Amazon to "look the other way" for rooters.

=X= · 09-29-2011, 02:21 PM

It appears Amazon isn't to concerned about bolting the device down. What is even more surprising is they not only allow side-loading of books but also the side-loading of Android applications.

emphasis mine

Quote:

Jenkins said he didn't know whether the bootloader was locked, which is one hurdle Android hackers face when altering their devices. The company won't help hackers root the tablet, it just isn't actively trying to stop them.

The tablet has a USB port and mass storage mode, so you can also sideload Android APK program files, even without rooting it. That will be one way to get apps not available in Amazon's Appstore onto the Fire.

Quote:

Android Gingerbread (2.3) and it has 8GB of storage, a 1GHz, dual-core TI OMAP4 processor, a 1,024-by-600 screen and around 7 hours of battery life, Amazon said.

more...

jersysman · 09-29-2011, 02:25 PM

I thought I read that it is coming with Android 2.1

=X= · 09-29-2011, 02:38 PM

I've read from two different sources that it's running Gingerbread 2.3. I think you are referring to rumors.

Since the sources are printing the data after the press release I think they are more accurate.

SCION · 09-29-2011, 02:41 PM

So this means Netflix will work?

OtterBooks · 09-29-2011, 02:44 PM

is this a good thing for people concerned about being limited to apps from the Amazon store? Are there drawbacks to sideloading? Seems like good news for the crowd that rooted the NC to have as a cheap tablet.

SCION · 09-29-2011, 02:49 PM

If you can sideload stuff without root it's over for the NOOKcolor. People can grab apps off of their phone.

murraypaul · 09-29-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

Quote:

The tablet has a USB port and mass storage mode, so you can also sideload Android APK program files, even without rooting it.

Not without some way of installing the apk files you copy onto the device you can't.

soondai · 09-29-2011, 02:52 PM

Wow. Might buy it now. Hope to hear about the new Nook before long.

Hellmark · 09-29-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

is this a good thing for people concerned about being limited to apps from the Amazon store? Are there drawbacks to sideloading? Seems like good news for the crowd that rooted the NC to have as a cheap tablet.

Draw backs is that it may be tricky to get the packages in the first place, since many just release directly to the various markets. However, if you have the packages, from another phone or something, then really no downside.

Hellmark · 09-29-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Not without some way of installing the apk files you copy onto the device you can't.

Android includes everything you need to install APKs, and the Amazon App Store requires those tools, so Amazon couldn't remove them.

OtterBooks · 09-29-2011, 03:27 PM

Interesting. I don't mind being limited to the Amazn app store, but it would be cool if didn't need to root in order to get an unavailable app. Wait, does this make the Fire as 'techie friendly' as the NC, at least with regard to apps? That seems significant.

=X= · 09-29-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCION

So this means Netflix will work?

Yes. Any device that has 2.3 will work with Netflix. You will just have to get the APK outside of the Amazon store

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

...Wait, does this make the Fire as 'techie friendly' as the NC, at least with regard to apps? That seems significant.

No the verdict is still out on that until devs get their hands on one. It's actually "non techies" friendly since it does not require any trickery.

=X=

SCION · 09-29-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

Yes. Any device that has 2.3 will work with Netflix. You will just have to get the APK outside of the Amazon store..

Hmmm...this isn't good!!! I'm trying to find a reason to buy one of these things now (for myself)! Unreal. Someone intervene, PLEASE.

OtterBooks · 09-29-2011, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCION

Hmmm...this isn't good!!! I'm trying to find a reason to buy one of these things now (for myself)! Unreal. Someone intervene, PLEASE.

You could always just pre-order it to make sure you're up in the queue in case it sells out. You have more than a month to reconsider.

murraypaul · 09-29-2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

Android includes everything you need to install APKs, and the Amazon App Store requires those tools, so Amazon couldn't remove them.

The Nook Colour runs Android, and has its own App Store, and you cannot install sideloaded apk files. Amazon could choose to restrict access if they wished.

09-29-2011, 03:27 PM	#11
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	Interesting. I don't mind being limited to the Amazn app store, but it would be cool if didn't need to root in order to get an unavailable app. Wait, does this make the Fire as 'techie friendly' as the NC, at least with regard to apps? That seems significant. Last edited by OtterBooks; 09-29-2011 at 03:29 PM.

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09-29-2011, 02:25 PM	#2
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	I thought I read that it is coming with Android 2.1

09-29-2011, 02:38 PM	#3
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	I've read from two different sources that it's running Gingerbread 2.3. I think you are referring to rumors. Since the sources are printing the data after the press release I think they are more accurate.

09-29-2011, 02:41 PM	#4
SCION Séduisant Posts: 4,706 Karma: 2107018 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6	So this means Netflix will work?

09-29-2011, 02:44 PM	#5
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	is this a good thing for people concerned about being limited to apps from the Amazon store? Are there drawbacks to sideloading? Seems like good news for the crowd that rooted the NC to have as a cheap tablet.

09-29-2011, 02:49 PM	#6
SCION Séduisant Posts: 4,706 Karma: 2107018 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6	If you can sideload stuff without root it's over for the NOOKcolor. People can grab apps off of their phone.

09-29-2011, 02:52 PM	#8
soondai Guru Posts: 672 Karma: 1109784 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Paperwhite	Wow. Might buy it now. Hope to hear about the new Nook before long.

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