older Kindle app works! some versions may require mouse. cloud reader works in chrome - Fire TV Themes and Apps

UPDATE: found copies of older versions of Kindle Reader App (needed for a 2.2 tablet of mine - anything newer not only does not run, sometimes when it crashes it corrupts the system partition and almost-bricks the thing. but anyway...)
so I just now installed Kindle_3.4.1.1.apk, which does not use underlying amazon framework, it does its own signin. and guess what? other than being 3 years old, it works perfectly!!! I might try searching more to see if there is a latest version of old v3, or early versions of v4, that do their own signin and don't use the framework, but for now I am slightly happier (but still no thanks to amazon)
and it shows up as a completely separate device, "Yourname's 2nd Android Tablet", not "Yourname's Fire TV" - which makes sense given the two completely different forms of signin.
/UPDATE, and now back to original post...
this morning I checked and there was an updated kindle reader app on google store, dated 4/22 (I believe last time I tried was 4/8)
same result, it understands the amazon framework that's running, so already knows my account and can sign me in. but again now with this newer version, no still books show up. also noticed this time, if I go to amazon webpage of my kindle books, they all have an option for "send to device" ... I can send to my android phone, my PC, anything I installed kindle reader on. but the dropdown of devices does not ever include firetv.
I used the built-in "Send Feedback" part of the kindle app, on the firetv, to say how disappointed I was that something called "Kindle Fire TV" (that is the actual name of our device, for those unaware) was unable to read kindle books.
it was nice of Amazon to reply so quickly, however their reply mainly seems to be "we'll pass your suggestion along, but in the meantime why not buy one of our kindle tablets?"
I wish I had thought to mention how a lot of people with disabilities would very much like to be able to use a big television and firetv to read books, not some small tablet. (I also wish I had explicitly mentioned I was sending my feedback from kindle reader running on firetv)
even more funny, the "cloud reader" works perfectly fine in chrome on my firetv - of course, I had to turn on "request desktop site"... otherwise read.amazon.com says, "I see you are using an android device. you cannot use your android browser for cloud reader, but why not click on this link to the google play store and install kindle reader app?" - thanks guys, simply hilarious!
I don't know if a lot of people want to read their kindle books on firetv, but if you think you ever might, please consider writing to amazon (the feedback button in kindle reader app works great!!!) - thank you
Code:
Hello,
I'm sorry if you are not happy with the Amazon Fire TV you've bought.
Unfortunately, Fire TV won't run any Kindle application to read eBooks.
We've applications designed for other devices so that you can enjoy reading kindle books.
Amazon Fire TV can actually be used as an additional “Big Screen” option for using Second Screen and Display Mirroring features to display content from Kindle Fire 3rd Generation tablets to your TV screen.
Amazon Instant Video movies and TV shows, and Photos can be displayed with Second Screen to Amazon Fire TV.
However, using Fire TV to read Kindle books is a suggestion that can be worked upon.
I'll pass this on to our Kindle Development Team and I'm sure this will be looked into.
We'll consider your feedback as we plan further improvements.
Customer feedback like yours is always important to us.
I'll be sure to pass your message along to the appropriate department as we continue to improve the Kindle experience for our customers.
If you've any concerns/suggestions/complaints, then please let us know. We'd be more than glad to assist you.

sorry forgot to link
http://www.androiddrawer.com/10454/download-kindle-4-0-1-3-app-apk/
but on the right hand side if you click "more", it will show you 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8. and then into v4 ones.
I'll try e.g. v3.8 and see if I need to work my way up or back down...
UPDATE:
ok I did adb install -r Amazon Kindle_3.8.2.4.apk
something a little weird happened - I'm not sure if 3.8 uses the old login style or the new framework, but somehow it changed the device name of the Reader app from "blah2" (which is how I had set it) to simply "blah" (which is the same name as the firetv itself ... ??!?) - and even weirder, on amazon webpage, it shows I now have 2 devices named "blah" - one is a firetv, and one is "android".
I am now curious to push the latest kindle app and see if the weirdness continues. if it breaks it all, so what, I can start from the beginning
UPDATE 2:
latest com.amazon.kindle.apk (4.4 or something) did not work.
I wiped cache and data, force killed and uninstalled.
I then installed 4.0.1.3. it uses the amazon framework because I was not asked to sign in. and, like 3.8, it uses the same device name as the firetv.
it works perfectly. (well, annoyingly, the 360 controller doesn't work in the new carousel style home/library screen. but, importantly, it does still work for turning pages inside books! yay!)
so I will try going higher. it almost seems as if, at some point, amazon added something to the app to break firetv. would they really do that?
UPDATE 3:
4.1.1.1 also works. I did the install on top of 4.0, using adb install -r, if that makes any difference.
4.2.0.151 ditto.
NB: you WILL need a mouse to deal with the stupid carousel home/library page. I think even 3.8.2.4 might have changed to it from the grid. it was there starting in the v4.0 I tried, anyway. hm actually you will need a mouse even if you go to one of the subsections that let you change the display to grid/list. actually actually you will need a mouse to click the top-left 3-bar context/settings menu, to even GET to other subsections than the homepage. you will also need a mouse to click on a book to open it. neither the firetv remote nor a standard controller nor keyboard will work. well, in some of the subsections, if you hit tab on kbd, it focuses on the book list/grid and you can THEN use the remote or controller to go thru them. this could be part of why amazon killed it (hopefully temporarily) for firetv.
I may have to go back to 3.8 (I forget already if that one had this stupid ui behavior) or if not, back to 3.4 or maybe check out 3.5 etc.

