Why did you buy Kindle Fire instead of Playbook? - Kindle Fire Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi from the specs and quality point Playbook has it all and the price is 199.99 for 16gb. Compairing to Kindle Fire which doesn't have a mic, front and rear camera Bluetooth and other lots of stuff missing, what is the point? Playbook has everything and better build quality and even volume keys. It already runs gingerbread 2.3.3 in android player.
Please don't start a war. Its just a question.
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I'm going to hazard a guess that it was primarily because of the Android OS. Yeah, the Playbook has great specs and price point but it's sort of off in it's own little category with a much more limited amount of apps and media.

Buffet_of_Lies said:
I'm going to hazard a guess that it was primarily because of the Android OS. Yeah, the Playbook has great specs and price point but it's sort of off in it's own little category with a much more limited amount of apps and media.
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yes I understand, but the Playbook can be hacked too, its already running android in the player, it's just that if dev's made a recovery so we can flash roms it will be awsome.
Sent from my Playbook using XDA App

It is a reasonable question.
I never really thought about it to be honest, but when I bought the Kindle Fire the Playbook was more money, as far as I knew, and it was not native Android,
Additionally, I like Amazon - I have been a "Prime" member for years. So for $199 out of the box I get an ereader, with the few kindle books I own and free kindle books; Free streaming video, the Amazon App store, which isn't the Android Market but isn't too bad.
Also, I could see how popular it was going to be thus resulting in a large developer community and lots of fun stuff to do with it.

2 words. Native android. You can reason that you can "run" Android on a Playbook but it's not running directly on the hardware which introduces a lag which isn't noticeable but psychologically bothering to most people who could and would run Android on it.

intersectRaven said:
2 words. Native android. You can reason that you can "run" Android on a Playbook but it's not running directly on the hardware which introduces a lag which isn't noticeable but psychologically bothering to most people who could and would run Android on it.
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I am using it right now and it has no lag wahtsoever. i have the android market installed and i can install any app widgets from there. this just needs a dev who can hack it to put a recovery and rom thats all.
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TBH I hadn't heard about the Playbook. And my reasons for getting a KF are more complex and irrelevant to this thread. I'm glad you like your device though... it sounds cool.

Price. All I want/need out of a 7" tablet is the Kindle app, a photo/comic viewer and a web browser. The Playbook wasn't that cheap when I got my Fire.

thanx everyone for shareing
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samomamo said:
I am using it right now and it has no lag wahtsoever. i have the android market installed and i can install any app widgets from there. this just needs a dev who can hack it to put a recovery and rom thats all.
Sent from my BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps using XDA App
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Click to collapse
samomamo, since you have this up and running on your Playbook, I have some questions-
1st, what about Amazon App store? Are you able to load and run any apps from there? I ask, because I have gotten a few apps from there that I'd love to run on the Playbook. Sketchbook Mobile and Gaia GPS, at the very least. Textplus Gold is another I'd absolutely use.
Other android apps I want to know about (and these are all free, which is one of the biggest draws to Android)-
Aldiko with ability to function fully (set up catalogs and download books directly to device
WiFi Analyzer
Angry Birds (yes I know, but it IS fun)
Words With Friends (again, I know)
Google Cloud Printer
Dropbox
Pandora
Tunein
Medscape, Epocrates, or Merck Medicus Mobile (one of these, at least, if not all)
I got a playbook, and yes, the hardware and specs are very impressive- much moreso than my Nook Color. But the Nook has all these running and thus has the edge.
Merry xmas!
These apps

Hi the thing is that it was running half baked not all the apps. I can install anything from android market but not from other places. So I gave up and sold it and picked up an Kindle myself. It comes out that if it doesn't have support form the devs then its crap. Don't matter what specs it has.
I have the kindle rooted and with adw ex and its perfect. The only thing bothers me is the lack of micro SD card. That's all.
Playbook has very nice hardware but no support so until it gets support its just a blackberry. That's all.
So I answered my own question
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Simple, BBOS is dead.

From the wikipedia:
"Due to low demand for the Playbook, RIM took a $485 million write-off to account for offering price discounts."

You can't flash custom roms on a Playbook. That's why.

Playbook
I almost bought a blackberry playbook several times. Was pretty tempted when the 64gb version went on super sale. In the end, the problem was the app store. There simply are too many missing apps for the playbook compared to both the iPad/iPod, and android market...and the android player has some significant limitations. Add to that the delay of the new Playbook OS 2 that was supposed to be out by devcon and was delayed till (at least) February and that was the nail in the coffin.
The issue with that device has never been the (superb) hardware, it's been RIM and the software side...
...and honestly, I'd be surprised if this time next year the Playbook is still being manufactured. Amazon has probably sold more Kindle Fires in December alone than the Playbook has sold since inception (that's just a guess, but I'd put money on it).

