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im looking for a tablet but my budget is limited and for 200$ the fire falls in to that money slot perfectly .
after its rooted is the fire tablet that can be used for everyday use say
twitter .. facebook etc etc
thanks for any and all information
Earlier today someone posted almost the same questions: "Should I buy a Kindle Fire"
It has no micro sd, no camera, no microphone, and no bluetooth. If you want to use it for viewing media, games, contacts, calendar etc., it's great.
For what its worth, I use it everyday and I quite like it. I miss the microphone (for tuning my guitar) and hardware volume controls though.
Facebook, Twitter etc are not a problem at all. I am on CM7, btw.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
For $200, you cant go wrong. Its also a great game platform- Riptide is awesome on the Kindle.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium
I agree, Kindle Fire's awesome! There are some features it could have like my iPad. But for the price, you cant got wrong.
seltaeb said:
For what its worth, I use it everyday and I quite like it. I miss the microphone (for tuning my guitar) and hardware volume controls though.
Facebook, Twitter etc are not a problem at all. I am on CM7, btw.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get this plug-in mic for $1.30 w/shipping. I use it to tune my guitar (using the gstrings app) and make recordings:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00277EMQ2/ref=oh_o02_s00_i00_details
It' great for light use. Web browsing, watching netflix, etc.
I don't have any comment about the stock Amazon software (only used it long enough to root and install TWRP and CM7).
The hardware is quite nice, however. Very solid construction — maybe a bit heavy, but the result is a satisfying feel.
The user experience is very good under the unofficial CM7 ports, even though they are still relatively early in development. As the available AOSP/CM ROMs mature, I think the UX will be excellent, especially ICS.
Some will see the lack of camera and microphone as a disadvantage. Obviously the KF isn't tailor-made for Skype. But I don't need or want every device I own to be able to look at me, listen to me, pinpoint itself on a map, etc. For web browsing, reading, media viewing, and probably gaming, I think the KF's capabilities are probably fine. It already does a much better job at Google Earth than my friend's iPad 2, with the exception of not having GPS.
It's worth noting that the KF appears to have hardware controllers for both GPS and Bluetooth, but it's not clear that either device is connected to an antenna. If not, obviously they won't work without hardware mods.
grvthang said:
You can get this plug-in mic for $1.30 w/shipping. I use it to tune my guitar (using the gstrings app) and make recordings:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00277EMQ2/ref=oh_o02_s00_i00_details
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gather from this that the headphone jack includes microphone capability...so I would think you could use a stereo cell phone headset and the wifi to make calls using skype (voice only). Has any body tried this and how well did it work?
I think that what we have with the Kindle Fire is this kind of amazing intersection of price-point and brand name recognition.
At $199 you can get a lot of people in the door and the Amazon name backing it and maintaining an app store lets consumers know that the company behind the device is actually serious about it and, unlike some of the competition, isn't going out of business any time soon.
Where all of this wonderfully manifests itself for us as tech enthusiasts is in how quickly the device was rooted, how quickly meaningful recovery options were made available, and how many ROMs/firmwares/OSs are already in some stage of working and working well whether that's in a state of alpha, beta, or stable release.
There are better tablets out there but at $199 and with this much of a solid scene hammering on the thing you'd be hard pressed to find a better entry point into tablets.
Yes. You'll love it. Neilson is a jack***.
hdmunger said:
I gather from this that the headphone jack includes microphone capability...so I would think you could use a stereo cell phone headset and the wifi to make calls using skype (voice only). Has any body tried this and how well did it work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is already a very long thread on that. The microphone only works on some apps.
Sent from my Gingervolt-ed VS910 4G using xda premium
nxd said:
It's worth noting that the KF appears to have hardware controllers for both GPS and Bluetooth, but it's not clear that either device is connected to an antenna. If not, obviously they won't work without hardware mods.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I knew about the bluetooth, but I hadn't heard of a GPS in it. If there were some way to make bluetooth and GPS active on the Fire it'd be really awesome for it's price.
Works Great
Once its rooted, it works fantastic. If you cant get it rooted, then other options that give you proper android market access are better. There are just too many important android apps missing from the Amazon App Store right now for it to work as an everyday tablet for everyone out of the box.
I'd also have liked to see Amazon go with a MicroSD slot instead of incorporating the 8gb of "internal" micro sd storage (surely that would have been cheaper from a production standpoint?).
At any rate, mine is rooted, and works great.
I actually prefer the default of the kindle over the honeycomb and gingerbread launchers. the only thing it's missing is a way to switch tasks quickly.
hardware is nice and solid, a bit on the heavy side.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
It's my primary web device for evening browsing - I'm using it to write this now.
Gaming is nice, Convo for forum posting (needs Android Market), Dolphin HD for secure and compatible web browsing...
Your average consumer can probably live without ever rooting this puppy, but for me, without Swype, I wouldn't be willing to use it for any writing more than a sentence. And it's pretty sad to not have the standard Market and Google apps... But once you fix those, turn off root and be happy.