Related

6.3 Stock ROM

Straight off of Amazon's server. Figured the devs can start playing with this.
http://kindle-fire-updates.s3.amazonaws.com/update-kindle-6.3_D01E_4019920.bin
Only use this if you want to go completely stock. You will loose CWM/TWRP and root if you install this.
Pretty much devs only on this one.
EDIT: Root has been achieved by jcase: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1568340
You can also install the ROM pre-rooted from eldarerathis: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1569298
New Features (from the Coming Soon section on Amazon's site):
Sharing: Customers will be able to easily share favorite passages and notes from their books directly from Kindle Fire, without even leaving the book. Customers simply highlight a passage and select "Share" or choose the "Share" option from the toolbar within a book, write a note if they choose, and select which social network to share with. Passages or notes a customer chooses to share will be displayed to other Kindle readers viewing the same book, and customers can also choose to share via Facebook and Twitter. Amazon already has a vibrant community of readers who choose to share favorite passages and notes from their reading through Kindle.amazon.com. This update brings these notes and highlights to Kindle Fire, so a reader can easily see what other readers are saying about their books.
Book Extras: Powered by Shelfari, Amazon's community of book lovers, Book Extras make it easy for customers to see supplemental material about the book they are reading, without even leaving the book. Customers can view descriptions of characters, a glossary of common terms used in the book, information on the authors and common locations referenced in the book, and more. To view Book Extras from within a book, customers simply tap the top of the screen to bring up the toolbar, tap the menu button and select "Book Extras."
Archive of Personal Documents: Customers' personal documents will be stored in the Amazon Cloud and available for re-download at any time from the Documents tab on Kindle Fire. Just as with Kindle books, Whispersync will automatically sync notes, highlights and last page read for personal documents.
Print Replica Textbooks: Students can buy thousands of print replica textbooks to read on their Kindle Fire and save up to 60% off the list price of the print textbook. Print replica textbooks maintain the rich formatting, color and layout of the print editions, with features including notes and highlights, zoom and pan, linked table of contents, real page numbers and whispersync of notes, highlights and last page read.
Reading View for Amazon Silk: There is a seemingly endless array of interesting and engaging content available on the Internet. Sometimes, unfortunately, that business article, blog post, or sports recap you clicked on is surrounded by a host of competing material. With Reading View on Silk, the content that you're interested in is elevated above the clutter. When invoked by the customer, Silk will load the body of the page in a reading-optimized, single screen view (even for multi-page articles). The full page is still available in the background, allowing the reader to easily toggle back to a traditional view to see other interesting features on the page.
Movie Rentals: The rental period for movie rentals that are downloaded to Kindle Fire now starts when a customer starts watching the movie, rather than when a customer starts downloading the movie.
Additional Enhancements: This update will also bring some of the features customers have requested, including faster re-connect of Wi-Fi after Kindle Fire has been asleep, and general performance enhancements.
Sweet, thanks. Do you know if this breaks FFF/CWM if flashed?
drk.hd said:
Sweet, thanks. Do you know if this breaks FFF/CWM if flashed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has a bootloader and a recovery image in the package. The updater-script will attempt to overwrite both.
it should be mentioned in OP, dev use only, it will OEM your device if flashed.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using xda premium
smirkis said:
it should be mentioned in OP, dev use only, it will OEM your device if flashed.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good call. I updated the post. Thanks.
Anyone looked at the files yet? I don't want to go OEM or I'd flash to explore a little. Curious what they've added to the new release.
uoY_redruM said:
Anyone looked at the files yet? I don't want to go OEM or I'd flash to explore a little. Curious what they've added to the new release.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have, they now detect root on boot.
I'm guessing that is bad?
Sent from my Kindle Fire using XDA
What change in 6.3?
Sent from my LG-P500 using xda premium
Here are some of the changes in Kindle Fire software version 6.3:
Users can now share passages from a book using a new “share” option.
Book Extras let you character descriptions, glossary terms, and other data without leaving a book.
Whispersync will now work with Personal Documents, letting you sync your last read page between devices.
Print Replicas of textbooks are now available.
There’s a new Reading View in the Amazon Silk web browser which presents everything in a single-column view.
Movie rental periods now begin when you start watching a video, not when you start downloading it to your device.
The Kindle Fire should now reconnect to WiFi more quickly when the screen is turned on
If I had to return my Fire due to a bum screen, would this be the best way to return it to stock? I'm currently running the stock ROM with root access. But need the original bootloader etc.
Do I run the .bin file from my desktop?
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA
rename it. zip and flash it in recovery, make sure you wipe data after than reboot.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using xda premium
I like this ROM, and I can watch Prime videos via OTA temp unroot.
But, no matter what I do, I can't seem to see the Lending Library. In fact, when I try to go to the Kindle Store, it seems to launch the Android Kindle App (white background) instead of staying within the Kindle Fire book app.
Any thoughts? I'd like to be able to use the lending library.
Found solution here: http://raywaldo.com/2012/01/kindle-fire-works-great/
Just go to Android market, my apps, find Kindle app, and "uninstall" and choose to remove updates. Lending library is back.
I hope I have the right forum for my Kindle Fire d01400. Bought it used after the former owner forgot the password to get past the lockscreen. (Old age really sucks!). I performed the 20 second reset trick but...after reboot, I have lockscreen only...and it won't slide. I can't get into the menu to do a full reset. HELP! I'm a new kindle owner but not new to rooting Androids. I have an HTC Desire 626s running the Nightbreed813 rom, and a happily rooted Lenovo Tab2 A 10-70F. The Tab2 is an MediaTek 8127 device.
How can I get a ROM in this thing?!
nannycrick said:
I hope I have the right forum for my Kindle Fire d01400. Bought it used after the former owner forgot the password to get past the lockscreen. (Old age really sucks!). I performed the 20 second reset trick but...after reboot, I have lockscreen only...and it won't slide. I can't get into the menu to do a full reset. HELP! I'm a new kindle owner but not new to rooting Androids. I have an HTC Desire 626s running the Nightbreed813 rom, and a happily rooted Lenovo Tab2 A 10-70F. The Tab2 is an MediaTek 8127 device.
How can I get a ROM in this thing?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just one thing to try, to ensure you arent being tricked by the hardware...
After you hard power it down, reboot making sure you arent touching the screen anywhere until it reboots completely,
on these and many tablets, dragging around on the screen while its booting can throw off the touchscreen calibration
as to rooting it, and applying a custom rom,
there are 2 models that say D01400 , the 1st generation Kindle Fire, and the 2nd Generation look almost identical
the stock boot screens are similar but distinguishable , and externally the plastic around the screen (the sides where the front and back meet, not the border of the lcd) is different ...
if the plastic is black and shiny looking, its a 1st generation, if it has a dull matte look, it's a second generation
makes a big difference what you do after you get it booted
1st generation screen shots attached...
Thanks mikeataol. I haven't gotten past that pesky lock screen yet. By your description, mine is a first gen Fire. It has the shiny bezel around the glass, and a matte back.
So far...I still can't get past the lockscreen or flash the stock firmware via USB. Installed the drivers for it without a problem. Grrrr!
Trying to update using the Kindle Fire Utility. No luck yet.....
Update.... Can't flash update thru Kindle Fire Utility. The utility works fine... Daemon starts, stops, reboots my device upon command but I still can't get new firmware flashed, can't get past lockscreen.
I can plug it into Windows 10 32bit, and my PC will "chime" when connect is made but I can't see the device listed as anything but Drive F which is inaccessible. Windows wants me to insert a disk. (An SD card? It has no port?!)
Tried to copy & paste the update.zip created by the KFU to "Drive F" (opened as a portable device) but Windows can't copy files to that drive.
Still stumped!
Okay.... Now stuck in a boot loop after trying to flash update 6.2.2. using Kindle Unbrick Utility that has Flash Update option. Now.....my Win10 no longer "sees" the device. Can't do anything with it.....yet.
Ideas anyone?

"Continue to Amazon Appstore" external market issue

Hi folks,
I've got a Fire Phone, with default Fire OS 4.6.1
I am not quite ready to get into rooting it and adding a new OS, as I don't have the time.
So in the interim I have the Google Play Store installed, along with a launcher that's more to my liking.
I have the issue that when I click on links in apps which, I assume, are intended to launch the Google Play Store, I get a message from Fire OS saying,
Continue to Amazon Appstore?
This app is trying to open a link with an external market that is not available on your device. Would you like to open this link with the Amazon Appstore instead?
[CANCEL] [CONTINUE]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I click cancel, then the link does not open. If I click continue it goes to the Amazon Appstore and can't find what the link relates to (obviously).
I saw someone else posting something about this, and they were advised to edit some settings in the Manage Applications settings, and also External Market settings. Since updating to 4.6.1 I don't seem to be able to find any Manage Applications settings, no External Market settings (not even sure if those existed on the pre-4.6.1 OS that was on here when I received it).
Is there a way to set this thing to allow Google Play to launch when Play links are clicked?
Cheers,
J
On an unrooted device:
- Go to "settings" and look for "manage applications", select "all", to see every app installed...
- Disable the "Appstore"
As long as the Amazon appstore is disabled, Play Store will intercept the links.
It's not very comfortable, I know. On a rooted device, I used a shortcut to dis-/enable the Amazon Appstore to get the job done faster.
As of now, there is no official way to set the "Play Store" as your default store (of course not, why would Amazon be interested in that option ^^).
Bingo Bronson said:
On an unrooted device:
- Go to "settings" and look for "manage applications", select "all", to see every app installed...
- Disable the "Appstore"
As long as the Amazon appstore is disabled, Play Store will intercept the links.
It's not very comfortable, I know. On a rooted device, I used a shortcut to dis-/enable the Amazon Appstore to get the job done faster.
As of now, there is no official way to set the "Play Store" as your default store (of course not, why would Amazon be interested in that option ^^).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Bingo,
Thanks for the help.
The thing is, since it updated to 4.6.1 (and I see that last night it updated itself to 4.6.3 on its own accord) the "Manage Applications" option that was there previously has gone. There is now just an "Applications" option. And that
Okay... at last I've figured out where "Manage Applications" went since 4.6.1 update. There is now just an "Applications" menu. Touching that expands it to show various options. One of those options is "Force quite or clear data for applications". This is now the way to access the "Manage Applications" screen. The first option on that expanded "Applications" menu is "Manage the settings for individual Amazon applications on your phone". The wording of this had me thinking that this had somehow replaced the Manage Applications option.
Cool. I've now disabled Amazon AppStore.
Thanks.
This Fixed My Issue
I fixed my issue by going to the Applications menu under Settings (little gear in dropdown menu) then going to Manage Applications, then selecting All Applications from the dropdown there. I found the Appstore, clicked on it, selected Force Stop and Clear Cache. That seemed to do the trick. I also have Allow 3rd Party Apps selected, which can also be found under Applications in settings.
I've been searching everywhere for this solution. Youtube and google, and yes finally someone who just needed google play apps to not be redirected to kindle appstore. It worked by disabling the appstore. <3 The ES File Explorer helped me to uninstall the updated version and now apps can be directed to google play. Thanks for saving me from having to root. I like the launcher option from google play. Don't have enough patience to root and then it possibly doesn't work. TOT! Ty for solution!
