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

Kindle Fire is useless after i got the Nexus 7. it has no GPS, no support for Google Now, zero microphone so i can't even voice-control it, no camera, only 4GB of storage, and the battery life is awful. it just lags behind the 7 so much i just kept it in storage. Play Store is on the thing (i think it's running AOKP with 4.2.2 as the Android version) but almost 90% of what you want to install on it are listed as 'not compatible with your device'. someone apparently booboo'd on the settings because the tablet is listed as a Galaxy Nexus on the main settings page under Settings-->About tablet. this might account for the issue with Play store. Bought a Kindle Paperwhite that has a web browser and Free 3G access, and i'm disappointed that none of the Fires, be them first-gen or the HD-series, lack the Free 3G that would make them a joy to use given they're running Android.
 
nickdalzell said:
Kindle Fire is useless after i got the Nexus 7. it has no GPS, no support for Google Now, zero microphone so i can't even voice-control it, no camera, only 4GB of storage, and the battery life is awful.
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It's clearly a different model from mine. I know for sure that mine has a microphone and a camera (I've tested Skype, and it works fine), as well as 16GB storage (which is plenty for what I'm using it for), and its battery lasts all day (or night).

Play Store is on the thing (i think it's running AOKP with 4.2.2 as the Android version) but almost 90% of what you want to install on it are listed as 'not compatible with your device'.
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So far, I've had no issues installing anything I wanted. But, as mentioned earlier, I'm side-loading apps, not going directly through Google Play.

someone apparently booboo'd on the settings because the tablet is listed as a Galaxy Nexus on the main settings page under Settings-->About tablet.
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:laugh: That's funny. :laugh:

Bought a Kindle Paperwhite that has a web browser and Free 3G access, and i'm disappointed that none of the Fires, be them first-gen or the HD-series, lack the Free 3G that would make them a joy to use given they're running Android.
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I only use wi-fi, so that's not an issue for me. I specifically bought a wi-fi only model because that's what I need.
 
It's more and more of a keeper. I have it networked now with all my other computers, so storage space is not an issue at all.

I'm bothered, though, by the volume--or, more accurately, the lack thereof. Sometimes it's great and sometimes, not so much. When I'm playing Train Conductor 2, the sound is so weak that if I'm outside on my patio, the noise around me [like the fountain] drowns out the game sounds. But other games are BLASTING-LY loud. :confused: So there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, and I can't figure out how to fix it. I LOVE playing TC2 on it because it's so much bigger and nicer and crisper and more detailed than it was on my phone, but I really rely on the game sounds [which alert you to different types of trains appearing], so not being able to hear them very well is a problem.

Oh, I've dropped in on our Kindle Fire HD board, and it's not very active. But I'll post over there with specific questions/problems.

Nick, I'm thinking about rooting it, but I don't want to screw it up. Any words of wisdom?
 
rooting it was easy. i think i found the article online. if you're an expert at Linux, you can root an Android device easily. the hard part is the root part, once that's done, all you do is launch a terminal and type 'reboot recovery' and that's how you back things up and how you flash ROMs. there are TONS of custom ROMs for the Fires.

Mine is the first generation Fire. it lacks a microphone, has no camera, and only has 4GB of storage. the only buttons on it is the power button on the bottom. battery lasts around 6 hours and takes FOREVER to charge back up again. My Nexus 7 can do all the Fire can do so much better.
 
nickdalzell said:
rooting it was easy. i think i found the article online. if you're an expert at Linux, you can root an Android device easily.
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No, not necessarily! When I got my first Android phone I thought I would root it ASAP. But then a couple of things happened: 1) I found that there were *ZERO* options out there if you're a Linux-only person and, 2) I realized I didn't need to root it in order to be content with it. With each subsequent phone I found the same dearth of rooting options for people who only use Linux. In other words, there are millions of guides and files and apps for window$ users, and even Mac users, but not Linux users. Which is completely mystifying to me, considering Android *IS* Linux. :hmmmm: I have found Linux rooting info and files more recently for my current phone, but a recent attempt--which was purely on a whim one night when I was wide awake and bored--failed at, I think, step 2. :rolleyes: I don't even recall right now what/why it failed, but it did, and I said, fine, I'll live without root. :D