Ongoy said:
You can't flash custom roms on a Playbook. That's why.
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I read something about it. It's because BB doesn't allow you to write in the boot sector, right? I always hope that someone will find a workaround.
I was recently gifted a playbook, thanks to developers' program. I personally think that both playbook/kindle simply lack of Android
Having it like a natively installed it is way better than having it emulated on Android Play. This is why I haven't even turned up yet. Sell or keep? This is the question!
ps:
sorry for having unburied an old thread, I didn't noticed the date :/

Well, it may have better specs, but you cant beat Amazon's services. And Blackberry OS doesn't cut it for me. I HATE Blackberry OS and I hate the brand itself. I have had and used many of blackberry devices and I cant stand them
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

Since thread is resurrected i will put my thoughts also.
1) Native Android
2) QNX still is a minority OS in market.
3) android inside the emulator is still a lot more to go.
4) COST
5) LOTS and LOTS of DEVS
6) AMAZON books and prime

I waited before getting any tablet. I ended up choosing the Kindle Fire for a few reasons.
1. Amazon (use it entirely too much)
2. Reading at night (reason I went with KF and not basic kindle)
3. Not too large or expensive (iPad is just too much and Galaxy as well)
4. I knew I was flexible in being able to root it and do what I want
Reasons I went with KF over Playbook...
1. Since I got my KF recently I was fortunate enough to know Blackberry is a dying breed
2. Root capabilities/flexibility
3. Amazon friendly (seriously I use this too much)
Those are my reasons.

Related

[Q] For Current WP7 owners Will you "upgrade" to second gen WP7?

after looking at the next gen specs, are any current wp7 owners going to upgrade to next gen? or wait a bit longer till we get some real phones?
I upgraded because I wanted the improved camera and bigger screen on the Titan, but I could understand people being happy with their mango~fied first gen devices
....I am not going to upgrade my device, at least not for immediately. My contract is still running for another 10 month. I am very happy with my HTC Mozart, I got my 2 updates and will certainly get at least one more (Tango) or even Apollo. The device works smooth and stable like on the first day. It's faster then most of the latest 2core Android devices. It's the first time I am not nervously checking the market for new devices while being half way through my contract. So here I am, sitting back very relaxed and I will wait and see what new WP7 devices will be available next year at this same time....
not giving ATT the pleasure! I love the Samsung Focus it has been dev unlocked since the beginning , but buying a new means added expense to the contract and the specs of the new phones dont change enough to warrant the new purchase!
I need to be WOW'ed and as of now I am not WOW'ed with the current offerings of 2nd gen WP7 devices.
If this all we are getting, I'll stick with my first gen device (Trophy) for a little longer...
Never mind that I am on a CDMA carrier and my choices are VERY limited right now.
Going to switch to android galaxy nexus until windows 8 apollo comes out.
Not impressed with the quality of apps on windows phone. But highly impressed with the OS itself. So will wait for microsoft to attract more support.
I expect my Samsung Focus to last 2 more years. It's smooth and does pretty everything I want. I learned from moving from 3mp to 5mp cell phone camera is the number is irrelevant. Most cellphones just have ****ty cameras, rather just buy a real camera.
As much as I like the metro UI and the performance of the current devices I can't really see WP7 being overly desirable in comparison to other platforms. The marketplace is locked down, with a very limited number of applications. If given the choice of upgrading to a gen 2 device I would switch to Android hands down.
All feelings aside, I'm glad to see the Chevron project making progress. Microsoft needs to loosen up they're grip on the marketplace submission criteria.
karan1203 said:
Going to switch to android galaxy nexus until windows 8 apollo comes out.
Not impressed with the quality of apps on windows phone. But highly impressed with the OS itself. So will wait for microsoft to attract more support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then just support the OS, who cares about apps?
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JustinTV773 said:
Then just support the OS, who cares about apps?
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Who doesn't care about apps?
You're sadly out of touch.
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N8ter said:
Who doesn't care about apps?