My 4.6.3 new phone seems to work well in this regard without any setting being made. Just disabled Amazon store auto update. At first I had that redirect to Amazon problem, but then some other Google store link just redirected to Google play app.
For me, clicking on Disable App Store doesn't seem to be doing anything. Unable to disable and blocking of external market link continues
Can someone please help, nothing in here worked.
I tried going to settings -> apps and games -> manage all applications -> All -> Appstore and pressed "clear cache", "clear data", and "force stop", and it didn't help.
I also tried going to settings -> Apps and Games -> Amazon Application Settings -> Appstore -> External Market Links -> Don't Open and now it says "External Market Links Disabled You can choose to open external market links with the bracketbracketAppstore_long_namebracketbracket. Update this option in the External Market Links section of the Appstore settings." (I had to type bracket instead of using [ because it said I was using BBcode and couldn't post)
I'm using a 5th generation fire running Fire OS 5.3.6.4
Fixed it
I just figured it out.
Settings, Applications & Parental Controls, Configure Amazon application settings, Appstore, External Market Links, Don’t Open
This will prevent the Appstore from trying to open links for external app markets. It doesn’t prevent the links from opening with the correct market, just makes that message stop popping up and click-jacking you into oblivion. So now when you click on a link, a little box will open with apps to choose from to open the link, like your browser or Google Play Store, for example.
I want to keep using this phone, because it’s potentially a good privacy phone, without all the tracking stuff installed. Sorry, that would mean no Google Apps...but I use some apps that apparently won’t get notifications unless GAPPS are installed. I heard MicroG can fix that but it doesn’t seem to work. Anyway if I could fix that and maybe upgrade the camera module to a better quality camera, it would be a better phone...almost perfect actually.
thanks for your helpful post
Ninja000 said:
I just figured it out.
......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for posting today!! So happy to see people still using this nice phone. I too want a simple "relatively" private phone, plus I actually preferred the Fire OS UI (which is much better version of Fire OS than we have on Fire tablets).
But I came here because I was fearful that Amazon has bricked my device. It suddenly became "de-registered" and the menus for registering to my Amazon account do not work -- I'm not able to register. And I'm not able to use ANY app that I got from the Amazon app store, and I lost ALL of my nice customizations (organizing my apps into folders, etc -- a huge amount of work because I have a ton of apps).
Probably I should start a new thread on this issue but I wanted to post here in gratitude that people still discuss this phone, plus it is an app store (and bigger...) issue, so it is not entirely unrelated. I will try some of the above advice because perhaps it allow me to launch apps without the Amazon App Store demanding log in.
dini77 said:
Thanks so much for posting today!! So happy to see people still using this nice phone. I too want a simple "relatively" private phone, plus I actually preferred the Fire OS UI (which is much better version of Fire OS than we have on Fire tablets).
But I came here because I was fearful that Amazon has bricked my device. It suddenly became "de-registered" and the menus for registering to my Amazon account do not work -- I'm not able to register. And I'm not able to use ANY app that I got from the Amazon app store, and I lost ALL of my nice customizations (organizing my apps into folders, etc -- a huge amount of work because I have a ton of apps).
Probably I should start a new thread on this issue but I wanted to post here in gratitude that people still discuss this phone, plus it is an app store (and bigger...) issue, so it is not entirely unrelated. I will try some of the above advice because perhaps it allow me to launch apps without the Amazon App Store demanding log in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem! "Sharing is caring" :laugh:
Yeah I like it too! I wish it was still supported by Amazon, but the bad press killed it.
As for not being able to use your account...you might try a factory reset, BUT...
FIRST: backup your APKs and saved files via USB to PC (can use file browser in Windows)
or MAC (will need this --->android.com/filetransfer/<---), and make sure under Battery and Storage, USB Connection Type is listed as File Transfer.
This is important because once you regeister, it might restore your last cloud backup, which I assume is probably pretty old after reading your reply.
Next:
Perform the Factory Reset OR...
To reregister your phone go to Settings, My Accounts, either "Register your phone" if that is an option (mine says "Deregister"), or maybe Manage your Amazon account.
The later will probably redirect you to the Amazon website, because the Amazon Shopping App is no longer supported on this older OS.
*I haven't found a newer version of the Amazon Shopping App that works on the Android 4.4 based Fire OS 4.6.6.1.
The other thing is you might be able to do it via the Amazon website, you probably have it listed under your account still, just need to find it.
I'd contact Amazon help to learn about how to do it that way. They might not know off hand, since the phone is no longer technically supported,
but they will definitely still try to help you.
I would really love it if someone on this forum could pull the launcher and everything from this version of Fire OS to work on the newer Android Roms like Cyanogen Mod,
because then we could just replace the old unsupported apps with the new versions. That would be awesome! I realize 2gb Ram would be a little low for the latest Android,
but just having a little newer OS version that is still supported by Amazon would be great. I really enjoy the Kindle App on this, because it has text to speech and
that is really convenient.
BTW, do you have the Google APPS installed on yours? I have them installed on mine, and it drains the batter like crazy,
granted, it's the original battery from 2014, but still.
Side note: If anyone has an extra screw(s) for the bottom they're willing to part with, I'd be willing to buy one (or a handful).
Lost one in the carpet (I know *rolls eyes) when I had to replace the camera module due to some (I guess) scratches or something actually on the sensor itself.
