[Q] Alternatives to sideloading without rooting in 1.4.1 - Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet

I recently bought a NT for my wife and she doesn't want me rooting it while it's still under warranty. Given that I'm new to Android, in general, and to the NT in particular, and I've never rooted anything, and the fact that it's her NT, not mine, I really can't argue with her.
But I hate how B&N has locked it down and, with the recent OTA 1.4.1 push, blocked sideloading. Everything I've read has said that 1) either I need to root it or 2) I need to have enabled app install from unknown sources while 1.4.0 was on the NT in order to get around the 1.4.1 sideloading block.
Neither apply in this case.
So my questions are:
1) Is there any alternative?
2) Is it possible to download an app (.apk) onto my computer and change some setting in it that would make it appear that it's from B&N?
3) Or, is it possible to put the app on my computer and make the NT think my computer is the B&N app store?
4) If none of these, would it be possible to build an app that the NT will install because it thinks it's from B&N, but it's really nothing more than an "app wrapper" that stores the desired apk within it?
Sorry if the questions are obvious....I'm still learning.

Hello @FESDude welcome to the forum , you may want to try this:
http://liliputing.com/2011/12/sideload-apps-on-a-nook-tablet-with-os-1-4-1-no-root-required.html.
Let us know how you do with that.
Veronica

Related

Newbie questions

I have a nook tablet and looking into rooting. Had an iPhone jailbroken from day 1 so very interested in this process for the nook. Apparently its best to down grade to 1.4 first since my nook updated. My daughter received new nook today but she is not giving it up and already has 1.4. I keep asking to trade but not having anything to do with it. Once I move down to 1.4 I can root and block updates it appears. However I do have a question on side loading. I have seen this term used a lot but unsure of its meaning. If I am rooted do I not just use the market to download apps to the nook once rooted?? Do you have to constantly sideload apps even after rooting?? thanks for any help
Sideloading - installing applications/games directly via apk (android package) you have on your home computer or on the SD card of the NT.
A rooted device allows you to download and install apps/games from Google Market as well as Amazon Appstore.
it is driving me crazy looking how to install the apk's from the sd card or computer. running 1.40 I have unknown sources loaded. but i can only sideload the apps if I download them from the nook browser.
how the hell do i load them from the sd card.
btw I am not rooted yet....computer keeps installing it as a storage device and that wont work for the life of me
kegman913 said:
it is driving me crazy looking how to install the apk's from the sd card or computer. running 1.40 I have unknown sources loaded. but i can only sideload the apps if I download them from the nook browser.
how the hell do i load them from the sd card.
btw I am not rooted yet....computer keeps installing it as a storage device and that wont work for the life of me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried turning on (both) usb debugging settings and automount off? You usually have to redo those settings after a nook reboot.
i have a nook tablet and when i did the whole rooting thing i didnt put a launcher on it by accident. now i cant get to the apps unless i do a search for them. is there a way to fix this?
The_Fallen_One said:
i have a nook tablet and when i did the whole rooting thing i didnt put a launcher on it by accident. now i cant get to the apps unless i do a search for them. is there a way to fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you still have a browser, do an internet search for go launcher apk. should pull up website with file to download
Thanks for the help man.
Help with keeping NT at 1.4.0
Purchased a nook tablet for my mom for christmas but she wants apps not available on nook appstore so I got amazon appstore downloaded and apps added and then got the 1.4.1 update. I got it reset to 1.4.0 and set back up. I don't want to root because I am worried mom will have problems. (she is 73 years young) Happy with it the way it is with nook stuff working and having ability to get other apps from amazon. I keep turning off wireless to keep it status quo. All of the options to block ota seem to need the nt to be rooted. Is there a way to keep at 1.4.0, not root the nt, and be able to keep wireless on??
my undrstanding is root is required and i bet your grandmother would love android market
btvs4ever said:
I don't want to root because I am worried mom will have problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems like she's coming to you for problems, which means she shouldn't have to worry about rooting, and going into the store for help. She probably won't notice anything with missing out on the 1.4.1 update, as it seems like the only thing that was changed was breaking roots and sideloading. If it actually introduced new functionality, I would be amazed. And she probably won't do something that would break her tablet after you root it... it's not like rooted makes killing your system trivial. It is "easy", but you still have to activate root mode, mount /system rw, and then and THEN, you have to do something stupid.
So, I would stop stressing about rooting her device, but then again, if the next update actually forces something that will break the B&N apps (like change the server interface, or something, and reject anyone with an earlier version) then she would either have to live without them, or reset the nook and lose everything (hopefully, you would back it all up, though, right?)
Of course will back up but I was afraid it would make it too complicated but I guess I am going to root and see if she likes it. We can always reset the whole thing back to the beginning. Thanks for the confirmation that I need to root to block ota.
Thanks for the help!!!