You're sadly out of touch.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are out of touch too my friend, there are many people I know who do not care about apps, be they iphone users, andoid users, BB users or WP users. There is a huge demographic out there who have smartphones simply because they think they are the cool thing to have, they may use email, they may use BBM, they may use Siri but they rarely is ever use apps. Of course there is another HUGE demographic that DO use apps (myself included), who do care about the size of their relevant app store. I even know one old guy who bought himself a Desire HD because he "liked the look of it" and only uses it for calls and texts. I set him a Gmail account up for the phone but he never even uses that, then there is my aunt who has an iphone 3G and never switches the blasted thing on because she is "saving the battery" in case she needs to make an emergency call, or there is the girl who works for me who only uses her Blackberry for BBM and taking pictures and thats it - trust me, at least 50% of the people I know who own smartphones could get by with a feature phone for all the use they get out of them, but they go into the phone retailers and have expensive smartphones shoved down their throats by pushy sales staff - tragic!!
Anecdotal "evidence" is meaningless. Don't cite "I know many people who.." as proof of anything. Statistics have proven that for iPhones, the average user (as of last January) has 88 apps downloaded and installed on their phone (in addition to the 20 apps that are pre-installed). Certainly, that means that some people have fewer than that number, but it also means that some people have far more.
Exactly. On my iTouch I have over 30 useful third party apps not counting games. On android I have even more (had that device longer). On WP7 I have less than 10 because there simply isn't much worthwhile to get from there. I'm not counting stock and own apps that would be baked into the ROM on other platforms anyways.
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As I posted elsewhere I've been eligible for upgrade for 3 months but I wanted 32GB or nothing. My choices were:
- Upgrade and live with 16GB (could probably get a Lumia 800 for free)
- Upgrade to android/iOS
- Do not upgrade and get a PMP to use alongside my 1st gen phone
It will be annoying to carry two devices but I opted for a Zune HD. The good thing is that I can now cancel my contract and wait until there's a proper phone to upgrade to as the new batch is worthless. With Pay As You Go I won't be tied to any carrier and will even be able to jump ship if the 3rd gen isn't better.
Peew971 said:
As I posted elsewhere I've been eligible for upgrade for 3 months but I wanted 32GB or nothing. My choices were:
- Upgrade and live with 16GB (could probably get a Lumia 800 for free)
- Upgrade to android/iOS
- Do not upgrade and get a PMP to use alongside my 1st gen phone
It will be annoying to carry two devices but I opted for a Zune HD. The good thing is that I can now cancel my contract and wait until there's a proper phone to upgrade to as the new batch is worthless. With Pay As You Go I won't be tied to any carrier and will even be able to jump ship if the 3rd gen isn't better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I expect things to radically improve in the next year. MS just hired a Samsung VP to run WP. You know what you get when you put a Korean in control of a smartphone division? Fantastic toys! Think about it like it's Samsung having all that MS dough to come up with amazing products.
JustinTV773 said:
Then just support the OS, who cares about apps?
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Click to collapse
I do ?
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N8ter said:
Who doesn't care about apps?
You're sadly out of touch.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Leaving an OS over 10% of apps is pointless. WMPU did an article that claim that 90% of the most wanted apps from other platforms are now on WP. Just because a certain app isn't available it is not the fault of MS but more the fault of the developer of the app and should not be cause to leave.
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RoboDad said:
Anecdotal "evidence" is meaningless. Don't cite "I know many people who.." as proof of anything. Statistics have proven that for iPhones, the average user (as of last January) has 88 apps downloaded and installed on their phone (in addition to the 20 apps that are pre-installed). Certainly, that means that some people have fewer than that number, but it also means that some people have far more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want stats, here are some stats,
According to Neilsen, the average smartphone user has 22 apps (37 on iphone)
According to Localytics 1 in 4 downloaded apps are used once then discarded
Again according to Neilsen, the most used apps are Facebook, Google Maps and the Weather Channel (all available on WP7).
According to COMScore (Feb 2011), Users prefer to use mobile web over apps, 34.4% used apps in the USA versus 28% in Europe versus 53% Japan. I am not saying that apps are not important, they clearly are very important, but they are not the be all and end all.
This is a genuine question - how many games does the average smartphone user have? And how many of the top played games are on WP?
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Peew971 said:
This is a genuine question - how many games does the average smartphone user have? And how many of the top played games are on WP?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea how many games the average smartphone user has, I have one game, as for top games, the top on the iPAD (I have no iPhone) are bike baron, trivial pursuit, angry birds, sonic and sea All stars racing and aquaria, perhaps someone else can furnish the top games on android.

