![]() So far, all my B&N apps are integrating nicely with Google’s. Yep, you can still get apps from B&N if you choose (don’t forget the free app every Friday!). All the Nook features still work the same, the user profiles are still around, and the Nook appstore is still in business. Other than the loss of the stock web browser and the addition of widgets on the homescreen, nothing else about the Nook interface has really changed with the Google Play update. At least there are plenty of other options in Google Play, just not the stock browser… Chrome is a competent web browser but it’s so bare bones I can hardly stand using it anymore, and I especially hate how it insists on loading mobile versions of web pages by default. The stock browser had more features, like offline reading and an article view that formatted web pages nicely for reading. Speaking of web browsers, I’m probably one of a few that isn’t too happy with Google Chrome replacing the stock browser. Another thing is they left the option to add bookmarks from the web browser to the homescreen, except it no longer works because B&N removed their custom web browser in favor of Google Chrome with this update, and bookmarks from Google Chrome don’t show up on the list. One thing B&N forgot with the homescreen is the ability to create folders. ![]() You can remove the carousel if you don’t like it, and customize it to show just ebooks or apps or other content, which is a great idea and is something Amazon should offer on the Kindle Fire. B&N’s homescreen also has a carousel widget that I like for showing a list of recent ebooks. They updated it to support widgets now, so all the usual Android 4.0 type widgets work. I, for one, actually like B&N’s homescreen. Because of that alternate launchers don’t have quite the same feel as on other tablets, but widgets, shortcuts, and folders still work like normal so it’s pretty close to an open tablet feel. The only caveat is the Nook’s modified operating system is still present with the custom header and footer bar, along with the other OS tweaks like the recent apps list and modified menu layout. I tried Nova launcher and ADW launcher and both work well. One thing I was interested to find out is that you can even install alternate launchers for different homescreens and further customization. Google certification grants the Nook HD and HD+ access to content from Google’s MP3 music store, Google’s selection of movies and TV shows, magazines, and even ebooks too. More Content and CustomizationsĪnd it’s not just about getting Android apps either. And there are tons of free games, like Temple Run 2, Jetpack Joyride, Angry Birds, and Dead Trigger.īasically the software update took the Nook HD and Nook HD+ from having a selection of about 10,000 apps to install from the Nook appstore, to over 700,000 Android apps from Google Play. There are no B&N imposed restrictions at all. That’s the main advantage of having Google Play access is that you can install pretty much any Android apps that you want, even ereading apps like Kindle and Kobo. And the fun doesn’t stop at Google apps either. You can also install various other Google apps from the Play store, like Google Earth, Calendar, Currents, etc. YouTube (HD mode looks good and runs smooth) Google Play (most apps install without issue) Here’s the total list of Google apps that come pre-installed on the Nook HD and Nook HD+: I thought maybe they’d bring back the option to sideload Android apps from outside the Nook appstore like the Nook Tablet used to be able to do when it was first released before B&N closed the door with an infamous software update, but I never thought B&N would partner with Google and start shipping their tablets with all of the core Google apps pre-installed, including the competing Google Books ebook app. ![]() I was as shocked as anyone when the announcement was made I never expected B&N to make a move like that. This review is going to cover all the new details and features added after what happened last week when Barnes and Noble decided to issue a software update for the Nook HD and Nook HD+ to add support for Google Play and Google apps. I’m not going to cover any of the hardware details or any specific Nook features since that was all covered in the first review. First and foremost, it should be noted that this article is more of an addendum to my initial review of the Nook HD+ that was posted back in November when the device first came out rather than a completely new review.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |