Barnes & Noble’s Nook now has Google Play

May 042013
 

Nook HDThe other day, the big US bookstore chain Barnes & Noble announced that their line of Nook tablets will now be allowed to access the Google Play app store. This access applies only to the current line of tablets (the HD or HD+), not their original Nook Color or Tablet models.

One long-standing flaw of the Nook tablet is that until now, B&N didn’t allow the Nook access to Google Play, instead curating their own app store. Their own app store was limited in selection, older versions, and often charged for apps that were free from Google Play, such as Angry Birds. Since the Nook was easily rootable, however, the more geeky of us online didn’t mind much, and got around B&N’s limitations. Of course, this was early in the color tablet era (a.k.a. a few years ago); now, with a wide selection of tablets to choose from, such as the excellent and inexpensive Nexus 7, such limited access to apps is unacceptable. While Amazon’s app store for its Kindle is much better curated than Nook’s app store, Amazon’s Kindle still doesn’t allow access to the Google Play store. This might help differentiate the Nook from its Kindle competitor.

Since the Nook’s market share is lower compared to the iPad, Kindle, Nexus 7, etc., hopefully this change will allow the Nook (which is nice hardware otherwise) to gain ground. While sideloading apps still isn’t officially allowed, as The Digital Reader blog criticizes, I don’t think the average user the Nook’s aimed at will care one bit. I recall sideloading homebrewed apps on my old Palm Pre, but only because the official apps I wanted—which was most of what’s out there—didn’t have WebOS versions.

Digital comics alternatives to Comixology

Jan 132013
 
Archie #640 on the Nexus 7

Archie #640 in the Nook app on the Nexus 7.

While Comixology’s come to become the dominant force for digital comics, is convenient, and has a nice enough app, it does have some flaws. For one, the comic companies seem to have rushed into handing things over to a digital monopoly after years of complaining about the physical one to comic shops, Diamond. For another, there’s the proprietary nature of Comixology’s purchases—they’re in a file format that’s tied to the Comixology app, and thus no way to back up one’s purchases to an external hard drive, use an alternate program for reading comics, and so forth.

So I thought I’d post a few (legal) online alternatives I’ve used for reading comics…

Nook (Barnes and Noble)

Barnes and Noble’s online Nook store apparently offers everything in an EPUB format, including its comics. While wrapped in DRM, the comics still at least come in an actual conventional file format. The Nook store also offers apps to read and make purchases for iOS and Android operating systems, as well as Windows and OS X. However, not all their books are allowed to be read in the OS X version of the app for some reason; what platforms are allowed may be checked under the comic’s description.

Comics offered include same-day digital offerings for DC Comics and (after some hiatus on new books) Archie Comics. There’s also some digital trade paperbacks from DC, Marvel, Archie, and some smaller press/independent companies. Manga and some comic strip compilations (Pearls Before Swine, Get Fuzzy) also have digital versions offered. Marvel fans might be disappointed, as Nook doesn’t offer same-day sales on singles.

Kindle (Amazon.com)

Besides their comics being available on Amazon’s usual website, Amazon also offers a Kindle app for most operating systems, as well as the usual DRM. Amazon, however, is the one online ebook seller that doesn’t offer its books in EPUB format, but instead in its own format, AZW. Along with that, not all of their comics are offered in said format, but in some obscured format (similar to Comixology). Like the Nook, not all of Kindle’s comics are capable of being read on all platforms (again, the Mac’s often the odd man out). What platforms the comic will be readable on (and whether it’s an actual AZW file or not) involves reading the description carefully.

Amazon’s comics include same-day digital books for DC Comics, as well as some trade paperbacks for DC, Archie, Marvel, etc. Manga and some comic strip compilations are also offered digitally. There’s a lack of same-day digital books (or single-issue books, for that matter) for Marvel or Archie, however.

Kobo

Kobo doesn’t have a very strong presence here in the US, save as the ebook seller of choice for third-party tablet/ebook reader makers who need a convenient ebook store ready-to-go. Its main supporter, the Borders chain, unfortunately went bankrupt a few years ago. However, Kobo does have a stronger presence outside the US (where Amazon or Barnes and Noble have a reduced or no presence), including Canada. Kobo’s approach is to offer comics in either an obscured format (a la Kindle/Comixology) or in an EPUB format (like Nook), though largely the former. The ebook descriptions will openly list what format it’s in, whether there’s DRM, and what platforms it may be read on. Kobo offers apps for most of the major mobile and desktop platforms.