why didnt google just combine nexus q with google tv

What the point of having two seperate devices. I really want to get the new Google TV set box and I've been wanting to be able to stream from my tablet and phone directly to the TV for a while now. Why not just either add Google TV to the q or add the q functions to Google TV. Now I'm going to have to get the Sony Google TV set box and nexus q.
Also, side questions. Does anyone know if you can stream movies on the phone/tablet to the nexus q if its stored on the device and not Google play?
Google is going after Sonos it seems. However, the Q is strange (requires a Android phone/tablet to control it) and over priced. I really don't see a huge market for it unless they drop the price by a few hundred dollars.
Aye, for that much cash, I'd have thought it'd have more GoogleTV like features, unless this is just a Trojan Horse into the living room and those things can be added later (though without an hdmi input, that'll be interesting to see how).
No, I admit, I just don't 'get it' as a device when a GTv will do the same stuff, plus more, just without the amp. There's something missing in all this it feels like.
That's kinda what I meant, but didn't say. $300 to just stream video and music from play store is kinda stupid. $300 for Google TV that can do it= awesome
$300
Running on Galaxy Nexus hardware.
Only streams YouTube, Google Play Videos/Music.
Runs 'Android' but seems to have no real use beyond the line immediately above this one.
According to the data we have so far (that above), the Nexus Q seems to me to be a failure of Google to have any real vision if they intend to get into our living rooms. Honestly? No applications, no Netflix, nothing. Just YouTube and Google Play music/videos? That's pathetic. For $300? That's not just pathetic, that's an insult.
That is, unless Google is hiding more functionality in their sleeve. Which, if they have any intelligence at all (which we know they do), they most certainly haven't shown everything they intend to do with it yet. Although I could be wrong...give me this great looking device running on solid hardware and the full functionality of Android on my TV with my phone/tablet as a remote? Yeah, I'll spend $300 on it. Leave it as displayed so far? No thanks.
No Hulu, no Netflix, no local steaming. No buyers.
The reason for the price being $299 is due to it being 100% made in the US.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Worth it
I think it is pretty neat personally. I own a sony google TV and wish it had some of these features, but this thing is so king for parties. I also really like the fact that it is American made. Whenever you are talking about companies like Apple getting rich off of worker suicides at foxconn.
2Fast 2Low Customs said:
I think it is pretty neat personally. I own a sony google TV and wish it had some of these features, but this thing is so king for parties. I also really like the fact that it is American made. Whenever you are talking about companies like Apple getting rich off of worker suicides at foxconn.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You sir are so right. Koush said on Google+ last night he has no use for it but will buy it solely because its made in America and gift it to someone. I commend Google for this move and will buy one too. Everyone claims to want their **** manufactured here, well prove it if so and step up and buy one, I will. That price designed, made and assembled here to me is worth it for the features it boasts.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
sirius b said:
You sir are so right. Koush said on Google+ last night he has no use for it but will buy it solely because its made in America and gift it to someone. I commend Google for this move and will buy one too. Everyone claims to want their **** manufactured here, well prove it if so and step up and buy one, I will. That price designed, made and assembled here to me is worth it for the features it boasts.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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Click to collapse
kudos for making the device here. now all they need to do is make it a device I would want in the first place.
if the thing turns out to be less locked-down and more hackable than the google tv products, then I can see some serious potential.
94SupraTT said:
No Hulu, no Netflix, no local steaming. No buyers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tell that to Sonos. Unfortunately, this is a high end market and I'm not sure how it can work given it requires a Android ecosystem.
I agree with what everyone else has said. It'd be a hard sell to make since it doesn't (as of now) have any support for third parties such as Netflix and Pandora. However, Google has encouraged "hacking" the device... so maybe they will leave such capabilities to people such as XDA devs to really put this device to use? Kind of a stretch, but it could add utility to the device without Google having to officially sign on board with third parties?
I appreciate this is manufactured here in the US but boy oh boy.
I would really like to see my Logitech Revue get revamped, even though I only paid $120 for it at Best Buy to get that and the camera I would like to see it get some updates in features. (cough cough SKYPE support)
This thing though, I could see it being nice to have on your desk or something? I don't get the connecting it to a TV thing unless you plan on using a home theater system.
We'll wait and see.
but that thing in the video where all the people are in the kitchen talking and everyones picking songs for the Nexus Q to play, that would just be irritating. No don't touch it, you can look at it. Don't change my song please. Leave it the fck alone.
I bet it's going to be a hacker's delight. If it was priced a little more sensibly, I would have bought it.
What if this turns into the next generation GoogleTV by developers? Imagine running latest version of CM on your TV? Now, that $300 isn't looking so bad after all.
You better belive some developers are drooling over this great hardware. Cyanogen said so himself on G+. Let's wait and see......
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
So what I could gather from the press conference is that it's a galaxy nexus without the screen, cell capability, storage space... but a proper hdmi output and usb...
maybe if it could be hacked to run an operating system off a thumb drive? I love Google tv but the hardware is so slow and low on memory... I dunno, but the "to make it open to general hackability" statement does show promise.
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[Q] Should I get the new Kindle Fire SD?

I saw the new Kindle Fire SD announced with slightly better specs available for $159. I wanted to buy it and also sign up for Prime to stream video and borrow books and have apps and stuff, plus root it and run Android 4.1 so I can have an awesome cheap "android tablet" with Amazon Prime
Is it worth the $280?
Will there be development?
Thanks in advance for aiding a little noob.
Encerspay said:
I saw the new Kindle Fire SD announced with slightly better specs available for $159. I wanted to buy it and also sign up for Prime to stream video and borrow books and have apps and stuff, plus root it and run Android 4.1 so I can have an awesome cheap "android tablet" with Amazon Prime
Is it worth the $280?
Will there be development?
Thanks in advance for aiding a little noob.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buy it because you want to use it as an Amazon tablet. Whether or not these can ever be used as an Android tablet is the big question mark right now. There are rumors and much speculation about whether or not the bootloader will be secured in some way. The way that Amazon is marketing these things with lockscreen advertising, they have plenty of reasons to keep them from being easily manipulated like the first generation devices. Nobody will have any good idea about their potential until the right people start looking at them.
I have no idea where this $280 figure comes into play.
EDIT: I'm not sure the SD version is a good buy anyway. For $40 more, you get the better display, double the storage, bluetooth, HDMI out... that seems like the better choice.
kinfauns said:
Buy it because you want to use it as an Amazon tablet. Whether or not these can ever be used as an Android tablet is the big question mark right now. There are rumors and much speculation about whether or not the bootloader will be secured in some way. The way that Amazon is marketing these things with lockscreen advertising, they have plenty of reasons to keep them from being easily manipulated like the first generation devices. Nobody will have any good idea about their potential until the right people start looking at them.
I have no idea where this $280 figure comes into play.
EDIT: I'm not sure the SD version is a good buy anyway. For $40 more, you get the better display, double the storage, bluetooth, HDMI out... that seems like the better choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The $280 includes Prime, sorry I didn't clarify that
$40 doesn't seem like much at all, and your views on the SD tablet are very interesting. I honestly haven't even considered the HD version. I'll check it out.
Thanks for the input.
It's still a question mark on whether the developers will be able to root the new fire easily. I suggest waiting for a month or so.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
The new Kindles have a locked bootloader, but I have a feeling they'll be easily bypassed since Amazon lets you do manual updates via USB.
Ok you're asking us about 2 separate things. In my opinion, Amazon Prime is only worth $80 if you buy a lot of stuff online.
If I were in your shoes, I'd buy a used Kindle Fire or I'd find a way to get $40 together and buy a Nexus 7.

