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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

How to Install Flash on Kindle Fire HDX/HD, Yr 2013-2014 models and Yr2015 Fire tablets. Step-by-Step guide on How to Play Flash video on Flash-intensive websites. Several tips on streaming video. Large update 1/9/15, smaller update 12/22/15

How to install flash to play flash videos on Kindle Fire HDX/HD and Fire tablets (released 2013-2015) for websites using Flash video but not offering the alternative HTML5 method after Adobe stopped active support of Flash on mobile devices

As of January 2015, we had a quite reliable workaround now for the Year 2013-2014 Kindle Fire HDX and HD tablets and also for later pure Android devices. This should also work with the Year 2015 Fire tablets. I spent quite a bit of time testing various browser versions with various Flash player files recommended and settled on one combination that worked on all the websites I'd found challenging to most in the past.

* (See EARLIER guide for Year 2012 Kindle Fire tablets.) *

WORKAROUND and Step-by-Step GUIDE to play Flash video on Year 2013-2014 Kindle Fire tablets and Year 2015 Fire tablets for sites that need the Flash-player workaround to function as expected (show videos, do customized Flash routines).
Originally posted Dec 29, 2014 - revised Jan. 9, 2015 for clarity and Dec. 22, 2015 to add a changed setting.

The following files have been tested with a Yr2013 Kindle Fire HDX and are for devices that use forms of Android versions 4.x and later.
Yr2011 Kindle Fire had Adobe Flash support built in, before Adobe dropped Flash support on mobile devices.)

These are methods of access for those who are bent on watching Flash Video or fancy Flash routines on photography and music-playing sites, etc., which make movement-oriented viewing difficult to do with today's tablets (ever since Adobe stopped support of Flash on mobile devices 2-3 years ago).

Amazon's Instant Video streaming library
Note that Amazon Instant Video streaming works just fine with the Kindle Fire Silk web browser of course, and this feature offers a lot of video-viewing (40,000+ videos viewable at no added cost for Prime Shipping program members), and Amazon now has, increasingly, "exclusives" on popular video content and has worked on video-viewing compatibility with the larger popular websites. I use the default Silk web browser most of the time, as a result, and use the Flash combo recommended here for video that Amazon's browser can't display yet.

For the later tablets released Fall 2013-2015
Three files are needed and linked below, but FIRST do the following:
This combo of files works on the Yr 2013 devices and after, starting with Kindle Fire HD 7 (2nd Gen), Kindle Fire HDX (1st Gen) tablets, and they should work with the Yr 2014-2015 Fire tablets (see Current models listing.) I'd love to get feedback on how it goes with the tablet model you're using for this.

STEPS:

Go to the 'Home' screen.

Swipe down (lightly pressing and pulling down) from the top of the screen.

That gets you the top row of moreo popular options to set.

Tap on "More" or "Settings" wheel (depending on the model) at the top right.

Go down the Settings list to "Applications" and tap on that.
For Year 2015 tablets, Select "Security" rather than "Applications."

"Apps from Unknown Sources" is the first option.
Turn ON "Allow Installation of applications not from Appstore."

Installation files have names that end in ".apk" ...

Then download and tap to install, to your Yr 2013 or later tablet, the files at the following links
(the first one is a popular Android tablet file manager, if you don't already have it):

the free file manager app, ES File Explorer

[An EASIER alternative file-manager app for just installing app files (*.apk files) is Easy Installer, which does a search for install-files on your tablet and then shows them to you so that you can just choose which one to install without searching in file folders.

The first time you use Easy Installer -- be sure to tap its top-right Menu: (3 vertically-aligned squares)
Tap on 'Setting' and check the 'Scan Hidden Directories' box so that it can find hidden apk files.

For an easier experience when just installing new apps downloaded from non-Amazon stores, use THIS file manager instead of ES Explorer where that is mentioned here.]

Most recommend ES Explorer, which drops files into the usual "Download" folder, because you can control a lot more in connection with your files if you use it regularly, but it can be more than some care to see for just an app-install job. I use the Easy Installer for app-installs and ES Explorer for other file management functions.

Dolphin's own http://dolphin.com/lab/en page has the specific Adobe Flash file offered by them. This Adobe Flash player file was put together by surviveland (to work with later Android-based tablets) at XDA forums and it's explained there (in a long, complex thread most will not want to read).

You should install this Flash file before running the Dolphin browser file that comes next.

The file is named "install_flash_player_ics.apk"

And:

Here's a link to the file for Dolphin browser version 11.3.4 for those who can't access Google play directly. The file is at 1mobile (most who read this blog will already have the 1mobile appstore app, which you use in the same way you use the Amazon appstore), and you can go there ON the Kindle Fire tablet app, Search for "dolphin browser" and direct download it, and it'll be installed for you. This is easier than doing it at other sites which require a manual install. This is the same file that is at GooglePlay today, with Jetpack (which helps with Flash) built in.

(But, for others, here's an ALTERNATE link for those who'd rather download the file from Dolphin's own site, offering Dolphin for Android in an earlier version than the one at GooglePlay. If the Dolphin site downloads a version that does not have "Jetpack" built in, then you would need to also download Jetpack, which is also on that page, separately, and install both files. Dolphin also offers a beta version there.) but 1mobile's file above is MUCH easier to get and autoinstall, and Jetpack is built into it.

Google play says that the Dolphin version number varies with the device. v11.3.4 works on my Yr2013 Kindle Fire HDX tablet and should work on the Yr2013-2014 HD ones also.

(For Nexus N9 users, Dolphin told a user Dec. 23, 2014
"Dolphin does not support Flash in Nexus 9 for now. Nexus 9 is with the 64-bit processor. We are working on this issue.?"

When you receive notification that the Adobe Flash Player is downloaded, run either the ES File Explorer (files will be in the "Download" folder usually) OR the Easy Installer app to find and install it.
Tap the filename to install the file (in both cases).

Dolphin HD Browser settings IMPORTANT

When you've launched the Dolphin browser, this 11.3.4 version's menu is the Dolphin image at top right (rather than the usual washboard rectangle). Tap it to bring up several options.
Tap on "Settings" at the bottom left of the opened menu).

Near the top of the list is "Dolphin Jetpack - it helps with Flash and is now built-in and you should be sure to turn it ON, with a checkmark at the left against a green background.

Go down to "Web Content" and tap that.

Then tap "Flash Player" -- the choices are:
Always on (Videos will auto-run - easiest but it'll slow down some page loads and sometimes Flash routines will cause crashes, one reason Steve Jobs hated it). I use this one so I don't have to turn it on when needed.

On Demand That means you'd need to do an extra tap to start it when something isn't running because you didn't want it to always run.

Off (I see no reason to use this option.)

Other settings - ones I use, in case you wonder what might work:
. Auto-fit Pages: ON
. Default Zoom: 200% (Close up)
. Open Pages in Overview: ON

ALSO, make sure Javascript setting, just below Flash, is On or Enabled.

Important additional Dolphin setting: (that you can change back and forth)
On the main settings page, Customization subsetting has, in FIRST spot, "User Agent." I tend to use "Desktop" there because I dislike oversimplified mobile-device optimized pages, which are built for small smartphones. AND some TV broadcast sites as well as medici.tv (live and archived classical concerts) will run ONLY if they think you are on a desktop. If they see you're an Android device :-), they will insist you get a mobile app that is difficult for Kindle tablet users to get from Google play.
Youtube may run a bit smoother if you choose 'Android' setting instead, but I don't see much of a difference. Right now I can use 'Desktop' setting and see the normal youtube instead of being sent to the mobile version of youtube.

Again, SOME TV video pages will actually not allow videos to run on Android devices but will allow them to run for "Desktop" devices or on iPads. This is where you can camouflage your device as a a 'Desktop' or iPad :-)
Remember to change it back when needing to use the Android setting though.

Then, after installing the app files and making sure that the Flash setting is set to run Flash either Always or On Demand, you'll be able to switch to the Dolphin HD browser app (if using Amazon's Silk browser by default) when needing to see a video requiring Flash.

The usual DISCLAIMER for adding files for added functionality
As with the steps for the past two years, these are files that are for requested workarounds based on various findings by Android experts at XDA Developers Community Forums and would be considered when really wanting to view Flash video that is not working for you on some favorite sites with Amazon's built-in "Silk" web browser (which is ultra capable these days).
Also, guides to add install files to get a missing function -- in this case, to allow the playing of Flash almost anywhere -- should be used mainly by those familiar with basic File Manager utilities (this applies to normal Windows, Macs, and Android file-manager utilities).

There are NO software modifications and NO risky "Rooting" involved. However, no guarantee is made, of course, that they'll function ideally on your specific device on all flash-video sites, although this type of workaround for the older models has been used successfully for over two years now (see comments) and this file combo is working really well for me on the HDX on almost all Flash-video pages.
The degree of success of this workaround on your specific device may depend on sufficient storage space remaining, memory (do this from a fresh power-up), and healthy hardware.

Troubleshooting. Using Restarts - I had an HD Youtube video close on me one night in October 2012 after a few seconds. Twice, after I'd been running the browser with many tabs open. When quite a bit has been run on a tablet, sometimes memory gets fragmented and there's not enough to hold what's needed in 'contiguous' mode and then an app will close.

In case that might be the reason, I just powered off the device from the Home page, which will clean up the memory the same way our computers do upon power-off or restart. After doing that, I had no problems with that same 9-minute Youtube High Definition video and played it full-screen a few times, using the Dolphin browser and the Adobe Flash Player file.

