Kindle Fire and No Android Market?

[Bob Maxey]

I don't believe the no Android Market thing will be a very big issue for very long. Developers would be stupid not to get their apps working for the Fire when it will clearly be the most successful Android tablet to date. You take your app's where the consumers are. This doesn't mean the Fire will get all the goodies of the Android Market, but I do believe it will get the essentials.

The Fire is not an Android Tablet. At least not as far as some apparently are concerned. The Fire is a content delivery device designed to work only with Amazon.

It is not an Android device, either. At least as I understand Android and how people will use it. Again, it is designed to make amazon more profitable, period. It runs the OS but not well.

My guess is many of those that purchase one will soon grow tired of just how limited it is.

 

[Saltine713]

I think Android on the Kindle will die out also.

 

[Bob Maxey]

There's no need for porting. Everything scales on Android. If your app will work on a tablet, it'll work on the Fire.

I seriously doubt that, no offense and Smiley. Lots of talk on the net about what the device will and will not do. Before I assume what you say is true, I would require a little research.

Not saying you are not correct. I do understand that these days, assumptions are a real bugger as is stuff you find on the Internet.

Try this for a little info:

https://developer.amazon.com/help/faq.html

 

[Bob Maxey]

I think Android on the Kindle will die out also.

To be replaced by what? If the device is popular, nothing will likely change.

 

[HoPPy785]

The Fire is not an Android Tablet. At least not as far as some apparently are concerned. The Fire is a content delivery device designed to work only with Amazon.

It is not an Android device, either. At least as I understand Android and how people will use it. Again, it is designed to make amazon more profitable, period. It runs the OS but not well.

My guess is many of those that purchase one will soon grow tired of just how limited it is.

You are looking at the tablet through a power users eyes not a simple consumer. Thebpeople buying the fire won't want it to do anything more than its made for. That's like saying people will get tiredbof tablets period and move onto laptops with full blown os's cause they will want more. People who want the kindle will never get tired of purchasing things from amazon cause they already do, there won't grow tired of reading books andbthey won't get bored with music and movies. Step out of your geek mind for a minute and think about who will really be using this device. It clearly won't be people like you. It will be people like my mom.

 

[Bob Maxey]

You are looking at the tablet through a power users eyes not a simple consumer. Thebpeople buying the fire won't want it to do anything more than its made for. That's like saying people will get tiredbof tablets period and move onto laptops with full blown os's cause they will want more. People who want the kindle will never get tired of purchasing things from amazon cause they already do, there won't grow tired of reading books andbthey won't get bored with music and movies. Step out of your geek mind for a minute and think about who will really be using this device. It clearly won't be people like you. It will be people like my mom.

I disagree. Consider just how much people complain about their iPads that do not do what they assume they will do. Indeed, some people want to replace their laptops with iPads. I know a few personally.

That said, you could be right, perhaps Fire owners will be happy and want for nothing. It will take a year or so before we know just how pleased Fire owners are. But I bet many will want more.

 

[HoPPy785]

Of course some will want more, but i really think most won't. I bet the ipad complaints you talk about are again from power users which again is not what the fire is made for. Power users will never be happy cause they will always ask for more.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Of course some will want more, but i really think most won't. I bet the ipad complaints you talk about are again from power users which again is not what the fire is made for. Power users will never be happy cause they will always ask for more.

This is a good point. Power users are never happy with anything you give them period.

 

[omgwtfmason]

I feel like that wouldn't effect me much, I really just want to use it to browse the web, play games, listen to music and watch videos/movies on Netflix. It's also nice that the Amazon App Store has a free app a day, and sometimes they're actually quite awesome deals.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I seriously doubt that, no offense and Smiley. Lots of talk on the net about what the device will and will not do. Before I assume what you say is true, I would require a little research.

Not saying you are not correct. I do understand that these days, assumptions are a real bugger as is stuff you find on the Internet.

Try this for a little info:

https://developer.amazon.com/help/faq.html

I've got a Galaxy Tab 7". It's the same size as the Kindle. There are some apps that are set to be a certain size and don't look right, but that's the exception and not the rule. There is no tablet optimized Angry Birds. Why? Because the phone version works fine on a 7" tablet. I would say 99% of the apps I download are not fixed at a particular size. They scale to the 7" screen with no problems at all and don't look distorted at all. Android is designed to work on different screen sizes so devs don't have to write one app for a 3.7" screen and another for a 4.3" screen and another one depending on what size your tablet is.