[Q] root & webtop2sd technical question

Hi,
I am new to the Atrix, but have a background in software development and was a sys admin on unix for a number of years.
I would like to know if, after a phone is rooted, do all apps run as root? or does routing simple install a setuid "su", and root apps call that when they need root access?
The webtop2sd post looks very complete and also something I will try soon. Do I need to unlock the bootloader to run a modified webtop from my sd card?
I would like to keep my phone as stock as possible, but enable a hacked webtop on the sd card.
Also there are 1000's of root threads, what is the safest canonical method (that can easily be undone)?
Many thanks and sorry for asking for your time. I have not found these answers around, but then again, there is a great amount of mis-information out there.
thx,
Scott.
Hi Scott.
I can only partially help you out; someone with more experience will answer at some point I'm sure. I'm running stock Gingerbread & rooted.
Regarding rooting: I followed the instructions on this site (which are duplicated across multiple sites, I'm sure). It worked just fine with no errors or other reasons to cause concern. That said, I'm not sure how to undo the rooting process other than by accepting an over-the-air update to ICS. Which is totally going to happen. ... <crickets>
I might be able to answer your root-app question: whenever an app requests root access, a dialog box pops up prompting me to allow or deny it. While I'm sure it's possible for a rogue rootkit to get in there if installing shady programs is your thing, I haven't yet had a problem. (A sidenote: there's an app on the market called LBE Privacy that gives you full control over app permissions: access to phone state, contacts, SMS, etc.)
Can't really help you on the webtop2sd thing, though I did install this modification to run the webtop over my HDMI cable, no lapdock required.

New update v.1.4.2 available.

