Kindle Fire

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Someone has finally stepped up to the plate with a device and pricing that can actually make people think about something other than the iPad.

...

$199! Dual Core, IPS, custom Droid overlay.... Seems to be full of win. And $199? That is a price point that will move units. I'm sure they are losing money on it, but I bet they will more than make it up on the back end.

Lop · Posted: Sep 28, 2011 6:55 am Post subject:

There's a write up on how to turn the nook into a droid tablet for $35

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Lop, yes, but this is quite a bit more powerful than the Nook color, and IIRC, this is $50 less.

Of course, initial reports are the Amazon overlay is non-removable, but I'm sure XDA will have this thing rooted pretty quickly.

RampageWake · Posted: Sep 28, 2011 7:13 am Post subject:

Think it is able to view pictures from an sd card using a usb -> SD card adapter or is the usb port only for charging?

Connectivity Bluetooth v2.1 with EDR Stereo, HID, A2DP, GAVDP USB v2.0 Micro USB

There is an adapter for my iphone to connect sd card, but all the reviews I read say that the SDK apple provided to third party vendors who created app sucks and takes a LONG time to transfer each pic to iphone...

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

RampageWake, hard to say right now. I'd say they'd be crazy not to do something like that.

The SD adapter for the iPad/iPhone is just OK. It gets the job done, but it's not something I'd rely on for transferring lots of pics.

Full specs and pics here: www.amazon.com/kindlefire

GnarShredd · Posted: Sep 28, 2011 7:45 am Post subject:

It's definitely interesting. If this thing gets rooted (more like when) and if it works well, I might have to buy myself a little christmas present this year...

Canucked · Addict Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 873 City: Edmonton

Sounds like exactly what I want

My tablet checklist

Cheap
Video
long battery life
wifi/browsing

I basically want something to watch movies on airplanes and surf the net on the couch that wont die right away (ei 8 hour flights).

Cloud...does that mean is doesn't need to have bunch of harddrive space? Will I be able to load a half dozen movies on this thing and watch them even if I don't have wifi available?

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Canucked, it's got 8gb of space. So if you compress the vids you should be able to get a few moves stored locally in that space. If you figure you could compress a movie down to 500-900mb, you could theoretically get half a dozen cached locally.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

That would make a great christmas gift...

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

My girl got me one for non-Valentines day. I should have it sometime next week.

Baltfrog · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 555 City: Baltimore

Let me know how it is, so disappointed by the ipad 2. Looking for a change.

churchy · Posted: Feb 14, 2012 12:35 pm Post subject:

I got 2 for my parents for xmas... they love them.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

What's to disappoint in an ipad 2?

All I want the kindle to do is function as a reader and let me watch netflix or a few stored movies when the kids are hogging up the tv. also, in bed. I hate having a hot laptop resting on my chest or lap. I imagine I can feel the cancer growing....

Baltfrog · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 555 City: Baltimore

No voice search, my phone that came out 2 years ago has this simple capability. Clumsy browsing experience due to lack of flash, limited access to free music. Doesn't feel safe in my hands w/o the case on. Doesn't click into the charger with the full wrap case and the folding case just makes me want to pull out my netbook. The only benefit this thing has over my phone is a bigger screen, but i find the interface to be far inferior.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

hmm...
well, I'm excited to check out this kindle fire thing.

I wonder, does it get the interwebs?!

My cypherin' machine dun got the interwebs on it, I hope that the kindle fire does too!

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Baltfrog, (types this as he watches streaming live tv on his ipad2) what?

If the iPad2 had Siri it would do everything you speak of. My guess is at some point they will enable it, but with the caveat that it does not have active noise cancelling so use is subject to outside interference. The iPad3 will likely use a multi-mic setup with active noise cancel. All that said, the Google app (free) has voice search if you must have it.

Limited access to free music? You mean other than Pandora, iHeartradio, Last.FM, Rdio, etc etc ad naseum? There is TONS of access to free music.

No flash is a blessing, not a curse. If you *really* want to view Flash, get iSwifter. Safari in iOS5 displays HTML5 sites perfectly and without the massive battery drain commonly associated with Flash. I despise Flash on even my desktop machine. It uses way to much processing power, is full of security concerns, and has been buggy to say the least (admittedly due more to poor programming than anything else). The sooner it is gone the better. Even Adobe has seen the writing on the wall and has adjusted.

The case/charger issue is found with ANY tablet or phone (or laptop for that matter). That isn't a valid complaint in any way shape or form.

If you think that you will get a better experience from ANY tablet over the iPad (1 or 2, no matter) I've got news for you: the grass ain't greener on the other side. And when the 3 lands in just about a month, watch the hell out. There is literally no competition for the iPad/iPhone, and that is a sad commentary on the tech industry as a whole right now. Apple is doing it better than everyone else (by light years), and there is no end to that reign in sight.