Thanks for all of your advice!! Very much appreciated. I tried one of them right away, which is to check My Devices on the Amazon site, but the phone is no longer listed (it used to be). So that only lists registered devices. Once it is de-registered, it is not considered to be my device. But, you are correct that Amazon customer service may possibly help, because if you buy a device from Amazon, it usually automatically gets registered to you (unless you say it is a gift), and that automatic registration is probably done via some code on the device box probably its serial # (that is, they don't register it by messing with the actual device, I'm guessing). But to be honest I'm not too hopeful about this. But something to try.
Before you replied, I started a new thread on this, mostly to warn people not to de-register their devices, because I think it may not be possible to register again. And this could be a very recent development. Amazon usually sends an email warning when an older device will no longer work, but maybe this was not intentional. I never realized that so much of the function depended on the registration, as if it were an Echo device!
I do have a collection of APKs saved so at least I won't need to re-download, but because I have so many apps, it would still be a lot of work to set things up from scratch, especially since I don't think it will work. I don't think my system is corrupted. Just de-registered. A soft reset (long-press of power button) did not help. Again this just happened by itself -- I had not added anything new or did any updates. So it is not likely that my install got messed up.
I'm always confused when people mention "Google Apps" -- if that means the Play Store and its dependencies, then yes, I have that. But I did not install GMail or Docs or Drive, etc. I minimize using Google things on this phone.
About the screws, eBay may have them. eBay has almost everything.
Ninja000 said:
No problem! "Sharing is caring" :laugh:
Yeah I like it too! I wish it was still supported by Amazon, but the bad press killed it.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it is just extremely difficult for "alternative" phone systems to survive, which is soooo sad, because I like interesting variety. I also love Meego, and Windows 10 Mobile. Meego had just one model (it was from Nokia, not released in the U.S.; it was planned to be the Nokia successor for their older Symbian OS). Well, maybe FireOS is not truly "variety" because it is after all essentially Android, but much less messy or annoying, in my opinion. I really like how the Settings are organized. And I like the Carousel, especialy how nicely it works with the built-in apps like weather and email. Being basically Android, it actually had the best chance of survival out of the "Alternatives." It could use most of the same apps as a "real" Android.
The reason for quick death are probably multi-faceted but my guess is the problems with the earliest version of the OS were the most serious thing. And that led to the bad press, so you are correct, that is what did it. I got mine after the "fire sale" and by then the system was much nicer, with the most annoying or serious issues all fixed, so I only read about the early issues. I feel terrible for the (former) Amazon employees who put a huge amount of effort into this thing. (Like Meego, too!) And the hardware is still very nice, better than my Fire Tablet that is much newer. I really thought it would last me for years, for the sorts of things I used it for. (Another thing I liked to do is control my Squeezbox music streaming devices. And listen to podcasts. Things like that.) There are so many uses for an older device. And I enjoyed this one.
Since at the very minimum this device is a Kindle book reader and Amazon music player, Amazon loses by not providing some bare-minimum support for it. My first Kindle e-Reader from 2011 still works great. But my guess is, the number of people still using this phone is super low. Which is why I was happy to see your post!
dini77 said:
Thanks for all of your advice!! Very much appreciated. I tried one of them right away, which is to check My Devices on the Amazon site, but the phone is no longer listed (it used to be). So that only lists registered devices. Once it is de-registered, it is not considered to be my device. But, you are correct that Amazon customer service may possibly help, because if you buy a device from Amazon, it usually automatically gets registered to you (unless you say it is a gift), and that automatic registration is probably done via some code on the device box probably its serial # (that is, they don't register it by messing with the actual device, I'm guessing). But to be honest I'm not too hopeful about this. But something to try.
Before you replied, I started a new thread on this, mostly to warn people not to de-register their devices, because I think it may not be possible to register again. And this could be a very recent development. Amazon usually sends an email warning when an older device will no longer work, but maybe this was not intentional. I never realized that so much of the function depended on the registration, as if it were an Echo device!
I do have a collection of APKs saved so at least I won't need to re-download, but because I have so many apps, it would still be a lot of work to set things up from scratch, especially since I don't think it will work. I don't think my system is corrupted. Just de-registered. A soft reset (long-press of power button) did not help. Again this just happened by itself -- I had not added anything new or did any updates. So it is not likely that my install got messed up.
I'm always confused when people mention "Google Apps" -- if that means the Play Store and its dependencies, then yes, I have that. But I did not install GMail or Docs or Drive, etc. I minimize using Google things on this phone.
About the screws, eBay may have them. eBay has almost everything.
I think it is just extremely difficult for "alternative" phone systems to survive, which is soooo sad, because I like interesting variety. I also love Meego, and Windows 10 Mobile. Meego had just one model (it was from Nokia, not released in the U.S.; it was planned to be the Nokia successor for their older Symbian OS). Well, maybe FireOS is not truly "variety" because it is after all essentially Android, but much less messy or annoying, in my opinion. I really like how the Settings are organized. And I like the Carousel, especialy how nicely it works with the built-in apps like weather and email. Being basically Android, it actually had the best chance of survival out of the "Alternatives." It could use most of the same apps as a "real" Android.
The reason for quick death are probably multi-faceted but my guess is the problems with the earliest version of the OS were the most serious thing. And that led to the bad press, so you are correct, that is what did it. I got mine after the "fire sale" and by then the system was much nicer, with the most annoying or serious issues all fixed, so I only read about the early issues. I feel terrible for the (former) Amazon employees who put a huge amount of effort into this thing. (Like Meego, too!) And the hardware is still very nice, better than my Fire Tablet that is much newer. I really thought it would last me for years, for the sorts of things I used it for. (Another thing I liked to do is control my Squeezbox music streaming devices. And listen to podcasts. Things like that.) There are so many uses for an older device. And I enjoyed this one.