Fire is a very nice tablet -- I bought my daughter one for Christmas,and after using it for a day or so I really like it. I also picked up an HTC EVO View 4G 7" tablet on sale for $229, free shipping, no tax, and no contract. Hence,this tablet only cost me $17 more than buying the Fire locally. The View has dual cameras, Bluetooth, 32 gig, a micro sd slot, and now honeycomb. So if these features are important to you, you could look for one on sale for a similar price -- sales on this tablet seem to be popping up everywhere as of late. I must say, however, the Fire seems just a tad faster (dual core vs single core 1.5 GHz). And the Fire interface is dead simple to use (although not as flexible as Honeycomb). Although both tablets are different, they're both awesome - you really can't go wrong either way. Based on my searching, these are the two best tablet deals right now. I also got my wife an iPad 2 for Christmas, and it's awesome too. Just a bit too big for my liking, and I paid less for the combo of Fire and View than for the iPad alone. Gotta love the Android tablets for that!
grvthang said:
You can get this plug-in mic for $1.30 w/shipping. I use it to tune my guitar (using the gstrings app) and make recordings:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00277EMQ2/ref=oh_o02_s00_i00_details
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, this is interesting. I have a few mics lying around, will give them a try first. Thanks a mil.
If you're willing to sacrifice full-fledged feature-rich experience for the cheaper price, it's totally worth it. And, if you're willing to flash custom ROMs on it eventually, even more so.
The fire is amazing in my opinion, but what you HAVE to remember when your buying this is its 200 dollars, so you can't expect anything near an Ipad experience. I personally love it for games, web browsing, netflix, light music, and pretty much just enjoying media. So far its been able to do everything I wanted it to do, except up the storage capacity haha, but other than that its been perfect. Its really up to what your looking for.
Mine came in this morning. Been playing with it for a couple of hours now. The screen is OK, but not as good as my New iPad, but that is to be expected. I did have it crash on me after installing Netflix and signing into it. I do like the fact that it is already registered to your Amazon account out of the box. I only had to connect to WiFi. Turning off adds is done on amazon.com under manage Kindle, which I did. the interface is VERY sparse. I was able to grab cisco Anyconnect VPN, but haven't tested it yet with my MiFi (I'm already at work). The initial setup and download really drags the tablet almost to a halt. But after that it's back to normal speeds. All in all, I still want a custom ROM of JB on here. I have Skype installed but haven't call anyone yet. Also, the speakers ARE AWESOME. I work in IT and all the guys loved the sound coming from this puppy! Streamed Downton Abbey without hiccups or buffering. Quite nice. No buyers remorse yet.
Cool! Can you side load app and install a different launcher like you could with the last fire?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Jut got mine too.
Love it so far
JaxDomino said:
Mine came in this morning. Been playing with it for a couple of hours now. The screen is OK, but not as good as my New iPad, but that is to be expected. I did have it crash on me after installing Netflix and signing into it. I do like the fact that it is already registered to your Amazon account out of the box. I only had to connect to WiFi. Turning off adds is done on amazon.com under manage Kindle, which I did. the interface is VERY sparse. I was able to grab cisco Anyconnect VPN, but haven't tested it yet with my MiFi (I'm already at work). The initial setup and download really drags the tablet almost to a halt. But after that it's back to normal speeds. All in all, I still want a custom ROM of JB on here. I have Skype installed but haven't call anyone yet. Also, the speakers ARE AWESOME. I work in IT and all the guys loved the sound coming from this puppy! Streamed Downton Abbey without hiccups or buffering. Quite nice. No buyers remorse yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got mine on my way home from Best Buy. So far from what I can tell it's a bit to locked down for my taste
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
So, I'm an owner of an original fire, got it as a Christmas present from my wife last year. I sold it a few weeks ago planning on getting the N7, but waited for the amazon presser about the new line.
After watching the live blog and all that, figured I'd give the KF another shot, and if I didn't like it, I'd return it and get the N7. After playing with this new KF for the past few hours, it's awesome, so much better than the original, for what I use it for. I like the new email client, the screen is fantastic, it's snappy and feels very cohesive and not so much an interface stuck on top of an andriod OS, even though it is.
So far, I'm impressed.
Yeah I just got mine as well and played around with it for about 10 minutes. So far the screen is gorgeous and the software isn't as laggy as the preview models that were shown in the videos. And the default web browser search engine for me was already set to Google. I'll post up more impressions in a bit.
Don't forget to update to 7.1.5. The sound on this device is freaking awesome...
Got mine today too...initial experiences:
- Side-loaded OnLive 1.2 and it works flawlessly
- Side-loaded Zinio reader from the Zinio.com site, but it FC several times...not usable. Emailed Zinio support
- Really want Rdio somehow, but haven't found the APK. Amazon Store says its not compatible.