Kobo’s comic offerings are largely smaller-press or independent companies, including IDW and Archie. Kobo does offer the Archie titles as same-day digital purchases.

DriveThruComics.com

Drive Thru Comics is a site that specializes in smaller-press and independent books; no DC, Marvel, or Archie material here. The highest profile titles on Drive Thru Comics are “2000 AD” (the long-running British magazine featuring Judge Dredd) and Top Cow’s books (Witchblade, etc.). Unlike the other online stores, however, the books here are offered largely as DRM-free PDFs (aside from being watermarked with the purchaser’s name).

All of the above digital stores (like Comixology) are supported on my Nexus 7 (as Android apps for Kindle, Kobo, and Nook exist). As for which digital comics store I use, I mostly use Nook, since: it’s the app I’ve bought the most books with (my first tablet being a Nook Color); Nook offers all of its comics in EPUB format; they offer DC and Archie as same-day digital books (unlike Kindle/Kobo); and since their comics are all EPUBs (versus an obscured/proprietary format), there’s an actual file I can backup for myself, after using Calibre/third-party Calibre plugins to remove the comics’ DRM (no, I’m not advocating piracy, just personal ownership rights for what I paid for).

That’s all the online venues I can think of for now… if there’s any others, I’ll discuss them in the future.

DC Comics to sell same-day digital comics via Nook, Kindle, and Apple

Nov 082012
 

DC ComicsYesterday, DC Comics announced that they’ll start selling same-day digital comics through several non-Comixology sources. These sources include Barnes and Noble’s Nook store, Amazon.com’s Kindle service, and Apple’s iBookstore service. The comics will apparently be priced similarly to Comixology’s (i.e. the same as the paper copies). Details may be read here.

I view this as a big step, plus a positive sign. Perhaps someone at DC’s realized that giving Comixology a complete monopoly on digital comics was a bad thing, or would put them in the same situation as that for the monopolistic distributor for comic book shops, Diamond. Still, an actual wider range of choices to buy comics from is a good thing. Said bookstores are also much more prominent among the general public than comic-specific apps; one can buy comics alongside “regular” text books, magazines, etc., just like the old days (when comics were sold at newsstands).

The usual downsides are that the comics are still overpriced (a reason I’ve mostly moved to trade paperbacks, which fortunately are also sold digitally via the above sources), and that they’re still DRMed as ebooks. However, the biggest advantage over Comixology is that they’re in EPUB format (or Kindle’s non-EPUB format) like any other ebook—and that means there’s an actual file I can back up on my own, plus remove the DRM myself. While I’d prefer DRM-free materials, as long as I can perform the latter (which with Calibre and a few plugins is easy… future blog post on this, I suppose), I can finally switch to buying “Superman Family Adventures” digitally, probably via the Nook app on my Nexus 7.

Nook Color and Nook Tablet now have CBZ file support

Apr 022012
 

Nook Color setupRecently, I’ve discovered that the most recent update for the Nook Color and Nook Tablet has given the Nook built-in support for CBZ files. CBZ is a popular digital comic book format online—mostly found with smaller press or independent publications, public domain materials, and (yes, I know) pirated materials. CBZ is merely a renamed ZIP file containing sequentially numbered JPGs. A common companion format of CBZ is CBR (a renamed RAR file).

Testing some CBZ files on my Nook Color shows it displays the comics just fine. While there’s no support for CBR files, converting CBRs to CBZs is fairly straightforward (in Xubuntu, right-click on the CBR and select “Extract Here,” then right-click on the extracted files’ folder and select “Create Archive,” then select “CBZ” from the drop-down menu and click “OK”).

On a related note, I wonder why Barnes and Noble doesn’t offer the Comixology app. Despite the heavily DRMed nature of Comixology’s comics (proprietary files only readable or accessible within the app; basically a glorified rental model), it seems to have become the most popular online legal comics venue. I suppose it’d mean less sales of B&N’s own digital graphic novels, though.