[Q] Anyone get Amazon Instant Video to work?

Anyone able to stream Amazon Instant Video on the Galaxy Note 8? The usual side load flash and a compatible browser isn't working.
I have tried loading four different versions of Flash for ICS as well as Dolphin Browser 8.51 which supports Flash, the stock browser, Firefox HD with the Phony extension set to Desktop and Boat Browser. None of them work. Flash 11.1 loads but once you get past loading and connecting at Amazon, all you get is a black screen. The video never starts.
I'm still within my return period on the Note 8. I may jump ship to a Nexus 7 if I can't get this to work.
Same experience for me. I've tried stock and ×Scope Pro.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
Amazon must have altered something on their side. Its no longer working on my Nexus 7 or Nexus 4 either. This just started happening within the last week or so.
Wow. I guess Amazon doesn't want our business. If they did this on purpose I am canceling Prime and won't be buying anything else from them. I can't believe they would intentionally take away the means to sell their products with a healthy margin, in order to sell a product with little to no margin (Kindle). Stupid move. Whatever. I can buy stuff from Google and Newegg and others instead.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app
I wonder how long Amazon will keep the iOS app around... And if they'll ever offer the same for android users... And why they don't.
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jntdroid said:
I wonder how long Amazon will keep the iOS app around... And if they'll ever offer the same for android users... And why they don't.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything worked fine until a few day ago.
The reason there is no app or official support is complicated. All of these things like Hulu+ & Amazon VOD have specific licensing agreements with greeeeedy networks. These networks messed up big time in their minds by not finding a way to restrict content on old PC, laptops & desktop PC's & now they are trying to make up for it.
Now they are trying to extort as much money in licensing from everybody they can. They want you to pay as a subscriber, they want the OEM manufacturer to pay & they want Google to pay. Now they have the chance to determine EXACTLY what type of device you are using & discriminate based on that info as a means to extort more money from everyone. If you use a tablet, you can watch SOME Hulu+ shows, if you have a PC, you can watch SOME Hulu+ shows, If you have a Hulu+ licensed device with the Hulu+ app, like a media streaming player, you can watch ALL of their shows.
SImilarly with Amazon now, if you are using a Windows PC or Tablet, you get full PC Flash support, which means you get Amazon VOD, if you have an Android device, you get nothing now, because Flash killed off support & Amazon never had official support.
Even worse, you can get Hulu on just about ANY browser in the world, unless it is a browser on a Google TV device. This is because of the licensing agreements between the middlemen like Amazon & Hulu & the greedy & scared networks, whom are losing advertising revenue because people would rather watch older shows that took thought over their current mindless, low budget reality TV. The networks think you should pay a subscription & everyone involved with a device, even a carrier if there is one, should pay licensing fees & you should be forced to watch commercials, which is why they are also suing Dish Network for their "Hopper" feature, which lets you easily hop past commercials.
There is an iOS app because there were a lot of iOS users & they are more active about complaining & petitioning people than Android users are. Technically, I think we should all be complaining about this because of the Net Neutrality Act. They are discriminating based on browser, limiting choice & options for consumers. They stream their shows to PC's, but tablets are different in their mind, just as they say streaming to a Google TV BluRay player is different than streaming to your TV from your windows PC. It is a common task, using the internet & I don't think they should be allowed to make the rules in regards to what is a PC (which stands for personal computer) & in my mind a tablet can most definitely fit into that category.
WOrse even yet, damn Amazon has made good money taking Google's hard work & forking Android, yet they crap on the Amazon customers that use true Android. Plain old browser discrimination, if you ask me.
Thanks for the well though out response.
What I still fail to understand is how Amazon can justify streaming to an Android based Kindle fire, but not to an Android tablet. This is why I have stopped my prime membership from automatically renewing. And without Prime, I will be MUCH less likely to order anything from Amazon. I can't find the business sense or logic in this decision. It seems counter productive to me.
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Amazon claims we can access Amazon Instant Video through XBMC. I will try this later when I have time. Their response to my complaint also sounds like they may be working on an app for Android? No promises or timeline, but I am definitely getting that impression(?). I've copied both their letter and my complaint below (names removed). It's a quickly thrown together complaint, not the best written, but gets the point across I think. I encourage you all to write to them as well, to indicate your interest in streaming to Android tablets. The more interest they see, the more likely for them to put effort into enabling content on Android devices.
Your AccountAmazon.com
Message From Customer Service
Hello ,
Thanks for writing to us with your query. I'll do my best to provide a thorough answer.
From your email, I've understood that you unhappy that you are not able to access Amazon Instant Videos on "Android" devices any more.
Unfortunately at this time, Amazon does not support Amazon/Prime Instant Videos on android devices.
However, customers were able to watch Amazon Instant Videos on their android devices using XBMC Player app. Amazon Instant Video utilizes the Adobe Flash Player but due to the recent changes/upgrade of the flash version made by Adobe, closed that loophole.