- Fully MP3 library totally accessible and interface nice
- Amazon Prime Video works wonderfully but the series interface isn't so great...would like an easier way to tell were I left off on my Sons of Anarchy catch-up.
- Hulu Plus works but playback is janky--just isn't smooth or integrated
- I personally find the overall interface skinned nicely, but clumsy to navigate....coming from Gingerbread, Jelly Bean and iOS.
Looking forward to lots of crazy hacks to really push the hardware on this puppy!
scottpletcher said:
Looking forward to lots of crazy hacks to really push the hardware on this puppy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My question is if you're going to hack, why not hack a better hardware tablet like the nexus 7?
Better hardware?
shook187 said:
My question is if you're going to hack, why not hack a better hardware tablet like the nexus 7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OMAP 4460 in the 7" hd has a stronger gpu (clocked higher) than the tegra 3 as well as hdmi out and dual band wi-fi. What are you referring to when you mention that the nexus 7 is a stronger hardware platform?
pandapoo said:
The OMAP 4460 in the 7" hd has a stronger gpu (clocked higher) than the tegra 3 as well as hdmi out and dual band wi-fi. What are you referring to when you mention that the nexus 7 is a stronger hardware platform?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was the for to my weak ass Quadrant score
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
pandapoo said:
The OMAP 4460 in the 7" hd has a stronger gpu (clocked higher) than the tegra 3 as well as hdmi out and dual band wi-fi. What are you referring to when you mention that the nexus 7 is a stronger hardware platform?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting quote from a reviewer
This is a Wi-Fi-only device that Amazon has packed with dual antennas, support for MIMO and reception in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands in an attempt to speed up the connection. Despite that, I found Web browsing to be noticeably slower than on the Nexus 7 -- so in my experience, at least, that hardware addition is for naught.
The device is missing some prominent hardware features that its competitors have, such as GPS. The Kindle Fire HD's processor is far from leading-edge: a 1.2Ghz dual-core OMAP 4460 Texas Instruments processor, compared to the more powerful quad-core Tegra 3 processor that powers the Nexus 7. After several hours of use, I found the tablet seemed to suffer occasional lags when opening apps and on occasion when using apps. Restarting the device solved the problem, but then the lags eventually reappeared.
The middling-level hardware isn't as surprising as you might expect, because the Kindle Fire HD hasn't really been designed to be an all-purpose tablet -- despite Amazon's claims to the contrary. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos summed up the purpose of the Kindle Fire HD succinctly during the product announcement when he said, "The Kindle Fire is a service."
http://m.computerworld.com/s/articl...&hl=en&gl=us&tab=wn&q=kindle%20fire%20hd&sa=N
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
shook187 said:
My question is if you're going to hack, why not hack a better hardware tablet like the nexus 7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hehe, I may do that too. That's why somehow I have a Motorola Xoom, iPad 2, iPad 3, Kindle Original, Nook Touch, Galaxy Note, Motorola Razr Maxx, and Galaxy Nexus.
The Fire HD appealed to be because I wanted more or less a dedicated reading device that also does other stuff. The antiglare screen looks pretty good so far and that was a plus for me. Now, if I can only get it to run Zinio stable, then I'll have pretty much achieved my goal.
I can deal with the text layout of Business Week from Amazon on the Fire, but for my other two magazines--Outside and National Geographic--I really want the full color magazine experience since its so much about the photography. Zinio's resolution is just so much higher than the same magazine pages via the Amazon Kindle app. I think Zinio uses vector for the layout where it appears Amazon is rasterized.
shook187 said:
My question is if you're going to hack, why not hack a better hardware tablet like the nexus 7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
16gb vs 8gb for $199, much better sound, apparently better screen, hdmi, possibly better build quality. and maybe a better camera.
versus gps and Tegra 3.(not sure if Tegra 3 is usefully better other than Tegra-only games).
I like them both but I really want the better sound and hdmi, and hacking would eliminate one of the main advantages of the Nexus 7 which is the larger app selection.
I got mine today. Too locked down for my tastes but a root in the near future will take care of that. I like that I can "borrow" books from Amazon and watch whatever prime videos that are in Amazon's catalog. Micro hdmi works great, screen looks fantastic, the speakers sound pretty good and I can fit the 7" in a cargo pocket. Overall, I think it's a good buy for $199.
I just made the switch from the Nexus 7 to a Kindle Fire HD. I'm not totally sure it's the best decision, but so far I don't feel bad for making the switch.
I love the Nexus 7, it's speedy, feels great in my hand, and I just love having a stock Android tablet with Jelly Bean. But I'm disappointed with the hardware quality, after several RMAs I still have loose glass on the left side, washed out colors, the speaker is almost unusable in some situations, and the wifi isn't that good. ASUS says they had to rush to redesign this for Google and I feel like it shows. I'm pretty disappointed because I so wanted to love the tablet and there are not any other good true Android tablets in this price range (Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is not an option because of it's 1024x600 resolution).
