HDX Kindle Fire HDX - First Impressions

Originally Posted by wsl1

I just got my HDX this week and the battery discharges VERY FAST if the Kindle is taken outdoors in cold weather. Last night I was using it at a bar and the battery was down to 55% by the time I left. After about an hour outside with temperatures in the mid 20s, waiting for the bus and then walking home from the closest stop, the charge was down to 2%!

Restart the Fire, charge it all the way up, then restart it again. Maybe that will take care of it. But if it does that again I would call Kindle Customer Service. A modern tablet should have much better battery life than that.

Also, check to see which apps are trying to phone home when on WiFi and correct their attitudes. Few apps really benefit you by phoning home. Most just data mine your info to their home servers.

[wsl1]

WeatherBug, Email and possibly Yelp are the only ones that I could think of having a reason to access WiFi when not active.

It also has 4G - maybe that's helping to run the battery down.

Oh, I was also playing YouTube videos on the bus, but that shouldn't have eaten up that much power.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by wsl1

WeatherBug, Email and possibly Yelp are the only ones that I could think of having a reason to access WiFi when not active.

It also has 4G - maybe that's helping to run the battery down.

Oh, I was also playing YouTube videos on the bus, but that shouldn't have eaten up that much power.

There's your answer, right there. You had the 4G on and you were playing videos. All of your other installed apps were probably updating, some of them were probably running. Apps are tricky that way. You have to go to settings, apps, and force close them, and also change the auto update settings for each app, one at a time, in order to reduce battery drain. (This applies to any tablet).

[wsl1]

Okay, thanks!

Two questions: Is there any reason I shouldn't leave the Kindle plugged in all the time that I'm not using it?

and

Is there any way to sort the apps in the app store by categories? I got tired of paging through the kiddie crap and Flappy Bird knockoffs looking for interesting stuff.

[booklover6]

There's no harm leaving it plugged in.

It's probably easier to search the app store on a computer.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by wsl1

WeatherBug, Email and possibly Yelp are the only ones that I could think of having a reason to access WiFi when not active.

It also has 4G - maybe that's helping to run the battery down.

Oh, I was also playing YouTube videos on the bus, but that shouldn't have eaten up that much power.

Go to Settings / Wireless / Location Based Services and turn it OFF. That is the most vicious battery hog of anything out there.

If any apps insist on using that "feature," uninstall that app.

If you use GSam, Battery Monitor, it will show which features and apps are draining the battery. Just tap App Usage and you will see their exact usage.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by Blossom

No I order the official case in Purple but I also order this case for $3 looks like it practically free now.

Don't know if you mentioned it before, but which HDX did you get (16, 32).

For some reason I thought I read in one of the threads that you returned the HDX and got the HD model.

How do you like the Poetic case.

Am in the process of going through this thread.

Carol

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by sadievan

Don't know if you mentioned it before, but which HDX did you get (16, 32).

For some reason I thought I read in one of the threads that you returned the HDX and got the HD model.

How do you like the Poetic case.

Am in the process of going through this thread.

Carol

I did return the HDX three times the first one went defective and the other two had screen issues and then there was the blue border that I couldn't take. It was the 16GB I got a HD2 instead during Cyber Monday. It's a okay tablet. I don't use it much except for gaming or to watch Netflix or Hulu. I use my Nexus 7 for everything else. It does everything I need it to do. I use the Kindle For Android app on it as well Audible and Amazon MP3. I guess you can say I no longer use any of my Kindles since I got the Nexus 7.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I did return the HDX three times the first one went defective and the other two had screen issues and then there was the blue border that I couldn't take. It was the 16GB I got a HD2 instead during Cyber Monday. It's a okay tablet. I don't use it much except for gaming or to watch Netflix or Hulu. I use my Nexus 7 for everything else. It does everything I need it to do. I use the Kindle For Android app on it as well Audible and Amazon MP3. I guess you can say I no longer use any of my Kindles since I got the Nexus 7.

Thanks. I have the original Fire, ipad, KK and Galaxy Note 8. Every so often I debate getting the HDX.

Carol

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by sadievan

Thanks. I have the original Fire, ipad, KK and Galaxy Note 8. Every so often I debate getting the HDX.