I also understand that having "AIV/PIV" feature on "Android" devices will provide additional convenience to our customers. However, please note that, the content we offer through Amazon Instant Video depends on our agreements with content owners. Device manufacturers has exclusive rights to the hardware and software that would not make it possible for Amazon.com to provide Amazon Instant Videos for these devices directly.
To make sure your feedback is heard by the right people in the Organization, I've forwarded your comments as a feedback to Amazon Instant Video Development Team, who will review your comments and will work on improvements to make these features better on Amazon.com
We've received many requests from the customers to release an Android app for Instant Video streaming and our development team is working on it
I also keep pushing for this feature myself. It is an important part of upcoming developments in our Amazon Instant Videos service. I appreciate that you wrote about this so that I can point out increasing demand for it. As this involves may teams and individuals, I'm unable to predict the current time-line.
It is always important for us to hear how customers react to all aspects. I appreciate that you wrote about this so that I can point out increased demand for Amazon/Prime Instant Videos on Android devices. Your valuable feedback will help us to improve the selection and service we provide and we're glad you took time to write to us. We do value the feedback of our customers and make every attempt to integrate their comments or suggestions into our stores and procedures.
Amazon Instant Video development team is regularly in touch with the manufacturers to make more devices (OR Models) compatible with Amazon/Prime Instant Videos. Devices not compatible now, may become compatible in future.
You may have noticed some major wins for our customers, now that XBox 360, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Wii & Wiiu became compatible recently with more to come based on customer requests. With that kind of proliferation there's a significant increase in pressure to get more devices/models added.* If there is any update it will be directly posted on our website.
-----If you still need any further assistance related to Amazon Instant Video, then please contact us via phone, chat or email by using the link below, so we can help you appropriately.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/digital-video.html
Please know that our customer's satisfaction and their convenience is very important to us above all else, it's the foundation on which our company was built.
I would've really loved to have this resolved to your benefit if only there was another way however as I hope you'd understand, we do go through certain protocols and processes to hopefully meet your needs in the best and fastest way possible.
I am very sorry that we were not able to meet your expectations this time but be assured that we always endeavor to assist our valued customer like you with the best of our service and we'll continue working hard to ensure that we provide the quality support you expect from us.
Thank you for your interest in Amazon Instant Videos. We appreciate your patience in this matter and thanks for the time you took to write to us.
Best regards,
Did I solve your problem?
*
Your feedback is helping us build Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company.
Thank you.
Amazon.com
Original Message
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04/23/13 15:45:48
Your Name:
Comments:I am an Amazon Prime member. I have ordered over $8,500 purchases in the last 6 months.
I have used my Prime account for a year and a half. During this time I have accessed Prime videos on my Android based tablet. This apparently is no longer available. Therefore I have stopped my Prime membership from automatically renewing. I'm sure you are aware that the Prime membership has encouraged me to make more of my purchases from Amazon. I'm sure you will understand that without Prime, I will be shopping elsewhere.
I am aware that Amazon Instant Video can be accessed on the Kindle Fire, which is another Android tablet. Not allowing the same access on competing Android tablets is alienating your customers. It gives an impression of discriminating in favor of your own device.
I am aware that Amazon Instant Video is available on IOS tablets. I have an iPad 3. However I do not like to watch videos on a 4:3 aspect ratio device. I have Amazon Instant Video available on my TV, my Roku, and on my Vizio Co-Star Google TV device. My preferred method of streaming videos when not sitting Iin my living room is still by using my Android tablet. The perception that Amazon is discriminating against competing Android products is why I will not be renewing my Prime account, and why Amazon will lose over $10,000 worth of business per year from just this one customer.
I ask you to ask your business development department just one question;
"Was disabling content from Android devices worth losing over $10,000 per year per customer worth it? Is loosing more than $10,000 per year per customer a good strategy?"
I am aware that Amazon never did officially support Amazon Instant Video on Android tablets. However, unofficial support was enough to encourage me and doubtless others to sign up for Prime and increase their spending. The loss of this unofficial support will result in not only the loss of the new business it has created, but loss of the limited business we have had with Amazon prior to Prime membership.
If I was a stock holder, I would have to question Amazon's business strategy and future.
As a customer, I only have to choose another supplier. It is a shame. I have enjoyed many Amazon products and services over the years.
Regards,
---------------
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app
WARNING about XBMC
Hey...be careful with installing XBMC. I did and now my system won't unlock.
I sideloaded the latest nightly of XMBC and was refreshing repository when it froze. Now I get to the lockscreen, there is an indication that "power saving mode is enabled" and it freezes within 10 seconds of unlocking/startup. May just be coincidental...
I am rooted via framaroot.apk.
EDIT: Ended up having to reboot into the stock recovery and reset the device to factory to get out the of loop. And I returned it to the store.