Google was kind enough to give me a refund. And I really appreciate that, because I bought the Nexus 7 two months ago. So I picked up a Kindle Fire HD today.
The main reason why I decided to give the Kindle Fire HD a chance is because I'm an Amazon Prime subscriber, I have bought quite a few ebooks from them, I use their Instant Video service, and I do a lot of other shopping with them. So I figure even if I don't really love it as a tablet, at least it'll hopefully be a nice device from finding new content on Amazon.
My first impressions of the Kindle Fire HD after a few hours of use...
The build quality just feels excellent. The glass is where it should be and isn't moving and that's always a good start. The back side feels slightly more premium. It's wider than my Nexus 7 so not as comfortable to hold like a giant cell phone like I do with the Nexus 7, but it has a wider bezel so easier to hold on one edge. Nexus 7 does win in comfort to hold though because of it's lighter weight as well. But the Fire HD is comfortable enough as well, so no complaints.
My next concern area was the display quality. The colors on the Fire HD are warmer and look much better. The screen also seems to be brighter, so that should help outdoors.
Wifi was not really a concern on my Nexus 7, but my signal strength was a bit weak when I was in the back yard, the wifi connection would drop to 2 bars and 13Mbps strength. The Fire HD remains at excellent strength 4 bars and 130Mbps. I love the dual band and MIMO on this.
Speakers are a vast improvement too. They are louder and clearer on the Fire HD. With my Nexus 7 when I watched YouTube podcasts I'd have to wear headphones because it was difficult to hear dialog clearly sometimes, but everything comes out loud and clear on the Fire HD. Heck I have to turn the volume down a bit even.
I miss having a real home screen, being able able to arrange icons and customize the look. But Kindle OS doesn't seem too bad. And since I'm an Amazon Prime customer, I do like the suggestions they present me with. The OS is where the Nexus 7 shines very brightly and the Fire HD doesn't as I expected. But the OS performance on the Fire HD actually seems pretty good so far.
I had no trouble side loading my favorite Android apps and YouTube. I'm not rooting and loading Google Play at this time. Just in case I decide to return it, I want to be able to return it to stock easily. YouTube runs fine and all my side loaded apps seem to be working. So it seems everything I'd been using my Nexus 7 for I should be able to do on the Fire HD.
In summary I'm happy with the Kindle Fire HD so far. The only nagging concern is should I stick with this 7.0 model or wait for the 8.9 inch model. I like the smaller size, but am missing out on higher DPI and a faster processor, it's pretty tempting.
Once(if) it gets a custom recovery and bootloader, and gets jellybean ROMs, its going to be awesome.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
:good: Good Decision
I also have a Nexus 7, last week it started having whiteout and washed out screen/collor issues. Its been over a month so not sure what to do with it now, but I have really been loving my rooted kindle fire hd with google play store and apps
Josepho1997 said:
Once(if) it gets a custom recovery and bootloader, and gets jellybean ROMs, its going to be awesome.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then I'm going to buy one
I sold my original Kindle Fire to get the Nexus 7. But after going through 2 units, I finally returned it due to hardware failure issues and decided to wait. When the new Kindle Fire HD was announced, I was so excited I ordered the 7 inch model even though I also ordered the 8.9 inch model. For some reason, possibly due to how well they are built, the Kindle Fires hold their value very well. I'm not worried at all about re selling the 7 once I get the 8.9.
Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2
Ravynmagi said:
I just made the switch from the Nexus 7 to a Kindle Fire HD. I'm not totally sure it's the best decision, but so far I don't feel bad for making the switch.
I love the Nexus 7, it's speedy, feels great in my hand, and I just love having a stock Android tablet with Jelly Bean. But I'm disappointed with the hardware quality, after several RMAs I still have loose glass on the left side, washed out colors, the speaker is almost unusable in some situations, and the wifi isn't that good. ASUS says they had to rush to redesign this for Google and I feel like it shows. I'm pretty disappointed because I so wanted to love the tablet and there are not any other good true Android tablets in this price range (Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is not an option because of it's 1024x600 resolution).
Google was kind enough to give me a refund. And I really appreciate that, because I bought the Nexus 7 two months ago. So I picked up a Kindle Fire HD today.
The main reason why I decided to give the Kindle Fire HD a chance is because I'm an Amazon Prime subscriber, I have bought quite a few ebooks from them, I use their Instant Video service, and I do a lot of other shopping with them. So I figure even if I don't really love it as a tablet, at least it'll hopefully be a nice device from finding new content on Amazon.
My first impressions of the Kindle Fire HD after a few hours of use...
The build quality just feels excellent. The glass is where it should be and isn't moving and that's always a good start. The back side feels slightly more premium. It's wider than my Nexus 7 so not as comfortable to hold like a giant cell phone like I do with the Nexus 7, but it has a wider bezel so easier to hold on one edge. Nexus 7 does win in comfort to hold though because of it's lighter weight as well. But the Fire HD is comfortable enough as well, so no complaints.
