New and confused- Basic app / APK management? (Long)

[miketheratguy]

Hello everybody. This is only my second post (after the introduction) and I only just bought my Nook Color yesterday. Although I did put CM7 on it, I'm otherwise entirely new to the e-reader (and Android) and have a lot to explain so please bear with me.

My goal is to have a machine that has a basic, entry-level interface (the default suits me fine) but with a few extra features of my own choosing such as extra ebook functionality, more video options, a game or two, and maybe basic apps like more crossword choices. My issue is that B&N requires registration to get anything (which I won't do- no credit card stuff) and CM7, which appears to get around that requirement, still seems to want me to sign up for accounts and services. Also, CM7 looks fine but is way more than I think I need. I'm just looking to have, essentially, the NC as I bought it but with a few extra features of my OWN choosing, as manually as possible. I'm trying to avoid signing up for Google, B&N, and Android and accessing multiple databases of thousands of apps just to be able to download a handful of free ones. I'm not looking to get hardcore yet.

Hopefully I've explained the basics of what I'm trying to do- now comes the fun part, the questions! Lol.

1: My friend sent me some "APK" apps and said that they could be used with my NC, but now he's on a month-long cruise and I can't figure out how to get them installed in either interface / firmware. Googling has suggested that I must first get an "Astro" app to manage the files (which I did) but now have to sign up for some app service / marketplace even just to install THAT? I'm confused. I have app files, a Nook Color, and an SD card (with CM7 on it). Can't I just install these apps manually?

2: The reason I'm trying to avoid CM7 as much as I can right now is because it's simply overwhelming to me at this point (remember- first Android, first e-reader- I don't even own a smartphone). If I'm finally able to install the apps I have, can I access them from within the default B&N Nook interface instead? In other words: If CM7 is required for activating apps, then I'm fine with that- but I don't want to rely on CM7 otherwise. I'm interested in using the more basic default interface as much as I can until I'm more comfortable with the device.

3: Now that I've formatted my 2 gb SD card to contain CM7, can I erase / replace it later with a different interface (or whatever it's called) in the future? Or am I now stuck with a CM7 SD card forever?


Sorry for all of this chatter and all the questions. I've tried looking for all of this stuff but for someone COMPLETELY new to the Android experience, it really is confusing. Thank you for any help.

 

[koopakid08]

While avoiding signing up for these services is technically possible but it will be MUCH more complicated. Requiring you to set up ADB on your computer by installing the android development kit. I would suggest just creating a fake gmail address to use for the market and for signing up for a BN account. Other than that I would suggest rooting the stock Nook firmware so that you don't have to switch back and forth and it will all be contained in one OS.

And yes you can format your SD card and use it like it was brand new.


Sent from space

 

[miketheratguy]

While avoiding signing up for these services is technically possible but it will be MUCH more complicated. Requiring you to set up ADB on your computer by installing the android development kit. I would suggest just creating a fake gmail address to use for the market and for signing up for a BN account. Other than that I would suggest rooting the stock Nook firmware so that you don't have to switch back and forth and it will all be contained in one OS.

And yes you can format your SD card and use it like it was brand new.


Sent from space

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Okay, a couple follow up questions then.

1: Would rooting the stock firmware (so that I would presumably no longer require the SD card) involve replacing the basic interface that I like with the CM7 one that I'm not interested in? Aside from the convenience of not swapping the card in and out, I'm not familiar with the advantages of replacing the original firmware as opposed to keeping an alternate one on the SD card.

2: Am I correct then that there is NO way to install these apk files manually, other than installing this ADB stuff? I have app files sitting here- I can't drop them onto the device somehow? If not, what do apks do (or what are they for)?

3: If I don't do anything to the stock firmware, would it even recognize (and allow me to use) any apps that I placed on the device from CM7? Example- I load up CM7 (which is on my card), sign up with Google, download apps. I then remove the card, thus going back to the stock firmware- would I still be able to access my apps?

