How to Play Flash on Kindle Fire HD / HDX. Step-by-Step guide to install Flash video for Youtube and other Flash-driven websites. Network TV full-episode changes. UPDATED Nov.27, 2013

How to install flash to play flash videos on Kindle Fire HDX and HD devices, for Youtube and websites using Flash

This blog article, updated November 26, 2013, is a companion article to How to Install non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fire HD.

  NOTE: - The current update has to do with (1) a recommendation of an older Dolphin browser version for the HDX line + advice on downloading the specific flash app-file recommended for Kindle HD and HDX (and Nexus tablets) and with (2) the Network TV Full Episodes being available in dedicated app form now, with the Networks favoring their own apps for mobile-device watching (probably having to do with ad statistics) and restricting mobile-device access on web video versions.

  Where Dolphin web browser tended to work with a "user agent" setting of "Desktop" mode instead of "Android" in those cases, that workaround has been hampered by some new Network processes.

  The upside, of course, is that Network TV full episodes are now easily watchable via their dedicated apps, some of which are at Amazon's appstore and those that aren't can be downloaded by using 1mobile.com's appstore.
  (1Mobile now has over 500,000 apps available from GooglePlay, athough you'd search there for the NBC TV or CBS TV apps having the usual network logos and showing the highest number of downloads -- or you can just view and match their icons, app names and version #'s with the apps that are listed on GooglePlay itself.)

  TIP: Amazon's own browser can now handle NBC Full Episodes website video! (Nice job, Kindle Team.)

  TIP 2: Amazon's own browser currently handles Youtube well by taking you to the mobile version of that site, showing you a small version of the video selected from a search and, when you click on one, shows you a full screen version of it in decent quality w/o your needing to change (via a long-press) the Youtube video gear-wheel setting at the right-bottom of a video, to change the video quality.

  Youtube's mobile area was completely rewritten by Youtube to use HTML5 rather than Flash and in the recent past sometimes had a somewhat smaller selection of videos, but they are very similar now.  Amazon works with the HTML5 via their new experimental Flash-replacement streamer, which will be described further below.

  NOTE: The quality of streaming will be affected by the speed of your Internet connection.  Providers of DSL home Internet access usually use a default, first-tier lower speed that's often about 1/6th the speed of cablemodem speeds, so if you love to watch Internet streamed material via WiFi network connections in your home, I do recommend cablemodem access like Comcast's.

  Apps already carried at Amazon's appstore:
  WatchABC, which includes viewing of LIVE ABC programs rather than just after the fact, is quite a boon and is much more stable now after some updates.  (I think that CBS app (available at 1mobile.com) requires a 5-day delay.)  Also carried at Amazon is "Xfinity TV" app, which Comcast users use for "On Demand" offerings.
  Amazon's appstore also carries PBS, Smithsonian TV apps, and other TV apps.  If you Search the Amazon store for "TV" you'll also see apps for Discovery; History; WatchESPN; RAI; and several others.
  But then there's always Amazon Instant Prime viewing, which now includes downloadable files for watching offline, and Amazon keeps adding exclusive material on that feature while providing optional X-Ray background info on actors in the scene you're watching.

  Sidenote: One of my favorite new features is playing a favorite mp3 song from the Cloud or downloaded to my device and seeing the new x-ray'd lyrics scrolling down, with the current line highlighted.

TIP 3: - Amazon's new HDX tablets provide what has been described by major tech-site reviewers as the fastest and smoothest experience on tablets today (I still haven't done a report on all that but will), and if multmedia files are your focus and you want them accessible on your device to play offline, get a device with more storage than 16 GB.
  I didn't want to pay a few hundred dollars for a multimedia tablet and wind up feeling constrained (as I also have a lot of photos on mine), so I got the 64GB one and love the freedom from worrying about space, Cloud or no Cloud.
  I think of it as a built-in SD card space.  Still, a 32GB tablet will be enough for many multimedia users though.

When shopping different makers and models and analyzing costs, note that a key competing tablet will cost an additional $100 to get to each higher level of storage space - to 32 and to 64GB - and that one does not play Flash on web sites created with Flash.

ADOBE and Flash Support
In October 2012, Youtube and other Flash video no longer worked on Kindle HD and other newer Android devices like the Nexus tablet line, because Adobe stopped supporting Flash on later models of mobile devices.

  The workaround was to use a web browser that supports an Adobe flash player file that works with later mobile devices.  (Since all this No-Flash drama happened, Amazon has been working on its own workaround, at Youtube and with a growing number of web sites.)

