(http://freakytopia NULL.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Kindle-Fire NULL.jpg)The Kindle Fire has a seven inch screen, which reduces a lot of squinting that occurs trying to do things on your phone. I’ve been wont to view anything more than an half hour in length on my phone but I’d definitely watch something on my tablet. I’ve already installed the Netflix app on my tablet and if you like Hulu there’s a Hulu+ app that can be downloaded as well. YouTube videos look damn good on this, obviously depending on the quality of the video uploaded in the first place. The Kindle Fire comes with a 30 day trial of Amazon Prime. In addition to getting two day free shipping on most items ordered through Amazon, a Prime membership also allows you access to 10,000 free streaming movies and television shows, and access to 5,000 free book titles to read. There are many more paid book, TV, and movie options to view. After the trial an Amazon Prime membership is $79 a year. The Kindle Fire has a sync feature called Whispersync which allows you to start a book on your smart phone and pick up where you left off on your tablet. You can also start watching a movie through Amazon instant video and finish it on your television. The touchscreen, while beautiful, can be a bit fussy. Sometimes I have to press multiple times for it to register my input and sometimes I have to change fingers. It’s weird but my middle finger seems to register 95% of the time on the first try but my other fingers aren’t nearly as accurate. I’m not sure if it’s a hardware issue, a software issue, or some quirky “me” issue. Hopefully, it’s one of the former and can be improved with a software update later. Don’t let that scare you away. It’s a first generation item and these kind of issues are quite common while the kinks in production and/or software are worked out.
How is this different from the dozens and dozens of other Android tablets? The main hook for the Kindle Fire is that it is ran in pretty much an Amazon exclusive environment. You have to have an Amazon.com account to even sign into the Kindle Fire and register it. I can’t really imagine anyone who doesn’t have one already. Instead of the regular Android market the Fire uses the Amazon Appstore. The Amazon Appstore isn’t as robust as the Android market but one thing in Amazon’s favor is their free app of the day promotion, which allows you to download a specific paid app every day for free. The Amazon Appstore is also available on any Android device that can sideload apps. One thing I don’t like is that there doesn’t seem to be a way to separate or differentiate the Appstore items on your tablet and on the phone. For example, I have downloaded some apps on my tablet that I don’t have on my phone and vice versa. Sometimes this is because an item on the tablet isn’t available on the phone or I have something I prefer on my phone compared to what’s available on the tablet. I suppose I could get around this by setting up another Amazon account just for my phone but why should I? I’d like to keep the apps on my phone and my tablet segregated from each other but instead you get one list with updates for both devices, even when it’s not relative to the one you’re viewing it on. Hopefully, some solution is created for this annoyance soon. The version of the Appstore that runs on the Kindle Fire is supposed to include apps that are optimized specifically for it meaning you shouldn’t have to worry about downloading an app that was optimized to run on your phone (different resolution, smaller screen, etc.)
The web browser is generally fast and snappy although there was one page I tried to view, a local Target ad circular, that wouldn’t load no matter how many times I tried or how long I waited. I missed having an ad blocker. I have two on my phone and I have one on my computer. I know people depend on the revenue but if your ads annoy me then I want the option not to be bothered by them. I’ve read that the Kindle Fire can now be rooted so if I decide to go out that route than I can kiss those ads bye-bye.
The Kindle Fire lacks both a front and rear facing camera. I don’t think I’d want to take a picture with it but it’s a little disappointing that video chatting isn’t an option with this. I can live with it. The Fire also lacks upgradeable storage. It’s a bummer but fortunately, the Fire relies on cloud storage. Basically, Amazon stores your music or movies, for example, on their servers and you can stream them from your device wherever you have a Wi-Fi connection. If you’re afraid of not being near a free Wi-Fi network or not having a dependable one then you can download music, movies, books, etc. to the 8 GB (about 6 GB available for use) of internal storage on your Kindle Fire from the Amazon cloud and view them on your device. If you have a large music or movie collection that you want to have 24/7 access without depending on Wi-Fi then this will be a problem. I haven’t been able to set up the Fire to sync with Yahoo Mail. I got Gmail up and running easily but Yahoo isn’t cooperating. It’s annoying. Maybe minor in the big scheme of things but I’d like to be able to view all my mail without having to go to the web portal. I’m not sure if it’s a Yahoo, due to my password, or something else. I just wish it worked for me!
It weighs almost a pound and unless you have big hands I don’t see you holding it very long. I’d definitely suggest a sleeve, cover, or something to store it in, maybe a screen protector and cleaning cloth if you’re really anal retentive about fingerprints. The touchscreen is a magnet for them. The back of the tablet comes in a grippy material but even that seems to attract fingerprints and smudges.