 

Tech thoughts: Barnes and Noble introduces the “Nook Tablet”

Nov 052011
 

Nook Color setup
This week, Barnes and Noble (on the heels of the recent Kindle Fire news) has announced an update to its Nook Color tablet. The “Nook Tablet” will share most of the same features as the Color, but come with more tablet oriented software and features: 16GB internal storage, a MicroSD slot, and support for multimedia features such as Netflix. The price tag will be at $249; the old Nook Color will be discounted to $199.

More info on the Nook Tablet is available in this Engadget article.

For me, I’ll stick with my first-generation Color, which still works well as an ebook and comic book reader; rooting it allowed me to install Comixology and CBR/CBZ comic reader apps. Since I don’t have a need for streaming video/audio on the device, the Color works well for me in its limited usage. I imagine people looking for a cheap alternative to the iPad will be interested in the Nook Tablet… assuming they simply don’t buy the $200 Kindle Fire. Some of the Fire’s specs are lower than those for the Nook, plus the Fire lacks a MicroSD slot.

Guess we’ll see what happens to the Fire and Tablet once both are head-to-head with each other. The Tablet will be released on November 16.

Nook Color finally gains Android 2.2 upgrade, Flash, the long-promised app store

Apr 252011
 

Barnes and Noble today has released a major upgrade for the Nook Color. Not only has it been upgraded to Android 2.2, but it now comes with the long-promised Barnes and Noble app store. Flash has also been included in the upgrade. More information may be found here:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/04/nook-color-gets-froyo-flash-facebook-and-angry-birds.ars

While I’d imagine those of us who rooted our Nooks won’t be reverting back to a stock install just to run 2.2, I do think this is a good upgrade for the Nook. A slightly more modern Android version, Flash support, and a basic app store are all good features for the general public. Several caveats, though: for Flash fans, Engadget, in its own review of the Nook Color upgrade, notes that so far it’s *not* the “fastest plugin alive.” There’s also no Android Market, of course, though that’s available for the rooters.

For the general public, this will make an already-nice ebook reader/basic tablet much nicer. Not sure how much pressure this will put on the Kindle, however.

Anthony roots the Nook Color

Mar 132011
 

After some thought, and seeing that Barnes and Noble seems to be dragging their feet on introducing their own app store for the Nook Color (as they promised to do months ago), I’ve decided to go ahead and root my Nook. The Nook Color’s been quite popular among tech enthusiasts, as it’s easy to root, and thus allows one to turn it into a cheap, mostly-full-fledged Android tablet. With the rooting, of course, comes access to the Android Market and its various apps (most of which work with the Nook). In terms of ebooks, it’s also possible to install an app that’ll allow you to read ebooks made for the Kindle. In my case, I’m interested in reading comics on the Nook without having to convert them to PDFs first, thus a comic reader app was part of my motivation for rooting.

Here are the sites with the instructions I followed for rooting the Nook Color:

http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Rooting

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/guides/2011/02/howto-root-a-nook-color-to-transform-it-into-an-android-tablet.ars/

The most difficult part I had was using the “dd” Unix/Linux terminal command to copy the disk image to the MicroSD card, though somebody online helped me out on that point.

Otherwise, things went smoothly, and I was easily able to root/set up the Nook Color. I installed a few apps, including the Droid Comic Reader and Angry Birds. I’d heard much about Angry Birds, but never gotten a chance to play it until now. I can see why it’s popular; like Frozen Bubble, it’s simple, but addictive.

As for Droid Comic Reader, it worked nicely…for awhile at least. I say “for awhile” because unfortunately, it started to throw up “out of memory” errors. I’ll check online to see if there’s any alternate comic readers, or if there’s a way to fix Droid Comic Reader, though from the looks of what I’m seeing so far, it doesn’t seem likely (the “out of memory” error/bug seems to have been around for awhile).

I’ve also installed the Android Comixology app, which works quite nicely, downloading my already-purchased comics to the Nook. The app (and the Nook) is much nicer to read comics on than Comixology’s website/within my laptop’s browser.

Overall, it’s nice to see my Nook Color now has a lot more functionality to it. I’ll report more on my experiences with the rooted Nook in the future.

Update: Think I might’ve found a better app for reading comics, “Perfect Viewer.” Lofty-minded name (and the programmer doesn’t seem to speak English as his primary language), but it seems to work much better with CBR/CBZ files (no out-of-memory errors so far). I’ll post another update if that proves not to be the case.

