Nook 1.1 doesn't affect hacks, root still possible

The NookDevs team hasn't wasted any time poring over the recently-released Nook 1.1 update, and there's good news: 1.1 can still be rooted, and rooted 1.0 devices will stay that way after the update. In other news, nookdevs team member robbiet480 just sat down with Nookaholic for an interview, and he dished a few tidbits: the Nook's Android build is called "Bravo," the internal WiFi had to be tweaked to stop turning itself off every three hours, and Bravo itself is basically Android 1.5. Nothing major, but we're definitely getting the feeling the Nook is going to be leading a double life as both a mom-friendly ebook reader and a happy-hacker hardware playground from here on out, you know?

[Thanks, Cameron]

[From My Cube Posted Dec 21st 2009 5:02PM]

B&N would be smart to play dumb on this, get a hack happy nook going abound and it will help set its place even further against the kindle

[Anatidae Posted Dec 21st 2009 5:15PM]

@From My Cube You said it.

[Carld Posted Dec 21st 2009 10:08PM]

@From My Cube

Providing free unlimited 3G service to all those hacked nooks will kill B&N's budget like a bullet through the head.

[Information Central Posted Dec 21st 2009 10:55PM]

This would be much more exciting if the device were actually available.

[starkruzr Posted Dec 22nd 2009 3:14AM]

@Carld All they have to do is make it only connect to their download service on the server side. Problem solved.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2009 2:48PM]

@Carld Now if there is a way to keep the 3G locked down but the WiFi open...

[schmidt1985 Posted Dec 21st 2009 5:13PM]

Nook!!!

[Eugene Action Posted Dec 21st 2009 5:28PM]

Awwww Nookie Nookie now

[Eugene Action Posted Dec 21st 2009 5:29PM]

or, I did it all for the Nookie

[yulebellow Posted Dec 21st 2009 5:34PM]

@Eugene Action

You better live up to your name!

[Eugene Action Posted Dec 21st 2009 6:26PM]

@yulebellow srsly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD8uc2IiQvo

[solarpos Posted Dec 21st 2009 5:31PM]

I guess these instructions are for after January 11th? Just ship them and furthermore ship them with the update already. And even furthermore send a marbled rye with them.

[Armen Posted Dec 21st 2009 5:34PM]

I hope Engadget is a good place to get the attention of people writing hacks/programs for nook, I have a Cybook Gen3 and using its dictionary is just painful, this is something that easily can be avoided in nook using its lcd touch-screen:

It's a simple problem [or at least seems much simpler than running a browser :P ]
- My first and second languages are not English so while reading a book I need to use the dictionary a lot... and the process of slowly moving the cursor (*) to the word I want to look up is torturous, then there is a number of .5 seconds involved in showing the definition, its next page(s), and then refreshing the page itself. Wouldn't it be nice if we could have a virtual keyboard on touchscreen, type in the word, see the definition on the touchscreen itself, scroll up and down there (touchscreen) [maybe even hearing the pronunciation]?

(*) As I have seen in a review on youtube, the process of selecting a word for looking up is the same on nook too.

[a dumb cat Posted Dec 21st 2009 7:29PM]

Does anyone else want a nook now more than ever? Never was in the market for an e-reader, but I just cannot contain my excitement and now want one of these!

[Old fogie late bloomer Posted Dec 22nd 2009 12:32PM]

@a dumb cat

YES! I had no interest in the Nook at all but now I'm definitely intrigued. I'm probably going to adopt a wait-and-see attitude though, see how B&N handles the situation.

[Serus Posted Dec 21st 2009 7:38PM]

I picked up a Kindle last week for the wife, now were thinking of returning it for a Nook. The standard features are a wash, throw in some android apps and abilities and the nook is in the lead.

[cprender Posted Dec 21st 2009 8:21PM]

I am not sure whether they did this on purpaose or it is just a fluke, but IMO, the openness of the OS, more than any feature, is going to really smash the Kindle.

[Carld Posted Dec 21st 2009 10:10PM]

@cprender

It's not open, it's hacked. Wait and see what B&N's response is before celebrating.

[JBDragon Posted Dec 21st 2009 11:41PM]

Not just B&N's response, but AT&T's Response. It's their Network people are stealing from!!! Either B&N get this hack closed up Permanently, or be sued and all NOOKS banned from AT&T service. Sure not going to get anyone else on board either to take their place. So the more people with NOOKS hacking the ebook for the free wireless network access, the faster it all goes away, one way or another.

[DizWARE Posted Dec 22nd 2009 1:42AM]

@JBDragon
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't ATT providing their service, gratis, thanks to B&N? Just like the Kindle?

Anyway, I don't see people trying to browse the internet on this thing, so I'm assuming the worst thing that hacking will bring is tethering. Luckly for ATT, their bandwidth isn't worth the jack and spit its made of. People will try it, quickly get bored of waiting for a decent connection and never try it again...The problem basically solves itself :)

[groberts1980 Posted Dec 22nd 2009 9:20AM]

@DizWARE AT&T 3G is actually pretty decent, contrary to popular belief. It's good enough for the iPhone, anyway. Their Edge network, on the other hand, is basically useless to all but the dumbest of phones.

[joelaf Posted Dec 22nd 2009 2:39PM]

AT&T provides most of the cellphone and DSL coverage here in Atlanta, including what comes from non AT&T providers. My boss's phone has 1-2 bars in our office, while my prepaid phone usually has a full set. Sometimes it really is "just" the phone.