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Cracking Open the 2011 Barnes & Noble Nook e-book reader (Wi-Fi)

Cracking Open the 2011 Nook

\n\tIn May 2011, Barnes and Noble released a redesigned Nook e-book reader. The new Nook is thinner and lighter than its predecessor–theNook 1st edition. It has a 6″ touchscreen, 2GB of built-in storage, Wi-Fi connectivity, and can run up to two months on a full battery charge. But, it lacks audio support, 3G, or a Web browser. Follow along as I crack open the 2011 Nook e-book reader.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Box

\n\tAs of this writing, the 2011 Nook has a suggested retail price of $139 (US). You can still purchase the Nook 1st edition for $119 (Wi-Fi) and $169 (Wi-Fi + 3G) and the Nook Color for $249.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Box contents

\n\tThe 2011 NOOK has the following technical specifications:

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- \n\t\tProcessor: 800MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 3
- \n\t\tInternal Storage: 2GB
- \n\t\tExternal Storage: MicroSD card slot (supports up to 32GB card)
- \n\t\tDisplay: 6″ Pearl e-ink screen with Neonode zForce touchscreen
- \n\t\tBattery: 3.7V 1530mAh, 5.66Wh Li-Ion (up to two months of battery life)
- \n\t\tPorts: Micro USB
- \n\t\tOperating system: Andriod 2.1 (modified – no support for Andriod apps)
- \n\t\tWireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Front

\n\tThe 2011 Nook supports EPUB, PDF, Adobe DRM e-book formats and can read JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP graphic files. It weighs 7.48 ounces and measures 6.5″ (H) x 5″ (W) x 0.47″ (D).
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Back

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Micro USB port

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Power button

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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: MicroSD card slot

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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: In hand

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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Removing the power button

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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Back cover screw

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Removing the back cover Torx T5 screw

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Sliding the back cover

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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Lifting off the back cover

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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Back cover removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Back cover and attached battery

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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Removing the battery from the back cover

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: 3.7V 1530mAh, 5.66Wh Li-Ion battery

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Battery - Back

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Back cover

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Case with main PCB attached

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Disconnecting the display ribbon cable

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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Removing the main PCB screws

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Removing the main PCB

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Display assembly, main PCB, and front bezel

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Display assembly and front bezel

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Separating the display assembly from the front bezel

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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Display assembly and front bezel

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Front bezel

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: 6" Pearl e-ink screen with Neonode zForce touchscreen assembly

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Display assembly - Back

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Main PCB - top

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Main PCB - Bottom

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: 800MHz Texas Instruments OMAP3621 applications processor

\n\tInterestingly, the 2011 Nook has the same Texas Instruments OMAP3621 applications processor as the Nook Color. Perhaps you can hack the Nook to run Andriod apps, as you can do on the Nook Color.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: SanDisk SDIN5D2-2G NAND Flash chip

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Lattice Semiconductor ispMACH 4032ZE CPLD

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: amsung K4X2G323PC-8G08 256 mobile DDR SDRAM

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Texas Instruments TPS65181 Power Management IC for E Ink Vizplex Enabled Electronic Paper Display

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Texas Instruments TPS65921B Integrated Power Management IC with USB HS Transceiver

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Texas Instruments CD74HC4067 High Speed CMOS 16-Channel Analog Multiplexer/Demultiplexer

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Texas Instruments MSP430F2272 16-bit Ultra-Low-Power Microcontroller (Markings: M430F2272)

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Jorjin Technologies WG7310-2A 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi SiP module

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Main PCB markings

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the 2011 Nook: Completely disassembled

\n\tFor the technically inclined, the 2011 Barnes & Noble Nook should be a snap to open and repair.

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\n\tA single Torx T5 screw secures the back cover. And, once the screw is removed, the cover slides off. Once inside the case, the Nook’s internal hardware is readily accessible.

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\n\tDespite Barnes & Noble claiming that the battery is not user-replaceable, it is not soldered to the main PCB. Provided you can get a replacement battery, the job should take more than 10 minutes.

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\n\tI was also intrested to see Barnes & Noble use the same TI OMAP3621 application processor that they use in the Nook Color. I’ll have to try hacking the new Nook to run Android apps.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Previously, Bill was an IT manager in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.