I just noticed that a new update to version 1.4.2 started rolling out Monday, February 20, 2012. All those with a rooted 1.4.1 NT that weren't blocking updates because "there isn't an update available now anyway" may want to look into it now.
I haven't heard any details concerning what this update fixes or adds but, if recent history is any indication, it very well may break your rooting and/or side-loading apps and who knows how long it may take our resident geniuses on here to come up with a work-around.
Be forewarned everyone.
- Byron
It would be great to hear from somebody, if new Nook Tablets (16GB) are coming already with this version and if they can be rooted and reinstalled to CM7
Anyone wanting to can download it here.
The page notes "The NOOK Tablet Ver1.4.2 update provides minor system enhancements."
Edit: Also, BN_AlexG (admin at the B&N forums) said he will post the changes soon (post made 5 hours ago). Dean_Gibson also posted the changed files in the thread I linked.
Easy rooting
There should be no concerns about rooting. I was unable to upgrade from 1.4.1 rooted (w/Market, etc) to 1.4.2 (the B&N update detects an error and does not continue), but reverting to 1.4.0 stock (erase+deregister+reregister) and then applying my rooting procedure from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1413734 to root and update directly to 1.4.2 and reroot, worked. Since that is more sensitive to B&N changes than most rooting methods, other rooting methods should work as well.
I dont think the root block on the new 8gb nook tablets running 1.4.2 is what actually blocks rooting. I think the new wave of tablets have some changes beyond the rom that actually controls the boot sequence and prevents rooting from SD card. Not sure though... My newest video shows that no current root methods work on the 1.4.2 8 gb nook tablets and I dont think it will be long until they apply the same changes to the next wave of manufactured 16gb tablets.
Yes, it got me just a minute ago. Disabled Android Marketplace
Yes, 1.4.2 breaks things. Android Marketplace is now disabled on my Nook Tablet With SD card boot.
It pops up:
You must add an account to the device to continue. Do you want to add one now?
But clicking either button returns to the home screen
Other features seem to be working.
sherwingws said:
Yes, 1.4.2 breaks things. Android Marketplace is now disabled on my Nook Tablet With SD card boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to assume you didn't have updates blocked via indirect's method or some other method, yes?
Or did you intentionally update to see if the updates would break stuff?
Slapped with 1.4.2 OTA, what are my options?
sherwingws said:
Yes, 1.4.2 breaks things. Android Marketplace is now disabled on my Nook Tablet With SD card boot.
It pops up:
You must add an account to the device to continue. Do you want to add one now?
But clicking either button returns to the home screen
Other features seem to be working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(I hope this is an appropriate thread to post this... if not I'll just move out of the way.)
I rooted my NT two days ago using Albert's SD card method (thanks!), and thought I had for sure used NT Hidden Settings to block OTA. This morning I saw that the update had been applied, and a few things on my NT are now broken.
Now I cannot access the market. I get the same error as sherwingws.
Other gapps are broken now too including Talk, Currents, and gmail.
Can I just repeat the SD root process? Or do I need to make other changes before I attempt that. What are my options at this point?
Thanks everyone!
Also wanting to confirm that 1.4.2 breaks root. Rooted my NT two weeks ago using Indirect's sd card method and could have sworn that I blocked OTA updates, but about an hour ago got the update anyway and any programs requiring root won't run. This includes Android Marketplace. ::sadface::
Gapps broken also at first, BUT...using getjar app, I re-downloaded gmail and it had no problem installing and running. So maybe all is not lost?
Edit: Sorry, I lied about gapps. Ignore that, pls.
1.42
I am also having the same problem, no market place which also makes me sad. Anyone know what I should do?
Nice, that's would be great to here this update~

newbie question: how to load android apps on 8GB 1.4.2

I just purchases a Nook Tablet 8 GB with software version 1.4.2 I would like to load the Adobe Reader android app onto it. Since this is all I want to do, I imagine I would only have to root it, right? I have a linux box running adb so I would simply download the .apk and push it onto the rooted Nook, right? Is it this simple? Sorry for the noob question, I have a Droid X so I'm not new to Android, however, I've never worked with the Nook Tablet before.
EDIT:
I did some reading and found this thread... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1529553 It looks like it is the only method available currently, right? The video example shows the OP using Go launcher ex as the launcher. The thing is, my wife likes the standard Nook interface so I'm hoping this can be kept. Also, this Nook is registered to my wifes Barnes and Nobel account. Will rooting deregister it? Thanks.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1481826 load cm7 on an sd card and go that route
edit: lemme explain a bit more.. you get the android system with no changes to your actual device so no warranty issues.. wanna go back to stock nook.. take out SD card and bam back to stock
For stock you will need to root to have access to Google play a.k.a "android market" and for sideload apps once you're rooted you need to download NT hidden settings (download from Google Play)and go to hack settings and hit Unknown Sources after that you will be able to open apps you download in your Nook Tablet or apps you have copied to your sdcard.
~ Veronica
Thanks for the replies. Please excuse my delay in responding. I actually followed jichuan89 post in the link in my OP. It worked very well. It installed the market/google play and I was able to load apps. I kept the stock nook interface since my wife prefers it. The only downside I've noticed is that the apps installed from google play don't show up in the stock apps menu. You have to search for them. It's really no big deal, just thought I'd mention it. Anyway it's working great now.
@ lavero.burgos
I did not download the NT hidden settings that I noticed and I did not see any option for Unknown Sources. Maybe they installed with jichuan89's root method? I will check as soon as I can get the NT back from my wife . Also, I'm concerned about OTA updated from Barnes & Nobel. How can I disable this? Is that in the NT hidden settings somewhere? Thanks.