Other app stores that are recommended when Amazon does not have a particular app Besides 1mobile.com, popular ones are androiddrawer.com, m.getjar.com, slideme.org, handango.com, and others. As with any appstore, you can search for an app and download it to the tablet. This is because Amazon has always allowed the option of installing appication files "from unknown sources" despite what you'll read on large tech sites (for reasons I don't understand, since they will spend a lot of space talking about 'rooting' the tablets or doing 'modifications' on them and these workarounds require none of that. Just a checkmark on a box.

I always recommend though that people wait a few days before getting apps from any other sites, to see if anyone is having problems with malware (even at Google Play market, when Google allows access, but Google doesn't acknowledge Kindle Fire devices). Google doesn't take as much time to vet apps as Amazon does, to test for both malware or incompatability.

Amazon's appstore has finally been growing fast the last year. Of course, if Amazon carries the app, it's definitely best to get it from Amazon because Amazon does a strong vetting of the apps they offer and because it's the way they make revenue from (now the highest-quality hardware) tablets sold at closer to cost.
They also keep for you a copy of each Amazon appstore app you download, in your Amazon Cloud area, which is useful when you are getting another Kindle tablet or if you just need to re-install the file. I think it's important to support the Amazon Android appstore, but I also think it's important that Amazon make more good and updated apps available to us at a faster pace, and maybe they should have a suggestion box for the more popular requests

Amazon Prime Instant Video setting needing a change for tablet-viewing
NOTE - The April 26 2014 blog update added info on a setting for those viewing Amazon Prime Instant Video on tablets or phones and who, for some reason, don't see a Flash option on their tablet screens.

The Amazon Instant Video setting for Web Player Preferences if viewing on mobile devices should be set to "Adobe Flash" rather than "Silverlight,: which is for desktop computers.
I imagine that Kindle Fire tablets are optimized for Amazon's own Instant Video feature or vice versa.

Another browser, "Puffin" can run flash video on websites - far less smooth and doesn't play Flash during evening hours
Puffin Free Browser. However, again, Puffin's intro cautions that it's limited to daytime use.
"Puffin Free is the free version of Puffin family, and supports Adobe Flash during the daytime everyday (It usually starts from 8 am to 4 pm, but the duration is subject to change without prior notice)." Have left in this info because some recommend Puffin for simplicity and because it does work with Flash when the sun is shining -- and because I think this daytime allowance of Flash for the free version is so odd. So, I've included it for the record, although its display tends to be lower-resolution than with the other browsers. I haven't run across the paid-app version yet.

Flashfox promises Flash support but crashes on some sites;

Large popular video sites on which Amazon's Silk web browser does work currently
Youtube
Amazon's own default Silk browser currently handles Youtube well by taking you to the mobile version of that site, showing you a small version of the video selected from a search and, when you click on one, shows you a full screen version of it in decent quality w/o your needing to change (via a long-press) the Youtube video gear-wheel setting at the right-bottom of a video, to change the video quality. Its Silk tablet browser can no longer view NBC's full episodes on the tablets though.

Youtube's mobile area was completely rewritten by Youtube to use HTML5 rather than Flash and in the recent past sometimes had a somewhat smaller selection of videos, but they're about the same now. Amazon works with the HTML5 via their new experimental Flash-replacement streamer, described further below.

Acorn.tv
Silk CAN handle Acorn.TV (British TV shows) well in 'Automatic' reading-view setting.
With the Flash file recommended here, it is more reliable. but that file is not necessary for the 'mobile' reading-view setting, though the 'automatic' setting is recommended.

The current Chrome Beta browser at 1mobile appstore also runs acorn.tv with the current recommended Flash file, as long as you don't click the Chrone browser menu setting for "Request desktop site. Oddly, the Dolphin combo recommended here does not run acorn.tv videos.

NOTE: The general quality of streaming will be affected by the speed of your Internet connection.
Providers of DSL home Internet access usually use a default, first-tier lower speed that's often about 1/6th the speed of cablemodem speeds, so if you love to watch Internet streamed material via WiFi network connections in your home, I do recommend cablemodem access like Comcast's.

Video or TV broadcast Apps already carried at Amazon's appstore:
WatchABC, which includes viewing of LIVE ABC programs rather than just after the fact, is often a boon but is now much less stable than earlier this year. Too many ads too. CBS app is now available at Amazon but I think full episodes require a 5-day delay before they can be shown. Let me know if that's changed. (No time to test that as I want to get this update up.)

NBC's full episodes are available only on laptops or desktops currently, BUT Dolphin CAN show these on your Kindle File tablet when (as explained above) you set the "User Agent" to Desktop. I tend to leave it at that setting, and I just used Dolphin to semi-watch a Dateline hour on NBC.

Amazon's appstore also carries PBS, Smithsonian TV apps, and other TV apps. If you Search the Amazon store for "TV" you'll also see apps for Discovery; History; WatchESPN; RAI; and several others. PBS's app is fantastic. So is Smithsonian but there are fewer full hour shows on it.

And then there's always Amazon Instant Video viewing, which includes downloadable files for watching offline, and Amazon keeps adding exclusive material on that feature while providing optional X-Ray background info on actors in the scene you're watching.

Remember to be sure to use (or change) the Amazon Instant Video setting for Web Player Preferences because when viewing on tablets, this should be set to "Adobe Flash" rather than "Silverlight, which is for desktop computers.

NOTE: - Amazon's HDX tablets provide what has been described by major tech-site reviewers as among the fastest and smoothest experience on tablets today. If multmedia files are your focus and you want them accessible on your device to play offline, get a device with more storage than 16 GB.

I didn't want to pay a few hundred dollars for a multimedia tablet (also, magazines are huge) and wind up feeling constrained, since I also have a lot of photos on mine, so I got the 64GB one and love the freedom from worrying about space, Cloud or no Cloud.
I think of it as a built-in SD card space. Still, a 32GB tablet will be enough for many users.

When shopping different makers and models and analyzing costs, note that a certain key competing tablet will cost an additional $100 to get to each higher level of storage space - to 32 and to 64GB - and that tablet series does not support Flash.

Many of us are able to view, using Amazon's own default Silk web browser, some of the main Flash-playing sites, even for network TV full episodes now, as mentioned, as Kindle Team has been working on Amazon's Experimental Streaming Viewer which works with a limited number of sites, but they are large, popular ones, and Amazon is expanding the number of websites that will be able to work with it.

Here's my earlier introduction to the Experimental Streaming Viewer, with some initial tips that will help, though there may be some added web-browser setting changes needed via the browser menu for some.
A KEY step is to enable "Accelerate page loading" setting in the Silk web browser menu (it's now the default setting on the HDX tablets), which automatically turns 'ON' the Advenced Setting of "Prompt for experimental streaming viewer."

Back to the Google-owned Youtube:
A brief history of THAT dilemma brought on by Adobe's dropping of Flash support and explanation for the workaround has been moved to its own page to shorten this blog entry.

Amazon has been able to improve Experimental Streaming Viewer so that Youtube videos and many other websites using Flash can be viewed on the Silk web browser without any special work on the part of the use. As mentioned earlier, Amazon uses the mobile version of youtube..

When using Silk browser rather than Dolphin, look at Silk browser's web menu Settings options and check the box to use the experimental feature if you want the browser to try to to view Flash video on a website.

***The actual ADOBE statement on Flash Player support (or not)
for types of tablets and the Android versions involved
is now part of the Adobe Flash Player History page.

RELATED, earlier posts on Kindle Fire tablet capabilities
(Descriptions of Kindle 7" features will apply to the 8.9" models also.)
. Getting non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fire devices
(The basic models of each Kindle Fire tablet line
have smaller storage space, limiting apps that can be run.)
. Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire,
via enabling one device setting
. How to play Flash on Year 2012 Kindle Fire tablets
. Downloading and playing YouTube videos on Kindle Fire HD.
Also, TubeMate app for Youtube will download videos to play on your Kindle Fire,
and BSPlayer app will play almost ANY video format.
. Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses on earliest Kindle Fire
. Add Wi-Drive pocketable disk/stream'g for Kindle models
and for other tablet or phone devices,
or, Portable wireless 320G Patriot Gauntlet drive/stream'g for 7" & 8.9" devices.
. App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

For reference, here is the Current Global Listing of available Kindle devices.

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(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Amazon's $25,000 Shopping-Spree Sweepstakes details ... Great AppleWatch selection aid ... Firefly coming to smaller Kindle Fire HD's 6 and 7"

Amazon's $25,000 Shopping-Spree Sweepstakes
Just saw this today -- the feature was announced yesterday, to feature the Amazon appstore offerings.

US residents 18 years of age or older are invited to enter the Giveaway ("Sweepstakes") to win $25,000 in Amazon.com Gift Cards.

The sweepstakes period is from March 9 through April 15 at 11:59pm PDT. I asked for and received clarification that although the announcement is "specifically targeted" to users of the Android for Phone app because it's the ONE way you can be automatically entered into the sweepstakes - when you download, from Apps and Games category, any app -- paid or free.

There are two ways to get a chance at the big prize.
While the Giveaway announcement page mentions that "Apps & Games are now available for download from within your Amazon App for Android Phones," they've been available all along but they're alerting us to the automatic sweepstakes-entry when using the app to download one app from the appstore during the sweepstakes period. Here's a link to the Official Rules page.