I generally and genuinely like the Kindle Fire. However, I don’t think tablets are a must have item. I believe a smartphone is more portable and decent netbook has more functionality than a tablet. Tablets are cool but the market hasn’t really defined itself enough to even tell us why we “need” it. With that said, I can see using my tablet when I don’t want to lug out my laptop and wait for it to boot up or when my eyes are strained from using my smartphone for too long. Think of the fire as more of a supercharged e-reader and less of whatever the hell the iPad thinks it is. At $199 I think it’s one hell of a deal and no BW, I won’t be giving one away. If you have any questions about the Kindle Fire I’ll try to answer it.
I’ve been debating if I wanted to get a Kindle Fire. It seems like it will do the job for an avid book reader and Hulu Plus watcher but I’m just not sure.
How were the social networking apps on it? What about expansion? Are those the only features that come with Amazon Prime?
Kindle Fire should do great for both of those and Netflix too.
The app store is kind of limited. I figure I’ll just find the .apk file for whatever app I want and send it to my K.F. The social networking apps are kind of lacking to be honest. There’s a few Twitter apps like TweetCaster, Seesmic, HootSuite, etc. I use TweetCaster on the Kindle Fire but there are bookmarks for a lot of the social networking sites preloaded. Honestly, those are probably more satisfying to use. The Facebook apps are lacking in my opinion. There’s like one LinkedIn and Tumblr app and a bunch of chat, IM, dating, and junk social networking apps. I prefer using the mobile Facebook site which is preloaded and sometimes I use the regular desktop version when I want to play FB games or something on my K.F.
There really isn’t any expansion options on the Kindle Fire. There’s no slot for a memory card. The Fire uses the cloud for most of it’s storage so you can pick and choose what you want to have access to at any point in time and supposedly not worry about storage. Other than that you can use the 6+ GB of available storage to add pictures, music, documents, apps, or whatever.
Yes, I think that’s pretty much the features of Amazon Prime. The two day free shipping appeals to me the most, if I ever buy anything from Amazon or someone Amazon does fulfillment services for.
I was wondering if the Fire was an option for me? I can’t see getting a tablet other than for a mini-me distraction! LOL I have the smartphone, desktop, laptop, netbook, ds etc. What else do I need. And I have no problem seeing what is on my phone. LOL
I use that Whispersync between my phone and desktop. Nice way to get your books/articles read without losing your spot.
Thought about getting Amazon prime. Im already using hulu and netflix. Might as well try amazon out!
Sounds nice.
I’m of the opinion that a good netbook is better than a good tablet. With that said I can see the tablet cutting down on a few devices. If you could make calls with it then it could replace the smartphone. Well, in theory anyway. It’s a cool device but honestly, I don’t think it has a purpose other than being a cool device.
I have yet to purchase a book on my Fire. I’ll probably wait until I finish the two and half books I’ve been sitting on first.
I’ve been too cheap to pay the $79 for Amazon Prime. Now that I have a trial, everything I’ve thought of buying isn’t even eligible for Prime shipping. *shrugs* Guess they’re telling me to save the money.
It’s that what it is all about….. having a cool device! LOL Most of my books are the free ones. But I have brought a couple I felt I needed that day. LOL
Save money. I thought getting Amazon Prime was to help save money. LOL But you are planning on saving money by not buying it…….. until you see something your really really want.
That’s how I figure it. People can tell you all the cool stuff you can do with tablets but no one can tell you why you actually need one.
I haven’t even tried any of the free books yet. I wouldn’t mind downloading some classics for free. I need to look into that.
Well, if you buy a lot of stuff from Amazon proper then Prime should save you money. Unfortunately, most of the stuff I’ve been buying have been from third parties, even though it’s through Amazon. They’re not eligible for the Prime shipping so for me Amazon Prime isn’t worth the $79 fee at the moment. 🙁
Can’t see spending 200 buck on something I wouldn’t use, but congrats on the new toy!
Oh but you would use it. First and foremost it’s an e-reader, than you can play games, e-mail, Facebook, listen to music, etc. Then again it doesn’t come with gremlin protection so it might blow up in your possession. :d Po’ technology.
I’ll ignore that comment about not giving one away. you’ll come around! :d
well, it sounds very cool and now that you’ve gave a full description of it, I’m not as jealous. key word: as. I still want one just to try it out, but it many ways it seems comparable to the NC.
How about I give away the box that it came in? <:-p I'm sure that's a treat in itself. :d Ohhh, but I wanted you to be seething with jealousy. 🙁 I'll just pretend you are anyway. 🙂 The Nook Color 2 looks good to me as well.
(-_-) (-_-)(-_-)(-_-) at giving away the box.
Watching tv and found out that Hoops & Yoyo have a Christmas special Friday night on CBS.
I need to find a smiley that better represents that face. :d That’s a good box.
Oh, really? my uncle sent me a Hoops and Yoyo card last year.
Yep! I didn’t know they actually had physical cards! It sucks that most of their ecards cost money now. 🙁 Methinks Hallmark is hating on us. [-(
Happy Thanksgiving, by the way!