Nook Color & Tablet locked down

[barsu]

Just read on Engadget that BN has now locked down the NC & Tablet with the 1.4.1 update to sideloading apps. Those with n2a cards and I'm guessing rooted Nook Colors are still okay, at least mine is with the n2a. Banes & Noble should be ashamed. And according to comments on Engadget a lot of people will be returning their tablets as even the n2a cards won't work on them for now

[roustabout]

If engadget is reporting that the nook color's been locked, the report is entirely inaccurate.

What is apparently a pretty viable root for 1.4.1 has been released in the last week;  it normally takes about a week for a viable root to be released on the NC.

BN has made an attempt to lock the tablet, yes.  The attempt is bypassable by reverting to 1.4.0, so in essence anyone who owns a tablet can simply trigger recovery and bypass this lock.  Instructions are around for 2 ways to block the OTA update on the tablet as well.

The tablet running 1.4.1 will be harder to root since you still can't boot from your own SD card.   The clock is ticking on that being true as well, though, and there are some folks with experience in locked bootloaders looking into the tablet now.  

[barsu]

The article originally came from "the eBook Reader.com" site and as I said in my post it wouldn't affect rooted NC's or Tablets only sideloading apps on the Nook OS side which was available to some degree originally

[efeigenbaum]

I have a question.  Why shouldn't B&N lock the NC & Tablet to prevent sideloading apps?  They make money when you buy apps from the B&N app market and it doesn't benefit them to allow users to install other apps.  I don't understand why people complain when they can't do things with a device that the device wasn't designed to do.

[patgolfneb]

Efie, many of the rooters bought the NC because they could hot rod it by rooting and overclocking it, turning it into a true budget tablet. This was a year ago before there were any quality tablets in this price range. The publicity helped bring the NC to the publics attention and to some degree helped create a new size niche. Although BN never officially supported this hot rodding, these often very knowledgeable users feel perhaps that BN could show some appreciation for their contributions and loyalty. Since buying a budget hybrid e reader and giving it full tablet functions was a major part of their purchase decision they are grumpy. BN app store, especially in business and productivity areas is not mature. BN appears to be targeting readers, kids and family users. So if they cannot root then the apps and many of the reasons for buying a BN tablet dissappear. BN could continue to turn a blind eye with as far as I know, no harm. It is possible that publishers, content providers are concerned about piracy, but BN has made attempt to explain their point of view on this. Hopefully BN will grow their app store size and depth quickly lessening this issue.

[orb9220]

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efeigenbaum wrote:

I have a question.  Why shouldn't B&N lock the NC & Tablet to prevent sideloading apps?  They make money when you buy apps from the B&N app market and it doesn't benefit them to allow users to install other apps.  I don't understand why people complain when they can't do things with a device that the device wasn't designed to do.

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Excuse me? Maybe it has something to do with ownership as in I own the device. I guess it would be alright since you bought that LCD TV and we just update the firmware so you don't get channels that we don't advertise on. That would be alright with you wouldn't it?

Wasn't designed to do? Hmmm look like it was functioning and doing fine with those sideloaded apps.

Ohhh and I need to stop by and put a proprietary gas connector on your car. So you can only buy gas at B&N gas stations. What a great Idea! I'll send that idea to the car companies.

As all these things are alright since consumer having choice and healthy competion doesn't benifit the bottom line of the company. So it's fine to hold the device they paid for hostage and harnessed to them.

Sorry am in total dissagreement on this issue. As I OWN the device not B&N and if they don't make available what I need in it. Then I will go to others that can.

.

[Nom-de-Nook]

Just as a point of clarification, I don't believe sideloading apps (at least not as the NT could) was ever a functionality of the NC. 

As of right now, I would say the NC is a better value than the NT given the dual boot capability.

[Mike1995]

To Orb 9220:

I am not saying they should lock it down- but you may own the device- but you also bought their terms of service which states you license the software- you don't own it.  They can do whatever they want which is why I never looked at this thing as something I wanted to root because they can do as they please:

c) Reservation of Rights. The sale of your NOOKcolor to you does not transfer to you any right, title or interest in or to any of our intellectual property rights or those of our suppliers or licensors. For example, all Software is either owned by us or is the property of our suppliers or licensors. The Software has been licensed, not sold, to you. © 2010 BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND ITS SUPPLIERS AND LICENSORS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Patent Pending. Most trademarks shown on your NOOKcolor, such as nook™, NOOKcolor™, n™, VividView™, Daily Shelf™, LendMe™, More In Store™, Barnes & Noble® and B&N®, are owned by Barnes & Noble, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Certain other trademarks shown on your NOOKcolor or through the Service are owned by our suppliers or licensors or other third parties. Please see the attribution page in the User Guide for more information. All Rights Reserved. Other than the limited license granted to you in this Section 2, you have no other right, title or interest in or to the Service, Software or Documentation. Any rights not expressly granted to you are fully reserved by us and our suppliers or licensors, as applicable, and no such rights are conferred by estoppel, operation of law, implication or otherwise.