Since at the very minimum this device is a Kindle book reader and Amazon music player, Amazon loses by not providing some bare-minimum support for it. My first Kindle e-Reader from 2011 still works great. But my guess is, the number of people still using this phone is super low. Which is why I was happy to see your post!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I completely agree. I got mine for $199 and a year of Amazon Prime included made the phone basically $99. ? I happened to think of one more possibility. Maybe there is an Amazon Fire ?services app (like Google services) or account manager app that got automatically updated by your Google Play store, or even replaced by a version off the Play store that led to this issue, because like I mentioned mine is actually still working aside from the Amazon Shopping app, and some apps that require a newer google services to get notifications.
I actually had flashed several different Roms on this phone and yeah the stock (but updated) Fire OS 4.6.6.1 is definitely the best. --Amazon account registration is part of the initial setup BTW, so factory reset might work.
I made the jump over to iOS after experiencing the Android 7&8 difficulties on a few other devices and battery gate with Samsung phones. Now I am experiencing a crapy battery life issue with my iPhones. My Fire Phone is from 2014, original battery and still has better battery life than even my iPhone XS Max. Wow ? So yeah, there is something to Fire OS being so light that makes it probably just about the best OS for a phone. The last time I flashed back to stock I used a ROM from this website, but I don’t remember what thread that’s on. I think it’s in the Cyanogen 11 Rom thread for this device. Maybe try flashing that. And you could actually (if you don’t mind losing the storage space) create a backup Rom from your current one, then make a new slot in twrp or whatever it’s called and have the other Rom installed on there. Then check to see if it’s possible to register on that version. If it doesn’t work, no big deal you will still have your backup rom with all your data. If it does work, then you could transfer your stuff over via usb. That would save you quite a bit of time incase it decides not to work. You can do a root and install the other rom right from your fire phone these days. That’s a bonus.
What happens when you open Amazon Instant Video? Does it ask you for a loggin? That would be awesome. BTW My Kindle Fire HX 7 is still working great too, just starting to slow down a bit. I also have a 6" Fire HD. I really agree Fire OS is super clean and alot of modern OS's are not that great and way too heavy for what most people need, especially on mobile devices.
Thanks again for your advice, especially since I will almost certainly end up flashing this thing. I have done a lot of "phone hacking" in the past -- even back in flip phone days -- but it is very time consuming and I'm super busy now. But it is kind of fun. So, maybe later.
I did not have Google Play (or any app store, on any of my devices) to be set to automatically update apps. Tho I think the store itself and its dependencies may still update, even if my apps don't, and I can't control that. And sometimes my setting to not automatically update is "reset" when a google component is updated. So it is conceivable that something got automatically updated and that caused my issue. I did have to reset the "do not update" setting.
I'm curious to see if anyone else has this issue, because if no, then you are right, I should just re-flash. I downloaded the latest Fire OS a while ago -- I collect stuff like that because you never know when it will be no longer readily available. So the phone is definitely not dead -- and it is nice that I have options for how to set it up. I'm glad to have the community contributions for that -- I did read thru those hacking posts.
I bought a spare battery a little while ago because I was worried they would be hard to get once I need one. But my currently installed battery, the original, is very satisfactory. So definitely I'll keep using this nice phone for a while.
dini77 said:
Thanks again for your advice, especially since I will almost certainly end up flashing this thing. I have done a lot of "phone hacking" in the past -- even back in flip phone days -- but it is very time consuming and I'm super busy now. But it is kind of fun. So, maybe later.
I did not have Google Play (or any app store, on any of my devices) to be set to automatically update apps. Tho I think the store itself and its dependencies may still update, even if my apps don't, and I can't control that. And sometimes my setting to not automatically update is "reset" when a google component is updated. So it is conceivable that something got automatically updated and that caused my issue. I did have to reset the "do not update" setting.
I'm curious to see if anyone else has this issue, because if no, then you are right, I should just re-flash. I downloaded the latest Fire OS a while ago -- I collect stuff like that because you never know when it will be no longer readily available. So the phone is definitely not dead -- and it is nice that I have options for how to set it up. I'm glad to have the community contributions for that -- I did read thru those hacking posts.
I bought a spare battery a little while ago because I was worried they would be hard to get once I need one. But my currently installed battery, the original, is very satisfactory. So definitely I'll keep using this nice phone for a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was just thinking of going back to this phone as my primary phone. My problem is trying to get Micro G or something to work, for spoofing google services, because I want to use some apps that require google services, else they won't receive notifications. I also found on app I use, it's Korean, Kakaotalk is not receiving notifications when closed anymore. I haven't figured out why yet. Saw another thread about notifications on 3rd party apps not working, but didn't see a solution. I would also like to see a camera upgrade (4k video) and maybe a speaker upgrade and storage would be nice, but obviously that would require some soldering that I'm not willing to do, but maybe if I had a few doner phones would try it.:laugh: happy thanksgiving by the way!
I just went back to a Nokia N9 as my primary, at least for voice and weather and such basics (MeeGo OS, and battery lasts for days, good quality voice, nice small size, does not crash, etc). But I have my iPad and iPhone SE (the older model) always turned on so that covers all my needs. So, it is perfectly fine to use an old phone as primary so long as you have another device to supplement what the primary lacks. The Fire Phone would also make a primary. Tho in my experience it is not as stable. The "mishap" in this thread was not my first serious hiccup. See also the thread on all apps crashing if they require the address book (including the phone). That one is serious and reoccurs. (I think it is caused by having a very large number of apps on the phone. Usually fixed when I delete one of the larger apps.) So in other words at least with the original OS, stability is an issue. Maybe the custom firmware on this board is more stable.