Anthony buys the Nook Color: initial thoughts

Feb 132011
 

After much consideration (and going over my future budget plans), I finally decided to buy the Nook Color, Barnes and Noble’s new LCD color ebook reader. Among my reasons for buying the Nook Color: something to read digital comics with (other than my laptop); giving the growing new area of ebooks a try; staying up on new tech (ebook readers and tablets); and possibly writing a few articles (or blog posts) out of owning an ebook reaader.

Since the Internet apparently is infatuated with unboxing photos/videos for new gadgets, here’s my photos of opening and turning on the Nook Color (or “Nook” for short from here on):

Nook Color still in its box

Nook Color unboxing #1

Nook Color unboxing #2

Nook Color setup

Setting up the Nook was straightforward, as the automated setup asked for my information (email address, etc.). I noticed the address information allowed for inputing Canadian addresses; maybe an indication that Barnes and Noble might consider selling the Nook north of the border?

After fully charging the Nook, I placed some digital comics onto it. Given most of my comic files are in CBR/CBZ format (and the Nook Color doesn’t have a comic reading app, or at least not yet), I used an open-source program called Calibre to convert the files to PDF format (turning off the comic conversion preferences first, which ironically made the resulting images look better), then transferred them to the Nook. The Nook handled the PDFs nicely, though it was a big sluggish at page-turning on a few PDFs I didn’t make. One or two PDFs wouldn’t open at all, instead giving error messages. The pictures looked great on the Nook. If and when Barnes and Noble gets their app store up and running, I’d like to see a comic reader app as one of the apps offered, not to mention the bookstore offer a wider selection of comics (presumably from smaller-press or independent companies, per the big comic companies’s skittishness about comics).

I’ll post more about the Nook in the future, but for now, it seems like it’ll be a nice way to read certain electronic documents. I look forward to giving the magazine purchasing and public library ebook borrowing features a try…

First in-person look at the Nook Color, my thoughts

Jan 092011
 

Earlier today, I went to Barnes and Noble to see for myself the Nook Color, the bookstore chain’s 7″ color LCD screen ebook reader, which has some tablet functionality. I spent about an hour or so going over it, trying out various functions. My thoughts:

  • The Nook Color does weigh more than its plain black-and-white e-ink Nook counterpart (or the Kindle), though not as heavy as what an iPad weighs.
  • Text in ebooks was easy enough to read. Pictures and graphics (as seen in the sample magazines and children’s books) looked great. While there weren’t any comics to test out (though I suppose I should’ve pulled some comic strips up with the included web browser—more on the browser below), I imagine they’d look great on the Nook. Asking the clerk if there’d be any comics (or comics apps) got a generic response, though she cited manga being available through B&N’s ebooks bookstore. The generic response is presumably because B&N hasn’t finished setting up its Nook app store yet (no Android Market access, though a rooted Nook could access it). I’d hope (or would assume) that there’ll be some comics-related apps (such as the Android app Comixology has come up with) available, though since the Nook Color supports PDF files, I could convert some digital comics from .CBR/.CBZ to .PDF.
  • Buying books and magazines was quite easy to do. I “bought” an issue of “Consumer Reports,” and tried it out. It looked just like the print edition, though the electronic version’s several dollars cheaper than the newsstand version (and wouldn’t suck up shelf space like my pile of “Consumer Reports” does).
  • One issue, one that I assume might be lessened with the upcoming Android 2.2 upgrade (the Nook Color runs Android 2.1), is zooming in on text/pictures and pinch-to-zoom. On occasion, both of these features wasn’t so smooth.
  • Pandora and a basic music player are included, but there wasn’t any sample music to try out that features.
  • The built-in web browser worked quite well, accessing web sites just like any smartphone/iPod Touch/iPad browser.
  • The build quality seemed good, though I might not have had enough contact with ebook readers/tablets to compare its quality to. The front of the Nook Color feels sturdy, while the back is made of a rubberized material, making it easy to hold onto. Buttons on the Nook include the power button and a volume rocker switch. There’s also a micro-USB cable plug and a slide-open slot for a Micro SD card.
  • While I was trying out the Nook, I saw several people approach the kiosk to look at them. One told me she has the Nook Color, and loved it (she was there to buy a case for hers, so she could “take it outside”). Another, a younger male, noted how the Nook Color was more interesting/cheaper than the iPad (and wondered if it’d have Android Marketplace access, which it doesn’t). Finally, an elderly man and who I assumed were his grandchildren weren’t impressed; the man thought it was “too complicated.”
  • Cases and plastic screen protectors (like the protector I have on my Palm Pre) were on sale at the kiosk. However, B&N wanted, at the cheapest, $30 for a case and $15 for the screen protector, which would push the $249 Nook Color cost to $294 (and over $300 with sales tax included). Steeper than the Kindle/Sony Reader/black-and-white Nook, though I assume there’s cheaper cases/screen shields available elsewhere.