Hopefully, the dumb sh*ts that run Moto(google) and Samsung will stop frantically trying to copy Apple (as clearly evidenced by their let's release new products every other month strategy), and start actually innovating. Google needs to grab all these MFGs by the balls, and tell them: hey mother f*ckers, we have 1 version of Android that is to be supported, and 1 only. That version should be ICS, and it should be implemented going forward universally. There should not be a single new device with Gingerbread or Honeycomb (or worse, Froyo), PERIOD. And they need to also set some universal standards for devices and software as well. Support only certain screen res, certain input devices, software MUST pass thru strict security (no viruses), etc. There is a damn good reason why Apple has a walled garden and is so very careful when releasing devices. People don't want buggy sh*t. People don't want to be a guinea pig for the MFGs unless they are told up front about it.

The Kindle Fire is a great device for the $. No denying that. But it won't replace an iPad - it's not trying to - it's not really even in the same category.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

But... but... I can watch movies on the couch, right? And read books?

I just bought a hardwood floor, I ain't be able to buy no fancy apple 600 dollar pad...

Faust · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 1496

I received a Kindle Fire for Christmas. I use it daily a lot. Love it, especially since my only other electronic devices are a 8 year old desktop computer and a flip-up cell phone.

Craig-R · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 19 Dec 2008 Posts: 1676

i picked up a Kindle at best buy and within a minute of using it i realized i hated it

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

cameraboy, yes! The Kfire is an excellent consumption device! What it is not, is a great input device.

You will love it for those uses. If you needed to create anything with it, you would probably be disappointed.

I should also mention that if I really wanted to "adjust" iOS to do the things Bfrog mentioned, I could always jailbreak (much like Droid users could root).

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Eh, I got little to no input for my kindle.

I have a macbook for inputs.

Baltfrog · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 555 City: Baltimore

Chavez, glad you like it. Personally I don't and as a consumer my complaints are valid. No problem with my phone case and charger. In terms of music, I am referring to downloading free music as opposed to streaming (everything can do this now, even cars). Can't stand the Iphone either. It doesn't suit my needs. Siri is an aimbot with a voice. It takes more to impress me. Flash is no curse my friend. When my browsing experience is clunky and unfriendly and I turn to my phone, thats a product problem. SOmething like 70% of websites use flash in some regard. Steve may have convinced many that its dead, but not me or many developers. Not an apple guy, and its not because I haven't tried. Owned an Ipad 2 and an Itouch plus 3 or 4 ipods that broke on a religious 6 month cycle.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Can't stand the iph...

WHAT THE F KIND OF PERSON ARE YOU?!?!

What, what, what are you, some kind of communist or somethin'?

Baltfrog · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 555 City: Baltimore

If we had to compare a phone to communism wouldn't it be the iPhone, where you can get Windows phones or Droid phones with keyboards or countless other options. Everything being the same sounds suspiciously Apple

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Baltfrog, Flash is a curse. Ignoring that is done at your own risk. I don't know where you are coming from, but from an IT support and security standpoint it's pure sh*t. It's a horrible gateway to all sort of malicious attacks (especially when using IE) and it IS a battery killer. For reference, every single financial services company we deal with (and there are quite a few) has eliminated it's use due to security concerns. In terms of mobile devices, obviously its the battery drain issues that are of primary concern as most malicious intent is aimed squarely at PC users as they are the largest demographic and the least likely to be protected.

What's funny is I do probably three quarters of my browsing from the iPad and I don't have this "clunky" experience you mention. Sure, there are still a lot of sites that use Flash, but the numbers are going down every single day and those that aren't changing will be relegated to the scrap heap of history. And it's partially because the Pad doesn't use Flash that I find myself charging only a few times a week despite pretty heavy use.

Downloading free music? WHAT? Who does this anymore? It's ALL streaming man. Cloud services. What service are you talking about? And cars? What cars? That statement is so full of **** I don't know where to begin. You want free music stream it. You want stuff ON your device, buy it from somewhere or subscribe to Spotify's premium service (or insert competitor here).

Your problems with cases are nonsensical and completely misdirected. All cases can cause interference with chargers and more specifically, docking stands. Unless the case and the stand/charger were designed together, it's very possible there is going to be a problem. Doesn't matter what device we are talking about here. This is NOT an Apple problem, this is a universal problem with cases and case manufacturers.

Broken iPods/iPhones? Hmm. Don't know what to tell you except that every single one of our is still functioning perfectly to this day. I think we have (or had and sold when upgrading) something like 7 or 8 over the years since they were introduced. Hell I have an old Dell DJ from '01 or so that still works to this day. Maybe you are just rough on your stuff or have bad luck? Dunno.

