Kindles?!

[Arugela]

I just got a free kindle from someone. I have not registered with amazon and don't really want to. I got the wifi set up and went to VRV and crunchyroll etc to watch some anime... I noticed you can't watch it despite the webbrowser. Are they supposed to be able to block video sights if you are not registered with Amazon..? Anyone else deal with these? Does this do this to everyone?

Edit: Ok apparently crunchroll is working(besides a lack of flash player) but VRV isn't. Have they had problems with credentials or do some sites get blocked by kindles?! I can access it last I tested with my desktop but not the kindle.

Or is it a problem with flash... It's a shame you have to register with amazon to even use the store.. It needs a free repository like in normal linux for basic stuff. Then make the store seperate for payed items. I would think they would sell more kindles and possibly software if they were nicer to the customer and didn't try to force things. Unless the software is that bad. But that should still increase people overall likeliness to try buying apps...

Edited May 10, 2018 by Arugela

[YNM]

It only makes sense if the seller would want to sell more content. (unless you live in the free-er parts of the world.)

Don't think you can toy around with a custom firmware either...

[Gargamel]

Well, it is a custom OS for the Amazon system.....

I mean, I was able to get a 8" tablet from them for $20 because of it.   I don't mind the ads on the front page, I just ignore them.  I do 90% of my shopping on Amazon, it's just easier than a 1-2 hour round trip just to reach the nearest store. 

Having it registered is a great thing.  A Kindle Fire without an associated account just seems like a shiny paperweight to me. 

My only complaint is that since it's an Android fork, some of the apps I would expect to find in the store don't exist.   Or if Amazon is fighting with another company, you might not find their stuff either. 

[p1t1o]

Isnt there some unusual junk like amazon technically still owns all kindles, or they own the content on them or something?

TBH I think the kindle fire (thats the version we're talking about right?) is a bit of a non product. Its lost the simplicity of form of the "normal" kindles, it doesnt have the e-ink screen which was the whole point of e-readers, its heavy and compared to similar tablets its woefully under-functioned. It works, but its a substandard tablet, and a substandard e-reader. But as an amazon storefront its perfect.

Its not a product, its a shop, the only service it excels at is accessing amazon. Amazon are selling Amazon shops to people and if that isnt business genius, I dont know what is.

The regular kindles though? Love'em.

I'd recommend sticking the tablet on ebay, buy a regular kindle  (or put it toward a real tablet) with the proceeds and have enough change left over for a nice meal

 

[YNM]

2 hours ago, p1t1o said:

kindle fire (thats the version we're talking about right?)

If that's the one @Arugela owns, there're customized firmwares.

Don't think I can talk further on this forum.

[invision]

if its an amazon fire you can install google play store and install pretty much whatever you want.

[Arugela]

Is there a way to do what you normally do in linux and just add a repository for like arch linux and add stuff. That would be nice. Or are they too different? I haven't found anything resembling a terminal yet. 8d I've been looking though. The hides it on us!

And, yes, it is a kindle fire. I wasn't sure at first. Although it said right in the front screen. Put that one together. ><

I'm looking up stuff on the google play store and stuff. I just find it sad they don't make these devices more generally useful. It would be worth a lot more to the customer. They would be pretty darn handy as they are much more portable than a laptop and fun to play with and setup for custom stuff. They would be fantastic co computers as they have monitors. Just have a bunch of them next to your computer with possible multimonitor setups and/or co proccesing. 8) Of course there isn't good support atm for multi gpu and the like either atm which is sad. Stuff is lagging behind to much. They should hire some good engineers to just write it and get it out of the way. Tell me you wouldn't want a mini multi monitor setup with your hand helds! Small side screens would be very functional(Especially with a touch screen.) as they save space on a physical desktop. And with independent sound processing could be insanely useful. Could you get away with 4k because of the native gpus without needing to use a bigger main GPU. AKA 4k and higher resolution with multiple monitors on the fly? Plus the idea of networking for gaming with indivual monitors. Just need a connectable set of control devices or something. All of these companies are severally limiting themselves. It is very disturbing these technologies aren't taking their traditional course and being put to the maximum amount of uses. That means things aren't as productive as they could or should be.

