Nook Tablets will be automatically updating to version 1.4.1 over Wi-Fi all this week, but if you're one of the people that likes sideloading non-B&N apps, you won't be happy about it. Barnes & Noble says only that the new firmware simply "provides minor system enhancements," but there are reports from both xda-developers and the B&N Community that it also disables sideloading apps and removes root access. (Maybe those are the "enhancements.") All is not lost however; any apps you installed before the update will continue to work.
If you don't want to give up sideloading, you're going to face two pretty inconvenient options: avoiding Wi-Fi altogether, or rooting your tablet to disable automatic updates. The people at xda-developers might eventually figure out a way to work around the restrictions of 1.4.1, but you'd probably end up needing to root your device to do that anyway. Keep it simple: just sideload your favorite unsanctioned apps before the update hits your device.
There are 28 Comments. Add yours.
Because it worked so well for AT&T when they did it…
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 2:38 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
AT&T is an unethical company for not one but for many reasons.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 3:21 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
They’re shooting themselves in the foot. The fire seems to be the $200 table t of choice even tho the nook is actually better. So closing the system down isn’t going to help bring them more customers.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 2:44 PM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
What a crock of shit. B&N has systematically destroyed everything that made the original Nook Color such an awesome device. First with a locked bootloader; followed by a 1GB allotment for non-B&N content in the on-board memory; and now this nonsense. What was brilliant about the Nook was the fact that it could be modified. I am glad I opted to pass on the Nook Tablet (and the Fire) and opted for a true Android tablet. Now if only that Transformer prime would hurry up and get here. Anyone looking for a Tablet in the $200-$300 range, should bypass these turkeys and just go straight for an Acer A100. at least there they’ll have better specs and full Android.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 2:47 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
B&N and Amazon are not interested in selling you discounted hardware to goof with. At least you got one thing right, you should look elsewhere.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 3:50 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
True, perhaps, but a BIG part of the appeal of these devices was their ability to be modified. I’ll give you that many buy the Fire for Amazon’s content, but lets face it there is no content access benefit to owning a Nook (unless you like reading for free in a store for one hour per day). The standard nook, while much better than the fire is little more than a fancy book reader. As a tablet it leaves you wanting (unless it is modified that is). Oh well, at least there are options.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 5:07 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
People tend to get caught in the human emotion side of things.. These are corps.. they dont give a damn about our impression of them as long as it makes money.. If they can make more money by playing the good guy then cool, as soon as playing the good guy stops paying the bills or being the bad guy looks more promising ANY corp will drop you and their so called values in a second..
Unfortunately the corps that tend to be the most emotional end up failing when market trends switch.. Nintendo has some tough decisions ahead for example
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 5:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Seems like a waste of development resources to stop the tiny percentage of people who care to sideload. What’s the benefit for the cost of closing such loopholes?
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 2:52 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Guess its a good thing I already installed the kindle reader on the nook tablet I gave to my mom.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 3:10 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s probably one of the exact things that B&N is afraid of.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 4:30 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Kindle Fire, Nook Color, iPad, TF Prime: the other android stuff is too fragmented. That said B&N with their streamlined tablet platform should be doing things to keep their customers happy: not more lockdowns!
I can’t click dislike for B&N’s choice but I will never vote for one of their tablets if they are going to be like this!
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 3:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wow. You would think that B&N would be happy that you purchased their frick’n tablet. They got your money not let us do what we want with it. But the more a hear about this tablet, the more I’m glad I got a Kindle Fire.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 3:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I have a Kindle Fire, and I have also sideloaded many apps, but one that I have not sideloaded was the Nook app. Amazon is not concerned with people loading up B&N’s Nook app, but I am fairly sure that B&N is feeling the hurt with people sideloading the Kindle app. B&N needs those book sales.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 3:28 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Hey anybody have a gun I feel like shooting myself in the foot. Yeah I figure only one foot is good. I mean what am I gonna do walk on it?
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 3:40 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I understand what they are probably trying to do, but here’s the problem: Their content is not awesome enough to be compelled to like like the B&N. why not let the users do what they want until the ecosystem is more complete. Otherwise I think buyers will just get alternatives. They don’t seem to understand that Kindle fire may not be as good but their ecosystem is king on comparison.
Apple can only do Apple style of ownership, no one else gets away with that.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 3:44 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You are right. And if anybody was going to get close to Apple’s style of ownership, it isn’t B&N, but rather their biggest competitor.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 4:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It’s pretty messed up for those who bought the Nook Tablet understanding that app sideloading was enabled and are then forced to update. It would be a little different if people could opt out of the update. I’m glad I just sold mine last Sunday. It would be worthless to me without sideloading.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 4:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I also agree that the Acer A100 is a good choice for a 7" tablet as long as you don’t care about viewing angles. The screen looks great if you hold it just right.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 4:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Well crap. Should I unwrap the Nook Tablet sitting under the tree for my wife and sideload things I think she’ll want that B&N doesn’t have? Seriously B&N, you’re really making me wish I had gotten her an iPad instead.
I’m guessing the engineering team left it open because they knew that’ll be better for the product in the long run, and then some idiot higher ups heard that people could do this and said “wtf, fix it!”. At least I could see that happening!
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 5:03 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I think what we ought to do is return this product in MASS. B & N needs to understand that we purchased their product as it WAS a great value. Now that value is less than that of the Nook Color. My best guess is they sought advice from Zuckerburg or the CEO of Netflix…… or maybe the guy who came up with New Coke. Anyway….. I need help to organize a mass return of these devices via facebook and twitter. Anybody out there wanna help?
Posted on Dec 23, 2011 | 9:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Does anyone know if you will still be able to sideload mp4 movies (your own) on an sd card?
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 6:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So after seeing recently that the nook and the kindle are both getting rid of side loading apps with automatic updates, it makes my decision for what I will get a lot easier. Looks like I will be spending a bit more money for a full featured android tablet that wont keep me so constrained.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 6:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Where did you hear that the Kindle Fire update would kill sideloading?
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 7:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I saw the same thing reported on several tech sites this morning.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 11:41 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Well, no one will buy Nook Tablet now.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 10:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Rather than trying to force user’s to use the B&N apps and the B&N book store by locking down the Nook Tablet, maybe they should try being more competitive by providing better book prices and a better overall B&N book store experience. You’d have two fronts -hardware-books. People who just want good Android hardware at a good price and those who want good hardware and a good book variety. It would be a win win situation for all. Locking down the hardware will only force people to root the device and after going through all that trouble, why should I buy from B&N? I’ll buy my books from the Google book store and use Adobe to port them back into the Nook environment for reading.
Posted on Dec 24, 2011 | 1:02 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
so to sideload, you must root the device? bad move
Posted on Dec 24, 2011 | 4:14 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
i am glad I saw this, I was researching the device with the intent to buy it, but will not be doing so. I have a working ebook device that will work for both BN or Amazon, but was wanting to also be able to use youtube and other online services. It will likely be another year before reasonably priced working tablets will be available.
As for the corporate control, I just chose to deal with someome else or maybe just not deal when a company pulls a trick like this one. BN has lost me as a customer in the future because they can not be trusted to deal in good faith. No one made them build and off a tablet they did it by themselves so now that they are shutting down other apps, they will like Bank of America and Verizon, find that folks will not stay their customer if you do stupid and greedy things like this. There are plenty of places to do business and maybe sometime inconvient but never the less doable.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 2:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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