It sounds like I'm making things more complicated (which I probably am anyway) but my actual purpose is one of simplicity, ironically. I just want to keep what came with the device and simply add a few extra features- I was just hoping to avoid signing up for anything or giving anyone my credit card to do it. I only put CM7 on the SD card because I thought that, ideally, it would allow me to bypass B&N's registration process, thus allowing me to download apps or install the ones that I have. But CM7 still seems to want me to make new accounts (I don't know the difference between all these app stores) and it still will not let me manually install the ones that I have. So I'm still kind of confused.

 

[koopakid08]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Okay, a couple follow up questions then.

1: Would rooting the stock firmware (so that I would presumably no longer require the SD card) involve replacing the basic interface that I like with the CM7 one that I'm not interested in? Aside from the convenience of not swapping the card in and out, I'm not familiar with the advantages of replacing the original firmware as opposed to keeping an alternate one on the SD card.

2: Am I correct then that there is NO way to install these apk files manually, other than installing this ADB stuff? I have app files sitting here- I can't drop them onto the device somehow? If not, what do apks do (or what are they for)?

3: If I don't do anything to the stock firmware, would it even recognize (and allow me to use) any apps that I placed on the device from CM7? Example- I load up CM7 (which is on my card), sign up with Google, download apps. I then remove the card, thus going back to the stock firmware- would I still be able to access my apps?

It sounds like I'm making things more complicated (which I probably am anyway) but my actual purpose is one of simplicity, ironically. I just want to keep what came with the device and simply add a few extra features- I was just hoping to avoid signing up for anything or giving anyone my credit card to do it. I only put CM7 on the SD card because I thought that, ideally, it would allow me to bypass B&N's registration process, thus allowing me to download apps or install the ones that I have. But CM7 still seems to want me to make new accounts (I don't know the difference between all these app stores) and it still will not let me manually install the ones that I have. So I'm still kind of confused.

1. Rooting would add the google market and the ability to install apks on the stock nook firmware.

2. You could try using the browser on CM7 to download them from somewhere that you could store them: email, fileshare website etc.

3. Nope, your SD card is self contained.

4. Just and FYI neither BN nor Google require your credit card information to set up their accounts.


Sent from space

 

[miketheratguy]

1. So rooting doesn't change the appearance of the stock firmware? It doesn't require me to replace it with CM7 or add it (or other firmwares) on top of it?

2. So if I were to email an apk file to myself, I could then use CM7 to check that mail, download the apk file, and install it?

2a: What's different about the stock firmware that disallows this?

3. If the SD card is self contained, does that mean that everything I do when using the CM7 firmware that sits upon it- such as, say, downloading a picture- can't be saved to the system's internal memory instead, where it could be retrieved later without the memory card plugged in?

4. B&N doesn't require a credit card for me to download their apps? I don't understand; during the device registration startup it asked me to enter my credit card, which I skipped and at which point it told me that I'd need one to access their store. In fact, until I was pleasantly surprised to see otherwise, I had heard that I couldn't even use my NC until I registered with my CC or installed different firmware through the SD card.

Sorry again for all the questions. I appreciate the help; I'm starting to learn a bit.

 

[koopakid08]

1. So rooting doesn't change the appearance of the stock firmware? It doesn't require me to replace it with CM7 or add it (or other firmwares) on top of it?

2. So if I were to email an apk file to myself, I could then use CM7 to check that mail, download the apk file, and install it?

2a: What's different about the stock firmware that disallows this?

3. If the SD card is self contained, does that mean that everything I do when using the CM7 firmware that sits upon it- such as, say, downloading a picture- can't be saved to the system's internal memory instead, where it could be retrieved later without the memory card plugged in?

4. B&N doesn't require a credit card for me to download their apps? I don't understand; during the device registration startup it asked me to enter my credit card, which I skipped and at which point it told me that I'd need one to access their store. In fact, until I was pleasantly surprised to see otherwise, I had heard that I couldn't even use my NC until I registered with my CC or installed different firmware through the SD card.

Sorry again for all the questions. I appreciate the help; I'm starting to learn a bit.

1. It will install an additional launcher (honescreen) for the apps that you install.

2. Yes
2a. BN has heavily modified android and has disabled the ability to install from "unknown sources"

3. I am not sure as I only used an SD card install for about an hour before installing CM to mu internal memory.

4. I for sure did not put in any credit card info when I registered but they might have changed that in later firmware versions.


Sent from space