Edit: I'm assuming there is no straight forward simple way just to add repositories and install normal linux software.. FYI, if you can't tell, I don't use hand held devices like this normally. 8D

Edited May 10, 2018 by Arugela

[Gargamel]

9 hours ago, Arugela said:

I'm looking up stuff on the google play store and stuff. I just find it sad they don't make these devices more generally useful. It would be worth a lot more to the customer. They would be pretty darn handy as they are much more portable than a laptop and fun to play with and setup for custom stuff. They would be fantastic co computers as they have monitors. Just have a bunch of them next to your computer with possible multimonitor setups and/or co proccesing. 8) Of course there isn't good support atm for multi gpu and the like either atm which is sad. Stuff is lagging behind to much. They should hire some good engineers to just write it and get it out of the way. Tell me you wouldn't want a mini multi monitor setup with your hand helds! Small side screens would be very functional(Especially with a touch screen.) as they save space on a physical desktop. And with independent sound processing could be insanely useful. Could you get away with 4k because of the native gpus without needing to use a bigger main GPU. AKA 4k and higher resolution with multiple monitors on the fly? Plus the idea of networking for gaming with indivual monitors. Just need a connectable set of control devices or something. All of these companies are severally limiting themselves. It is very disturbing these technologies aren't taking their traditional course and being put to the maximum amount of uses. That means things aren't as productive as they could or should be.

I have the feeling this is the first tablet you've played with.  As mentioned above, the Fire is designed to work exclusively with Amazon, software and firmware. 

Scrounge around ebay for a couple android based tablets and throw those together like you're describing.  Or get a Raspberry Pi and build a custom case and touch screen all in one. 

On 5/10/2018 at 4:47 AM, p1t1o said:

Isnt there some unusual junk like amazon technically still owns all kindles, or they own the content on them or something?

I haven't seen anything like that in the stuff I've read.   The lock screen is just an ad though. 

 

On 5/10/2018 at 4:47 AM, p1t1o said:

TBH I think the kindle fire (thats the version we're talking about right?) is a bit of a non product. Its lost the simplicity of form of the "normal" kindles, it doesnt have the e-ink screen which was the whole point of e-readers, its heavy and compared to similar tablets its woefully under-functioned. It works, but its a substandard tablet, and a substandard e-reader. But as an amazon storefront its perfect.

I've had a 1st gen kindle, kindle on my phones, and the fire.   The fire is by far the easiest to read IMO, aside from it being about a half inch to wide to comfortably hold while lying down and still being able to turn the pages easily. I hated the buttons on the sides of the Kindle for turning the pages, as you easily bumped them while handling the device.    

It will also stream any of the video services I have (Hulu, netflix, Amaxon prime, Vudu).  Youtube is a touch tricky to get, but I can still watch it.   I've ripped DVD's and blurays to mp4 and transferred them to the Fire so I could watch them anywhere.  I have added a 128gb sd card, so I have the full From The Earth To The Moon series on there, a half dozen other movies, and about 50 downloaded titles from the services.  I have slow internet, so streaming can be annoying at times. 

But for the price ($20), it was perfect for my needs.  I just wanted a tablet I could read, watch videos, and play a few games.  If you're looking for a full powered machine that might replace a small laptop, then this ain't it. 

And yeah, I do a lot through amazon, so I do like the fact I can drop into the store very easily. 

[YNM]

10 hours ago, Arugela said:

And, yes, it is a kindle fire.

Yes. Kindle fire can be re-installed with AOSP-based firmwares. Guarantee might be broken though. Might break badly if not routinely maintained (how I lost my previous phone !).