[roustabout]

I'm a rooter and I'm not surprised by what's happening with tablet and am interested by how surprised some are that what was accidentally left completely open - getting root or alternate boot on the NC always involved some work - has been fixed. 

It's interesting that it is causing so much anger. 

No one makes you update the tablet.  There are at least two ways to block the update on the tablet, as well as a full restore to stock 1.4.0 available as of now.  If you want to run it modded, you can but you need to do some reading.

My point was to clarify that the NC can still be run as rooted stock or as alternate boot, while things are different on the NT side.

I get the feeling that there will be viable root for the NT as well, but it won't be as easy and open as during the first release. 

I also think some of that has to do with the Netflix contract rather than BN being a grumpy horrible corporation.  Almost all battles like this are lost quickly.

You can't run alternate ROMs yet, but that was never possible, even as an accidental feature.  I've read that someone from BN said that it woud be possible, but I'm not 100% on how well sourced that quote is. 

[patgolfneb]

Orb9220, this is why the rooting community doesnt get much support from the rest of us. The egocentric belief that you have these special rights and how dare anyone restrict your actions. We understand that the reasons many users bought and rooted their products was to add value. To lose that value is frustrating and may result in your not reccomending BN and avoiding its products in the future. That is much different than stating your rights have been violated. The example given to support your point of view the LCD TV is not valid. Modifying and using the LCD TV as a way to bypass blocked cable channels for free would be a more accurate comparison. I just wish my debate opponents in HS use of rhetoric was so weak.

[orb9220]

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Mike1995 wrote:

To Orb 9220:

I am not saying they should lock it down- but you may own the device- but you also bought their terms of service which states you license the software- you don't own it.  They can do whatever they want which is why I never looked at this thing as something I wanted to root because they can do as they please:

c) Reservation of Rights. The sale of your NOOKcolor to you does not transfer to you any right, title or interest in or to any of our intellectual property rights or those of our suppliers or licensors. For example, all Software is either owned by us or is the property of our suppliers or licensors. The Software has been licensed, not sold, to you. © 2010 BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND ITS SUPPLIERS AND LICENSORS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Patent Pending. Most trademarks shown on your NOOKcolor, such as nook™, NOOKcolor™, n™, VividView™, Daily Shelf™, LendMe™, More In Store™, Barnes & Noble® and B&N®, are owned by Barnes & Noble, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Certain other trademarks shown on your NOOKcolor or through the Service are owned by our suppliers or licensors or other third parties. Please see the attribution page in the User Guide for more information. All Rights Reserved. Other than the limited license granted to you in this Section 2, you have no other right, title or interest in or to the Service, Software or Documentation. Any rights not expressly granted to you are fully reserved by us and our suppliers or licensors, as applicable, and no such rights are conferred by estoppel, operation of law, implication or otherwise.

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I agree they own the software. Just like Apple or Microsoft owns their OS software. I might not agree with the changes that they make to it. But at least I have the option not to update the software if I choose so. B&N is not asking but forcing the updates and not giving me an option here and that is wrong!

As I pointed out if they want to give me the device for Free and point out that I have to live with whatever changes they deem right. Then I have the option to accept it for free knowing the restrictions up front. But when I pay for the device even if they sell it at cost. Then the device is still mine and I will determine what I allow or disallow on the device. If you want my monies then give me the features,functions and apps I need. Not features or functions nobody here in these forums never heard or seen before except after the device updates and then Surprise!

.

[roustabout]

@orb:  there are two methods for blocking the update to the new OS (both would also work on the NC;  I posted detailed instructions on one for the NC here, along with a clockwork script to automate it.  The clockwork script may even be an option for the tablet;  I've seen screenshots of the CWR interface on the tablet.)

You are quite right, there's no reason to run software on your device without your approval. 

It would be very nice to have a button you could press that would say "don't update this device," but it's your device.  You control what happens on it, not BN. 

Perhaps you could write an app that would provide a button?  You'd need to can the SQLite command to change the flag from "automatic" to "manual" in the udpate field. 

Also be aware that just because BN has issued a patch that isn't the end of the tale, not by a long shot. 

[Mike1995]

Legally they own the software and can change it regardless whether you want it or not.  True most give you the option to update- but it's not required.  I think it would be nice if they gave users and option to update or not.  But to say what they're doing is wrong is just an opinion because they have the right to do it. 

[SwissyGal]

New here... first thread I've read (and my first post, too) because I've just recently rooted my NC. If at some point I can no longer use my NC in a rooted fashion, I'll just go out and buy a true tablet. By then, the prices will have come way down and there won't really be much difference in cost between a rooted NC and a real (non-Nook) tablet anyway. And since the non-Nook tablet will be hassle-free when it comes to loading apps and storing/playing movies, etc., it'll be a no-brainer as to which one I'll buy and/or recommend others buy.

[efeigenbaum]

---

I agree they own the software. Just like Apple or Microsoft owns their OS software. I might not agree with the changes that they make to it. But at least I have the option not to update the software if I choose so. B&N is not asking but forcing the updates and not giving me an option here and that is wrong!