To enter, use one of the following two methods:
1. If you have an Android phone, fill out the short entry form at the bottom of the Sweepstakes page, which will take you to a page that will launch or begin downloading the latest version of the Amazon Android for Phones App (available only from the Amazon appstore store and NOT from GooglePlay store). Then:

"From within the Amazon App for Android Phones, navigate to Apps & Games and download any app or game – paid or free.

2. "Alternatively, you may enter by mailing a (postage pre-paid) 3x5 card with your name, address, e-mail address and phone number to Appstore Sweepstakes, 2202 US Highway 41 N, Unit E, PMB 172, Henderson, KY 42420. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by April 15, 2015 and received by April 22, 2015. All other entries must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. (PT) on April 15, 2015.

Limit one (1) entry per person using only one (1) Amazon.com account or e-mail address, regardless of entry method. You may not use multiple customer accounts to enter the Sweepstakes, and entries submitted through multiple accounts will be disqualified.

Worth the time to make an entry. With the automatic app-download entry, Amazon will count only the first app-download.

Apple Watch launched yesterday.

Is it for you? Here's a bit of help.
Just before posting this blog entry, I saw this in my news feed, and it's such a hilarious selection-aid that I think others might enjoy it also.

New: Firefly feature coming to Kindle Fire HD 6-7" and HDX 7" tablets
The larger Year-2013 and 2014 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" tablets received this feature earlier.
What is 'Firefly' though?

It's a visual search on a mobile device that, when you take a photo of an object or use the microphone on a sound you're hearing, analyzes what is seen and/or heard and tries to identify it, whether it's a video, a song, a CD album, artwork, or a general everyday product.

I have an 8.9" Kindle HDX and have the Firefly app "listen" to music and analyze a movie showing on my TV and it was able to identify both.

Amazon first put their Firefly feature on the Amazon 3D Fire Phone. Despite the unusual features of that phone, the complex phone interface was reported to be confusing for many consumers and -- with the dilemma of phone and data plans that would need to be put in place or replaced with a purchase of a different phone -- it did not see much interest from consumers at the price initially chosen (AT&T nixed the additional option of a scaled down budget version, I read, but is now 99c with a data plan).

However, the Firefly feature impressed reviewers and owners of the phone. Slashgear gives a good description of the phone's Firefly capabilities and also the more limited version coming to the smaller tablets.

' Snap up a photo of a thing and Amazon will analyze it and point you to the corresponding product on its virtual shelves ... consider all the other things that Firefly can do. Scan a business card and it will be able to analyze the text there. Show it a video on TV and it can identify what TV show or film it is. And, as of last December, it can even recognize about 2,000 artworks.

That functionality ... is the one that is coming to Kindle Fire HD tablets in the US, the UK, and Germany. Those include the super wallet friendly, and also least powerful, Fire HD 6 and Fire HD 7. It seems, however, that not all of Firefly's scanning abilities will make it, with only song, movie, and product search mentioned to make the cut. '

At about the same time Slashgear did a review of the small, inexpensive (and of course somewhat limited) Fire HD 6.

PC Authority also reviewedthe Fire HD 6 as well that week. Both reviews are balanced ones.

Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
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Thursday, December 25, 2014

How to Play Flash on Kindle Fire HD and HDX tablets - Yr 2012 models. Links to guide for Later models. Step-by-Step guide on How to Install Flash video for Flash-intensive websites. Tips on streaming video. Updated Nov-Dec 2013, April 2014, Dec 2014, Jan 2015

How to install flash to play flash videos on Year 2012 Kindle Fire HDX and HD devices for websites using Flash video but not offering the alternative HTML5 method after Adobe stopped active support of Flash on mobile devices

* (See the LATER guide for How to install Flash on Kindle Fire HD and HDX Yr2013-2014 Kindle Fire tablets.) *

This blog article (originally Oct. 22, 2012 and updated Nov 27, Dec 5-6, 2013, Apr 26, December 22-27, 2014, and January 3-9, 2015, is a companion article to How to Install non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fire HD and HDX tablets.

The following works best for Kindle Fires before November 2013.

WORKAROUND and Step-by-Step GUIDE, for Yr2012 Kindle Fire tablets for sites that need the Flash-player workaround, to function as expected (show videos, do customized Flash routines).

For these older models
Per Amazon's Kindle Forum discussions, Kindle Fire HD and HDX owners are using, as needed, three files that provide a good workaround, the same 3 files that Google Nexus owners need to get Flash video on Youtube since the Adobe Flash (Non)Support travails.

Re those three files, linked below, FIRST do the following:
STEPS: (based on *~*Pineapple*~*'s guide from the forums:

Do the following on the Kindle Fire HD or Kindle Fire HDX tablets:

Go to the 'Home' screen.

Swipe down (lightly pressing and pulling down) from the top of the screen.

That gets you the Quick Settings Menu.

Click on "More" at the top right.

Go down the Settings list to "Device" and click on that.

Choose to "Allow Installation of Applications From unknown sources."

Installation files end in ".apk" ...

Then download and tap to install, to your Kindle Fire 2/HD, the files at the following links, with your new Kindle Fire HD or HDX tablet:

the free file manager app, ES File Explorer

[An EASIER alternative file-manager app for just installing app files (*.apk files) is Easy Installer, which does a search for install-files on your tablet and then shows them to you so that you can just choose which one to install without searching in file folders.

The first time you use Easy Installer -- be sure to tap its top-right Menu: (3 vertically-aligned squares)
Tap on 'Setting' and check the 'Scan Hidden Directories' box so that it can find hidden apk files.

So, if preferring an easier experience when just installing new apps downloaded from non-Amazon stores, use THIS file manager instead of ES Explorer where that is mentioned here.]

Most recommend ES Explorer, which drops files into the usual "Download" folder, because you can control a lot more in connection with your files if you use it regularly, but it can be more than some care to see for just an app-install job. I use the Easy Installer for app-installs and ES Explorer for other file management functions.

the specific Adobe Flash file offered at XDA Developers Forum
Please read recommended alternate source just below.

The XDA Developers Forum file links for the Year 2012 file now lead to strange ad-crazy pages, one of which asks for your credit card info and one of which promises racy pictures.
So, since the actual recommended file uploaded by XDA forum's "Recognized Contributor" stempox is the Flash File version that ends with ".27" and that file is directly available at Adobe's Archives with no download fuss:
Here is the general Adobe Archive page for Flash Player files, and, more to the point, here's the direct Adobe link to that same (unmodified) file (Flash Player 11.1.for Android 4.0 (11.1.115.27) in Adobe's own archives.

Also:

Here's the Dolphin browser (v8.5.1), identified in the forum post as "APK Download," which supports that specific Adobe Flash Player file.
(I've, in the past, used the most recent Dolphin browser HD (v10.0.3), with the earlier Yr 2012 Kindle HD as that had worked well for me with the older special Adobe Flash Player file.)
HOWEVER, on the HDX 8.9" tablet I have, the older v8.5.1 Dolphin browser file, linked to above, works more smoothly with the current recommended Adobe Flash Player file.

(If you want the the latest Dolphin browser despite that, you can get it from 1mobile -- To use any android appstore, you just download its store app, which will work like the Amazon store app). The Dolphin makers continue to update that browser; HOWEVER, the one file that's recommended at the Amazon Kindle forum is the v8.5.1 linked to above, so it's better to just get v8.5.1 linked above to be sure, especially with the HDX tablet)

When you've launched the browser, the usual Android Menu icon (it's square and looks like an air conditioner or a washboard) can be tapped to bring up several options.

Tap on "More" (it has 3 lines).

Then tap on the 3rd option, which is "Settings."

Go down to "Web Content" and tap "Flash Player" -- the choices are:
Always on (videos will auto-run - easiest but it'll slow down some page loads and sometimes Flash routines will cause crashes, one reason Steve Jobs hated it).

On Demand (You'll tap a blank rectangle -- or one with a down-arrow in it -- to have it run only when you want that.)

Off (I see no reason to use this.)

Other settings - ones I use, in case you wonder what might work:
. Auto-fit Pages: ON
. Default Zoom: 200% (Close up)
. Open Pages in Overview: ON

ALSO, make sure Javascript setting, just below Flash, is On or Enabled.

Very interesting additional Dolphin setting:
Getting back to the Main Settings page list, the FIRST one is "User Agent." I tend to use "Desktop" there because I don't like oversimplified mobile-device optimized pages, which are built for small smartphones.

But more important, the webpages you visit with the tablet will tend to know you're a visiting Android, or Android device :-) and sometimes will not run Flash as a result.

For example, SOME TV video pages will actually NOT allow videos to run on Android devices but will allow them to run for "Desktop" devices or on iPads. This is where you can camouflage your device as a a 'Desktop' or iPad :-)
Remember to change it back when needing to use the Android setting though.

Then, after installing the app files and making sure that the Flash setting is set to run Flash either Always or On Demand, you'll be able to switch to the Dolphin HD browser app when needing to see a video requiring Flash.

Troubleshooting. Restarts - I had an HD Youtube video close on me one night in October 2012 after a few seconds. Twice, after I'd been running the browser with many tabs open. When quite a bit has been run on a tablet, sometimes memory gets fragmented and there's not enough to hold what's needed in 'contiguous' mode and then an app will close.

In case that might be the reason, I just powered off the device from the Home page, which will clean up the memory the same way our computers do upon power-off or restart. After doing that, I had no problems with that same 9-minute Youtube High Definition video and played it full-screen a few times, using the Dolphin browser and the Adobe Flash Player file that members of the Kindle forums recommend.

