Fire HD 8 2016

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

Auto update is the default, so that's probably what you have. Just to be able to use it now, just uninstall the Google Play modules you installed. The apps already installed should still work ok.

All my other apps work fine, including those I downloaded/installed via Play Store. The only app that doesn't run correctly is the Play Store app. Everything else is okay, including the Fire OS interface.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by jswinden

All my other apps work fine, including those I downloaded/installed via Play Store. The only app that doesn't run correctly is the Play Store app. Everything else is okay, including the Fire OS interface.

You should probably uninstall anyway. Since it's not functioning it could be using up resources.

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

You should probably uninstall anyway. Since it's not functioning it could be using up resources.

Here is a screen capture from the Play Store. Total blank page!

ETA: I uninstalled the four apps/files that allowed the Google Play Store to run, just to keep them from taking up resources. My Fire HD 6 will run down the battery in just a few days even when not in use, so no need to have apps that don't work helping it to drain even faster.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I used what was in the thread only. The HDX is completely different from the HD models.

Not really. Same UI, same OS. Better screen and specs, mayday included..m

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by stumped

Not really. Same UI, same OS. Better screen and specs, mayday included..m

My HDX 7 is completely different. It has Fire OS 4.5.5.2.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

My HDX 7 is completely different. It has Fire OS 4.5.5.2.

That's an older model, I also had an older HDX (2013 = 3rd gen) that was only on OS4, but when I dropped it earlier this year I was able to find a certified refurbished newer version (2014- 4th Gen) - the last one they made - which is OS 5. I am pretty sure that gets the same OS updates as all the current 2016 models.
I live in hope that they will go back to adding those back into the range, before mine wears out

[the older ones all have the (mostly disliked) carousel, the newer ones have the let's show every single app on a cluttered home screen UI instead, until you discover that you can move unwanted ones into folders]

they never did do a UK black Friday sales deal on the HD8 but maybe there will be one in January...

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by stumped

That's an older model, I also had an older HDX (2013 = 3rd gen) that was only on OS4, but when I dropped it earlier this year I was able to find a certified refurbished newer version (2014- 4th Gen) - the last one they made - which is OS 5. I am pretty sure that gets the same OS updates as all the current 2016 models.
I live in hope that they will go back to adding those back into the range, before mine wears out

[the older ones all have the (mostly disliked) carousel, the newer ones have the let's show every single app on a cluttered home screen UI instead, until you discover that you can move unwanted ones into folders]

they never did do a UK black Friday sales deal on the HD8 but maybe there will be one in January...

The HDX 7 has no 4th gen model.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

My HDX 7 is completely different. It has Fire OS 4.5.5.2.

with that tablet - were you able to do the easy play store install as per your post #126 in this thread, or have you only done that on your newer tablet.
i did read somewhere that the easy method is only for tablets running OS 5, but if you have proven otherwise that could be good to know. Amazon have an older 3rd gen HDX8.9 in their warehouse sale of spend £100 get £30 cashback, which is tempting only if the google installs would work

If you want a true Android tablet, don't get a Fire. With all of the BF and holiday sales, you can get a much better tablet than the cheap crap Amazon sells with the Fire OS. Any Prime thing you want to do on a Fire can easily be accomplished on a true Android tablet/phone or an iPhone/iPad. The Fires do NOT do anything better than other tablets, not even the Prime content. As a matter of fact, Kindle books, videos, etc. look better and have better apps on some non-Fire devices.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by stumped

with that tablet - were you able to do the easy play store install as per your post #126 in this thread, or have you only done that on your newer tablet.
i did read somewhere that the easy method is only for tablets running OS 5, but if you have proven otherwise that could be good to know. Amazon have an older 3rd gen HDX8.9 in their warehouse sale of spend £100 get £30 cashback, which is tempting only if the google installs would work

I didn't try it and I just deregistered it the other day because somehow Amazon kept making it my default device. I would change it back to what I wanted and within a few days it would change back to the HDX 7.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by jswinden

... Any Prime thing you want to do on a Fire can easily be accomplished on a true Android tablet/phone or an iPhone/iPad. The Fires do NOT do anything better than other tablets,,,,.

that is NOT true - the fire tablets are the ONLY android devices that stream amazon video in HD
on all other android tablets it is SD only. ipad has HD but no other android make.
the HD8 also have netflix HD- there are very few other devices that have that, , pixel C, samsung s / s2 , Ndvidia K1 have it but most are SD only, no matter how good the tablet spec

so if you want both netflix and amazon video in HD your only choices are the latest Fire HD models or the recent ipads, and fire is 5x cheaper.

update - except for the exploding Samsung?:
this from amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/cus...3956F95BDF8F84
Android Phones & Tablets
We recommend using the Amazon Video app for Android phones and tablets. For installation instructions, open our Get Amazon Video for Android page directly on your Android device.