My next concern area was the display quality. The colors on the Fire HD are warmer and look much better. The screen also seems to be brighter, so that should help outdoors.
Wifi was not really a concern on my Nexus 7, but my signal strength was a bit weak when I was in the back yard, the wifi connection would drop to 2 bars and 13Mbps strength. The Fire HD remains at excellent strength 4 bars and 130Mbps. I love the dual band and MIMO on this.
Speakers are a vast improvement too. They are louder and clearer on the Fire HD. With my Nexus 7 when I watched YouTube podcasts I'd have to wear headphones because it was difficult to hear dialog clearly sometimes, but everything comes out loud and clear on the Fire HD. Heck I have to turn the volume down a bit even.
I miss having a real home screen, being able able to arrange icons and customize the look. But Kindle OS doesn't seem too bad. And since I'm an Amazon Prime customer, I do like the suggestions they present me with. The OS is where the Nexus 7 shines very brightly and the Fire HD doesn't as I expected. But the OS performance on the Fire HD actually seems pretty good so far.
I had no trouble side loading my favorite Android apps and YouTube. I'm not rooting and loading Google Play at this time. Just in case I decide to return it, I want to be able to return it to stock easily. YouTube runs fine and all my side loaded apps seem to be working. So it seems everything I'd been using my Nexus 7 for I should be able to do on the Fire HD.
In summary I'm happy with the Kindle Fire HD so far. The only nagging concern is should I stick with this 7.0 model or wait for the 8.9 inch model. I like the smaller size, but am missing out on higher DPI and a faster processor, it's pretty tempting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This applies to me also. I just traded my Nexus 7 for an unopened Fire HD plus $40. My Nexus had similar issues to yours. So far I'm very pleased with my decision. You can have a home screen if you install ADW launcher. It's the only launcher I could get to work. If you hit the home button it does not give you the option to choose a new launcher, it defaults to the Amazon launcher. Also, the Kindle app won't open from ADW. I made ADW a favorite and avoid the home button unless I need to get to my Kindle App. Not the ideal situation but gives you the option to not use the carousel, change the wallpaper, use widgets, etc.
Once CM10 is out for the Fire HD it will make things even better.
vzwty said:
This applies to me also. I just traded my Nexus 7 for an unopened Fire HD plus $40. My Nexus had similar issues to yours. So far I'm very pleased with my decision. You can have a home screen if you install ADW launcher. It's the only launcher I could get to work. If you hit the home button it does not give you the option to choose a new launcher, it defaults to the Amazon launcher. Also, the Kindle app won't open from ADW. I made ADW a favorite and avoid the home button unless I need to get to my Kindle App. Not the ideal situation but gives you the option to not use the carousel, change the wallpaper, use widgets, etc.
Once CM10 is out for the Fire HD it will make things even better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good!
Thank you for your sharing, I need it!
Another thing I'm liking about the Kindle Fire HD is it's soft keys. I side loaded Dolphin and enabled full screen mode and I really have FULL SCREEN. I love how the soft keys minimize to a small little overlapping tab on the edge. I have so much screen space for viewing pages. The Nexus 7 has those huge honking ever present soft keys that rarely go away.
I am on the same boat. Nexus 7 would be awesome it it wasn't for the build quality. I am thinking about the nook HD+, it sounds awesome.
KFHD = locked. N7 = unlockable
Good luck with CM10 on the KFHD. The bootloader is locked. It's not necessarily impossible to work around it, but will be a major headache/inconvenience, and many CM folk I know are steering clear just on principal.
fattire said:
Good luck with CM10 on the KFHD. The bootloader is locked. It's not necessarily impossible to work around it, but will be a major headache/inconvenience, and many CM folk I know are steering clear just on principal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not impossible for amazon to do it. But there's no chance they will.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
vzwty said:
This applies to me also. I just traded my Nexus 7 for an unopened Fire HD plus $40. My Nexus had similar issues to yours. So far I'm very pleased with my decision. You can have a home screen if you install ADW launcher. It's the only launcher I could get to work. If you hit the home button it does not give you the option to choose a new launcher, it defaults to the Amazon launcher. Also, the Kindle app won't open from ADW. I made ADW a favorite and avoid the home button unless I need to get to my Kindle App. Not the ideal situation but gives you the option to not use the carousel, change the wallpaper, use widgets, etc.
Once CM10 is out for the Fire HD it will make things even better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im trying to do something similar to what u did.is there a way i can side load google music w/o rooting?
Tswig said:
im trying to do something similar to what u did.is there a way i can side load google music w/o rooting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I backed up the Google Music app from my Nexus 7 using ES File Manager. Then copied it to my Fire HD and installed it. It seems to be working just fine, I'm streaming my music from Google.