Overall, I was impressed by the Nook Color, and think it has much potential as a color ebook reader, especially if its own app store actually sees development for it (plus future Android updates). Currently, I’m strongly thinking about buying the Nook Color. I assume it’ll eventually be surpassed by color e-ink readers, if and when those become cost-effective and feasible (which is probably some distance in the future). For some digital comics (though I’d still also be purchasing paper ones), digital magazines, and some ebooks (including library ebooks), I could see the Nook Color being quite useful. Still, the downside is spending $250 (or around $300 with a case/screen protector), and the worry of the Nook Color, or any ebook reader/tablet, being a redundant gadget. While I know it’s supposed to fill a perceived space in functionality between the smartphone and laptop (at least, that’s how Apple pitched the iPad originally), I can read comics on my laptop, as well as non-DRMed ebooks. Though the Nook would be more compact as an ebook reader, plus would allow me access to cheaper digital versions of magazines and couldd save some space on paper comics. I’d like to know how others decided an ebook reader was worth purchasing, and how it fits into their lives (versus just sticking with a laptop for the same functionality).

CES 2011 and tablets

Jan 022011
 

The Nook ColorThis week is the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, during which the tech world (and tech websites) will be inundated with electronics news of all sorts.

I’m particularly interested in news about any tablets announced. On the heels of the iPad’s success, this year tablets will probably be the dominant product, attempts at pushing 3D TVs on the public aside. I’ve been considering buying one to read magazines and some comic books on, plus the public library apparently offers some ebooks for checkout as well. Since I don’t want an iPad (too expensive and proprietary/not Linux compatible), that leaves me to look at the various tablets that’ve hit the market. There’ve been a massive pile of tablets released; however, most of them have proven mediocre at best, or are crippled in some way (many of them not having access to the Android Marketplace, etc.).

I expect CES will announce some interesting new tablet model(s) coming out, though most of them probably won’t be released for months. Android, the OS behind most of the tablets, is supposed to have a big upgrade later in 2011 (“Honeycomb,” or version 3.0) that’s more supportive of tablets, though I’d assume most of the ones being made today will be upgradeable.

The most attractive tablet to me so far is bookstore Barnes and Noble’s Nook Color, which at $250 is an ideal price range for what I’d pay for a tablet. Reviews of it are mostly positive as well; it seems well-made, is in color (natch), and is backed by a major bookstore chain. It’s being sold by Barnes and Noble as a color ebook reader with some “extra functions,” and seems to have some niche between being a tablet and being a plain ebook reader (like the Kindle). The Nook Color, like many other tablets, won’t have access to Android Marketplace; instead, B&N says they’ll be making their own app store for the Nook Color, with encouragement toward reading-oriented apps. I’d hope this will mean comic-related apps, but otherwise, encouraging their own app store instead of using Marketplace makes me a bit wary. I don’t want a repeat of the situation with WebOS and my Palm Pre. However, the Nook Color is easily rootable, to turn it into a full-fledged Android tablet (with Marketplace support), but I’d rather not do that if possible. Comixology, one of the dominant digital comic websites, is offering a beta Android app, so hopefully Barnes and Noble will offer that for the Nook Color. Otherwise, the Nook Color supports .PDF files, so converting other formats (like .CBR/.CBZ) to it shouldn’t be difficult.

There’s also the Archos 70 and 101 line of tablets, for about $25 more than the Nook Color. While not tied to a specific retailer like the Nook (and also Marketplace-free), there seems to be a bit of a shadow over it: Engadget in a review claims its build quality is decidedly lacking.

I look forward to seeing what CES announcements will come, but that aside, I’d also appreciate any suggestions from others for a tablet (or tablet-meets-ebook-readers like the Nook Color).