Thanks for the heads up, much appreciated. I will try it on an older tablet I don't mind resetting. I can't take that chance on the Note 8, I'm already heavily relying on it at work.
FYI I already tried Plex (which is similar to XBMC), but the Amazon plug in does not work. I also tried the Amazon plugin for Playon, and I can get further with that; I can see the list of categories of movies and tv shows, but I have not successfully streamed anything so far. I suspect it will not work, but I need to try some more before I give up.
PSsisterchick: wait with the purchase of the Nexus 7, Google is rumored to announce the next generation of the Nexus 7 in 3 weeks at Google I/O. It's only a rumor, but a likely one.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app
kisrita said:
Thanks for the heads up, much appreciated. I will try it on an older tablet I don't mind resetting. I can't take that chance on the Note 8, I'm already heavily relying on it at work.
FYI I already tried Plex (which is similar to XBMC), but the Amazon plug in does not work. I also tried the Amazon plugin for Playon, and I can get further with that; I can see the list of categories of movies and tv shows, but I have not successfully streamed anything so far. I suspect it will not work, but I need to try some more before I give up.
PSsisterchick: wait with the purchase of the Nexus 7, Google is rumored to announce the next generation of the Nexus 7 in 3 weeks at Google I/O. It's only a rumor, but a likely one.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, kisirta. That's what I'm thinking too. Nightlies of CM 10.1 have just come out for my old modded Nook Color. I'll put the old girl back to work until we see what happens at Goodle I/O.
Well I can confirm that Amazon Instant Video does not work through XBMC either. In trying to install the Amazon Instant Video plugin for XBMC, I came across many, many forum posts and articles about how it used to work, but Amazon "fixed it" so it no longer works. It appears Amazon thought I was another XBMC user complaining about the access that was cut off. Since I had said nothing about XBMC, I thought they were telling me that some people were using XBMC to stream Amazon videos successfully, but it appears the reference just a cut and paste canned response to the XBMC users who previously had been streaming Amazon videos, and were complaining that they couldn't do so any more. And I actually thought Amazon was trying to do something about the loss of access. They apparently do not care. They are obviously receiving many complaints, and they can't do better than cut and paste responses aimed at a completely different group of people. I guess I had given them more credit than they deserve. No more Amazon for me. I'm thoroughly disgusted with them.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app
I've been writing amazon for a long time asking for an app. I'd become accustomed to watching through the stock browser with mobile flash, but there was always a tiny loss of audio/video sync that was just bad enough to annoy that was never present when I had the old fire apk running on a Nook Tablet. I wasn't angry at the time, then they cut off browser access a few days ago, despite promising on their device page that any computer with an internet connection could access prime streaming. Well guess what, my transformer is a computer with an internet connection. Promise broken.
When I told them off for neglecting an android app and then actively and hostilely blocking perfectly capable browsers just because they were on android, they thanked me for my suggestion that android browser support be added to prime streaming :facepalm:
Puffin browser seems to work. At least it starts the video anyway. Some comments at the Nexus 7 forum indicate it is choppy, I don't know if it will play any better on our devices, I can't test it right now. But I can confirm that it is able to at least start the video.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app
Interesting...curious to know if Puffin will work for you. I returned by Note 8 to the store because it was acting unstable and getting pretty hot in the process and I was within my 15-day window at Best Buy...but I miss it. I found I really liked the pen. I may have to give it another chance.
I tried it on both the Note 8 and my ancient original Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Puffin browser does stream the video, but it's choppy on both devices, though much much less so on the Note 8. The audio was badly out of synch on both devices, so much so that I only watched a few minutes of the video (Nemesis). This is not an acceptable alternative.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda app-developers app
I was able to stream a non HD Amazon Instant Video TV episode to the Note 8 using Playon. It is a little slow going at first and stuttered initially, but then was streaming good quality. I dont know if pause, rewind and FF work, I didnt test those. Just wanted to let everyone know there is this option. (Technicaly Puffin is another option, but it's not good enough to be worth it.) Neither app is free, but both come with a trial. You must have Playon installed and running on your PC to stream to your Android tablet.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app
Install xbmc. Not only does it do amazon prime without problems, you get the benefit of much more content. Do a google search for xbmc and you will have to sideload. Enjoy...
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk 2
tremblayb said:
Install xbmc. Not only does it do amazon prime without problems, you get the benefit of much more content. Do a google search for xbmc and you will have to sideload. Enjoy...
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to confirm...you installed XBMC on Note 8 and streamed Amazon Instant Video? When tried a couple of weeks ago it didn't work.
Wow, I stand corrected. I just went in and tried it again in xbmc and it appears that amazon is now blocking it. Bastards... oh well, back to drawing board. Sorry for the confusion but I had it working on ipad, samsung galaxy note and appletv. Sorry for the confusion...
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk 2