I was on the same boat as you. After returning two nexus 7s due to raised screen, I was hoping for a better build 7 inch tablet. I end up buying an excite 7.7. I was able to get the excite for 360$. I think it is a good deal considering the superb screen, build quality and features....
Sent from my AT270 using xda app-developers app
Hi! I did get my KFHD a week ago. I wanted to buy Nexus 7, but Fire HD looks better for the same price. Rooted, G Play, all work awesome! The only problem is - I can't start any launcher from the google market. It is downloaded, installed, but there is NO open button and it doesn't show up in apps... What am i doing wrong?
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Melodycd said:
Hi! I did get my KFHD a week ago. I wanted to buy Nexus 7, but Fire HD looks better for the same price. Rooted, G Play, all work awesome! The only problem is - I can't start any launcher from the google market. It is downloaded, installed, but there is NO open button and it doesn't show up in apps... What am i doing wrong?
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard only ADW Launcher seems to work. And if you press the Home button you'll go back to the Amazon launcher instead, so I guess you need to put ADW Launcher in your favorites and avoid hitting the home buttons. That sounds like a PITA to me, so I haven't messed with it myself.
Ravynmagi said:
I've heard only ADW Launcher seems to work. And if you press the Home button you'll go back to the Amazon launcher instead, so I guess you need to put ADW Launcher in your favorites and avoid hitting the home buttons. That sounds like a PITA to me, so I haven't messed with it myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do root, you can put go launcher ex apk in the system/app folder, install and reboot. Go launcher will work and you can set it to default, the kindle will ask what you want to use when it boots from that restart. Then you'll be good to go. I had it working perfect on my KFHD but its back in the box and going to UPS tomorrow.
Ravynmagi said:
I've heard only ADW Launcher seems to work. And if you press the Home button you'll go back to the Amazon launcher instead, so I guess you need to put ADW Launcher in your favorites and avoid hitting the home buttons. That sounds like a PITA to me, so I haven't messed with it myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its really not that big of a pain
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Full disclosure here. I have had every version of the iPad to date and love version 3. BUT.. it is just a bit too big so I've been looking for something a bit smaller for quite a while. I've bought and sold a number of 7 or 8 inch tablets, Samsung, Pandigital, Ainol to name a few and ended up selling them on. The Pandigital was the most fun. I just hung on to the coat-tails of the smart boys who hacked the hell out of it and made it more than what it was. When the Nexus 7 was released it looked like I had a new best friend but there was nowhere to try the darn thing so I held off. When good old Jeff announced the Fire HD I was intrigued and when there was one on display at Best Buy I fondled it and bought one.
The one thing I really like about the iPad is the aspect ratio of 4:3. Everything has gone to 16:9 and I detest the bloody ratio. I purposely stayed away from them both at home and work and have Dell 16:10 ultrabrights and love them. I have gone from T-Mobile S2 to Note and refuse to look at the S3 or Note 2 because the screens have become longer and thinner. Don't even get me started on the iPhone 5 :silly: I seldom watch movies on a small screen or monitor and with the iPad it is apps like Zite or magazines or comics and it excels at that.
OK, now before you start saying that the screen on the Fire HD and Nexus 7 are the same.... yes I agree. Same aspect ratio but not quite same colour saturation etc, but where the Fire HD beats the Nexus 7 for me is that the Nexus 7 looks and feels far longer and thinner. In reality it is only a smidgen longer but the decrease of width makes it feel like a sausage. I don't have massive hands and to be honest I don't find there to be much difference holding either the Nexus 7 or the Fire HD.
Initially, the closed wall and adverts of the Fire HD were off-putting rather than annoying, but after rooting, which ultimately needed installing the SDK to get my computer to be able to ADB into it, and now there is a hack to remove adverts, the device has grown on me. I was able to install the Play Store and pull down apps like Bloomberg, Aldiko, Currents, MX Player and Skype. I couldn't get Zite but I pulled it from my phone and sideloaded it. I installed Gmail and set up my personal and office mails. The one thing I couldn't get to work was QQ Launcher. ADW launcher works but I find myself using it less and less as I just go to the Apps tab.
Now I can easily watch videos or read ePub files with no problem. I have pretty much most of the things I have on my iPad and I find the size and weight of the Fire HD to be very comfortable.
There was definitely an extra smoothness with the Nexus 7 but was it a "holy mackrel, that just blew my eyelids off".....? Nope. The Fire HD works and works fast enough. The only real slowness, if you could call it that, is a slight hesitancy in scrolling PDFs which have been zoomed. The screen is definitely better than the nexus 7, and if it was possible to get QQ Launcher to run then for me the darn thing would be perfect.
The Nexus 7 was a nice unit. Fast and hackable to the cows came home but the long and thin of it ultimately killed it for me. Also one thing I noticed was that with Zite for example, the Nexus 7 rendered it slightly different to the Fire HD. Text was smaller and not quite so clear. There was also something that may have been a bit dodgy about the Nexus 7 and it was very reluctant to switch on at times. I had to plug it into a power source and then it fired up. The battery was almost fully charged but sometimes it just refused to wake up.