  Many of us are able to view, using Amazon's own default Silk web browser, some of the main Flash-playing sites, even for network TV full episodes now, as mentioned, as Kindle Team has been working on Amazon's Experimental Streaming Viewer which works with a limited number of sites, but they are large, popular ones, and Amazon is expanding the number of websites that will be able to work with it.

  Here's my earlier introduction to the Experimental Streaming Viewer, with some initial tips that will help, though there may be some added web-browser setting changes needed via the browser menu for some.
  A key step is to enable "Accelerate page loading" setting in the Silk web browser menu (it's now the default setting on the HDX tablets), which automatically turns 'ON' the Advenced Setting of "Prompt for experimental streaming viewer."

Back to the Google-owned Youtube:  Here's a brief history of THAT dilemma brought on by Adobe's dropping of Flash support.
A Kindle support rep encouraged customer Daryl R. Budd in October 2012 to download the Dolphin browser, which had been a common recommendation of Kindle owners who are regulars on the Amazon Kindle forums.

  Adobe announcement about ending support for Flash Player on mobile browsers.
  Despite Adobe's decision, there were some browsers that supported the final Flash Player file that still ran fine on mobile devices for Android systems up to v4.1 (Kindle Fire HD was using v4.03), and that file was made available on a developers forum for devices like the older Google Nexus and the Kindle Fire HD.

  As time went on, the Nexus was upgraded again, and XDA developers had to find another Flash Player file that would work with it (which also works for the Kindle Fire HD and HDX).  The Adobe site HAS this in their "Archived" files area.  The Amazon Kindle Forum regulars have relied on the XDA Developer Site for the latest working file to be tested by knowledgeable XDA forum members and offered for download.

  Over the last year, Youtube's videos have worked sporadically for various devices, with intermittent Flash compatability with browsers using special Flash files, while Youtube developers worked to provide full HTML5 support (the eventual Flash replacement on all websites that keep up to date) in place of Flash.

  Amazon has now been able to improve Experimental Streaming Viewer so that Youtube videos can be viewed without any special work on the part of the user.

  (Just be sure to look at your web menu Settings option and choose to use that experimental feature by checking that box.)

  Amazon does take you to the mobile version of Youtube as described above.  You see a large thumbnail of the video you're about to play and when you click on that, it plays full screen and automatically in HD if the video was done in HD and if your Internet connection is fast enough.


WORKAROUND and Step-by-Step GUIDE, for sites that need the Flash-player workaround
  Per Amazon's Kindle Forum discussions, Kindle Fire HD and HDX owners are using, as needed, three files that provide a good workaround, the same 3 files that Google Nexus owners need to get Flash video on Youtube since the Adobe Flash (Non)Support travails.

  Re those three files, linked below, FIRST do the following:
STEPS: (based on *~*Pineapple*~*'s guide from the forums:

Do the following on the Kindle Fire HD or Kindle Fire HDX tablets:

• Go to the 'Home' screen.
• Swipe down (lightly pressing and pulling down) from the top of the screen.
• That gets you the Quick Settings Menu.
• Click on "More" at the top right.
• Go down the Settings list to "Device" and click on that.
• Choose to "Allow Installation of Applications From unknown sources."

Installation files end in ".apk" ...

Then download and tap to install, to your Kindle Fire 2/HD, the files at the following links, with your new Kindle Fire HD or HDX tablet:

1. the free file manager app, ES File Explorer
   
     [It's ALSO useful, in case of an install problem to get Easy Installer app, which can do a search for install-files and then shows them to you so that you can choose which one to install.
       Be sure to check Easy Installer's top-right Menu
         (3 vertical squares),
       click on 'Setting' and check the 'Scan Hidden Directories' box.]
   
   
2. the specific Adobe Flash file offered at XDA Developers Forum Please read recommended alternate source just below.
   
     The XDA Developers Forum file links now lead to strange ad-crazy pages, one of which asks for your credit card info and one of which promises racy pictures.
     So, since the actual recommended file uploaded by XDA forum's "Recognized Contributor" stempox is the Flash File version that ends with ".27" and that file is directly available at Adobe's Archives with no download fuss:
     Here is the general Adobe Archive page for Flash Player files, and, more to the point, here's the direct Adobe link to that same file (Flash Player 11.1.for Android 4.0 (11.1.115.27) in Adobe's own archives.
   
     Also:
   


3. Here's the Dolphin browser (v8.5.1), identified in the forum post as "APK Download," which supports that specific Adobe Flash Player file.

   (I've, in the past, used the most recent Dolphin browser HD (v10.0.3), with the earlier Yr 2012 Kindle HD as that had worked well for me with the older special Adobe Flash Player file.)
     HOWEVER, on the HDX 8.9" tablet I have, the older v8.5.1 Dolphin browser file, linked to above, works more smoothly with the current recommended Adobe Flash Player file.
   
