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I just did something I didn't expect to do!

MoodyBlues

MoodyBlues

Compassion is cool!
VIP Member
So I'm reading my e-mail and there's one from Amazon--offering a free 30-day trial of any of their Kindles. If I like it, they charge me after the 30 days are up; if I don't like it, I send it back on their dime and that's the end of that.

I went and looked at the various models--and ordered one! It's a Kindle Fire HD 8.9", wireless only. It's not the latest and greatest, and it only has 16GB storage, but for the price ($229) I think it's a good intro to the world of tablets. I don't expect to use it heavily, so its storage space shouldn't be a big deal.

It'll be here on Thursday.
 
When does the 30 days begin, now or once you receive it? Go ahead and use it heavy, so you can get a good feel for it.
 
saptech said:
When does the 30 days begin, now or once you receive it?
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Good question! And you know what? I really don't know. I'm guessing now, but I'm not sure. But since it'll be here the day after tomorrow, it's not a huge difference either way.

Go ahead and use it heavy, so you can get a good feel for it.
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Good advice, which I'll keep in mind. :)

BTW, I added an Otterbox Defender case for it, which doubles as a stand. Pretty cool. I've come to depend on my Otterbox Defender cases for my phones, and the more I thought about a tablet--and the possible things that could happen to it!--the more I realized I should go ahead and get one for it, too. :D
 
Moody I was half expecting to read a post about you using Windows, when I read the title. I won't be buying an ebook reader at the moment, no need I don't read that much.
 
It's a real limited tablet with zero access to Google Play, a basic browser (silk) and the Amazon Carousel Launcher (think skeoumorphisms) and Android 2.3 (or 4.0? the first gen only has Gingerbread)

if you decide to keep it after the 30-days are up, root the thing and put AOKP or CM on it.
 
nickdalzell said:
It's a real limited tablet with zero access to Google Play, a basic browser (silk) and the Amazon Carousel Launcher (think skeoumorphisms) and Android 2.3 (or 4.0? the first gen only has Gingerbread)
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It's based on Android 4.0.3.

if you decide to keep it after the 30-days are up, root the thing and put AOKP or CM on it.
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I just got an update on delivery--it'll be here tomorrow. I have to admit I'm having serious second thoughts--for the very reasons you've mentioned, Nick. I'm feeling a bit of deja vu right now...let's see, I think that was last month that I had the brilliant idea to buy a Chromebook--since it's running Linux and everything!--and use it as is. Right...we all know where that went. :laugh:

Well, let me see what this thing is like. I'm under no obligation to keep it, so if it's clear that it's not going to cut it for me, I can send it back. But if its display and sound are as nice as its reviews indicate, perhaps keeping it and rooting it would be the way to go. I'll need help, though, as I have NOT rooted anything before! If I hopelessly screw it up, but it's still within the 30 days, I wonder how Amazon would feel about getting it back? :confused: I should be able to factory reset it though, right?
 
I have a Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 wifi only, and it is really nice.

I don't really use it enough, but I am waiting on an infrared camera to pair with it that will improve its utility to me at work.

I do use it as an ebook reader on occasion, and I use it at school.

It did a good job entertaining me and Dngrswife at the airport when we flew that one time-- played Netflix on it with little issue.

It wasn't something I really needed, truth to tell, but it was a nice toy for myself, and I do not regret buying it.
 
It's here! :)

And, oh my goodness, is it thin. That was the first thing that struck me. Then its really beautiful display.

There was virtually no effort involved in setting it up. As soon as I turned it on it showed that it was registered to me (there was an option to change things if that was incorrect), and then I stepped through basic stuff like time zone and language settings; it detected my wireless network and connected to it easily.

Please don't anyone carve this in stone, but I can see keeping it and using it as is. I've spent a total of about 30 minutes with it so far, so that's not really enough time to know anything for sure, but right now I can see how it will do for web browsing and playing games--pretty much all I wanted to do with it in the first place. I can also see how watching movies on it would be nice. If I think of it as an over-sized smartphone rather than a computer, I might be able to use it as is. I've already installed my favorite game, Train Conductor 2 USA, and it's a LOT nicer than playing it on my phone. :D

The one bad thing I'm seeing so far is that despite having set keyboard sounds on, I have to literally have my ear next to the keyboard in order to hear it when I type. But the volume is turned all the way up, and is very loud for other things, so I don't know what that's about. :confused:

More later...

ETA: Now that I know how to install Google Play apps on it, I am SO OKAY with this thing! :D
 
What is train conductor about? Besides the obvious, I mean.

I would really like to see an android version of Agent USA...
 
Dngrsone said:
What is train conductor about? Besides the obvious, I mean.
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Train Conductor 2 USA I love it! It's my fallback game, the one I always come back to.

It has different scenarios, themed according to their cities, and you're responsible for moving trains to their respective [numbered] tracks. It starts out easy enough, but pretty soon you're juggling trains coming from both directions, on all the tracks, and the point is to not let them crash. On one scenario, the Grand Canyon, you also have to prevent them from falling off the tracks and into the abyss below. :eek:
 
Did something more unique than just root and ROM flash a Kindle Fire, i got a Nook Simple Touch rooted and running everything too. e-ink and a tablet just flat-out rock and the battery lasts all week if i'm just checking email or browsing AF.
 
yeah side-loading works too, but for any paid apps, you might have issues. for some reason i cannot find where the paid-app APKs are stored on my rooted phones or tablets. they appear 'hidden' for some reason so i cannot pull any apps that are paid and installed on my Galaxy S3 or Tab 2 10.1 and side-load them onto anything. i have looked in both /data/app and /system/app but only free apps show their APKs.
 
nickdalzell said:
yeah side-loading works too, but for any paid apps, you might have issues.
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No, there's no issue for me. My paid games work fine on it. And with its much larger screen, I'm going to use it to play the games I had been playing on my phone. SO MUCH easier on these eyes! :D

for some reason i cannot find where the paid-app APKs are stored on my rooted phones or tablets. they appear 'hidden' for some reason so i cannot pull any apps that are paid and installed on my Galaxy S3 or Tab 2 10.1 and side-load them onto anything. i have looked in both /data/app and /system/app but only free apps show their APKs.
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I think we're using different methods; these are the instructions I followed, and they worked like a charm.

ETA: Now that I've had all day to play with it, I know I'll be keeping it. Still have 29 days left on that free trial, but don't need them! :D

There are a number of things I'll want to sort out/figure out, but the basic device is nice, so it's more like an adventure figuring things out rather than a chore.
 
Yep, they are pretty nice to have. I don't do a whole lot with my tablet, though I should like taking it more places. It's nice to have around the house. I can sit or lay on the couch or bed and surf, read email, and read AF posts. I've had mine over a year now and do like it alot. I'm glad I got it.
 
When i got the Nexus 7, i put the Kindle Fire up in storage next to the other 'spares' i got. most of them are paperweights though now.
 
nickdalzell said:
When i got the Nexus 7, i put the Kindle Fire up in storage next to the other 'spares' i got. most of them are paperweights though now.
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Maybe it's time to pull that Kindle Fire off the shelf! I'm having fun exploring mine--and its possible possibilities. I was even wondering last night..."hmmmm, can I install Kubuntu on it? :idea:" :D
 
Cool cool! Though, I'm a bit disappointed because a post from Moody that says "I just did something I didn't expect to..." had me believing Moody installed Windows 8!

:p
 
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