So there you have it, one guys absolutely, purely subjective, non scientific rational as to why the Nexus 7 went back this morning and the Fire HD is still here. Your mileage may differ.
I have similar prefs. I like iPad's 4:3 AR, and prefer a reader for "print" media rather than videos. But I also want a larger size than 7" since legibility matters more than portability.
Presently, my eyes are set on the Nook HD+ for its 3:2 AR, not quite as good as 4:3, but better than the standard 16:10. Since I want it mostly for reading and web browsing (in portrait mode), I don't need cam/GPS/HDMI. But I don't want to be stuck in B&N eco, so am waiting to see if it can be unlocked, or at a minimum rooted.
I like the Nook HD+'s $269 price, which is about the same as the Nexus 7 16GB. The KFHD 9 is $309 w/ charger, and it has 16:10 AR and no SD expansion.
I have a Nexus 7 and picked up a Kindle Fire HD. I'm thinking about switching for other reasons. But I actually think the feel of the Nexus 7 is one thing in it's favor. Both tablets have the same 16:10 sized screen, it's only the bezel that is more narrow on the Nexus 7. And that narrow bezel makes it a lot easier to wrap my hand around the back on portrait mode. While the Kindle Fire is larger and heavier. I can wrap my hand around the Fire HD too, but it's not as comfortable to hold that way.
PS. Though one thing the Fire HD has in it's favor for people that like 4:3 ratios is it's on screen buttons and menu do a much better job of getting out of the way. So I have more screen spaces on the Fire HD than the Nexus 7.
I went the other way around. I started with the KFHD and about after a week, I picked up the N7 and unfortunately, the KFHD is going back to Amazon. I love the better colors, sound and more solid feel but at the end of the day, KFHD is a severely gimped version of android. Amazon left out enough code that this device will never fully function as a true android device without a custom ROM. Rooting helps but not enough. Different strokes for different folks, it just depends on what you want to use the device for. The Amazon entertainment ecosystem just isn't for me.
P.S. I have smaller hands but I prefer the thinness of the N7 over the KFHD. Its easier to hold with one hand, IMO.
I chose the Fire HD over the Nexus 7 also. Couldn't be happier.
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It just depends your taste.
I'm thinking of getting a Kindle Fire HD for my dad. He's not that Android savvy, but appreciates a device he can put his music and videos on. And a simple UI. Is this a better device compared to the Nexus 7 for these purposes?
Also, I suppose I can root the device and increase the space allocated for personal content?
fuyoo said:
I'm thinking of getting a Kindle Fire HD for my dad. He's not that Android savvy, but appreciates a device he can put his music and videos on. And a simple UI. Is this a better device compared to the Nexus 7 for these purposes?
Also, I suppose I can root the device and increase the space allocated for personal content?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... For me I'd think the primary reason to get a Kindle Fire HD is if you are an Amazon user. Because you give up quite a bit in the way of customizability and apps with the Kindle OS. However the UI is pretty simple and easy to use and if he's okay with the limited app selection and primarily wants it for music and videos. Then he'll really like the better looking screen and much better speakers.
The 16GB model comes with 12.63GB available to the user. So I don't think there is any need to reallocate space (it's no like the Nook Color).
fuyoo said:
I'm thinking of getting a Kindle Fire HD for my dad. He's not that Android savvy, but appreciates a device he can put his music and videos on. And a simple UI. Is this a better device compared to the Nexus 7 for these purposes?
Also, I suppose I can root the device and increase the space allocated for personal content?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If someone has never used or owned an android device, phone or tablet, then the Nexus 7 will have a learning curve. Not so much for the KFHD, Amazon keeps it pretty simple and easy to navigate. If I just wanted a pure entertainment device, then I would of stayed with the KFHD. Whispersync is great for readers, which you get with the KFHD, not to mention you can send documents and books to your kindle email and hosted by Amazon. The screen and speakers are fantastic. Amazon app store is limited compared to the google play store but there are ways around that.
The N7 is more of a general purpose device (handles video just fine, sound could be better but its fine with headphones) but the world is at your finger tips..
Well I'm not rooted on either and I still prefer using the KFHD to tell the truth. I just installed an alternate launcher on the kfhd so I'm happy to get away from the carousel.
The video quality? No way is the Nexus 7 equal to the KFHd, not to my eyes. As mentioned, the color on the kfhd blows away the Nexus 7 and color is part of the video quality equation as far as I'm concerned. And the audio quality on the KFHD blows the Nexus 7 as well. And is the ppi on the Nexus 7 even equal to the KFHD?
Read reviews. There are enough that mentioned the video quality isn't up to snuff on the Nexus 7.
And the build quality? Well I was fortunate to get a good Nexus 7 from Walmart but there is enough written from folks who have had issues.
