Kindle Fire (first generation) limitations

[aaroncavanaugh2]

Hi,

This explains what developers should be looking at when developing for Kindle Fire.

From:http://www.amazon.com/forum/kindle/ref= ... ssionsNRPB

M. McCoy says:
Not all apps in the Amazon Appstore for Android are compatible with the Fire. Per Amazons apps developer FAQ:

"For your app to work on Kindle Fire, it needs to be compatible with the device's specifications. At a high level, it must be optimized for non-Google Mobile Services (GMS) Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) and a 7" screen with a resolution of 1024 x 600. Your manifest should specify support for large screens.

Your app cannot require a gyroscope, camera, WAN module, Bluetooth, microphone, GPS, or micro-SD to function. "

So for example, although the Apps for Android store lists a Skype app it obviously will not work with the Fire (no Microphone or camera) nor will any Google Mobile or location based mapping apps (no GPS).

Some Android apps in the store aren't even optimized for tablets (Plants vs Zombies for instance)

Amazon simply has to start identifying what apps are compatible with the Fire beyond basic/generic Android apps & stupid games (i.e. a specific Kindle Fire apps store or noting it in the app description).

It's the apps that make such a device truly useful. Hopefully the Fire will be a big success (e.g. huge 'installed base') and app developers will flock to the Fire.

Thanks. God Bless.

Aaron.

[aaroncavanaugh2]

Hi,

Good news according to the reply I got in Google Groups App Inventor Coffee Shop forum.

App Inventor apps will work on the Kindle Fire as they do not require root access (Kindle Fire won't allow apps that require root access).

Thanks. God Bless.

Aaron.

[aaroncavanaugh2]

Hi,

These are from http://www.laptopmag.com/review/tablets ... -fire.aspx

The Fire's two speakers on the left side (in landscape mode) produced an impressive amount of volume when we streamed MGMT's "Time to Pretend" in Pandora. But the audio quality was much cleaner and crisper when we played downloaded tracks from Amazon's store. Chris Martin's vocals soared on Coldplay's "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall." You could easily fill a kitchen with the audio. We just wish the speakers were on opposite sides of the tablet for more balanced sound.

(For those who are so inclined, you can sideload apps to the Fire if you activate the "Allow Installation of Applications From Unknown Sources" under settings.)

Thanks. God Bless.

Aaron.

[aaroncavanaugh2]

Hi,

Here is a how-to to sideload apps on Kindle Fire.

http://blog.laptopmag.com/how-to-sidelo ... indle-fire

The quote below is interesting. I did not know you could do this.

If you have another Android device that has access to the Android market, you can use Astro File Manager, another free app, to create APK backups of any app you have installed. Then you can copy them from your device to your PC for transfer to the Fire.

Thanks. God Bless.

Aaron.

[aaroncavanaugh2]

Hi,

This is from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,23 ... bzM_GleYI1

Step by step instructions for moving apks from you phone to the Kindle Fire.

Installing Apps on Kindle Fire, Step by Step

Make sure your phone has a MicroSD card installed. Even a small one will do.
On your phone, go to the Market and download Astro File Manager. It's free.
This next part is the only tricky one. You must make sure Astro backs up the apps to your external SD card, not to the phone's internal memory. That's the default on some phones, but not on others. So …
Open Astro and choose File Manager.
Hit Menu, then Preferences.
Pick "Backup Directory"
Click the little folder button.
Click the Up button until the directory displayed is /mnt
If there's a folder called "sdcard-ext" "external-sd" or something else that's external, pick that. Otherwise, pick "sdcard".
Click OK twice, then Back three times.
Choose "Application Backup."
Check the apps you want to move to the Fire, and click Backup.
Now hook your phone up to your PC using a USB cable. Open the drive which appears on your PC, and look for the "backups" folder. Open the "apps" folder within backups. Copy all the APK files from there onto your PC.
Now pick up your Kindle Fire. Go to the Amazon Appstore and download "Easy Installer." It's free.
Plug your Kindle Fire into your PC using a USB cable.
When the Kindle Fire drive appears on your PC, dump the APK files into it.
Disconnect the Fire from the PC.
On the Kindle Fire pick Apps, then Easy Installer.
Pick an app and choose Install Selected Apps.
Your app will now appear on the Kindle Fire's App bookshelf! Enjoy!

Thanks. God Bless.

Aaron.

[aaroncavanaugh2]

Hi,

I found out that androidzoom and appbrain are just redirecting services for market.android.com.

For free apks for Kindle Fire that don't need the Android Market to recognize your device try:

www.freewarelovers.com/android
or
www.apktop.com
or
www.getjar.com

Thanks. God Bless.

Aaron.

[aaroncavanaugh2]

Hi,

You can change the Kindle Fire main screen easily.

From http://liliputing.com/2011/11/how-to-si ... -fire.html

here's something you may not have realized. That Amazon book case that greets you every time you turn on the tablet? It's just an app called a Launcher.

If you'd rather have a different launcher that looks more like the Android interface seen on most phones and tablets, you can do that. You don't even need to venture outside the Amazon Appstore.

All you need to do is download a free app called "GO Launcher EX."

Once it's installed you can tap the home button on your Kindle Fire and choose between the Amazon launcher and the GO Launcher. You can also choose a default action so that you'll never have to see the default launcher again if you don't want to.

While the Amazon Kindle Fire launcher app has its charm, GO Launcher EX allows you to place widgets on your home screen for quick access to system settings, weather forecasts, or other data.

Thanks. God Bless.

Aaron.