[NEWS] B&N Annoucnes Official Google Play Support

[dong1225]

This is a HUGE news in my opinion. Official support for Google Play/Google Apps coming to Nook HD and HD+ soon


Barnes & Noble's press release
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130502006907/en/Barnes-Noble-Announces-Google-Play™-NOOK®-HD

Engadget's Hands On video of the new support.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/03/...nd-nobles-nook-hd-and-hd-we-go-han/#continued

They say it will be rolling out Over-The-Air and provide access to other Google Apps such as GMail, Maps and Chrome (which is now apparently the new default browser)

I personally can't be more excited for this even though I've been running rooted OS and CM10 SD side by side ever since they became available.

Being able to access Google Play and having official support for many more apps will make HD/HD+ just that much more accessible and usable imo.

Now if only we could the the stock multitasking interface too....


UPDATE: New version number is Version 2.1.0, and you can manually download the update file from Barnes & Noble's website
Just select the Software Update link for the corresponding device and follow the instructions. (You just have to put the update file on the root of your Nook's directory)

I have no idea if it closes any of the rooting exploits, but my impression has been that since we got CWM working, we don't really have to worry about not being able to root now. Still please be cautious if you don't want to risk possibly losing the ability to root/downgrade/run custom ROMs. Just wait it out until the wise wizards of the forum figures out exactly what's going on.

 

[asawi]

That is fantastic news!! Will go and spread it now! Wow!! :good:

 

[xecutionkrk]

can't install downloaded apk apps...fail once again by B&N

 

[dong1225]

I can confirm that keyboard and launchers downloaded from Play Store works as well as they did with previous "manual" installations.
There are still quite some apps that are just listed as "incompatible" from the Play Store, but having Maps and Chrome running without a fuss is great.

The paper-textured dock has been also been changed in favour of sleeker dark one, (with white icons in place of black ones now) and it seems like "white-on-white" problem is resolved too. (Might have to try out more apps though.)

 

[leapinlar]

I can confirm that Universal Root zip still works. Took me a while to straighten out the Play Store though. But it works too, even if you had flashed my gapps zip. May take me a while to test everything to be sure the zips still work.

Sent from my Nook HD+ running CM10 on Hybrid SD

 

[asawi]

Just for kicks I unrooted, erased and deregistered before updating to be sure to have absolutley stock setup. And it's working beautifully!
I have installed all my favourite apps with no problem at all.
I seems to me like the general UI is running a bit smoother than before.
And there is widget support in the stock launcher! (Maybe that was tehre before, but I ran ADW Ex right from the start, so I ddn't explore stock that much before.)
Edit: Making one nice discovery after another! Voice search works! And Zinio works as well. I thought maybe they would have found a way to block their competition in the magazine market, but no!

 

[sayw0rd]

Just for kicks I unrooted, erased and deregistered before updating to be sure to have absolutley stock setup. And it's working beautifully!
I have installed all my favourite apps with no problem at all.
I seems to me like the general UI is running a bit smoother than before.
And there is widget support in the stock launcher! (Maybe that was tehre before, but I ran ADW Ex right from the start, so I ddn't explore stock that much before.)
Edit: Making one nice discovery after another! Voice search works! And Zinio works as well. I thought maybe they would have found a way to block their competition in the magazine market, but no!

Do you think we will be able to sideload apps and install them through file explorer apps?

 

[xdatoast]

Ironically, I bit the bullet and installed the CM 10 Hybrid SD Rom less than 12 hours ago (after using stock root for some time).

Part of me is hoping this configuration has some advantages over the new BN stock but I'd love to hear from people about the advantages/disadvantages of using CM10 vs. the new BN stock so I can make a firm decision about which ROM I'll use daily.

Thanks in advance.

 

[asawi]

Do you think we will be able to sideload apps and install them through file explorer apps?

Not right away "out of the box" as it looks. I suspect rooting will be needed to "enable unknown sources", but I'd love to be wrong. Can't test right now though.

 

[Tierneykev]

Do you think we will be able to sideload apps and install them through file explorer apps?

Nope

Currently running stock with the latest update, no root. Just tried to install the amazon app store via astro and get the message that install is blocked for applications not obtained from the app store (or google play)

 

[sayw0rd]

Nope

Currently running stock with the latest update, no root. Just tried to install the amazon app store via astro and get the message that install is blocked for applications not obtained from the app store (or google play)

okay so I guess this is a pointless update for me then

 

[kunchers]

This is definitely an improvement: I ditched my other launcher now that I can put non-BN apps and widgets on the homescreen. But I still can't install some of my favorite apps, like Yelp. These and others are listed as incompatible.

 

[jm9843]

What version of Android is the latest stock Nook HD+ running? Is it still on ICS?

 

[bpaulien]

That is very cool. I'm not near my Nook now but I hope with this new version it will now show apps loaded from play store in the app drawer as well as in the recent apps?

Sent from my LG-LS855 using xda app-developers app

 

[fanoush]

What version of Android is the latest stock Nook HD+ running? Is it still on ICS?

Yes, still 4.0.4

I still can't install some of my favorite apps, like Yelp. These and others are listed as incompatible.

It may be due to missing hardware features. They have added network location provider to this new release so many apps that need location are now compatible but other missing hardware like GPS or camera may still rule out many apps. GPS location can be added via patch, many apps claim to need it.

 

[kunchers]

Yeah, I noticed the new location features in the update and was hoping that it would make apps like Yelp compatible. You mentioned a patch for GPS?

Yes, still 4.0.4



It may be due to missing hardware features. They have added network location provider to this new release so many apps that need location are now compatible but other missing hardware like GPS or camera may still rule out many apps. GPS location can be added via patch, many apps claim to need it.

 

[fanoush]

Yeah, I noticed the new location features in the update and was hoping that it would make apps like Yelp compatible. You mentioned a patch for GPS?

Yes, it is included in leapinlar's location services rev 1 patch http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2062613 it adds android.hardware.location.gps.xml to device hardware features (and with bluetooth gps and Bluetooth GPS app it even works inside apps).

Not sure if Yelp specifically needs GPS though.

 

[The Old One]

So we have "Official" support for installing the kindle app on our nooks now.

Sent from my DROID4 using xda app-developers app

 

[kunchers]

Might be worth checking out -- thanks!

Yes, it is included in leapinlar's location services rev 1 patch http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2062613 it adds android.hardware.location.gps.xml to device hardware features (and with bluetooth gps and Bluetooth GPS app it even works inside apps).

Not sure if Yelp specifically needs GPS though.

 

[Taosaur]

Ironically, I bit the bullet and installed the CM 10 Hybrid SD Rom less than 12 hours ago (after using stock root for some time).

Part of me is hoping this configuration has some advantages over the new BN stock but I'd love to hear from people about the advantages/disadvantages of using CM10 vs. the new BN stock so I can make a firm decision about which ROM I'll use daily.

Thanks in advance.

I haven't tried new stock yet, but the things that kept me going back to CM10 even after I had stock rooted and Play installed were the ICS/Jellybean recent apps display and the incompatibility of some apps. If they let launchers override the native notification bar, on-screen buttons and recent apps, I'd probably run straight stock.