I the hard part is the root part, once that's done, all you do is launch a terminal and type 'reboot recovery' and that's how you back things up and how you flash ROMs. there are TONS of custom ROMs for the Fires.
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As for the Kindle, I haven't looked at anything in depth yet. I'm still in the 30 day trial period, and although I really like it, the volume issue is bugging me. I'd hate to return it just because of that, but I might.

argedion said:
How is your Kindle experience going?
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Overall, it's very good. Thanks for asking. :) I really like it, but I'm having an issue with its volume that I don't know how to fix, or if it can be fixed. Its volume is VERY low within certain apps. When I'm playing Train Conductor 2, the sound is so faint that it's hard to hear the trains as they're announced. Yet in other apps the volume is plenty loud! Rhapsody lets you adjust various sound-related settings, and when I listen to music with it, the sound is very loud and clear. So I don't know. :confused:

Although I can side-load apps from Google Play, I don't like not having access to the Play Store itself. Oh, I INSTALLED Play, but it won't run. :mad:

Its carousel thingy for running apps is okay, but I think I'd prefer a more standard Android look, i.e., live wallpaper (which it apparently does not support), a clean home screen, and an app drawer.

I'm vacillating back and forth on whether to keep it. I know, I said I was really sure I would...but now I'm not so sure! The volume thing bugs me.
 
MoodyBlues said:
No, not necessarily! When I got my first Android phone I thought I would root it ASAP. But then a couple of things happened: 1) I found that there were *ZERO* options out there if you're a Linux-only person and, 2) I realized I didn't need to root it in order to be content with it. With each subsequent phone I found the same dearth of rooting options for people who only use Linux. In other words, there are millions of guides and files and apps for window$ users, and even Mac users, but not Linux users. Which is completely mystifying to me, considering Android *IS* Linux. :hmmmm: I have found Linux rooting info and files more recently for my current phone, but a recent attempt--which was purely on a whim one night when I was wide awake and bored--failed at, I think, step 2. :rolleyes: I don't even recall right now what/why it failed, but it did, and I said, fine, I'll live without root. :D
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My response to this: Get a Nexus. Always rootable on Windows, OS X, and Linux
 
palmtree5 said:
My response to this: Get a Nexus. Always rootable on Windows, OS X, and Linux
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Thanks, pt. I'll keep that in mind, but I won't be buying another phone until my current one drops dead. Oh, shoot...you know what? I have a habit of SAYING I won't buy something and then, bam!, next thing you know, I buy it. So let's try this: I'm not PLANNING on buying a new phone in the near future. Really. :D
 
Okay, a little update. I think I've talked myself into NOT wanting to keep the Kindle. The reasons are in my earlier post (reply #32). The more I thought about it, the more I realized I'd rather have a more standard Android device, with its familiar features like an app drawer--and the Play Store! So now I'm looking at other tablets and am leaning toward a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1".

Considering that I don't need a tablet, and had zero plans to buy one until that offer from Amazon came along and I bit, I really don't want to spend a lot of money on it. I have a houseful of real computers, and I do REAL stuff on them--designing for my shops' merchandise, composing e-mail, dumping and managing photos, etc. I can't justify spending a lot on what's basically a frivolous extra. I don't need the latest and greatest.

Stay tuned...
 
Try the Nexus 7. Same form factor as the Fire, but with Play, Google Now, more storage and always gets the most recent Android upgrades.

Galaxy Tab 2 only has 4.1 and is bloated with touch wiz which lags on it. I had to root to get the most recent Android and delete touch wiz. The worst part about the Tab 2 is the low resolution screen. Even the Tab 3 10.1 has sucky screen resolution (I'm used to the retina display so most of my current tablets and phones have a ~300ppi screen)

If you want a 10" tablet spend the extra coin and get a Nexus 10.
 
desktop said:
Oh yeah! My friend has one and it's drool-worthy indeed. Spoiled.
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See, that's just it--it's REALLY nice. Its display is just BLANKING beautiful. And the size is great--not too big, not too small. Right now I'm playing a game on it that I bought a while back, The Lost City, but never could play on my phone [because it was just too hard to see]. It's AMAZINGLY beautiful on the Kindle. And I can actually see what I'm doing. :laugh:

Oh, what to do, what to do...
 
nickdalzell said:
Try the Nexus 7. Same form factor as the Fire, but with Play, Google Now, more storage and always gets the most recent Android upgrades.
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I don't really want to downgrade as far as screen size goes. If I had to do anything, it would be go up on screen size, not down.