 

[ylexot]

I've got a Galaxy Tab 7". It's the same size as the Kindle. There are some apps that are set to be a certain size and don't look right, but that's the exception and not the rule. There is no tablet optimized Angry Birds. Why? Because the phone version works fine on a 7" tablet. I would say 99% of the apps I download are not fixed at a particular size. They scale to the 7" screen with no problems at all and don't look distorted at all. Android is designed to work on different screen sizes so devs don't have to write one app for a 3.7" screen and another for a 4.3" screen and another one depending on what size your tablet is.

The issue of compatibility is not solely an issue of screen size. In fact that's probably the least likely issue.

 

[DaWeav]

All the reviews say no, and with the Amazon Market why would Amazon want to send app revenue to Google?

 

[NightAngel79]

i see amazon doing everything in their power to prevent AM from getting on here thus making amazon appstore the only way to get apps

 

[maric]

The Fire is not an Android Tablet. At least not as far as some apparently are concerned. The Fire is a content delivery device designed to work only with Amazon.

It is not an Android device, either. At least as I understand Android and how people will use it. Again, it is designed to make amazon more profitable, period. It runs the OS but not well.

My guess is many of those that purchase one will soon grow tired of just how limited it is.

I agree entirely that it's just a content delivery device, but I think therein is an opportunity for Amazon. If they do that content delivery very very well, and they focus on the Amazon Prime subscriptions/VOD, etc,... it has definite potential to keep purchasers tied in for quite awhile. After all, you have your phone for apps. The Fire is an argument that the masses want content consumption, not an infinite number of angry birds clones.

 

[PalmPilot]

Android Market is NOT accessible...only Amazon Appstore.

 

[magentawave]

Every iPad user I know is a consumer and is perfectly happy with what the iPad currently does. They don't even think in terms of what it can not do.

Steve

I disagree. Consider just how much people complain about their iPads that do not do what they assume they will do. Indeed, some people want to replace their laptops with iPads. I know a few personally.

That said, you could be right, perhaps Fire owners will be happy and want for nothing. It will take a year or so before we know just how pleased Fire owners are. But I bet many will want more.

 

[Bob Maxey]

There is no tablet optimized Angry Birds. Why? Because the phone version works fine on a 7" tablet. I would say 99% of the apps I download are not fixed at a particular size. They scale to the 7" screen with no problems at all and don't look distorted at all. Android is designed to work on different screen sizes so devs don't have to write one app for a 3.7" screen and another for a 4.3" screen and another one depending on what size your tablet is.

Perhaps not for Android, but Angry birds HD for the iPad looks amazing.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Perhaps not for Android, but Angry birds HD for the iPad looks amazing.

It's not needed on Android as the app scales perfectly fine.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Every iPad user I know is a consumer and is perfectly happy with what the iPad currently does. They don't even think in terms of what it can not do.

Steve

I'll guarantee you that if I were to demo a Jailbroken iPad to a few of your friends--the happy and pleased users--some will want to JB their iPads.

We both know that there are lots of unhappy Android users that are not pleased with stock devices. And even the non-tech folks hearing about rooting want in. And we likely both know many of these people have not a single tech bone in their body and if pressed, they cannot tell you why they want to or need to root. They learn about rooting and they want to play.

Same thing for iDevices. People are pleased with their devices, but when they learn that they can do far more when they JB, their interest grows. When you JB, you have a completely different experience. From the UI to added functionality. We jailbreakers are generally happy with our new and vastly improved iDevices.

All Android devices are useful; all iDevices are useful, too. By and large, most users are pleased and both platforms are well done. Happy users in both camps and next year, we will see improvements on the Android side and we will see devices dropped and devices introduced.

It is the never ending cycle of tech life. Better, faster, more features and at half the price compared to last year.

Then Apple released the iPad 3 and the game changes yet again.

We will have to wait and see if the Fire catches fire or not. I think there will be more than just a few users that are not pleased. Only the sales figures and returns will tell the tale.

 

[magentawave]

I'll guarantee you that if I were to demo a Jailbroken iPad to a few of your friends--the happy and pleased users--some will want to JB their iPads.

We both know that there are lots of unhappy Android users that are not pleased with stock devices. And even the non-tech folks hearing about rooting want in. And we likely both know many of these people have not a single tech bone in their body and if pressed, they cannot tell you why they want to or need to root. They learn about rooting and they want to play.

Same thing for iDevices. People are pleased with their devices, but when they learn that they can do far more when they JB, their interest grows. When you JB, you have a completely different experience. From the UI to added functionality. We jailbreakers are generally happy with our new and vastly improved iDevices.

All Android devices are useful; all iDevices are useful, too. By and large, most users are pleased and both platforms are well done. Happy users in both camps and next year, we will see improvements on the Android side and we will see devices dropped and devices introduced.

It is the never ending cycle of tech life. Better, faster, more features and at half the price compared to last year.

Then Apple released the iPad 3 and the game changes yet again.