Other app stores that are recommended when Amazon does not have a particular app Besides 1mobile.com, popular ones are androiddrawer.com, m.getjar.com, slideme.org, handango.com, and others. As with any appstore, you can search for an app and download it to the tablet. This is because Amazon has always allowed the option of installing appication files "from unknown sources" despite what you'll read on large tech sites (for reasons I don't understand, since they spend space talking about 'rooting' the tablets or doing 'modifications' on them and the normal mode requires none of that. Just a checkmark on a box.

I always recommend though that people wait a few days before getting apps from any other sites, to see if anyone is having problems with malware (even at Google Play market, when Google allows access, but Google doesn't acknowledge Kindle Fire devices). Google doesn't take as much time to vet apps as Amazon does, to test for both malware or incompatability.

Amazon's appstore has been growing fast the last year. Of course, if Amazon carries the app, it's definitely best to get it from Amazon because Amazon does a strong vetting of the apps they offer and because it's the way they make revenue from (now the highest-quality hardware) tablets sold at closer to cost.
They also keep for you a copy of each Amazon appstore app you download, in your Amazon Cloud area, which is useful when you are getting another Kindle tablet or if you just need to re-install the file. I think it's important to support the Amazon Android appstore, but I also think it's important that Amazon make more good and updated apps available to us at a faster pace, and maybe they should have a suggestion box for the more popular requests.

Amazon Prime Instant Video setting needing a change for tablet-viewing
NOTE - The April 26 2014 blog update added info on a setting for those on viewing Amazon Prime Instant Video and who, for some reason, don't see a Flash option on their tablet screens.

The Amazon Instant Video setting for Web Player Preferences if viewing on mobile devices should be set to "Adobe Flash" rather than "Silverlight,: which is for desktop computers.
I imagine that Kindle Fire tablets are optimized for Amazon's own Instant Video feature or vice versa.

HBO GO was added for FireTV in December.
See the updated info for the HBO Go app below. HBO GO has been available for some time with the Kindle Fire tablets, and until now, if you also had a FireTV and wanted HBO Go on that, you'd have to use the tablet to 'mirror' it to an HDTV. That' no longer necessary.

NOTE: - The December 2013 update had to do with
(1) the recommendation of an older Dolphin browser version for the HDX line + advice on downloading the specific flash app-file recommended for Kindle HD and HDX (and Nexus tablets) and with
(2) the Network TV Full Episodes being available in dedicated app form now, with the Networks favoring their own apps for mobile-device watching (probably having to do with ad statistics) and restricting mobile-device access on web video versions.
(3) On Dec 8, I added the Adobe Flash Player Non-Support History page.

Where the Dolphin web browser tends to work best on tablets with a "user agent" setting of "Desktop" mode instead of "Android" in those cases, that workaround has been hampered by some new Network processes.

One upside, of course, is that Network TV full episodes are now easily watchable via their dedicated apps, some of which are at Amazon's appstore and those that aren't can be downloaded by using 1mobile.com's appstore.

(1Mobile now has over 800,000 apps available from GooglePlay, athough you'd search there for the NBC TV or CBS TV apps having the usual network logos and showing the highest number of downloads -- or you can just view and match their icons, app names and version #'s with the apps that are listed on GooglePlay itself.)

TIP2: Amazon's own browser currently handles Youtube well by taking you to the mobile version of that site, showing you a smaller version of the video selected from a search and, when you click on one, shows you a full screen version of it in decent quality w/o your needing to change (via a long-press) the Youtube video gear-wheel setting at the right-bottom of a video, to change the video quality.

Youtube's mobile area was completely re-written by Youtube to use HTML5 rather than Flash and in the recent past sometimes had a somewhat smaller selection of videos, but they are very similar now. Amazon works with the HTML5 via their new experimental Flash-replacement streamer, which will be described further below.

Acorn.tv
Silk CAN handle Acorn.TV (British TV shows) well in 'Automatic' reading-view setting.
With the Flash file recommended here, it is more reliable. but that file is not necessary for the 'mobile' reading-view setting, though the 'automatic' setting is recommended.

The current Chrome Beta browser at 1mobile appstore also runs acorn.tv with the current recommended Flash file, as long as you don't click the Chrome browser menu setting for "Request desktop site. Oddly, the Dolphin combo recommended here does not run acorn.tv videos.

NOTE: The quality of streaming will be affected by the speed of your Internet connection.
Providers of DSL home Internet access usually use a default, first-tier lower speed that's often about 1/6th the speed of cablemodem speeds, so if you love to watch Internet streamed material via WiFi network connections in your home, I do recommend cablemodem access like Comcast's.

Apps already carried at Amazon's appstore:
WatchABC, which includes viewing of LIVE ABC programs rather than just after the fact, is quite a boon and is much more stable now after some updates. (I think that CBS app (available at 1mobile.com) requires a 5-day delay.)
Amazon's appstore also carries PBS, Smithsonian TV apps, and other TV apps. If you Search the Amazon store for "TV" you'll also see apps for Discovery; History; WatchESPN; RAI; and several others.

In December 2014, Amazon added HBO GO to the Fire TV. It won't be ready for the Fire TV Stick until the Spring. It's been available for the Kindle Fire tablets for some time though, which means you can use the "mirroring" display feature in the Yr2013 HD and HDX tablets to watch HBO Go on the HDTV if you're an HBO subscriber and have a Yr 2013 or later Kindle Fire tablet.

Amazon's own Instant Prime Viewing
And then there's always Amazon Instant Prime viewing, which now includes downloadable files for watching offline, and Amazon keeps adding exclusive material on that feature while providing optional X-Ray background info on actors in the scene you're watching.

TIP 3: - Amazon's new HDX tablets provide what has been described by major tech-site reviewers as the fastest and smoothest experience on tablets today. If multmedia files are your focus and you want them accessible on your device to play offline, get a device with more storage than 16 GB though.

I didn't want to pay a few hundred dollars for a multimedia tablet (also, magazines are huge) and wind up feeling constrained, since I also have a lot of photos on mine, so I got the 64GB one and love the freedom from worrying about space, Cloud or no Cloud.
I think of it as a built-in SD card space. Still, a 32GB tablet will be enough for most users.

When shopping different makers and models and analyzing costs, note that a key competing tablet will cost an additional $100 to get to each higher level of storage space - to 32 and to 64GB - and that one does not play Flash on web sites created with Flash.

ADOBE and Flash Support
In October 2012, Youtube and other Flash video no longer worked on newer Android devices like the Nexus tablet line and the Android-based Kindle HD's because Adobe stopped supporting Flash on later models of mobile devices.

The workaround has been to use a web browser that supports an Adobe flash player file that works with later mobile devices. (Since all this No-Flash drama happened, Amazon has been working on its own workaround, at Youtube and with a growing number of web sites.)

Many of us are able to view, using Amazon's own default Silk web browser, some of the main Flash-playing sites, even for network TV full episodes now, as mentioned, as Kindle Team has been working on Amazon's Experimental Streaming Viewer which works with a limited number of sites, but they are large, popular ones, and Amazon is expanding the number of websites that will be able to work with it.

Here's my earlier introduction to the Experimental Streaming Viewer, with some initial tips that will help, though there may be some added web-browser setting changes needed via the browser menu for some.
A KEY step is to enable "Accelerate page loading" setting in the Silk web browser menu (it's now the default setting on the HDX tablets), which automatically turns 'ON' the Advenced Setting of "Prompt for experimental streaming viewer."

Amazon has now been able to improve Experimental Streaming Viewer so that Youtube videos can be viewed without any special work on the part of the user, using Youtube's mobile version of the site.
(Just be sure to look at your Silk browser's web menu Settings option and choose to use that experimental feature with a check mark on that box.)

The Alternative Flash Support File, when needed
For needed Flash support otherwise (to be used with the Dolphin browser instead), the Amazon Kindle Forum regulars have relied on the XDA Developer Site for the latest working files to be tested by knowledgeable XDA forum members and offered for download for use with given device models. That's the source of these two files for the Yr 2012 Kindle Fires.

***The actual ADOBE statement on Flash Player support (or not)
for types of tablets and the Android versions involved
is now part of the Adobe Flash Player History page.

RELATED posts on Kindle Fire HDs which are useful also for the Kindle Fire HDX line
(Descriptions of Kindle 7" features will apply to the 8.9" models also.)

. Getting non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fires
(The basic models of each Kindle Fire tablet line
have storage space limitations though.)
. Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire,
via enabling one device setting
. How to play Flash on Year 2013-2014 Kindle Fire tablets
. Downloading and playing YouTube videos on Kindle Fire HD.
Also, TubeMate app for Youtube will download videos to play on your Kindle Fire,
and BSPlayer app will play almost ANY video format.
. Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses
. Add Wi-Drive pocketable disk/stream'g for Kindle models
and for other tablet or phone devices,
or, Portable wireless 320G Patriot Gauntlet drive/stream'g for 7" & 8.9" devices.
. App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

For reference, here is the Current Global Listing of available Kindle devices.

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Monday, May 19, 2014

Kindle Tips: Free Android App of the day, a PDF reader with annotation capability normally $7.99 ... Certified Refurbished Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G-LTE (Nov. 2012) on sale May19-only at 219

Free Android App of the Day, PDF MAX, normally goes for $7.99

For those who didn't see this already, Guven Witteveen sent an alert that PDF Max, normally $8 is available today as the free Amazon Android app of the day.

While popular in the Apple iOS version, this Android version has been less successful in the past, although there have been various recent improvements noted and seen if you sort Customer Reviews by "Newest first" (as I've done in the reviews link).