Apps? Well I can sideload and I have more than enough to keep me happy with the kfhd. I equate it to channels on a TV. So what if someone has far more than another, as long as you have the ones you want to watch who cares!
If I decide to get the Nook Hd +, the Nexus 7 will be the one I trade in.
Hi. I currently own an LG G2 and an iPad mini Retina but i'm missing having an Android tablet because of the vast customisations that you can do with an open OS.
I'm kinda exploring the new Kindle Fire HDX but with a lack of the Google Plays Store for me its a sort of big deal.
What is the best/easiest way to sideload apps on the FHD? Is it better to just install .apk files? Where do i get .apk files?
What if the app has an update? Do i need to re-install the new .apk file?
Or is it best to just buy a "normal" Android tablet?
Pls advice. Thanks.
Imo buy a nexus 7
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gino_76ph said:
Hi. I currently own an LG G2 and an iPad mini Retina but i'm missing having an Android tablet because of the vast customisations that you can do with an open OS.
I'm kinda exploring the new Kindle Fire HDX but with a lack of the Google Plays Store for me its a sort of big deal.
What is the best/easiest way to sideload apps on the FHD? Is it better to just install .apk files? Where do i get .apk files?
What if the app has an update? Do i need to re-install the new .apk file?
Or is it best to just buy a "normal" Android tablet?
Pls advice. Thanks.
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Click to collapse
From everything you said, I wouldn't even consider an hdx. Check out the nexus 7.
StAlfonzo said:
From everything you said, I wouldn't even consider an hdx. Check out the nexus 7.
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Click to collapse
Problem with the Nexus 7 is the small 7" screen. Not big and wide enough for viewing/surfing/watching stuff. The big bezels on the side doesn't help at all and speakers ain't loud or clear enough.
What i like about the KIndles are the build quality, amazing speakers sound and a friendly/unique OS (which i happen to know is a forked Android OS).
If i can sideload apps and or download .apk files off a third party app store(s) then maybe i can live with that.
gino_76ph said:
Problem with the Nexus 7 is the small 7" screen. Not big and wide enough for viewing/surfing/watching stuff. The big bezels on the side doesn't help at all and speakers ain't loud or clear enough.
What i like about the KIndles are the build quality, amazing speakers sound and a friendly/unique OS (which i happen to know is a forked Android OS).
If i can sideload apps and or download .apk files off a third party app store(s) then maybe i can live with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounded like customization was key to you wanting an Android tablet at all. Nobody has even unlocked the bootloader yet for the kindle, so I was basing my advice off that.
I love my kindle, but I have been frustrated with its lack of being able to customize anything. You cant even change the date and time, as Amazon didn't allocate any memory for that.
I generally recommend the tablet for people who have Amazon Prime and would utilize all of Amazon's streaming services. For others, it's more of a 50/50. I agree with you about the build quality, and the all-around amazing hardware stats of the device. That's why I bought one, even though I don't have Prime.
I guess I forgot to ask which size you were looking at. I was recommending the nexus over the hdx 7", cos that's what I have and what most people around here have, as it was less than half the price of the 8.9" for a long time around Christmas. Also, the bezel on the hdx is pretty big, too. It's meant for you to fit your full thumb there so you can hold the device easier.
You can sideload apps easily now that google apps are up and running, so customization is a little better than I led you to believe. That date/time thing just really got to me when I was playing candy crush and couldn't get more lives.
I got the HDX 8.9 and finally had to return it, the hardware was great but the limitation of the software that hurt the most was how some side-loaded apps and games would ignore the onscreen buttons.
Then samsung's Tab Pro 8.4 was announced and has play store, micro sd slot and mhl combined with a non pentile 2560x1600 screen finalized my decision.
As someone who has owned several tablets in the past 4 years (HTC Flyer, Galaxy Tab 1, Tesco Hudl, old & new Nexus 7, iPad 2, Acer Iconia B1, old Kindle Fire HD, iPad mini) i can say i'm pretty much experienced when it comes to prices, specs...basically what i really need on a tablet.
At the moment i have the iPad mini with Retina display. What's amazing about the device is the size seems just about right for reading, viewing and watching movies, amazing build quality, you have the App store, speakers are just about average loudness and the simplicity of the OS. But i prefer Android OS more as i have an Android phone and i feel i can do more and i feel "not constrained" to the overall ecosystem and OS that is Apple's.
My current choice of screen size is at least more than 7-inch. Problem with my 1st choice (the Galaxy Note 8.0) is Samsung products tend to have a "premium" price, slow updates and near-abysmal customer support. My second choice is the LG G-pAd 8.3. Specs looks amazing on paper and it will compliment my G2 very well. If you can ignore the poor/slow updates of LG phones in the past 2-3 years then one can live with it i think. Reviews of the G-pad has so far been amazing and i feel the screen size is almost perfect even more better when watching a movie or the football. My 3rd choice is the Asus Memo Pad 8 but again poor customer support in the UK and poor reviews have put me off somehow.