My Nook Color to Android Tablet Challenge has been the third time I completed the task.

My mission was to bless my dad with the same options to expand his Nook Color’s power as I was enjoying. The bonus was that I was able to offer you, mysilentscream readers, the secrets to my success.

As I finish this week I’m left with a desire to share four truths about completing a project. I’ve been blessed with many good role models, high expectations and caring support, but with that in mind I know that when I take on a challenge I still have to do the work.

The past two days I explained that I wanted to to maximize the capabilities of my new Nook Color [NC] without altering its original state.  I explained both my plans and my preparation in detail.  Today I’ll explain exactly how I converted my NC into an Android Tablet.

NOTE: I completed this process using a computer running Windows 7.
My walkthrough requires you to have access to a wireless internet.

Walkthrough:

1. Insert the micro SD card into either an SD card reader or adapter and insert it into your computer.

2.  Download the generic-sdcard-v1.3.img and unzip the file.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1000957

Yesterday I wrote about my determination to maximize the capabilities of my new Nook Color [NC]. Commenter Angi of peepsarecool complained about the cliffhanger.  Sorry about that everyone.  As I replied, “Would it help if it’s a tale of woe, angst, fear, failure and ultimately success?  It’s like many classic novels.”  =D

Thanks for reading, and now back to our tale of woe and Nook.

Since I was unwilling and a bit timid about the possibility of turning my gift into garbage I read extensively about the ways to mod a NC by booting the Android Operating system from an SD memory card.

My wife Amy and I love to read.  In the Spring I bought Amy a Kindle book reader.  Amy didn’t need a touch screen, so the Kindle with a 6″ display with a non-glare screen and great battery life was perfect for her.  She loves it.

Amy read on her Kindle outside in the backyard all Spring, Summer and Fall while enjoying the garden without any inconvenient glare.

A couple years ago I found a great deal on an Android phone.  I thought I would like it’s touch-screen.  I liked a touch-screen even more than I thought I would.  Frankly, I’m not certain I can easily ever have a phone without a touch screen again.

What’s surprised you this week?

Last Saturday I read that a Nevada state law was approved which will allow people to own and operate driverless cars. A driverless car is a vehicle equipped with an autopilot system, which is capable of driving from one point to another without input from a human operator.

The proposed advantages include:
* to avoid accidents
* increase safety by eliminating driver error.
* increasing roadway capacity by reducing the distances between cars
* reduce congestion by efficiently controlling the flow of traffic
* relieving vehicle occupants from driving and navigating chores, so allowing them to concentrate on other tasks like talking on the phone or texting or to rest during their journeys.

Yesterday I extolled the virtues of six of my favorite Firefox Extensions.  Here are are seven more.

Evernote Web Clipper – While creating curriculum or planning ahead for an unwritten article or an as-yet unplanned message I save nuggets I read online with Evernote.  Evernote Web Clipper let me copy and save the article I want.

Extended Copy Menu – My apologies to the author of Extended Copy Menu, but I really only use it for the “Copy As Plain Text” option, but I love it.

I love that you can modify Firefox to serve your unique needs by adding search engines, themes, and extensions.

Extensions

1-Click YouTube Video Downloader – I like to save & play my favorite videos on my computer.

1 Password – Some of you only use one or two passwords, not me. I use 1Password to keep track of them on Macs. I primarily use free programs, but like 1 Password so much it’s one of the few programs I am willing to spend money on. Use a Windows computer? See RoboForm.  Technically 1 Password and Roboform are both toolbars but I think of them as extensions of my browser’s productivity.  So there!

I feel like I’ve been in a hole for a month — under the groundhog. Looking out and seeing my shadow would mean I’ve seen some daylight.

Trying to find an appropriate word for being underground, under the groundhog, I reached out to my browser.

“My browser”?

Yes, I love the dictionary.com search engine. If you’re using Firefox I hope you have the dictionary.com search engine, if you’re not and want to here’s how to get it:
left drop-down arrow
Manage Search Engines
Get more search engines takes me to: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/browse/type:4/cat:all?sort=name
Click here or just cut and paste: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/9227
Add to Firefox

We had dropped calls in my neighborhood with AT&T, my first carrier. I had great service in rural Wisconsin, but I had to walk out of my house to use Verizon.

Frustrated, I asked many people who visited my home what cell service they used and then I examined their phone and their “signal bars”. Wisely, we chose T-Mobile. We have had no problems with the our cell service nor with their customer service.
Everyone I talked to loves their iPhone. On the other hand Mashable readers seemed fond of the Google Android phones.

Web 2.0 is cutting edge. Google’s new Chrome OS will use web apps exclusively. This post concludes the list of my favorite FREE web apps.

reQall

I’ve used reQall to leave myself voice mails.  reQall converts my voice mails into text.  reQall Standard is the free service. “It lets you organize tasks, ideas and important notes in one place and have reminders delivered at the right time.”

Shape Collage Online

I’ve used Shape Collage on my Mac for a while.  It’s a cute and clever web app that takes my photos and creates a, yes, collage out of them.