Have a great thanksgiving!

NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV Box Review Or: How I learned to dislike the Shield TV

I’d like to start off by saying some of these views are totally personal to me, and how I use these kind of boxes day to day. I have been looking at the NVIDIA Shield TV 16gb model, with the controller and remote.
The Shield TV is right at the top of list of Android TV boxes, it has the spec and the features to make it a future proof Android TV box. The Tegra X1 makes it incredibly fast and snappy. I found myself clicking around with ease, without a single stutter.
The initial setup was easy, once turned on, I did a couple of updates and was logged straight into the Shield TV home screen. This leanback launcher can only be controlled with the “dpad” on either the controller or the remote. There are various rows, including suggestions, Nvidia apps and your own downloaded apps. The suggestion row is bizarre, as I have no idea what the recommendations are based on. I can alter what sources are used (Youtube, Google TV/Movies etc), but the recommendation engine isn’t very good.
Installing apps is easy, but this may be due to the lack of apps you can download. I found very little of my daily driver apps to download, and had to resort to second or even third rate alternatives. This isn’t really NVIDIA’s fault, as this is more an issue with Android TV. Apps have to be compatible and made for the “leanback” generation. Apps like Solid Explorer, TTorrent, and Transdroid are always installed on any Android box, but I was unable to here.
There are ways around these app limitations, involving sideloading, and alternative launchers. But I just want to install an app and use it, I don’t want to have to turn around the box so it’s facing east, wait till the time includes a 9 and then chant whilst installing an APK file! This may be a slight exaggeration though.
Though I was happy to see Kodi and SPMC were compatible. Though SPMC is the only one which utilising the passthrough audio correctly. So I installed SPMC, and plugged in my external HDD and started updating. Now came another issue, I always delete the files via SPMC after watching, and set it to physically delete the file. This has worked on even the worst Android boxes, but on the Shield TV it didn’t. The app would “delete”, yet when I went back and updated, the show/movie came back. After some Googling I found this was a common problem for a lot of people.
I ended up installing one of the two FTP servers on the TV app store, and connected via FTP. Selected the file, delete, but just got back an error! This again was a widely reported issue, and I ended up having to install ES File Explorer (Ugh!) and delete the file that way. Finally I was able to do it. But this was after a couple of hours of research. That was one of the big nails in the coffin for me.
I even reported this to the NVIDIA support team, and they weren’t very helpful. I was passed around a lot, and was sent to level 2 support about 3 times, only to be told to do something I had initially told support I had done!
I am so glad I got the box with the remote, as I was getting annoying navigating around with the bulky controller. I would of liked the remote to be included, and the controller to be sold separately, though I can see why as there is the gaming element.
Now speaking of games, I was massively impressed with the SHIELD games app. There is a long list of games you can play, some for free and some have to be purchases, you check them all out here shield.nvidia.com/games/android
Playing Batman Arkham City, I didn’t notice a single bit of lag in the controls. They were quick and easy to pick up, and felt just like a console game. This alone is a great feature, and I would totally buy a lower priced box, if it just offered this feature and nothing else.
I was happy to see that the thumb sticks on the controller could act like a mouse, but only on some apps. This was my next issue, I use an app called TTorrent, as it does exactly what I want, but this cannot be navigated with the remote or the controller. So now I had to get a bluetooth mouse, which works, but I am now using 3 bloody controllers to navigate one box. Why not give the remote air mouse properties, and then everything would be great.
If they released just a console version of this, for £129 then I would probably buy it. But for what I used my Android boxes for, and how I use them, this box is just too restricted to work into my life. That’s not to say it won’t be awesome for the other 99% of the people out there, this is just my opinion.
http://droidhorizon.com/nvidia-shield-android-tv-box-review/
I cant tell you how many cuss word filled rants I've started typing in the google and nvidia feedback activities expressing many of these same feelings. Sometimes I even avoid messing with it altogether just to prevent the rage I feel about some of the implementations (or deliberate omittance of) by google who for whatever reason decided to cripple these devices with whatever nonsense ideas they have in their heads when they are making their decisions about what the "leanback" experience should be like. Maybe it makes a little sense to limit some parts of Android Auto but I cant believe what I'm seeing in my living room. Its absurd. Then I just delete it like a good end user and try to focus on the things that it does do really well. The device itself is awesome but being a tinkerer makes for a lot of frustration and it totally blows my mind seeing what I think is a perfect example of the direction I think google intends to take with the Android OS

[APK Request] Apple TV and Amazon App Store

Hi!
As I have no access to the FireTV Amazon App Store, I would like to request two apk's. The first one is the Amazon App Store-app from FireTV, and the second one is the newly released official Apple TV-app available for Amazon FireTV. Are anyone able to extract those two for me?
Thanks in advance!
Also waiting on these. Have 12 months free Apple TV but no way to play on TV
---------- Post added at 02:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:47 PM ----------
So managed to put an old version on the Shield to get past the verification and then it tells me that I don't own this app (referring to Apple TV) and then it takes you to the app page on the App Store which tells you that the device isn't compatible. Looks like there isn't a way to bypass the check currently
Could we use this method? /fire-tv/help/bbc-iplayer-sideloaded-app-owned-error-t3315474/amp/
Found it with five minutes of googling
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/apple...-tv-fire-tv-variant-1-2-android-apk-download/
Ravetcofx said:
Found it with five minutes of googling
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem is it says you do not own this app when trying to run.
Can anyone patch this?
Too Fresh said:
Problem is it says you do not own this app when trying to run.
