Nook Color uses ARM A8 and follows Apple’s application model
31st October, 2010 by adina
Tags: Android, Apple, ARM A8, Galaxy, Nook Color, Samsung
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Barnes & Noble after the launch of the Nook Color has claimed that it would have a separate application approval process. Like in Apple’s approach, it is supposed to take submissions and approvals will be released in a few weeks after their arrival. A typical revenue split is expected and Gizmodo presumes it will be 70/30 like Apple and other companies have. Android Market will not be available.
The curbs were justified by the company by deliberately attempting to avoid making a multi-purpose device such as Apple’s iPad or the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Like Barnes & Noble said, applications are intended to widen the reading experience instead of changing the functions. Netflix and other non-reading applications will pass, but the company will have only few applications optimized for its seven-inch touchscreen. The device is running a straightforward version of Android 2.1 and can run Android applications without changes. Porting, therefore, will be a fast process.
The approach Barnes & Noble uses contrasts significantly with Google’s one. Having its own Android Market approval process, applications are however only rarely rejected and only for illegal content or obvious problems. This approach was appreciated for permitting applications with more features than allowed with iOS. It was also criticized for a store having tendency to clone applications and titles that collect information secretly.
Texas Instruments has unveiled the choice of processor for Barnes & Noble, which will be an OMAP3621. The clock speed has not been mentioned, but it was described as ARM Cortex-A8 architecture, which means the speed is near that of the iPad o other smartphones like the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 or Droid X.
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The Nook Color will not run apps straight out of the Android Market, but that does not mean it cannot run them. In fact, they have done a lot of tests on
apps from standard Android smartphones and they pretty much run on Nook Color, which has Android 2.1 under the hood. (The Nook native interface and apps are
just standard Android application layers.) Barnes & Noble special Nook SDK runs on top of the standard Android one and gives developers access to exclusive
extensions and APIs for the Nook and its interface. So porting Android apps is not difficult. B&N says it is more like optimising them for Nook than porting
them.
Nook Color screen is supposed to be better (less reflective) for reading than iPad as it’s using a new LG screen with anti-reflection coating.
It allows to play video, listen to the music, view Office documents and PDF’s.