Amazon now allows Kindle Fire owners to browse the Android Market via the Silk browser. Ebook reader apps even briefly appeared on the Appstore before disappearing into the abyss again.
Just days ago we reported and confirmed that Amazon's Kindle Fire prevented owners from visiting the Android Market in the Silk browser. The 7-inch tablet reportedly contains a hidden utility app called "MarketIntentProxy.apk" which can detect when the end-user is hunting for an app, and will force a re-direct to the Amazon Appstore installed on the device -- literally hijacking the browser.
Now days later, Kindle Fire customers are reporting that they suddenly have access to the Android Market via the Silk browser. Like some kind of Christmas miracle, the recent firmware update not only brought smoother scrolling and the ability to delete icons from the carousel, but gives users permission to browse Google's library of Android apps. It's just too bad you can't actually install them, as you need a registered Android device, and the Kindle Fire isn't on Google's list.
As reported earlier, the way around Amazon's closed system is to just simply head to System/Device and turn on "Allow Installation of Applications." One way to get Android Market apps onto the tablet is to back up installed apps from an existing Android device using AirDroid or something similar. Once the app is saved to the hard drive, email it to the tablet or use apps like WiFi File Explorer that are readily available on Amazon's Appstore (this is how we installed Firefox 9 for Android on the Kindle Fire).
In related censorship news, TechCrunch reports that Amazon has lifted a block on 3rd-party e-reader apps provided by Wattpad, Kobo, Bluefire and others. Reasons for blocking the apps from the Kindle Fire are likely similar to the reasons for initially blocking the Android Market: to create a closed system.
"I’ve just been told by Bluefire that their app had been tested for the KF when it was submitted to Amazon," writes The Digital Reader in November. "Amazon told Bluefire that the app was compatible, so there’s absolutely no reason for it to not be listed. Amazon is hindering their competition from their tablet."
But Wattpad -- whose e-reader app was clearly listed on the desktop version of Amazon's Appstore among others -- reportedly didn't think much of the tablet ban and "engaged in conversations" with the online retailer. This reportedly led to a necessary change in policy for all e-reading app developers. It's believed that, like the Android Market block that magically disappeared, the latest firmware update erased the 3rd-party e-reader blocks as well.
However as of this writing, Wattpad's app seems to be the only ebook reader listed on the Kindle Fire version of Amazon's Appstore. Wattpad’s Amy Martin also confirms this via TechCrunch, saying that the apps were available Wednesday evening, but have since disappeared. A search for Kobo and Bluefire leads to empty results. Is this a firmware glitch, or is Amazon still preventing the sale of 3rd-party ebooks directly from the Kindle Fire?
True there's as cheap alternatives but people are lazy and don't want to research other alternatives. Instead they just complain.
Absolutely right.
As far as I am concerned Amazon can keep this thing.
I will not have some company tell me what I can and can not browse, install or uninstall.
The thing is that a tablet with the specs of the Kindle Fire would cost a lot more than the 200 bucks Amazon charges for their tablet. At least Amazon made a smart move by charging the manufacturing price for the tablet. You can root the Kindle Fire --video here:
http://youtu.be/ksY-Iy2QDR8
On another note, the people buying the Kindle Fire are quite similar to iCrippled users in that
they are clueless about technology and think they can't read Kindle books in any android tablet.
They are not making money from selling Kindle Fires directly, but they are making money from selling ebooks and other digital media. I think that jailing users backfires in the long run, and if Amazon desires to remain competitive it should promote open standards. I for one stopped buy mp3 files from them because they wanted to force me a la iCrapple into putting my mp3 files on their cloud. I am not dumb enough for that strategy to work with me. So stopped buying from them. I still buy books, but they are so expensive and there are very few classics in e-format. If publishing houses lowered the prices of e-books to just a few dollars, they would make alot more money. Some publishing houses charge something like 50 dollars for an e-book. Go figure.
This
I am sure Amazon wants their device to be a content provider from their website, which is why they initially locked things out. However, they are probably starting to realize that their device is losing some appeal, and upsetting some of their current Fire users because of the closed ecosystem of the device. One thing I can attest to though, Amazon knows that if you make your customers happy, they will continue to support you. I have had no less than 3 problems with purchases made on Amazon recently, non of which was really their fault, and all three of which Amazon handled directly, and graciously. Already have a Touchpad so I won't be buying a Kindle Fire myself, but Amazon is a company I will continue to do business with because they have always worked hard to do right by me.
1. Using the Silk browser, I cannot use Hotmail with Hotmail secure-mode (HTTPS mode) turned on. To see Hotmail on the KF, you have to go to a PC and turn HTTPS mode off in the Hotmail settings, then the KF can see Hotmail. This is something that I am unwilling to do.
2. Using the Silk browser, I cannot play Silverlight video, so if I stumble across a website using Silverlight video, I cannot see it.
3. Using the Silk browser, I cannot just type a word like 'mozilla' and have the browser auto-magically take me to the website. Firefox will do this (although you may have to change a setting under the hood) and this is my main reason for using FireFox.
4. I cannot install Firefox.
5. I cannot install Roboform password manager (Although Lastpass is available for those who use that passwoord manager).
6. I cannot install MS Word.
7. I cannot install MS Excel.
8. I cannot install Acrobat Pro.
As far as the last 3 go, I expected that (still, I miss them). I am surprised at the other limitations though, especially on the browser.
The customer service has been excellent. I downloaded a song that did not make it into my Cloud Drive (I probably had the settings wrong). I emailed them about it. Instead of telling me how to fix it, they just put the song in there and quietly made the necessary changes. Then they sent me an email telling me that my song was ready. I downloaded another song and it went to the Cloud Drive just the way it should.
At least when it comes to selling stuff at a reasonable price with good service, they know what they are doing.
-
600$ or 200$
its not like apple because they are selling it under cost and makeing the money back through what you buy from them
its damn good for its price, while the ipad is what you expect for its price so it can only really disappointing, and it has to me in some aspects.
and other android tablets... you are really looking close to if not more than an ipad for something good. with fire, its cheap to the point you couldn't build a brand new computer for the same price.
I am sure there are ways to get word and excel to work. Some people have no skills. I side loaded Quickoffice Pro, Lookout, Friendcaster Pro. All of these apps from four shared. I downloaded webroot virus protection first from the amazon app store, then hit four shared. I replaced webroot with lookout.
Have you notice that the Fire is getting Apple type hate?
The update helped and improved the performance. But I suggest you buy a Targus Sytlus.
completely untrue, i have managed to link a Google account to my kindle fire, Android market clearly shows up kindle fire in my device list (root required and an installation of Android Market)
i had received the 6.2.1 update, but mine was rather strange, i lost root (i rooted using superoneclick), but Android Market and GoLauncher is still in tact, though i did lose my alternate keyboard (GBoard), i had use super manager to move as many apps to the data/app directory rather than the system/app (i could not utilize GBoard as an alternate keyboard unless it was in system/app) so that might have been my saving grace
If you'll run Windows 8 or run OS X, iOS, or some Android devices you do indeed. Linux is going to be the last refuge left soon for people who want to actually control what they do with their device.
how can I get around this? is there a different program that will force connectify to use the ip shield?
I rooted my kindle but still there is no way to instal any apps I download from the net. I can download the app, then transfer by cable to my kindle but I can not open them on my kindle because I can not download the file explorer from Amazon. I have to have a file program like astro file manager to install apps I download externally...
I've seen an interesting video about this here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kindle-Fire-Reviews/286968834679702 , but I want to hear other's opinion too.
any help?
thx
____________________
HTC Wildfire Apps
Don't you just hate being hijacked?