Can anyone patch this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Install the phone/tablet Amazon Appstore app on TV/settop box.
2) Open app & sign in with your Amazon credentials
3) With your computer, or desktop mode on phone/tablet browser, visit this site: https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Inc-TV/dp/B07XDD7GYT/
4) Hit "Get App" icon, signing in if needed. Even though it says it is not compatible with any devices, it will still allow the 'purchase.' Let it continue, and you should see a confirmation text towards the top of the page that you now own the app.
5) Return to TV/settop box & run the app again.
Now I haven't used this update yet, but there may yet still be problems actually logging in with Apple ID.
ADDENDUM: This version checks build.prop so it likely won't work in anything but a compatible Fire TV model. This won't be an easy fix, and such a fix may require root.
Sent from my HD1905 using Tapatalk
GenesisDH said:
1) Install the phone/tablet Amazon Appstore app on TV/settop box.
2) Open app & sign in with your Amazon credentials
3) With your computer, or desktop mode on phone/tablet browser, visit this site:
4) Hit "Get App" icon, signing in if needed. Even though it says it is not compatible with any devices, it will still allow the 'purchase.' Let it continue, and ypu should see a confirmation text towards the top of the page that you now own the app.
5) Return to TV/settop box & run the app again.
Now I haven't used this update yet, but there may get still be problems actually logging in with Apple ID. I plan to try in a while.
Sent from my HD1905 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the instructions. I seem to have gotten closer but now run into a new error.
“To use Apple TV app, please install the latest fire tv software version in settings”
I’m using the Fire TV (first gen) with the newest software on it currently. Any idea on how to bypass this? (Some reason they decided to not give access to Apple TV on the 1st gen)
Too Fresh said:
Thanks for the instructions. I seem to have gotten closer but now run into a new error.
“To use Apple TV app, please install the latest fire tv software version in settings”
I’m using the Fire TV (first gen) with the newest software on it currently. Any idea on how to bypass this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First gen Fire TV... I don't believe first gens are supported. Only Fire TV Stick 2nd Gen, and the Fire Stick 4K.
It might work with the 3rd gen, TV Cube or TV Editions, but do not know.
It appears to be looking at the build.prop (or maybe the Fire OS build version) upon launch, which you can't easily modify without root access. So it looks coded to fail if it isn't a supported device.
Sent from my HD1905 using Tapatalk
The link above and attached is good
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/apple-inc/
The snag for me was that i had an Apple ID but that is not enough. You must open an iTunes account too. Once that was done I was in. Then, I was underwhelmed. Nothing new there except for the Jason Mamoa flick "See". You can watch two episodes free and then must pay. I passed.
After jumping the hoops it runs fine on my Cube 2 that is going back after my new Shield Pro arrives tomorrow. My second Cube 2 continually stalls like the first. Cannot duplicate the behavior on Stick 4k, Cube 1, Roku HD, Roku Stick 4k, and LG WebOS 3.5. YTTV, Netflix, Showtime, all stall. Nice that Fire now supports YTTV and Dis+ but too late for me. Tired of jumping from platform to platform. Cube 2 would have done it finally for me but tired of restarting programs. My Harmony Hub has HBO Now issues with the Cube 2 too. Select/OK doesn't work. Weird. Too many moving parts.
Has anybody managed to get this to work on Nvidia Shield without rooting it to change build.prop?
(And I assume that changing build.prop has the potential to break other things as well).

Need help: I have a rooted 5th gen, but lost "Kindle" app itself.

Years ago I rooted my 5th Generation Kindle Fire (2015) by using a thread on this very forum.
I am not really a developer and don't really mess around with programming stuff in general so I really rely on your good advice and expertise.
I have Google Play, SuperSU, System App Remover, Root Checker, Chrome, Firefox, etc. already installed on my rooted Kindle.
Well as I kept this Kindle from updating, most of the Amazon apps themselves have become useless (including Prime Video AND the Amazon shopping app itself- which I get a message to just use a browser. I didn't mind doing this for either Amazon service.) (In fact, I kind of hate the AppStore from Amazon)
But I still liked my "Kindle" [Fire] as a Kindle e-reader. (especially for all the Amazon specific content that I both own and borrow from public libraries -Overdrive, etc. I have [Google] Play Books, and ReadEra installed on the device too, but like I said Amazon just has more content. (and since I have a Prime account, I won't "lose" my bought books even if I can not currently access them via this device)
Yesterday I stupidly got pissed off at the "Kindle" app and tried to update it. Which then made it crash. So I tried to download the "Kindle App for Android" off of Google Play which also crashes. Then I (under bad advice) removed the whole Kindle system app from the device (using System App Remover) AND (also under bad advice) when I rebooted the device, that file that was in the recycle bin was gone.
I have tried using an APK site for an older version of "Kindle App for Android" which also does not work.
So now I am looking for help doing one of two things:
1.) Either get the original Kindle [system] app back on this device (which I am not stoked about)
Or
2.) what would probably be preferred at this point: change the whole OS to some form of Andriod OS that will accept the "Kindle App for Android" app (even a older version)
BUT in my research of how to do this option, every forum I have found (including wikihow.com & thepolyglotdeveloper.com has only given instructions of how to do this by starting over completely. Do I really need to start over completely as my Kindle is already (and is still currently) rooted?
I would be happy to give anyone more specific information to help me in my quest. (Quick! before my Overdrive book is due back to the library!)
Thank you in advance for any advice or redirection to existing threads/articles you can give me.
All my attempts to "heal" my Kindle app have failed.
So now I am on to just installing a new OS/ROM and going from there.
Thank you to all those who helped me.

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