Things customers have noted:

1. Ability to print via wireless
2. Can annotate (but this seems a bit glitchy for some)
3. Also possible: Magnifying, highlighting, dropbox file sharing, editing tools
4. Works offline (as I'd expect)
5. Seems quicker than some other PDF readers and handles large files
but large files will take a lot of memory
6. Downloaded PDF files are more easily 'found' than with some other PDF readers
7. Print drivers are found under "SHARE"

At any rate, worth a try at the one-day "free" price and if you just keep it in your Cloud, you'll be eligible for future updates as an owner of the app.

GoldBox deal today ONLY on Certified Reburished Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G LTE (November 2012 model), with physical HDMI port to HDTV.
It needs to be added to a data plan to be use the 4G Capability, though of course it has WiFi access too.
IBM charges $130 additional for any of its 4G/LTE models.
Normal pricing: 32GB storage: $299 64GB storage: $349
May 19 pricing: 32GB storage: $219 64GB storage: $269

This 8.9" HD model will be slower than the current 8.9" HDX tablet and will not be nearly as light -- and doesn't have "Mayday" help, "Miracast" mirroring (wireless) to HDTV, or "Fling" technology for separate content shown on tablet and HDTV. But as a 4G LTE cellular network tablet, it's quite a bargain.

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Monday, May 12, 2014

Notice to feed-readers re an updated blog entry for installing and playing NON-Amazon (Google Play apps) on Kindle Fire tablets (basic, HD, HDX)

This is a brief entry just to alert feed-reader users (using sites like Feedly.com) that the Kindle Fire HD/HDX Guide to installing and playing NON-Amazon apps (finding Google-Play apps that we can download direct -- NO 'side-loading' necessary) has an update to point out that the settings-location for allowing installation of NON-Amazon apps was moved to another settings category when they released the updated Kindle Fire tablets (HDX line, HD 2nd Generation) at the end of year 2013.

See updated entry for how to fix that. (The feeds don't all pick up revised blog entries as current ones, and Feedly.com doesn't. [Correction, this time it DID, but I'll keep this for any other feeds that don't carry these forward -- Thanks to Feedly for changing the process to include updated versions of older entries.]

Thanks to blog commenter Boyd for pointing out that Amazon moved the settings-location for allowing installation of non-Amazon apps

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Saturday, April 26, 2014

Notice to feed-readers re an updated blog entry for a Prime Instant Video flash-player setting for Kindle HD/HDX and Android tablets access

This is a brief entry just to alert feed-reader users (using sites like Feedly.com) that the Kindle Fire HD/HDX and other Android-based tablets Flash Playing blog entry has an update for U.S. Amazon Prime Members having a problem not getting an option, when accessing Amazon Instant Prime, to play Flash. See updated entry for how to fix that. (The feeds don't all pick up revised blog entries as current ones, and Feedly.com didn't.)

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Kindle News: Newish "100 Books of a Lifetime" pages. Prime program fees being increased (UK and US). Kindle for iOS app update v4.1.2. US/UK Kindle HDX/HD2 software updates v11.3.2.1, v13.3.2.1, and v14.3.2.1. China gets the latest Kindle tablets. Kindle-compatible Kaplan GMAT course available for business school students. Sony Reader closes its bookstore: reactions. Kindle HD 8.9"-1st gen price has gone up. A good DSLR camera bundle.

Amazon has a newish book feature and set of pages
that recommend '100 books to read in a lifetime' - featuring:
1. Amazon Editors' choices
(This is the feature's "Main page" link, also used for the image.)

' We wanted the list to cover all stages of a life (which is why you'll find children's books in here), and we didn't want the list to feel like homework. Of course, no such list can be comprehensive – our lives, we hope, are long and varied – but we talked and argued and sifted and argued some more and came up with a list, our list, of favorites '

The Editors' choices total 149 as of today (one way to settle arguments for a list of 100).
If you scroll to the bottom, you can choose to see these sorted by Amazon's usual alternate viewing options.

2. Readers' picks from Goodreads

This set of readers' choices IS kept to 100 books.

AMAZON'S PRIME PROGRAM PRICING IS GOING UP
U.S. mostly:
Amazon announced during their 4th quarter earnings call that they are "considering" raising the price of Prime two-day shipping (U.S.), which includes 40,000+ movies and full tv episodes as instant video streamable at no added cost in the US and the ability to borrow one Prime Eligible Kindle book per calendar month from a choice of 527,000+ books, with no waiting period or due-date.

It's been $79/yr (or $6.58/mo., broken down) and they may raise it by $20 to $40. (A $40 increase will not work for most, in my opinion and would be a destructive move.) It's possible they'll begin to charge monthly or quarterly, in addiiton to annually, to encourage customers to sign up and/or stay with the program.

Amazon CFO Thomas Szkutak said, "...shipping costs have gone up a lot. Fuel costs have gone up a lot."

UK:
Amazon UK HAS already announced new Prime program pricing effective YESTERDAY. The older £49/yr rate went up, to £79 Feb. 26. They had 'new' signups for the lower rate but that ended last night; I didn't read about it until yesterday. Regular users of the UK site will have seen the offers though.

' Prime members in the UK are seeing the price increase in the wake of Amazon's 2011 purchase of LoveFilm. That company's offerings will become the linchpin in Amazon UK Prime's streaming movie and TV service, which will provide unlimited viewing and access to such content across a broad variety of devices... '

In connection with the above, Amazon UK has rebranded the Lovefilm feature to 'Prime Instant Video' for UK.
Trusted Reviews has an excellent article on "How Amazon Prime Instant UK Affects Lovefilm and Amazon Prime Users":

' When you break the new charges down, it's much better value if you currently maintain a Prime and Lovefilm Instant account. A Lovefilm Instant subscription currently runs to just under £72 on its own. Add that to the current Prime charge, and you’re looking at a saving of £42. ' [vs the new £79/yr that covers both].

There is also a new deal between Warner Bros. and Lovefilm/Amazon Instant Video

UK KINDLE HDX/HD SALE TODAY - Feb 27 - through March 4
I saw that Amazon-UK is celebrating the launch of Amazon Prime-UK with a 20% Sale on the Kindle HDX/HD tablets. This is the popup box I got just now:

' Limited-time Offer - Save 20% on all Kindle Fire Tablets
To celebrate the launch of Amazon Instant Video and Prime Instant Video, we are offering a saving of 20% on all Kindle Fire Tablets, for a limited time only

Limit two per customer, while supplies last. UK customers only. Discount valid on all versions of Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD 8.9", Kindle Fire HDX, and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" tablets sold and shipped by Amazon EU Sarl. It does not apply to the same products sold by other sellers. Amazon reserves the right to cancel the promotion at any time. Promo applies to the lowest priced qualifying item and may not be combined with other offers. If you return items purchased using a promo code, we will subtract the value of the discount from your return credit. Offer expires March 04, 11:59 PM GMT. Offer not valid with 1-Click ordering. Void where prohibited. '

GENERAL FEATURES of Prime
They're spelled out on the
* Prime-US and
* Prime-UK pages.

Recommendation
Those who've been interested in the U.S. Prime program but have never subscribed should watch for announcements of price increases. In the UK, Amazon gave them a few days to decide to take advantage of the lower rate until the launch on Wednesday, and something similar to that will likely happen with the U.S. program.
I'm back on the blog (probably every other day) and will check for announcements.

RECENT MINOR SOFTWARE UPDATES
Kindle for iOS 4.1.2 has been out quietly for a few weeks and this update seems to have solved most of the problems that people were having with the handling of the Collections feature in update v4.1.1. An example:

' In reply to an earlier post on Feb 4, 2014 10:43:32 PM PST
Last edited by the author on Feb 4, 2014 10:47:13 PM PST
Cindy says:

My library is 10,800 approx and I can find the oldest book in my cloud in less than a minute. It seems very fast. Awesome. I meant to add that my collections didn't change they are exactly how they were before the update and I was able to put that oldest book into a collection easily and quickly. '

You can of course install the update from iTunes, and if you're having any problem doing that, some recommend you UNinstall the current Kindle for iOS app and then install the current updated version.

SOFTWARE UPDATE version x.3.2.1 (for latest tablet line)
The new HDX/HD line of tablets released late 2013 has had a minor maintenance update that's already gone "over the air" via WiFi, when enabled, to probably most regular users.

This update would include performance and battery life improvements, and bug fixes, and those who noticed the update reported it's solved some problems for them.

These updates are being delivered, as mentioned, wirelessly as usual in a distribution over a few weeks -- but if you didn't get it and would rather not wait for the automated update, you can do a manual update by downloading the software and updating your device via a USB cable. Here are direct links to the software-update pages for the 3 tablets involved (emphases are mine):

US
Update Page for Kindle Fire HD 7" 2nd Gen
Update Page for Kindle Fire HDX 7"
Update Page for Kindle Fire HDX 8.9"

UK
Here's the UK software updates main page

Notice that at the intro page for each tablet type, there's an almost now unnoticeable link to a page that shows you how to Determine Your Software Version. You'll see this link in light-blue on the once-again re-worked pages for even-whiter layout (which is almost blinding for me, and the light blue text links are harder to read on the glaring white layout that most larger website programmers love -- programmers tend to be young people with no eye probs yet).

If the determining page indicates your device's software does not have the latest one installed, you can follow the instructions to do a manual download and install.

The previous software update (versions x.3.1) for these tablets added several major features. Version x.3.2.1 has mainly performance improvements in connection with these.