Streaming Video Quality: HDR & HD on Samsung Galaxy Note 7; SD on all other Android devices

Fire Tablets
Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX, Fire HD & Fire HDX models

Streaming Video Quality: SD, HD
Download Videos: Yes, in HD

PS please keep it factual, I get that you hate amazon, but specs are what they are.

Originally Posted by stumped

that is NOT true - the fire tablets are the ONLY android devices that stream amazon video in HD
on all other android tablets it is SD only. ipad has HD but no other android make.
the HD8 also have netflix HD- there are very few other devices that have that, , pixel C, samsung s / s2 , Ndvidia K1 have it but most are SD only, no matter how good the tablet spec

so if you want both netflix and amazon video in HD your only choices are the latest Fire HD models or the recent ipads, and fire is 5x cheaper.

update - except for the exploding Samsung?:
this from amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/cus...3956F95BDF8F84
Android Phones & Tablets
We recommend using the Amazon Video app for Android phones and tablets. For installation instructions, open our Get Amazon Video for Android page directly on your Android device.

Streaming Video Quality: HDR & HD on Samsung Galaxy Note 7; SD on all other Android devices

Fire Tablets
Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX, Fire HD & Fire HDX models

Streaming Video Quality: SD, HD
Download Videos: Yes, in HD

PS please keep it factual, I get that you hate amazon, but specs are what they are.

I guess I'm lucky to have an iPhone and an iPad. I never stream Amazon or any other video on them except for an occasional Youtube short video. I rarely watch a movie on them, only when traveling, but when I do it is one I downloaded to the device ahead of time. It is odd that Amazon will only stream HD to Fires and iOS devices and not Android tablets. I know that I got really frustrated and pissed that my 28" Vizio Smart TV I bought for my study, which has the Amazon Prime Video app built in, will only stream SD, and it looks like total crap. But I thought that was just because my TV is 720P rather than 1080i. Amazon does some really crappy things to us consumers! I know their Android (non-Fire OS) Kindle app is the least feature rich of the Kindle apps. At any rate, other than Prime Video, you can get better specs and value from true Android tablets, and they will have a newer version of Android as well.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by stumped

that is NOT true - the fire tablets are the ONLY android devices that stream amazon video in HD
on all other android tablets it is SD only. ipad has HD but no other android make.
the HD8 also have netflix HD- there are very few other devices that have that, , pixel C, samsung s / s2 , Ndvidia K1 have it but most are SD only, no matter how good the tablet spec

so if you want both netflix and amazon video in HD your only choices are the latest Fire HD models or the recent ipads, and fire is 5x cheaper.

update - except for the exploding Samsung?:
this from amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/cus...3956F95BDF8F84
Android Phones & Tablets
We recommend using the Amazon Video app for Android phones and tablets. For installation instructions, open our Get Amazon Video for Android page directly on your Android device.

Streaming Video Quality: HDR & HD on Samsung Galaxy Note 7; SD on all other Android devices

Fire Tablets
Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX, Fire HD & Fire HDX models

Streaming Video Quality: SD, HD
Download Videos: Yes, in HD

PS please keep it factual, I get that you hate amazon, but specs are what they are.

You can now download HD using the Android app.

[stumped]

it is not that odd - amazon want to sell Fire tablets as well as videos, so they hold back some features to give them an exclusive.

also, I think that they select graphics chips for Fire that have hardware decode for the specific codecs that Amazon choose to stream in. I know they do that for the fire tV range - it's how they can offer 4k on dirt cheap boxes

but the amazon video app is full HD on Roku, PS3, ps4, Samsung & sony TVs, - it's only android that gets relegated to SD. None of what I just listed has the ( not very useful) x-ray feature either, though I believe that ipad does get that.

as for reader apps, providing you do the google play etc installs as per earlier discussions you can have the same range of epub reader apps as any other android tablet..

but all premium epub reader apps that are capable of text to voice synthesis are blocked in the amazon app store, to protect audio book add-on sales..

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by jswinden

I guess I'm lucky to have an iPhone and an iPad. I never stream Amazon or any other video on them except for an occasional Youtube short video. I rarely watch a movie on them, only when traveling, but when I do it is one I downloaded to the device ahead of time. It is odd that Amazon will only stream HD to Fires and iOS devices and not Android tablets. I know that I got really frustrated and pissed that my 28" Vizio Smart TV I bought for my study, which has the Amazon Prime Video app built in, will only stream SD, and it looks like total crap. But I thought that was just because my TV is 720P rather than 1080i. Amazon does some really crappy things to us consumers! I know their Android (non-Fire OS) Kindle app is the least feature rich of the Kindle apps. At any rate, other than Prime Video, you can get better specs and value from true Android tablets, and they will have a newer version of Android as well.

I've actually found that the Kindle app is better on Android than the Fire tablets. The Android app lets you have two columns in landscape, but you can't do that with a Fire tablet.