Carol

Well my recommendation would be a Nexus 7 (2013) It's the best little tablet. It has Google Play so you can have access to pretty much all apps and I really like KitKat and the text rendering on the Nexus 7 is beautiful! I can't recommend the HDX 7 because of the blue border issue. It's just ugly when you are trying to read. The HD version does not have this problem.

If you're comparing reading experience. The Kindle for Android I would choose. I don't think Amazon is ever going to fix the line space issues on the new Kindle Fires. The double space lines drives me nuts. The Kindle For Android app doesn't have this problem.

The KF's 2013 Kindle Reader and the Android Kindle app have all the same basic features features. The only difference is the Kindle Fire HD or HDX has TSS and Immersion reading. The Kindle Fire has a line spacing issue that the Android app doesn't. They have the same font options now too so that was the only thing keeping me from using the Android app more not that I use Kindles much anymore. I read using Moon+ Pro Reader app and use Calibre Companion to keep my library of books organize on my tablet.

I gave the original Fire to hubby he loves his little brick.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Well my recommendation would be a Nexus 7 (2013) It's the best little tablet. It has Google Play so you can have access to pretty much all apps and I really like KitKat and the text rendering on the Nexus 7 is beautiful! I can't recommend the HDX 7 because of the blue border issue. It's just ugly when you are trying to read. The HD version does not have this problem.

If you're comparing reading experience. The Kindle for Android I would choose. I don't think Amazon is ever going to fix the line space issues on the new Kindle Fires. The double space lines drives me nuts. The Kindle For Android app doesn't have this problem.

The KF's 2013 Kindle Reader and the Android Kindle app have all the same basic features features. The only difference is the Kindle Fire HD or HDX has TSS and Immersion reading. The Kindle Fire has a line spacing issue that the Android app doesn't. They have the same font options now too so that was the only thing keeping me from using the Android app more not that I use Kindles much anymore. I read using Moon+ Pro Reader app and use Calibre Companion to keep my library of books organize on my tablet.

I gave the original Fire to hubby he loves his little brick.

Thanks Blossom. I think I'll skip the Fire HDX. I think the blue edges would bother me.

I have a Samsung Galaxy 8" tablet that I bought before Christmas for the Android platform.
I havent tried Calibre Companion yet. Will have to check it out. After reading your reply I downloaded the free version of Moon + Reader. Does the paid version read the book to you also?
Do you know of any app that would give a split screen to the keyboard to make it easier to type in landscape?

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I use the Kindle For Android app on it as well Audible and Amazon MP3. I guess you can say I no longer use any of my Kindles since I got the Nexus 7.

I think you said besides the Kindle for Android you also use Mantano Premium and Moon + Pro. Which do you like better? Do you mostly use the Kindle for Android?

Carol

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by sadievan

I think you said besides the Kindle for Android you also use Mantano Premium and Moon + Pro. Which do you like better? Do you mostly use the Kindle for Android?

Carol

Moon+ Pro is the app I use to read with. I use Kindle app for referencing, searching and library books

I love Moon+ I no longer have to run most books through Calibre before reading on them. I can control paragraph spacing, line indent and fonts. Moon also allows me to have a background texture instead of a solid color which makes a world of difference for me. I use a paperback texture which allows me to read for hours and hours without any eye strain. I can truly say I am reading faster than ever now. I am dyslexic so this is a huge plus for me.

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I use a paperback texture which allows me to read for hours and hours without any eye strain.

I've been trying to duplicate that background, but with the built-in paper-looking background image, mine comes out more orange looking (with seemingly more light passing through), than your picture. Is it a special image? Or is it your background color setting? Mine is currently 220, 215, 209, 255 (Red, Green, Blue, Alpha). Thanks.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by jj2me

I've been trying to duplicate that background, but with the built-in paper-looking background image, mine comes out more orange looking (with seemingly more light passing through), than your picture. Is it a special image? Or is it your background color setting? Mine is currently 220, 215, 209, 255 (Red, Green, Blue, Alpha). Thanks.

I have the alpha fully at 100% I don't think the background color matters. I desaturated the original paper in my graphics program to more my liking. So it looks cleaner and newer than the default version. You can add you own backgrounds by making a folder called backgrounds on your device and add the textures there.