What can i do with a fire tv box?

I am looking for a replacement to the mad catz m.o.j.o console i had a refund on it but i want open android with superb graphics really,but the thing is i don't want anything too expensive or too cheap either,the problem is i don't know what models are best,or more importantly for this section of the forum what i can do in relation to getting a fire tv gaming and web browsing etc?Can i play games can more importantly can i sideload and also can i sideload downloaded stuff? Or possibly flash a rom on it?
PHYSC-1 said:
I am looking for a replacement to the mad catz m.o.j.o console i had a refund on it but i want open android with superb graphics really,but the thing is i don't want anything too expensive or too cheap either,the problem is i don't know what models are best,or more importantly for this section of the forum what i can do in relation to getting a fire tv gaming and web browsing etc?Can i play games can more importantly can i sideload and also can i sideload downloaded stuff? Or possibly flash a rom on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont take this the wrong way, but to get everythihg you want you will need to custom build a HTPC with a computer. These android boxes are good and most are cheap, but they do have limitations and will not meeet all your expectations.
IMO, the FTV is the best box on the market in the under $150 category. If you are willing to comprimise, it should meet most of you expectations. All you questions are answered in this forum, so read up or use search.
byrdcfmma said:
Dont take this the wrong way, but to get everythihg you want you will need to custom build a HTPC with a computer. These android boxes are good and most are cheap, but they do have limitations and will not meeet all your expectations.
IMO, the FTV is the best box on the market in the under $150 category. If you are willing to comprimise, it should meet most of you expectations. All you questions are answered in this forum, so read up or use search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had enough of pc's i am a computer repair technician,i want it for the lower power consumption but with nearing or par with console level graphics.Pc's are too expensive to run they are rubbish in small form factors they tend to burn out on the bridge on the board, or they come with cheap [email protected] psu's that cost a bomb for good one's in small form factor.If there's one thing i learned quickly it was never buy small form factor pc's if you want it to last or not to overheat.
But on the other hand android tv box's don't push the same high level temps because they are only passively cooled quite often as apposed to actively cooled,besides if i really want i'll cooling mod it like my k-r42 with 80mm fan and shimmed.
But basically i want an android unit that has gaming power beyond a mali400 and closing in on if not better than a snapdragon 8xx chip.I've looked at the huwaei tron but it's yet again a 4.2x android system with no guarentee my tv will be supported over hdmi properly i learned that from my mad catz m.o.j.o not outputting 1080p on my 1080p tv.So i may just hang on until k1 touches down in shops but it looks like they are not in a hurry although there is the mipad rumor,i think i'll be waiting until 2015 at this rate before a god unit comes out that has kitkat on it,i was wondering if any rockchip 8 core cpu's are out in tv box form yet,and if they have a heightened gpu to the mali 400? And was also wondering where they fit in terms of graphical power?
Firetv is anything but open. IMO android boxes are all underpowered and frustratingly issue laden. Pity as I too am wanting to buy something good... I bought a s89 tronsmart and it's not as good as I'd hoped. I was interested in the MOJO... Why did you return it, it's a lot more open than Amazon firetv surely?
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
I've bought it as replacement for raspberry pi and was disappointed. Yes Fire TV build perfectly and has a good hardware. But software is a crap and no way for root by now, only hopes and blocking of update server. It's not clear for now what improvements OTA brings and if root will be issued. If you looking for a good device that works and not for fun reverse engineering hours. Try to find alternative.
May be once it will be a good choice but not now, unfortunately.
Sent from my LG-G2 using XDA Free mobile app
Rumored Android TV BOX... http://pulse.me/s/1jrW6M
God I hope that one IS true and GREAT!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
I was 100% happy with my ouya, with stock OS, and then even better with CM11. performance was never a problem.
really the only reason I went for firetv was that I watch prime video A LOT. and between flash-plugin + pick-your-favorite-browser being way-EOL and a bit buggy, and the fact that it took literally 6-8 clicks/actions to go to the next episode of a show, vs 1 (or at most 2) clicks/actions on firetv (yeah first-world problems...)
ouya sales on amazon for $60 would still be worth it (esp they want like 50 bucks for just an extra controller) but at the 100 point might as well firetv or something else.
but honestly it all comes down to what do you want to do with it. oh wait I don't have to re-ramble all this...
http://www.xbmchub.com/forums/threads/21722-Fire-TV-vs-Ouya?p=185275&viewfull=1#post185275
Anyone who bought Amazon-anything devices and expect openness is definitely going the wrong path. Amazon has some great devices but it has a pretty strict walled garden environment (which, granted, is kind of pretty) where they are expected to stay. Amazon is somewhat similar if not worse than Apple in this regard.
Amazon's latest devices such as the Fire HDX and the Fire TV are amazing devices on their own right, but if you are not getting them because of what they can do out of the box but instead of what they 'should be able to do' and expect to hack/mod them, you are in for a disappointment. This is what differentiate them to Google's devices, where it can be a gamble whether a product can be 10x better or 10x worse in the few months following its release (see: Google TV vs. Chromecast).
With Amazon devices it's extremely simple. You go to the product page and look at what it's offering. If you're wowed by those, then get it, if you think that 'it has potential', then don't get it.
Newcron said:
Anyone who bought Amazon-anything devices and expect openness is definitely going the wrong path. Amazon has some great devices but it has a pretty strict walled garden environment (which, granted, is kind of pretty) where they are expected to stay. Amazon is somewhat similar if not worse than Apple in this regard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and no - I bought this box because I wanted one device that did both amazon video and Netflix. Met expectations there.
But I also wanted to be able to use it as a front-end for music stored on my NAS. This is why I was never interested in Roku, might've been interested in the Apple product but don't remember it having Prime support, and kept using my Western Digital Live Plus for as long as I did - the access to files inside the walls is important to me.
By day 2, I had enabled ADB and sideloaded XBMC. Yes, I don't have root, but I have Amazon, Netflix and local files all in one place, which I like a lot.
From what I've seen, on the Fire tablets amazon doesn't block sideloaded apps, or I wouldn't have bought this device. It makes a decent HTPC device for my purposes, though, and is open enough for me. Of course I'd prefer root, but in this instance, not if having root broke the Amazon Video stuff.
My biggest complaint so far is that amazon doesn't give us a preference setting for how much bandwidth the box should allocate to itself. So I needed to do that with my firewall instead.
I'll be interested to see if Amazon makes Prime available for the rumored Google TV box. My guess is they will not. But if they do, and I'm within my return window when the device is fully announced...

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