PRICE CHANGE ON HDX 8.9" 1st Gen (U.S.)
Amazon's current pricing as of today for the First Generation Kindle HD 8.9" tablet (with microHDMI ouput) went back UP to $299 (from $229, its price most of the time in recent months). I first noticed this on Feb 24 and have no idea why the price went back up.

QUICK LINKS TO OTHER NEWS in a Kindle world:
1. "Kaplan Test Prep has collaborated with Amazon to bring its GMAT course book directly to students enrolled in Kaplan courses using the cross-platform Kindle reading apps and Kindle Fire tablets—making it the first Kindle-compatible Kaplan GMAT course available for aspiring business school students. Kaplan GMAT students will have the ability to study across multiple devices—Kindle Fire and Android tablets, iPads, PCs and Macs—and take advantage of features such as note taking, highlighting, tracking progress, word look up, searching and syncing across Kindle reading apps and Kindle Fire tablets. The digital offering will enable increased study flexibility for Kaplan GMAT students."

2. "Angry Customers Raise Valid Points about Sony Closing Reader Store and Switching to Kobo", by Michael Kozlowski

These are Sony eReader customer reactions to the news "that Sony was closing their online Reader Store and transitioning all of their North American customers to Kobo."

3. The HDX/HD line of tablets go on sale in China

A good bundled camera kit

Amazon's camera-deals for the week included one of special interest to me because the Canon Rebel involved is the updated version of the camera I use and it's a DSLR with HD Video (while mine doesn't have video). The Canon Rebel t3i bundle comes with not only the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (you can get the basic camera + lens for $500 at Amazon) but also the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens, for $599 for the bundle. (List price is $1,049, but one really never has to pay list price), and currently this bundle has 132 customer reviews with an average 4.8 stars rating. This is a Prime-eligible product with free shipping.

Here's a recent photo I took with the Year 2006 Canon EF 70-100mm telephoto lens, which is not one of Canon's "L" lens models but provides sharp pictures in good light (and is 3 times the list price of the 75-300 lens bundled here).

While the bundled large-zoom lens gives you added flexibility for Amazon's bundled additional $100 (50% of List for the zoom lens), it's less expensive than other Canon zoom lenses (at $200 List) because it does NOT have image-stabilization (anti-shake), normally very important with zoom lenses in lower light, and it uses a different, slower motor for auto-focusing.

Canon's site describes it this way:
"The optical system, construction, and exterior are the same as the EF 75-300 mm f/4-5.6 III USM’s. The difference is that it uses a DC motor instead of a USM to drive the AF."

The quality of the picture should be good, outdoors, in very good light; otherwise you'd need a tripod to get a sharp photo.

Here are reviews of this zoom lens with pros and cons listed, at the Canon site. If shooting on a high-contrast day and pointing up to tree limbs or tall buildings, there will be some "chromatic aberration" (Purple-fringing). Photo-editing software can remove it though. One important benefit is that it's lighter than most 300mm-capable zooms.
And here are the Amazon customer reviews of the zoom lens, which normally cost $158 at Amazon.

For the added $100 for this kit, the Amazon customer reviews indicate a high level of satisfaction with this set with the normal-angle lens and the 75-300mm zoom lens for $600 total.

I'm writing about it because I will tend to blog more often if I can add other material than just Kindle-related products, and blog stats show me that the Kindle book-reading audience is interested in more than e-readers and tablets.

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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Kindle Fire Sale on HDX models thru' Tuesday night, Jan 21, 11:59 pm. Kindle for iOS update v4.1.1 fixes several problems. AT&T offers lower data plans, w/o contracts.

Amazon is offering another Limited-time offer of $30 off, this time on the Kindle Fire HDX tablets, the Big Game.
"Enter code GameOn30 at checkout"

Note: This is for U.S. customers only and "while supplies last" and ends TONIGHT, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at 11:59 pm.

For easy reference, am showing a reduced version of the small comparison table that shows only the HDX models, and their product pages have the general comparison table with more details.
Note - See Terms for the sale.

Also see below for added info on the new Kindle for iOS app v4.1.1 update that fixes some problems with previous update version 4.1, and in this one I'll include what the new feature enhancements are now that this update and fix is available.

Regular pricing bases plus Amazon links for the new HDX models
Both of these models have Dolby Audio Dual Stereo Speakers and Dual band WiFi, as well as dual antennas also.

Starting prices are with special offers that they say will offer more savings than Lighting deals.

Kindle Fire HDX 7" - $229
'Personal' HDX tablet
16, 32 or 64GB options
Display: 1920 x 1200, 323 PPI
Ram: 2GB
Front-facing, 720p camera
No HDMI-out: Use 'Fling' or Miracast
Quad-core 2.2 GHz processor

Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" - $379
'Does it all' HDX tablet
16, 32, or 64GB options
Display: 2560 x 1600, 339 PPI
Ram: 2GBfling
Adds 8MB rear-facing camera
No HDMI-out: Use 'Fling' or Miracast
Quad-core 2.2 GHz processor

For those who didn't see the last Kindle Fire sale blog article, here are some excerpts from December reviews.
ZDNet's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes for Ziff-Davis's Hardware 2.0 area headlined an article that will surprise some but which reflects points made by several articles I cited in December:

"Why the Kindle Fire HDX is a far better tablet than the iPad"

' Summary: I used to think that the iPad was the king of the tablets, but not any more. It's time to whip the crown away from Apple and give it to its rightful holder – Amazon's Kindle Fire HDX.

...what Apple bought to market Amazon has improved upon dramatically. '

He spells out the usual large pricing difference points as you increase storage size, as anyone who knows how important multimedia files are to tablets will realize. But it used to be that people assumed the iPad would be superior in capabilities and that the Kindle Fire offerings were just made with less-expensive materials.
Not so with the Yr 2013 line. These currently set the standard for the combination of hardware and features now (although those who use Apple apps on their phones and love them will do well to get an Apple tablet to use those same apps on their tablet). It's just that Apple is not keeping up because they don't feel they need to.

He continues:

' Side-by-side, the display on the Kindle Fire HDX blows away that of the iPad. Not only do colors look superior and more vivid, but also the brightness is better and the way blacks are handled – especially in video – is much more even. '

He also finds it easier to use outdoors, with less glare in his case, and goes on to give reasons for the other reasons he gives that include:
"Super-fast Hardware
"Excellent WiFi range" (for him, it continues working well at the periphery of his system where the iPad starts having difficulties -- and this was true for other reviewers with even the previous HD models vs the Google Nexus tablets, although router-tablet settings sometimes need to be fine-tuned for the various brands and especially the newest techhnologies used by iPad Air, the latest Nexus and the HDX).
"Superior on-screen keyboard"
"Better Speakers"
"Better email and calendar apps" (that does surprise me)
"The Mayday button" (Help "in the palm of your hand"... "when you need it")

Note that he doesn't go into the Kindle Fire line's unique features as shown in previous articles here (and that includes especially useful parental controls and program features in general:
1. Overview of New Features
2. Things to Know about the new features

Those two blog articles have clarifications for some points that have puzzled some.

In another article, in January, the Salt Lake City Tribune carries Bree Fowler's story for The Associated Press today on "Review: Kindle FreeTime gives parents peace" -- it's a brief one but many aren't aware of how well thought out these features are relative to the other current tablet offerings. Since AP articles are well-circulated of course, it'll be getting more play today.

Note #2 - The HDX 8.9" does not often go on sale, relative to the smaller ones. It's decidedly lighter than my 7" HD tablet and is a joy.
My two favorite electronics (besides non-portable larger HDTV viewing) are the (1) Microsoft Surface Pro 2 laptop/tablet combo that runs ALL full Windows programs in the most speedy way I've ever experienced (but I won't link you to Amazon's 3rd party sellers for these as they are charging too much due to some shortages) and the (2) Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, which I recommend getting with at least 32GB storage. It's great for both HD videos, including 16:9 format, magazines with reading-view and beautifully enlargeable images (as with the iPad), and two-page reading with larger fonts -- all while remaining very light now.

I use my phone's "Internet sharing" to give the HDX its 4G used as WiFi when I'm outside and wanting to use my HDX that has no LTE/4G cellular network feature, as I didn't get that model because I already have a good data plan that allows me to share the phone's 4G -- but those who have one of the now popular Family Sharing plans with AT&T or Verizon will find an additional tablet adds only $10 to a current data plan. LTE/4G capability itself (for the fewer who want it) costs an add'l $100~ on the Kindle Fires and about $130 on the Apple iPad -- that's before you add a data plan for it.

NEW reduced-priced AT&T Data plans.
One hitch is that they've added plans that include less Internet web data for those who don't need the larger plans. I have a 4GB/month plan but found that although I use my phone to access email, enews, restaurant infoo and I also have a feature that allows me to share my phone's 4G with my tablets if I need to when no WiFi network is available, I actually use well under 500MB a month of 4G/LTE cellular network access. That surprised me. I don't watch movies when I'm out. That helps.

NEWLY UPDATED Kindle reader app v4.1.1 for iOS
The Amazon Kindle Forum made an announcement on January 6 that the Kindle Reader for iPad, update v4.1 was ready. However, there were many reports there (and at iTunes) that it was not working for many and caused crashes. Some had uninstalled it and then re-installed it at iTunes and *sometimes* that had helped (and it did work well for some).

In that same announcement forum thread, users getting the v4.1.1 update this week say that, for them, it HAS fixed the problems with crashes, and large book collections are supported again by the new update and functioning well. One glitch is that a downloaded book may not appear on the device quickly, but if you close the app and then re-open it, the book will show up. Customers are much happier with this version.