As I pointed out if they want to give me the device for Free and point out that I have to live with whatever changes they deem right. Then I have the option to accept it for free knowing the restrictions up front. But when I pay for the device even if they sell it at cost. Then the device is still mine and I will determine what I allow or disallow on the device. If you want my monies then give me the features,functions and apps I need. Not features or functions nobody here in these forums never heard or seen before except after the device updates and then Surprise!

.

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When you bought the NC, you agreed to the terms and conditions.  Now, you are complaining about them.  Here's a thought: buy a full-blown Android tablet and you won't have these restrictions.  You bought a NC and you have to live with the restrictions they put on the device.  Build a bridge and get over it or get the n2a card and bypass it.  Those are your choices.  Complaining will accomplish exactly NOTHING.

[Nooksie]

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When you bought the NC, you agreed to the terms and conditions.  Now, you are complaining about them.  Here's a thought: buy a full-blown Android tablet and you won't have these restrictions.  You bought a NC and you have to live with the restrictions they put on the device.  Build a bridge and get over it or get the n2a card and bypass it.  Those are your choices.  Complaining will accomplish exactly NOTHING.

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Oh my Gosh!  Can you get more high and mighty?  Most people who are upset did perform that "due diligence" and then bought the device that suited their wants and need.  Many of those people are long time customers who own more than one Nook device.  

 B&N changed their device after happily selling it with the previous capabilities.  They should have been happier to serve their customers not doing what they can to to slap them in the face.

"Neener neener neener it's your own fault for trusting us" never brought anybody back into a store.

[orb9220]

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efeigenbaum wrote:

---

I agree they own the software. Just like Apple or Microsoft owns their OS software. I might not agree with the changes that they make to it. But at least I have the option not to update the software if I choose so. B&N is not asking but forcing the updates and not giving me an option here and that is wrong!

As I pointed out if they want to give me the device for Free and point out that I have to live with whatever changes they deem right. Then I have the option to accept it for free knowing the restrictions up front. But when I pay for the device even if they sell it at cost. Then the device is still mine and I will determine what I allow or disallow on the device. If you want my monies then give me the features,functions and apps I need. Not features or functions nobody here in these forums never heard or seen before except after the device updates and then Surprise!

.

---

When you bought the NC, you agreed to the terms and conditions.  Now, you are complaining about them.  Here's a thought: buy a full-blown Android tablet and you won't have these restrictions.  You bought a NC and you have to live with the restrictions they put on the device.  Build a bridge and get over it or get the n2a card and bypass it.  Those are your choices.  Complaining will accomplish exactly NOTHING.

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I am not complaining as sharing my feelings and displeasure. As I already as you pointed out Build a Bridge and rolled my own N2A card. As to it accomplishes nothing I disagree as always allows me to let off a little steam pressure and then feel a little better.

But I was giving my opinion on how I see right or wrong and my stance on owners rights on devices they chose to purchase. If that comes acoss as whining or complaining. Sorry you feel that way. I guess some get tired of the complaining. So guess I will just stop complaining then because you don't like to read it.

And yep just looked at NOOKcolor™ TERMS OF SERVICE

and yes if I had a night or two to read then try to comprehend just all that is on the longest? scrolling page on the B&N site. I might get a better grasp that it is all for B&N protection and distance themselves from any liabilities. And how they aren't responsible for anyting that happens to your data or device that is a results of their pushing without notification onto your device.

And yes your right it is a simple accept the terms or move on. But accepting or reading and understanding the Terms of Service is not simple at all.

Was just sharing my stance on some of what I considered to be inconsiderate actions of businesses that are always talking about the importance of satsified customers.

.

[geatdanemomDT]

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Nooksie wrote:

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When you bought the NC, you agreed to the terms and conditions.  Now, you are complaining about them.  Here's a thought: buy a full-blown Android tablet and you won't have these restrictions.  You bought a NC and you have to live with the restrictions they put on the device.  Build a bridge and get over it or get the n2a card and bypass it.  Those are your choices.  Complaining will accomplish exactly NOTHING.

---

Oh my Gosh!  Can you get more high and mighty?  Most people who are upset did perform that "due diligence" and then bought the device that suited their wants and need.  Many of those people are long time customers who own more than one Nook device.  

 B&N changed their device after happily selling it with the previous capabilities.  They should have been happier to serve their customers not doing what they can to to slap them in the face.

"Neener neener neener it's your own fault for trusting us" never brought anybody back into a store.

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  Maybe I am not looking in the right place, but where in the advertising for the NT did it tell you that it was going to provide you with the ability to sideload apps from other market places.

[PeterDe]

Here's a question, since BN didn't developed the software, but uses an open source, Google owned product, do they have a legal right to stop you?

[Piechow]

I just cant stop laughing at people that use the " I own it" or " I have rights to hack products and make them do what I want" LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. You bought a product and you are pissed off you cannot use it by hacking it ?? lolololololololololololol Do not be pissed at BN because you couldnt wait for a tablet and jumped the gun lolololololololololololol Hackers did NOT make the Nook what it is today so no appreciation is needed lolololololol. Im sorry this is just to funny reading these wacked out responces