We will have to wait and see if the Fire catches fire or not. I think there will be more than just a few users that are not pleased. Only the sales figures and returns will tell the tale.

I don't doubt anything you said. I use an Android phone and love it and I use a Macbook Pro and iPod and love them. I've heard that iPads are still better than the Android tablets so I'm thinking of buying a used iPad. Anyway, what are the advantages of jail breaking an iPad over an off-the-shelf iPad? Any disadvantages for jail breaking?

Thanks

Steve

 

[Bob Maxey]

I don't doubt anything you said. I use an Android phone and love it and I use a Macbook Pro and iPod and love them. I've heard that iPads are still better than the Android tablets so I'm thinking of buying a used iPad. Anyway, what are the advantages of jail breaking an iPad over an off-the-shelf iPad? Any disadvantages for jail breaking?

Thanks

Steve

When you Jailbreak, you have full file system access. You can use Flash drives/MicroSD cards to transfer and open file types Apple does not allow. You can apply themes, you have access to thousands of apps, tweaks, programs, addons to existing/stock iOS applications, and many other things Apple does not allow, like Widgets and Flash (use Frash).

You have access to Cydia which is a front end to what we call Repositories. Think of those as app stores or Android Markets. If you are a developer, you can avoid Apple and no need to pay 99.00 per year to be in their Developers Program. You do not need Apple to distribute applications.

You have Winterboard and DreamBoard for themes and you can design your own themes aniline. My iPad looks like it is running Honeycomb. It DOES NOT run android apps, however.

The only reason I jailbreak is to have file system access through iFile.

No real disadvantages to jailbreaking. It is nearly impossible to "brick" an iPad. Apple also keeps everything in a Sandbox so virus issues are minimal. Unfortunately, the sandbox prevents doing things we want to do. You must immediately change your login credentials and password if you JB.

I can tell you the login name and password for almost every iPad in use: it is 'Root' and 'Alpine,' by the way.

It is a complicated thing to explain, but if you do not save certain files (SHSH Blobs) you cannot downgrade iOS. This is important if you decide you need to JB and no JB has been released for the current iOS version. For example, we are waiting for an untethered JB for iOS 5/5.1. When you upgrade to iOS 5, you cannot downgrade without these Blobs. They cant be faked because they are unique to your specific device.

For most people, however, a JB is simple and easy. You can JB an iPad 2 if it is running a certain version of iOS or if it is running 5.0 and you are willing to put up with a tethered JB. No untethered JB for iOS 5 as of yet. As it is now, Apple has stopped signing iOS 5 so unless you saved your Blobs, you cannot downgrade to a previous version of iOS.

All in all, the process is simple and it adds greatly to the user experience. For many, it is not needed because the iPad is quite complete.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Android Market is NOT accessible...only Amazon Appstore.

So how do people generally feel about no Android Market? For me, it is a no-go. That said, sounds like they took a page from Apple's playbook.

Say PalmPilot . . . are you a fan of the device or a Palm Computing employee?

 

[Spyce]

I got the Fire (I like saying that) and I love it and Amazon.com. I also have a second generation Kindle that is near and dear to my heart. I bought the Fire because I wanted a tablet to replace a netbook which turned out to be virtually useless, not to mention too slow, for the things that I planned to do with it. The Fire does everything I need it to do, and it does it quickly. I wasn't certain whether the Android Market would be available for use on the device before I bought it, but since I was already using Amazon's Appstore more than the other anyway, the inability to use it was not a problem or deal breaker for me. I have found or made a comparable swap for all of the apps I got off the Android Market.

All I need is fast access to email, web browsing, a convenient and portable means of accessing recipes, Netflix or Prime videos to watch movies on while my husband watches football, games, Suduko, crosswords, and reading books in the dark without the Mighty Brite! So, I think I have a top of the line tablet at an affordable price for what I want to use it for.

I don't think the Fire is going to die out. I think Amazon will at some point offer a new generation that will include features for those who like the device but want more and are willing to pay for more.

 

[Spyce]

The real question is whether Amazon will allow it, though.

They're already collecting a lot of information about users as it is (that's how they can manage a $200 dollar price tag).

I still haven't seen a confirmation on the bootloader being locked or not. And it's quite possibly it may be very difficult to root and sideload on.

Already done by xda-developers. I saw it on their site today posted with the usual do at your own risk. I don't think the Android Market is that important, but apparently it is for some.

 

[grvthang]

So far I've loaded 1) an alternate browser that's much faster than Silk (and doesn't monitor my browsing), and 2) an app that lets me stream my iTunes collection to the Fire, in addition to 5 or 6 other apps not offered in the Amazon Appstore. And that's without rooting the device. If someone wants to make not having the Android Market an issue, they can, but I sure as hell didn't.