You can read the customer reactions and advice to other customers at the Amazon Kindle Forum's Kindle for iPad update-announcement thread, which has the listing of enhancements.
For convenience, since the app is working well again, I'll add this info here now (emphae mine):

' Megan H. - Forum Moderator says:
(AMAZON) (AMAZON OFFICIAL)

We're pleased to announce the latest version of Kindle for iOS is now available in the Apple App Store.

Kindle for iOS version 4.1 brings new features to students (flashcards), multiple improvements to the reading experience based on customer feedback, and stability & performance improvements.

New to Students (US/Print Replica Textbooks Only)

* Flashcards for print replica textbooks: Students can now convert important terms from the X-Ray for Textbooks feature or their notes and highlights into flashcard sets for studying. Students can keep track of concepts or terms that have been mastered and those that need more practice, allowing them to improve their recall of the subject.

* Improved in-book search: Search in print replica textbooks is now faster and more powerful. Search terms based on the words in the book are suggested to students as they type. Results are almost instantaneous. Students will love the speed and convenience.
New to Readers

* Notebook Filters: Readers can now easily filter bookmarks, notes, highlights, and even specific colored highlights, making annotations much easier to find. Customers can also navigate directly to the annotated passages for context.

* Page Footers: Readers can now see page numbers or time left in book on the lower left-hand corner of the page. Readers can switch between page #, time left in book or a blank footer by simply tapping on the text or empty area. A setting is available to turn off the page footer if customers prefer.

* X-Ray Update: Readers who want to go deeper into the story will appreciate the updated experience. X-Ray characters and terms can now be sorted by relevance, alphabetically, or in order of appearance in the book.

* Dictionary Redesign: The Dictionary Interface has been updated for iOS7 and makes it easier for customers to switch between alternate language and purchased dictionaries.

* Stability and Performance Improvements

New to the Library - Collections multi edit capability

* Collections Refinements: From the library view, customers can now see which collections a book already belongs to and can add to or remove from multiple collections using multi edit. Readers will find it easier to manage their collections. '

ADDED NOTE: I found this added paragraph on the Amazon iPad app page (emphases mine).

' About the Latest Version of Kindle for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch
* Kindle for iOS 4.1 is optimized for OS 7.0
* Features Flashcards for Print Replica Textbooks on Kindle for iPad

Important: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch with iOS 6.0 or greater are able to download the latest version of the Kindle reading app. Devices running iOS 5.0 will get an option to download the last compatible version. '

As I've mentioned recently - Even when there is no startling news, I respond to questions in the Comments areas of the blog entries -- and the Q&A entries are always shown in summary form and linked to, latest first, on the blog's right-hand column (used for information that's ongoing or for reference materials on topics of interest to many who visit the blog). So, check "Latest Comments" (in the info/reference column on the the right side of the page whenever you're curious what people are asking and the responses made.
There is a lot about installing non-Amazon apps on the Kindle Fire as well as playing Flash on the HDX models.

That's it for now, as I need to get this off for the new sale that ends tonight.

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. Top 100 free bestsellers. Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

*Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE. Or click on the web browser's BACK button

Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

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Thursday, December 26, 2013

Kindle Fire HDX and HD Tips: [WAS] $30 off ANY HDX: 2 days. $10 off 16GB Kindle HD 7" Gen2. Avoid v4.3 update for Kindle for Android. X-ray for Music. Recent reviews and points to consider. Display-test results for smaller and larger tablets from Apple, Google, and Amazon. UPDATED 12/26.

*NEW ALERT* came in while I was about to publish this blog entry on Dec. 22. (Remember that Prime member PRE-Christmas delivery was to end at Midnight EST, 9pm PST tonight (Sunday, 12/22). (Apologies for such a garish page then.)
As it was, UPS had a big failure on pre-Christmas deliveries, and Amazon, which did ship on time, has been giving some refunds on shipping costs due to the UPS problems.
I've updated the December 22 blog entry to December 26.

NOTE: Special Christmas sales cited here are ENDED, as of 12/31

Amazon is now on its "Year-End Deals."
THIS new discount itself ended Monday night Dec. 23 at 9pm PST and midnight EST - it WAS good for two days ONLY.

So, the coupon code above SANTAHDX, WAS on ANY HDX (including the 8.9" HDX finally -- as many have asked why the 8.9" HDX had not gone on sale -- and the 7" HDX tablets.

(STILL available as of Dec 26, 2013):
ALSO, Add 8 GB to the new Kindle Fire HD 2nd Gen's basic storage for $20 instead of the usual $30 - "for a limited time"

X-Ray for Music
To my surprise, the feature I've enjoyed most (suddenly seen while working on my laptop) involved lyrics scrolling down the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" sitting next to the laptop when playing music (with Amazon's Cloud Player or with the Music player on the tablet).

The lyrics feature was/is for music I'd either bought from Amazon through the years or even uploaded and "imported" to our 5-Gig free file-storage area (which all customers, globally, are given, although non-US residents can't stream media from the US servers).

The non-digital-rights-protected mp3's we upload that we get from other sources will get lyrics attached to them for scrolling (if we want) when the mp3 is from an album that matches a recording that Amazon sells. And when we re-download them, to Kindle tablets, they'll have those lyrics availble if the publisher allows. The publisher can decide, though, to stop including them depending on Agreements not renewed, etc.

Mainly, I hadn't been expecting this feature when I first saw it. But there it was, and being weird I love to sing along and found I didn't know half the lyrics. Amazon negotiated agreements with quite a few of the music publishers to provide these lyrics, with the current line being sung, highlighted, in bolder face.

It's made working more fun to have the tablet going, mp3-wise and not visually distracting me, and is just one newer feature but it did surprise me, as I thought the music I'd bought probably wouldn't be included for lyrics. They're playable on the computer as well, of course, with the Cloud Player for Web.

For those of you with a tablet from the new line (Kindle Fire HD 2nd Gen, HDX 7" or HDX 8.9"), any mp3 you play that has "[+Lyrics]" alongside the title will have the scrolling words (if you uploaded it to the Cloud -- and downloading it afterwards attaches the lyrics as well).
You can read more about how it works on the Amazon XRay help page.

At any rate that's one feature of many with the new line of Kindle Fire tablets on Amazon's "Mojito" OS 3.1 based on Android Jelly Bean -- be aware that media streaming from Amazon U.S. servers is done for U.S. residents only, for the most part, but you can import/upload to the cloudplayer to get the lyrics attached, then download the mp3 to play it on your device that way.

MORE ALERTS
* Avoid updating Kindle app for Android - to v4.3 (released Dec 17), available at Google play for Android devices. Too many Android device users have been experiencing problems with this upgrade, finding their books missing from the display or being unable to get the app to open books. Can't know what percentage of users are affected.

When I checked the Amazon's app store for the Kindle for Android app, Amazon itself is at least now offering only the older v4.2.0.151 version (which I have on my Android device and I've decided to not let it update). Too many Android devices are set to automatically install updates, but I turn that off because I'd rather decide after others have tried the updates (from any app maker).

Normally, I'd say at least you can 'remove' the updated app and install the older version from Amazon, but makers like Samsung have built-in versions that can't be removed. In that case, I imagine Amazon developers are hard at work on a fix for this.

So, if you have not installed it yet, although notified of the update, it is probably best not to install it. There are rarer instances of people reporting no problem, depending on the phone or tablet they're using, I guess, and whatever compatibility situation is involved.

Because it offers Collections and the option to turn publisher-choice of fonts Off, some had lept at the offer.
This is an alert in case you'd rather not risk having to re-download your books if there is a problem and not be able to read them until the new update is out.

* Dec. 22 WAS the LAST day for delivery of gifts before Christmas Day (free for Prime members).
The deadline for ordering was midnight EST that night (Sunday night) Dec. 22 and, as mentioned above, 9pm PST.

* Amazon's "THE BIG DEAL" returned - More than 500 Kindle books at "up to 85% Off"
But that ends tonight also (Dec. 22).

"The Big Deal" includes 500 Kindle books organized by category. The books, many of which are quite popular, are priced between $1.99 and $3.99, with most of them $1.99 to $2.99.

Expiration date once more:
December 22, 2013.

Amazon note:
"Individual titles may have additional territory restrictions, and not all deals are available in all territories. Amazon may modify the selection of books offered at any time."

Recent online reviews of and reports on the Yr 2013 HDX/HD2 tablets with descriptions of unique features
These entries include Comments I made to somewhat misleading info in what are very good reports otherwise.

On the most recent blog entry, I cited the recent report from PCWorld and MacWorld's TechHive naming the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 and the Kindle HDX 7" tablet for top spots in the Top 5 products for year 2013

While additionally listing the Top 50 for 20213, they link to their full review of the HDX 7", a review which is unusual in actually noting and describing software features that are unique to the Kindle Fire tablets and which give unusual added value that I don't see mentioned in other reviews. Excerpts:

" ...beautifully designed tablet that climbs to the top of the 7-inch heap" [citing 2nd screen technology and the video tech support within 15 seconds from someone who can show you what buttons to press where].
[While pointing out the Enterprise capabilities for company IT services they say that this] ..."misses the point of the Fire HDX, which is to provide the best tablet for consuming books, music, and video."

