Nook Color hacking proceeds apace. A few days ago, Liliputing reported that Android 3.0, “Honeycomb”, had been successfully launched on a Nook Color. More recently, they reported even getting graphics acceleration working (though it still lacks support for the accelerometer, sound, and wifi). This is still very much a work in progress, and will undoubtedly improve once Google has actually released the full source code for Honeycomb rather than just the preview SDK.
For those who would be content with Android 2.2, it can be loaded now through hacking, but B&N has stated that an official 2.2 version, complete with Android Market access and Android home screen, will be coming out for it later this year—which would turn the Nook Color e-reader into one of the least expensive fully-functional Android tablets on the market. The fact that it has a capacitive resistance touchscreen, like the iPad’s, rather than the kind that needs a stylus, is an added bonus. That could be a pretty big deal for people who want the additional versatility such a device would offer.
I have a friend who’s put 2.2 on his Nook Color, and he reports being very satisfied with it. Who knows; maybe someday I’ll try it myself.
(Found via Slashdot.)
According to the press release quoted in the article you linked to, B&N is not going to activate Android Marketplace, which still means you’ll have to root it to get other ebook readers on it.