What will the 5th generation nook be?

[robotecture]

http://techland.time.com/2012/01/30/new-nook-rumored-for-springtime/ Speculate here.

[robotecture]

What about a Nook Mirasol color display reader identical in size to the nook simple touch, and which shares a similar form factor and appearance but is white, and fits in all the same accessories - covers, etc. that could be cool... Small form factor, long battery life, but can play video, read color magazines, be read in daylight, and browse the web? Call it: Nook Wave.

[robotecture]

http://m.cnet.com/Article.rbml?nid=57368010&cid=latest&bid=286&webref=reviews.cnet.com/report-new-no...

[patgolfneb]

I still think a larger tablet configured for the textbook market makes sense.

All future models need to have bluetooth. I think IR makes sense also. By adding these features add on products like external keyboards, speakers, game controllers become an avenue for increased sales. This also allows remote control like functions for tvs and other household gadgets. Better screens and processors matter, but the type of features I listed are easier market and are rare in 7 inch and entry level tablets. A partner like gamestop,  or best buy in BM electronics to share marketing expenses and exposure would be needed.

[Rebeljt]

Hopefully whatever it is they will chose the naming of the device better. 

JT

Don't call it a tablet!

[Larryb52]

article said next couple months, has anyone thought that perhaps the most recent 8 gig Tab is that device? and there will be no 10" tab for the spring?...Let's face it they have released a couple tablets & they are all closed system , if they do you expect the to allow you to use other apps if so than what is the appeal of the other tablets. BN is a book store I would expect that 7" is all they are willing to go as it works for reading...just saying...

[deesy58]

---

patgolfneb wrote:

I still think a larger tablet configured for the textbook market makes sense.

All future models need to have bluetooth. I think IR makes sense also. By adding these features add on products like external keyboards, speakers, game controllers become an avenue for increased sales. This also allows remote control like functions for tvs and other household gadgets. Better screens and processors matter, but the type of features I listed are easier market and are rare in 7 inch and entry level tablets. A partner like gamestop,  or best buy in BM electronics to share marketing expenses and exposure would be needed.

---

My daughter just received a combination case and keyboard for her iPad as a gift.  She loves it.  The keyboard is especially useful to her (she already had a case).  If the NT is a true tablet computer, are features such as keyboards available for it?

[BruceMcF]

---

deesy58 wrote:

... If the NT is a true tablet computer, are features such as keyboards available for it?

---

Its a true media tablet. Who said anything about it being a true tablet computer?

[BruceMcF]

---

Larryb52 wrote:

article said next couple months, has anyone thought that perhaps the most recent 8 gig Tab is that device? and there will be no 10" tab for the spring?...

---

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that the device described in the article is the NT-lite ~ that doesn't say anything about any other product introductions, but obviously the NT-lite is not "the 5th generation nook" of the title of the OP.

[deesy58]

---

BruceMcF wrote:

---

deesy58 wrote:

... If the NT is a true tablet computer, are features such as keyboards available for it?

---

Its a true media tablet. Who said anything about it being a true tablet computer?

---

Okay.  Point taken.  Question still not answered.

[Nom-de-Nook]

no keyboards designed for the NT are available

[deesy58]

---

Nom-de-Nook wrote:

no keyboards designed for the NT are available

---

Thanks!

[BruceMcF]

---

deesy58 wrote:

---

BruceMcF wrote:

---

deesy58 wrote:

... If the NT is a true tablet computer, are features such as keyboards available for it?

---

Its a true media tablet. Who said anything about it being a true tablet computer?

---

Okay.  Point taken.  Question still not answered.

---

The stock kernal does not support the two normal ways for an Android system to access an external keyboard: it does not support use of the bluetooth function in the WiFi chip, and it does not support use of the micro-USB port in host mode. One of the two are required to use a keyboard. Battery life is the likely reason for not supporting either, though AFAIU USB host mode only drains the battery when it is in use. Also Bluetooth is notoriously finicky, so supporting it would result in a jump in support labor costs in B&N stores.

People who want to convert it from a media tablet to a tablet PC generally install CM7 or some other alternative ROM, use Nook Tweaks to support host mode, and buy something like the $16 case + microUSB keyboard you can pick up on ebay. Obviously since the CM7 install is not covered by the warranty, the jump in support labor costs is much smaller ~ basically the time to say, "we only cover the device with the operating system that we sold with the device."

If B&N was keen to sell more NT16G's, they would offer a free app that enables host mode, with an installer that requires the 1GB RAM of the 16G, and includes the Null Keyboard install to allow the soft keyboard to be turned off when using the USB keyboard.

If they were keen to sell more NT8g's, they would allow it to install in 512MB.

If they were keen to sell more NC's, they would allow it to install on the FroYo based system as well as the Gingerbread based system.