[The writer does point out that the edges of the screen show a bit of dimming when the background is all white which is "barely noticeable" but a major complaint of his.]
"I have to say that it no longer makes any sense that the iPad forces you to launch an app before letting you read a book. Why doesn’t it..." [do what the HDX does]

"Amazon has come up with an answer to the question “How can we improve the user’s enjoyment of books, music, and video?” and the answer is far more impressive than adding storage or throwing in a sharper screen. It’s a feature called X-Ray" [which he goes on to explain in detail for various media-uses involved].

"The iPad has a huge content library of its own, but it also suffers from lock-in problems. The digital movies and books you purchase from Amazon are DRM-protected just like the stuff from the iTunes Store, but Amazon doesn’t limit you to playing them only on Amazon-brand hardware."
[He notes the lack of access to Google Play store (which is a decision of Google) but doesn't mention that other appstores like 1mobile carry more than 500,000 Google Play apps which the Kindle can just download and install if you check a Settings box to allow your device to install non-Amazon apps. Amazon didn't wall this device as some think.

See How to install non-Amazon apps for how to do this without any 'rooting' of the device or any modifications to the unit -- just a check-mark in a Settings box and getting any other app-store market app that is usable the way we use the Amazon store app.]
"I don’t know what Apple could do to enhance the iPad mini to make me recommend it over the Fire HDX, provided that the person asking my advice had little interest in productivity or gaming. A 7-inch Fire HDX will give you a superior content experience and leave $100 in your pocket—which you can spend on books, music, and movies."

Forbes review of 8.9" HDX today
"... An Unmatched Hardware Experience"
Ewen Spence spent a week with the tablet. Some excerpts:

" If your only concern is screen technology, the HDX 8.9 is the clear winner. On every quantifiable measure, the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 is the device to beat."
[He makes the usual point that it can't access GooglePlay store to get its Apps, but says that the Kindle tablets are not "Google-certified" and that the apps have to be "recompiled" to work with the Kindle tablets. Well, not really.
In 1.5 years I have not had any Google App fail to work and work well on my Kindle HD or HDX's.

He knows that one can 'sideload' apps (better yet, directly load) to the Kindle devices but then says it's not a standalone tablet like the iPad Mini (which does NOT allow ANY app that is not Apple approved and in the Apple store).

Again, to see how easy it is to use Google apps on the Kindle Fire HD or HDX, with a choice of over 500,000 of them, see How to install non-Amazon apps on a Kindle Fire HDX or HD tablet. A store-app is no harder to install than any other app from your favorite app store and then you get other apps with it. This is possibly the best-kept secret in the world of tablets.]
"Where Amazon has a huge win is of course in e-books, magazines, and periodicals. They have probably the largest accessible catalogue of current ‘digital words’, and they make good use of it in the Kindle Fire HDX."

I added to Forbes's Comments area:
'By the way, you might like that personal docs and hand-rolled e-books not protected with digital-rights CAN be sync’d with your other Kindle-compatible devices and the annotations backed up on your personal password-protected web page at Amazon where you can copy or print them.'

That's another unique feature most don't realize is there.

I also added that we can use the BS Player app (available at 1mobile store), HD Video Player or Mobo Player apps (at Amazon's store) that tend to be able to play almost any video format there is. Also:

" Issues around content and UI aside, watching on the Kindle Fire HDX is a wonderful experience, and is certainly the gold standard of the current crop of tablets.

TechnoBuffalo reviews the Kindle HDX (Dec. 15]
Brandon Russell, also using it for 7 days, headlines this:
"Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Review: The Most Enjoyable Way To Consume." Excerpts:

' Amazon has created an experience that’s right on the heels of its closest rival, the Nexus 7; in some respects, it’s even better.

... - it might even be the best small Android tablet this holiday season. That’s because the Fire HDX is less of a device and more of a perfect ideal.

... It’s no fuss, little effort, with plenty of reward. You might say it’s the People’s Tablet.

... [Re no access to GooglePlay apps store] Amazon does mitigate this slightly by adding some cool software flare, such as a cool app for parents, X-Ray features, and an incredible new tech support service called Mayday.

... a remarkable new tech support tool called Mayday. Basically, Mayday is like Apple’s version of making a Genius Bar appointment, except you never have to wait in line or leave your house. Everything is done right through your Fire HDX and FREE.

... Tech Advisors can change settings, download apps and do pretty much any tech support related issues you need done, step-by-step, like your own tech support personal assistant.

I never ran into an issue Amazon’s Mayday couldn’t fix, and found that representatives were incredibly helpful and explained situations very thoroughly.

... The scale and ease of use of Amazon’s Mayday is absolutely incredible, and is a godsend for those aunts and uncles who have never used a tablet in their life.

... sports a ridiculous resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. Colors are deep, viewing angles are terrific and everything is extremely crisp. Anything you can possibly hope to watch, read and view looks wonderful—better to my eyes than any other small tablet screen on the market, including the Nexus 7 and iPad mini with Retina.

It creates a more immersive experience, helping to emphasize what’s actually on the display while the device itself (mostly) fades away.

... You won’t find the Kindle Fire HDX to be slow, even with Fire HD content beaming into your eyeballs. As far as battery life goes, the Fire HDX lasts forever. Like, forever. I was consistently shocked at how much battery life it had after a day’s use — I mostly read books and watch movies — and actually found it lasted more like two to three days without needing a charge. I had to try and run the battery down, rather than worry about if I needed a charge.'

Amazon suspends unneeded tablet activity while you're reading, which is one reason the battery lasts as long as it does if you spend a lot of time reading.

About that display, the Kindle HDX 8.9" vs Apple's iPad Air and Google's Nexus 10 (Nov. 2013)
Here are some links with much shorter excerpts. The first links are to very detailed tests of all these displays by Displaymate, a company that specializes in this, and they have very high standards to be met
Displaymate's Conclusions on an ultra-detailed page of testing results that were summarized by many techsites recently.

' Most impressive of all is the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, which has leapfrogged into the best performing Tablet display that we have ever tested, significantly out-performing the iPad Air in Brightness, Screen Reflectance, and high ambient light contrast, plus a first place finish in the very challenging category of Absolute Color Accuracy. '

CNet's Don Reisinger added, from a November testing of the smaller versions of these:
"iPad Mini's Retina Display finishes last in small-screen review
The Amazon Kindle Fire HDX and Google Nexus 7 drew higher scores in the DisplayMate shoot-out."

"Apple was once the leader in mobile displays, unfortunately it has fallen way behind in both Tablets and Smartphones," DisplayMate wrote in its findings. "This should be a wakeup call."

There are other factors of course - The Apple apps are likely the best available collection (and if you have an iPhone you'd want to use the same apps, so you're wiser to go with an iPad or iPad mini in that case), and they have tended to run very smoothly although recent reports indicate there are problems as there are with other tablets. The kicker is that their lowest-storage tablets tend to be more expensive than highest-storage tablets of their two main competitors, the Kindle Fire HDX and the Google Nexus tablets.

On the other hand, when you're paying a lot of money, it's also wise to consider these results.
TechnoBuffalo's Todd Haselton summarizes the smaller tablet testing before sending us over to the extremely detailed test descriptions and results:

' Additionally, DisplayMate only found “good accuracy” when it came to absolute color accuracy on the iPad mini with Retina, while the other two received “very good ” ratings.

The Nexus 7 (2013) was inferior when it came to image contrast accuracy, however. Overall, the Kindle Fire HDX 7 and Nexus 7 (2013) both received “very Good A-” scores while the iPad mini with Retina received a “Good B” score in the “overall” testing category. Apple’s smaller iPad also suffered in relative maximum brightness, mirror reflections, relative contrast rating in high ambient light and other tests.

DisplayMate found all three tablets were particularly weak in brightness decreasing at 30 degree viewing angles, but that the iPad mini with Retina had too small of a color gamut and a poor absolute color accuracy rating. '

WELL, that should gve an idea of how it goes. The Kindle Fire HD/HDX line's main 'weakness' as reported is its lack of direct access to the Google Play apps store, but those who do just a bit of googling will know that those apps are easily available for and directly downloadable to the Kindle Fire HDXs and HD line and have been for awhile. One can just google "how to install non-amazon apps on a kindle fire" ...

TIP - The excellent SMALL and portable AYL speaker(s) system is back but with an extension for more bass and gets good ratings by Amazon customers.

I wrote about its earlier incarnation here and provided a little videoclip of that earlier version.

EARLIER articles here on the Kindle HDX and HD tablets -- they have thorough descriptions of what these tablets do:

1. Overview of New Features
2. Things to Know about the new features

Those two articles have clarifications for some points that have puzzled some.

The image and table below are added so that you can compare the current Kindle Fire models specs and what each one has, to give you a head start on all the information at the product pages.

Note that the Kindle Fire models in the table below are the WiFi-only models, and that they both have Dolby Audio Dual Stereo Speakers and Dual band WiFi, while the HDX model has dual antennas in addition.

Normal starting prices are w/ special offers that they say will offer more savings than Lighting deals.

Kindle Fire HD 7" - $139
Basic "family" tablet, HD Gen2
8 and 16GB options
Display: 1280 x 800, 216 PPI
Ram: 1GB No Mayday
No camera or mic (no Skype)
No HDMI-out: Use 'Fling' - No Miracast
Dual-core 1.5 GHz processor

Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" - $379
'Does it all' HDX tablet
16, 32, or 64GB options
Display: 2560 x 1600, 339 PPI
Ram: 2GB
Adds 8MB rear-facing camera
No HDMI-out: Use 'Fling' or Miracast
Quad-core 2.2 GHz processor

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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Monday, May 19, 2014

Monday, May 12, 2014

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Thursday, December 26, 2013

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