play Retailer and Google providers overwhelms the standard Barnes & Noble mall and invitations the larger and higher mall subsequent door to take over half of the shops. This makes the Nook HD+ a way more versatile pill than earlier than.
Revisiting The Nook Hd+: Google Play And A Value Drop Make All The Distinction
Nook tablets have all the time been simple to hack. You possibly can join it to permit you to boot from microSD card slots. You possibly can root them, set up customized software program on them, and even run customized software program immediately from the SD card.
Apparently, Barnes & Noble desires you to depart the firmware there, purchase a bunch of Nook e-books, and assist them struggle again from the exhausting instances. However should you root your system and set up a ROM-based Android, your $150 funding will go even additional.
We cannot go too deep into the finer particulars of hacking the Nook HD+, however should you head over to xda-developers they’ve every kind of guides and recordsdata to assist. An important factor is that you could take a microSD card,
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