Galaxy Tab 2 only has 4.1 and is bloated with touch wiz which lags on it. I had to root to get the most recent Android and delete touch wiz. The worst part about the Tab 2 is the low resolution screen. Even the Tab 3 10.1 has sucky screen resolution (I'm used to the retina display so most of my current tablets and phones have a ~300ppi screen)
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I don't think I'm that picky! My eyesight sucks so much since that [blanking] brain tumor, I'm not sure a great vs not as great display really matters. Also, the Tab 2, and Tab 3, are quite a bit less expensive.

If you want a 10" tablet spend the extra coin and get a Nexus 10.
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Yeah...no. I just looked at some. I really can't justify spending that much on something I don't even need.

So if I got a Tab 2 or 3, and keeping in mind that don't need the latest, greatest, biggest, baddest tablet, what? Would I be dissatisfied? :confused: My main uses--gleaned from a week of using a tablet--would be: playing games, web browsing, occasionally watching streaming video, and not a lot more.
 
MoodyBlues said:
So if I got a Tab 2 or 3, and keeping in mind that don't need the latest, greatest, biggest, baddest tablet, what? Would I be dissatisfied? :confused: My main uses--gleaned from a week of using a tablet--would be: playing games, web browsing, occasionally watching streaming video, and not a lot more.
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The Nexus are great tablets, especially their display, but I'm pretty much satisfied with my Tab 2. I do just about everything you've mention plus it comes with an SD Card slot. If you decide to get one, I guess the Tab 3 would be the way to go, unless you can pick up the Tab 2 cheaper.
 
saptech said:
The Nexus are great tablets, especially their display, but I'm pretty much satisfied with my Tab 2. I do just about everything you've mention plus it comes with an SD Card slot. If you decide to get one, I guess the Tab 3 would be the way to go, unless you can pick up the Tab 2 cheaper.
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Okay, I'm leaning toward the 10.1" Tab 3--but I have a couple of questions. One, its color is listed as "gold-brown"--and that sounds U-G-L-Y! :eek: But its images [on Amazon] don't LOOK like gold-brown, they look black, or dark gray. I can't stand warm colors...ugh. If it really is gold and brown, just how hideous is it?! (I don't want white.) Also, I'm not seeing an Otterbox Defender case for the 10" Tab 3--and I rely on those for all my stuff. If there is none for it, does anyone have any suggestions for something comparable? The Defender cases completely envelop the device, including the touchscreen, which I really like.
 
Alrighty, here we go... And by ALL MEANS feel free to :rofl: if you'd like!

I'm KEEPING the damned thing. I was spending hours researching other tablets, and everything I found was either too expensive, or didn't have an Otterbox Defender case for it, or was too big or too small, or something.

Meanwhile, I've been using the KFHD and really liking it.

So at some point yesterday, I'm sitting here scratching my head :hmmmm: and asking myself, WHY am I bothering with all this?! To which I had no good answer. :laugh:

And that was that. It's staying. No, it's not the most powerful or most feature packed or whatever, but for my really very limited requirements [which I've mentioned in this thread], it's good enough. And like I've said, its display is awesome. Its size is really nice, too.

So there you have it. Unless something miraculous happens, like a Nexus 10 falling out of the sky into my lap [for free], I'm done. :D
 
MoodyBlues said:
Alrighty, here we go... And by ALL MEANS feel free to :rofl: if you'd like!

I'm KEEPING the damned thing. I was spending hours researching other tablets, and everything I found was either too expensive, or didn't have an Otterbox Defender case for it, or was too big or too small, or something.

Meanwhile, I've been using the KFHD and really liking it.

So at some point yesterday, I'm sitting here scratching my head :hmmmm: and asking myself, WHY am I bothering with all this?! To which I had no good answer. :laugh:

And that was that. It's staying. No, it's not the most powerful or most feature packed or whatever, but for my really very limited requirements [which I've mentioned in this thread], it's good enough. And like I've said, its display is awesome. Its size is really nice, too.

So there you have it. Unless something miraculous happens, like a Nexus 10 falling out of the sky into my lap [for free], I'm done. :D
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I'll take one of those free sky-tablets, too. :rolleyes:

Why has the song "Love the One You're With" started playing in my head?
 
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