Normally B&N just surprises everyone with nook software updates. This time they start teasing people on their Facebook page with vague software update comments and posting images of the Angry Birds game.  Now we have the Home Shopping Network (HSN) sell a nook Color for $299 (with an SD card with 100 books) and disclosing some of what's coming in the new update.  The timeframe is April, and it seems HSN customers buying these overpriced nooks will get it before us.

 

Here are the highlights from the HSN page.

 

NOOK Apps

Shop the NOOK Store for a wide variety of fun and engaging NOOK Apps Download all types of apps to get even more out of your device Some of the exciting new apps include Angry Birds, Lonely Planet Phrasebook and Drawing Pad

 

Adobe Flash

Expand your web experience by watching videos that use Adobe Flash

 

Built-in Email

Stay connected via built-in email, just like you do on other tablets and high-end smartphones No need to go through Internet browser

This excite you? I assume since it has flash it's running a newer version of Android so this is a pretty big update. I hope we'll see it in the next week.

Ok, so what's the big deal with this release? Not much. If you were hoping for Android 2.2 Froyo update, the nookMarket, etc you'll have to wait for a future release. Here is what B&N published for this update:

• Improved performance of Wi-Fi connectivity, Home and Shop.
• Ability to pinch and zoom in browser.
• Enhanced reading experience for magazines and children’s books.
• Access helpful NOOKcolor related information and support tips on the new default browser home page.
• Reduce mistyped passwords with “show password” option during registration and Wi-Fi set up.
• Easily identify NOOK kids Read To Me™ books with a new text banner next to the titles in Shop.
• General bug fixes and performance improvements.

Please be aware that the update will break root. There isn't much here, if you rooted, I'd wait.

The update will be rolled out gradually automatically over wi-fi. You can update your device immediately by downloading the manual update from Barnes & Noble.

Click Here for all the details from B&N

Everyone loves online videos right? YouTube has made just about everything available online, but sometimes when you are on the go and would like to have a local copy.  There are conversion utilities on the web you can use from your computer to create MP4 files that you can side load to your nookColor.  You copy and paste in the video site URL and it does the conversion for you.  Many of these tools require Java or Flash so they aren't useful for doing the whole process on the nookColor itself (it doesn't support Flash or Java applets).

The good news for nookColor owners there are some websites now that don't require java apps to save videos locally and it's quite easy (and free)!  The steps below will work for Direct Download, YouTube (HQ and HD), Google Video, Sevenload, MySpace, Dailymotion (HQ), Vimeo (HQ), Metacafe, MyVideo, & Veoh.

1) Visit a video site like YouTube.com on your nookColor and Find the video you want to download.
2) Click on the URL at the top.  It will highlight the URL, swipe your finger across it to the right to get to the beginning of the URL.
3) Add video.nooktalk.net/ to the front of the YouTube URL. (Don't forget the end slash after .net)
4) nookTalk will redirect you to the ClipConverter site and pre-select the right options, Just scroll down and Tap "Start"
5) Tap the download link, when finished tap save. You may get a pop-up ad, just close it first.
6) Go to Library, My Files, My Downloads. Your video should be there, click to launch it.  You can not open it from the download option on the nook browser.

I was able to download videos and watch them on my nookColor, hope it works well for you too! If you find this process on the nook painful you can do these same steps on your computer and side-load the video file you download.