Nook Simple Touch

See also Barnes & Noble Nook.

Nook Simple Touch

The Nook Simple Touch displaying a photo screensaver
Developer	Barnes & Noble
Manufacturer	Foxconn
Release date	10 June 2011, Wi-Fi version
Introductory price	US$139, Wi-Fi version US$99, 11/7/11
Operating system	Android 2.1
CPU	800 Mhz ARM Cortex-A8-based TI OMAP[1]
Storage capacity	2 GB internal, microSD expands up to 32 GB
Display	6 in (150 mm), 600 x 800 pixel, E Ink
Input	Touchscreen, left-right paging buttons, home button
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, USB
Dimensions	6.5 in (170 mm) H 5.0 in (130 mm) W 0.47 in (12 mm) D
Weight	7.48 oz (212 g)
Website	barnesandnoble.com/nook

The Nook Simple Touch (also called the Nook touch) is the second generation of the Nook e-book device by Barnes & Noble. It features an 800x600 E Ink screen that has a touchscreen using a network of infrared beams slightly above the screen surface. It has wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, and has a USB port for charging and connecting to a computer.^[2]

Features

As with the prior Nook, the Simple Touch provides a LendMe feature allowing users to share some books with other people depending on licensing by the book's publisher. The buyer is permitted to share a book once with one other user for up to two weeks. The other users may view the borrowed book using a Nook, Nook Color, or Barnes & Noble's free reader software on any other device running Android, or BlackBerry OS, iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch), Mac OS X, or Windows.

The device can store an estimated 1,000 books; it has 2 GB of internal memory of which only half is available for content.^{[citation needed]} Of the 1GB of content, 750 MB is reserved for content from Barnes & Noble's e-book store, which leaves approximately 250 MB for other files.^{[citation needed]} As with the original Nook, microSD and microSDHC memory cards can be inserted to expand the Nook Simple Touch's memory up to 32 GB. Unlike the prior Nook, the rechargeable battery in the Simple Touch is not user-replaceable,^{[citation needed]} and is expected to last, per charge, for 2 months with the wireless turned off, or 3 weeks with the wireless turned on. Unlike prior versions, the Simple Touch lacks audio abilities.^{[citation needed]} Supported file formats include EPUB (DRM and non-DRM), PDF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP^[3], although images may only be used as screensaver replacements and cannot be viewed directly.^{[citation needed]} The nook does not support txt or rtf.

The Nook also had a "hidden" web browser (accessed by entering a URL into the search feature), but this was offset in the 1.1.0 Nook Software Update.

The Nook can organize books into 'shelves' to make it easier to find things. This organization must be done manually on the device. The file table is inaccessible so users cannot use third party software (such as Calibre) for external editing, due to DRM concerns.^{[citation needed]}

Reception

Since launch, the Nook Simple Touch received generally positive reviews with PC Mag summarizing their review as: "Thanks to plenty of upgrades and a laser-sharp focus on the reading experience, the second-gen Barnes & Noble Nook Touch Reader is our new Editors' Choice for ebook readers."^[4] Laptop Magazine said it is "the best E Ink eReader on the market right now."^[5]

Use of additional Android applications

As an Android device, the Nook Simple Touch can be modified to run Android applications through a process called rooting, which grants users root access to the Nook Simple Touch's file system. Doing so voids the device's warranty,^[6] though it can often be reverted to (non-rooted) factory defaults for warranty claims.

References

1. ^ Sharpe, Bettie. "Guest Review: Bettie Sharpe on the Nook Touch". http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/guest-review-bettie-sharpe-on-the-nook-touch/. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
2. ^ "All-new Nook tech specs". http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/features/techspecs/index.asp?cds2Pid=35611. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
3. ^ "Beyond Ebooks". http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/container/standard_bothnavs.asp?PID=35678. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
4. ^ Pierce, David. "Barnes & Noble Nook Touch Review and Rating". PC Magazine. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2386227,00.asp. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
5. ^ "Barnes & Noble Nook Touch Review". Laptop Magazine. http://www.laptopmag.com/review/mp3/barnes-and-noble-nook-touch.aspx?page=3. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
6. ^ "Root Nook Touch and side load apps". http://reviewhorizon.com/2011/06/how-to-root-nook-touch-and-side-load-apps-kindle-adw-launcher-review/. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 

External links

• Official website
• Nook Internet Magazine
• nookTalk Community