Is an SDcard with no Root possible?

Hello,
As crazy as this sounds, is there an SD card image that is bootable similar to CM7 that isn't rooted? I want to use my Nook as a tablet for work but the IT department has an application that verifies that the device isn't rooted before you can get corporate mail. If there isn't an image, does anyone know if there is a way to reset the status on the Nook so that it doesn't show that it's been rooted?
Since I've started using my Nook booted off of the card I can't think of more than a couple times that I've needed root access. And each of those times I could just as easily moved to a different load/card. Being able to power down and swap cards is pretty snazzy. I received my nook as a holiday gift and I've loved running it off the card. I haven't loaded CM7 or anything else into internal memory because I like having the ability to revert back to B&N build if I need to.
My current setup is a Nook Tablet 16Gb running CM7 from SD card.
Mod version CyanogenMod-7.2.0-RC0-acclaim-Team-B
Android version: 2.3.7
Thanks in advance for any help.
Well you could always just boot into your internal ROM and use that at work. The root access you have only is available on your SD ROM so there's no real way for them to tell if you've ever had root access.
Although I don't know how they check in the first place, so that might be a little out of place for me to say.
If I not mistaken this is what you're looking for.
Nikkie
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=21275927
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda app-developers app
Thank you for the advice.
Solar.Plexus: regrettably that is the crux of the issue. The company uses an app that is on the Google Play store for checking the device and the B&N internal rom doesn't have access to that. The card has access to the Play store but is rooted. It's like a rock and a hard place.
NikkieL: That is pretty much what I have already. I was wondering if there was an image that was complete but wasn't rooted.
Thanks again.
taferguson said:
Thank you for the advice.
Solar.Plexus: regrettably that is the crux of the issue. The company uses an app that is on the Google Play store for checking the device and the B&N internal rom doesn't have access to that. The card has access to the Play store but is rooted. It's like a rock and a hard place.
NikkieL: That is pretty much what I have already. I was wondering if there was an image that was complete but wasn't rooted.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I understand now. You need access to Google Play, but you can't have root.
I don't know if you can unroot a CyanogenMod ROM or not. Haha honestly, this is the only time I've ever seen this requested. Maybe if you remove some binaries and SuperUser completely, but I'm not so sure.
Try the app "voodoo rootkeeper"
Cubanluke88: That worked. I was able to get through the health check of my device. The "UN-Root" button worked like a charm.
I'd just like to provide some info on how this all works.
So the stock OS on the Nook is like most Android devices in that the end user does not have "root access." We have a few tools to allow users to gain root access on the stock OS.
Now, we also have a handful of custom versions of Android (roms). They all, as far as I know, come with root access. This means that upon installing them, whether to internal or booting from an sdcard, you will have root access, i.e. full access to the rom's file system. Developers could, if they so chose, create roms that did not have root access. In fact, back in March, the official CM team added the options in developer options, allowing users to disable root altogether, enable it for Android Debug Bridge mode (ADB) only, enable it for apps only or enable it for both (though I think this is only for CM9 and beyond).
Essentially the OP was asking for a way to have a custom rom (CM7) without root access. The app I suggested disables root access and allows you to toggle it back on when you need it. Its fantastic for stock versions. As many have found out, taking official updates usually removes root access. Voodoo Rootkeeper allows your device to preserve the apps/exploit essential for root access and to restore it when you need it.
^^^ That is the kind of post that helps newbies, like me, learn the ins and outs. Thank you.:good:

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