Yeah, and no go on the iPhone/Communism comparo. How many jobs and how much revenue has the iOS app system made for countless people? It's very much a Capitalist device as are all modern smartphones. The reason things you mention are not included are about keeping costs, QC, and simplicity in check - all of which are causing iDevices to pad Apple bottom line very nicely. Imagine how much $ Samsung or Moto (or HTC) could save if they just made one bad ass mobile device per segment per year and that's it? Both are totally capable of this (if they're not they should hire people who are), they choose to go with the device saturation angle instead of building the best device they can and sticking with it for at least a year strategy. It's pretty damn clear which strategy is succeeding right now.

Baltfrog · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 555 City: Baltimore

You clearly love everything Apple so I don't think you would ever accept a complaint about an apple product. Apple products don't impress me. I understand why people like them, I just feel cheated spending 600 dollars for a piece of technology that I have more complaints about then my 2 year old phone. The first iPhone did impress me but since then everyone else has caught up. People with active lifestyles download music. I use it for the boat airplane travel hiking, all places where streaming isn't available. Show me an iPad case I like and i'll drop that complaint. Haven't had any security issues via flash, just issues trying to access content I want to see on the iPad. The communist reference was simply referring to a lack of choices. Everyone gets the same. Why no phone with a physical keyboard or different shapes and sizes to choose from? Surely one phone design may work for one person but not another. Plus steves wardrobe was definitely that of a communist. I am glad you are happy with apple products, but I am not. Your points are basically deal with what you don't like because its better that way. I have never been that type of person. If you don't agree that's fine but you calling my complaints invalid smells a bit of (sorry I wanted to avoid this but it had to be said) fanboism.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Baltfrog, no sir I do not. I'm typing this to you on a Dell Precision machine, with a Logitech keyboard and HP monitors.

I'm sorry but Apple product right now is superior to the other MFGs. Nobody is even close. With respect to computers: Dell's stuff has gone to sh*t, HP's stuff other than a few laptops are all sh*t, and don't get me started on Lenovo or *insert other MFG that also makes TVs here*.

No fanboism, just the observations of someone who deals with MANY computers and the related equipment daily. Just in this office alone (and I deal with several offices), our equipment is quite the mix. Many Dell PCs, some Sony (crap), some Apple stuff (which all runs Win7), and some HP pieces here and there. Each item was the best choice I could make for the end user for the cost.

Hmm, who oh who bought/sourced all this stuff (except for the Sony crap)? Hmm...... I know!!! It was CHAVEZ!!!! No wai! He's Apple fanboi extremmmmmm!!!

Anyhow, we all have the freedom to buy whatever we want. But, if you want to bag on a device (or line of devices or company in general), please have good reason to. Teh case no fit right!!!!11!! isn't a valid complaint, and "No frash omfg!!!1!!!" isn't a very good reason considering the MFG had specific reasons to not include it. Bitching that they don't include keyboards or different shapes I dealt with above.

Let not forget the most important thing: YOU KNEW IT DIDN'T HAVE THESE THINGS GOING IN! So, the real question is why did you buy a device you knew couldn't do what you wanted it to do? You had choices. And if it was given to you, you still had a choice before you unsealed it - you could have put it on Amazon or eBay and moved on.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Feb 14, 2012 4:18 pm Post subject:

Baltfrog and you're clearly a apple hater.... I'm a huge android fan and will admit Apple has a strangle hold on the tablet market. Although I think the smartphones are nearly equal, both having their advantages and disadvantages. Fragmentation is definetely a problem for Android though. Chavez is speaking the truth, Flash is dying. HTML5 and css3 are the future. For example adobe recently bought phonegap. Which is a tool that can be used to make mobile applications for multiple platforms (android, ios, blackberry, etc) using HTML5 and css3.

Baltfrog · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 555 City: Baltimore

Buying movies is dying too but I still have a bluray player I'm not hating just to hate again I have an iPad 2 if you look at how all this started I simply said I wanted to know how the fire was because I was unhappy with the iPad. That was it. People wanted to know my reasons and then criticize my reasons

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

here's an ipad case I think you might like:

http://www.grovemade.com/collections/ipad-2-case-features/

Made in the US too. And you can have whatever design you want burned into it.

Baltfrog · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 555 City: Baltimore

Thanks Scott ha I started ww3 because I don't like my iPad or the other apple products I bought. I bought into the flash is dying idea until I tried surfing without it. Still haven't seen a valid argument to any of my complaints. You can't say simply its better that way because clearly its caused issues for me.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Feb 14, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject:

Baltfrog · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 555 City: Baltimore

Nah talking about cars that stream it now. As far as this conversation is concerned I just want to hear more about the fire, no gps service is pretty weak, that's one of my favorite things about my phone.

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810