Screensaver to help recover a lost Nook

[doogie66]

Greetings, everyone.

I recently received a Nook Simple Touch as a gift and am really enjoying it.  The message below was cross-posted on another page but I thought it might reach more people here.

I really am surprised that Barnes and Noble has offered no mechanism WITHIN the Nook itself to make your contact information available if a stranger finds your Nook.  I jwas traveling with by Nook the other day.  It occurred to me that I'd hate to lose it, and if I did, would a casual stranger finding the thing be able to figure out how to pull my email address off it?  Probably not.

I came up with a reasonably good solution, but one that unformately requires a little bit of work on your part.  I created a Microsoft Powerpoint slide that has the information I want, and then coverted that from Powerpoint to a JPG file (edited, then "save as" and choose a JPG file as the format).  I then had to store that file on my Nook as a Screensaver, which I did by connecting the Nook to my computer, making a folder within the "Screensavers" folder of my Nook that's called "Return Me screensaver".  Then, when you are traveling, make this one your screensaver.  Here's an image of what it looks like, with blanks for your email address, your phone number, and your name.

You're welcome to download the PPT.  Hope this is useful of other Nook users...It would be great if B&N coded something like this DIRECTLY into the firmware... but I guess they sell more Nooks if we lose ours, right?  Download: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15397556/return_me_to_personalize.ppt

[MacMcK1957]

Rather clever.  Good idea.

[JamalJan]

thanks for the ppt and the tips. read the same thing on some other forum previously before i had the nook in my hands  will definitely use it!

[Darcella]

That  is  a   clever  idea!!!   esp.  since  my  son  takes  his  to  school.  Thanks  for  the   idea..

[Byteguy]

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doogie66 wrote:

 ....

I really am surprised that Barnes and Noble has offered no mechanism WITHIN the Nook itself to make your contact information available if a stranger finds your Nook.

 ....

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My phone does't have that mechanism (in fact, the lock code makes it even harder to get into my phone).  My mp3 player does't have that mechanism.

My solution for my Nook was to go to Petsmart, make a dog-tag with my name and phone number on it, and attach that as the zipper-pull on my case.

[AlanNJ Inspired Bibliophile]

A labelmaker could also work as well...

[MacMcK1957]

"A labelmaker could also work as well..."

How very quaint and twentieth-centuryish.

[kamas716]

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MacMcK1957 wrote:

"A labelmaker could also work as well..."

How very quaint and twentieth-centuryish.

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Well, many of us grew up in the 20th century.  Sometimes, simple is best.  I still have an old manual typewriter packed away somewhere.

[AlanNJ Inspired Bibliophile]

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MacMcK1957 wrote:

"A labelmaker could also work as well..."

How very quaint and twentieth-centuryish.

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The advantage is that you don't have to assume that someone knows how to turn on the device...

[doogie66]

The screensaver is always visible!  No "on button" needed!  That was my whole point of doing this...

[Byteguy]

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doogie66 wrote:

The screensaver is always visible!  No "on button" needed!  That was my whole point of doing this...

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Don't get me wrong.  I think it's a fine idea and a nice and simple solution.

Personally, my Nook is either in my hand, zipped into its case or sitting on its case (if I'm at home and just have to put it down for a minute) so I figure anyone that finds it has to actually put their fingers ON my phone number to open the case to see what's inside.

[AlanNJ Inspired Bibliophile]

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doogie66 wrote:

The screensaver is always visible!  No "on button" needed!  That was my whole point of doing this...

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Duh... You're right.  I definitely had a "duh" moment.  My apologies.

[Darcella]

did   do  this  and   my  son  was   very  happy...   Actually  a  friend   used  Paintbrush  and   developed  one  that   we  just  added  our  info  to  and   saved   for  the   nook  and   the   sideloaded  it..  Thanks  for  the  awsome  idea.

[japerry]

This is a wonderful idea! My only problem is that I only have the PPT reader which does not allow for edits or saves. I loaded it in using OpenOffice but it doesn't have save as a JPG as an option. Anyone have any ideas? Would someone be willing to PM me and make the JPG for me? Please advise. 

[Byteguy]

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japerry wrote:

... I loaded it in using OpenOffice but it doesn't have save as a JPG as an option.

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Yes, OpenOffice does.

Load the PPT, make your changes, then go to File -> EXPORT.  Select JPEG as the output format in the drop-down

[japerry]

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Byteguy wrote:

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japerry wrote:

... I loaded it in using OpenOffice but it doesn't have save as a JPG as an option.

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Yes, OpenOffice does.

Load the PPT, make your changes, then go to File -> EXPORT.  Select JPEG as the output format in the drop-down

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That did it! Thanks!

[dpowell]

Well, I made a screensaver with my phone number & email address on it shortly after getting my Nook. I'm glad I did. A few weeks ago I was was at my favorite coffee shop having a latte. When done, I stopped in the bathroom, taking the Nook with me (I didn't want to leave it out where someone could steal it!). Left it in the bathroom when I departed (doh!). When I returned home after running my errands there was a message on my voicemail from the barista, telling me they had my Nook!

[bobstro]

A few months ago, I was stuck at an airport waiting for weather to clear so I could make the last leg of my way home. After many hours, we finally boarded, and I was delighted to find that US Air was providing complimentary iPads to make up for the delays. Unfortunately, it had someone's business card in the cover behind the unit, so my dream was shattered. Rather than dropping it into the black hole of Logan Lost & Found (good luck), I was able to call the owner on landing that night and shipped it to her the next day.

Even if you don't use the screen saver idea (it reminds me of my mom putting my name and phone number on EVERYTHING in elementary school), it is a good idea to put ID somewhere on a device so if someone who wants to return it can. I usually tape a business card in the back of the case, especially for devices that do lock.

Funny reading this tonight. I found an iPhone sitting on the table at the B&N Cafe.

[doogie66]

@dpowell - Wow!  I am thrilled to hear that!  This makes my day, and I am happy I shared this with everyone.