   (If you want the the latest Dolphin browser despite that, you can get it from 1mobile -- To use any android appstore, you just download its store app, which will work like the Amazon store app).  The Dolphin makers continue to update that browser; HOWEVER, the one file that's recommended at the Amazon Kindle forum is the v8.5.1 linked to above, so it's better to just get v8.5.1 linked above to be sure, especially with the HDX tablet)

Once an install file (.apk) downloads, you'll receive a Notification that it's been downloaded.  Then, do the following:

When you receive notification that the Adobe Flash Player is downloaded, run or launch the ES File Explorer app if the Amazon Silk browser doesn't do it automatically.   So, ONLY IF needed:

1.   Use ES Explorer file manager to look in the "Download" folder
       if an app doesn't auto-install.
2.   You should see the Dolphin HD browser icon.
3.   Tap it to install the browser.
4.   If needed, do the same for the Adobe Flash Player file.

Dolphin HD Browser settings

When you've launched the browser, the usual Android Menu icon (it's square and looks like an air conditioner or a washboard) can be tapped to bring up several options.

1. Tap on "More" (it has 3 lines).
   
2. Then tap on the 3rd option, which is "Settings."
   
3. Go down to "Web Content" and tap "Flash Player" -- the choices are:
   • Always on (videos will auto-run - easiest but it'll slow down some page loads and sometimes Flash routines will cause crashes, one reason Steve Jobs hated it).
     
   • On Demand (You'll tap a blank rectangle -- or one with a down-arrow in it -- to have it run only when you want that.)
     
   • Off (I see no reason to use this.)
4. Other settings - ones I use, in case you wonder what might work:
     . Auto-fit Pages: ON
     . Default Zoom: 200% (Close up)
     . Open Pages in Overview: ON

ALSO, make sure Javascript setting, just below Flash, is On or Enabled.

Then, after installing the app files and making sure that the Flash setting is set to run Flash either Always or On Demand, you'll be able to switch to the Dolphin HD browser app when needing to see a video requiring Flash.

Very interesting additional Dolphin setting:
Getting back to the Main Settings page list, the FIRST one is "User Agent"   I tend to use "Desktop" there because I hate ugly, oversimplified mobile-device optimized pages, which are built for small smartphones.

 The webpages you visit with the tablet will tend to know you're a visiting Android, or Android device :-) and sometimes will not run Flash as a result.

  For example, SOME TV video pages will actually not allow videos to run on Android devices but will allow them to run for "Desktop" devices or on iPads.  This is where you can camouflage your device as a a 'Desktop' or iPad  :-)
  Remember to change it back when needing to use the Android setting though.

Troubleshooting.   Restarts - I had an HD Youtube video close on me one night in October 2012 after a few seconds.  Twice, after I'd been running the browser with many tabs open.   When quite a bit has been run on a tablet, sometimes memory gets fragmented and there's not enough to hold what's needed in 'contiguous' mode and then an app will close.

  In case that might be the reason, I just powered off the device from the Home page, which will clean up the memory the same way our computers do upon power-off or restart.  After doing that, I had no problems with that same 9-minute Youtube High Definition video and played it full-screen a few times, using the Dolphin browser and the Adobe Flash Player file that members of the Kindle forums recommend.

Other app stores that are recommended when Amazon does not have a particular app   Besides 1mobile.com, popular ones are androiddrawer.com, m.getjar.com, iapktop.com slideme.org, handango.com, and others.  As with any appwstore, you can search for an app and download it to the tablet.   This is because Amazon has always allowed the option of installing appication files "from unknown sources" despite what you'll read on large tech sites (for reasons I don't understand, since they spend space talking about 'rooting' the tablets or doing 'modifications' on them and the normal mode requires none of that.  Just a checkmark on a box.

I always recommend though that people wait a few days before getting apps from any other sites, to see if anyone is having problems with malware (even at Google Play market, when Google allows access, but Google doesn't acknowledge Kindle Fire devices).  Google doesn't take as much time to vet apps as Amazon does, to test for both malware or incompatability.

  Amazon's appstore should be supported though.   Of course, if Amazon carries the app, it's definitely best to get it from Amazon because Amazon does a strong vetting of the apps they offer and because it's the way they make revenue from (now the highest-quality hardware) tablets sold at cost.   They also keep a copy of the app in your Amazon Cloud area, which is useful when you are getting another Kindle tablet or if you just need to re-install the file.  I think it's important to support the Amazon Android appstore, but I also think it's important that Amazon make more good apps available to us at a faster pace, and maybe they should have a suggestion box for the more popular requests.

The actual ADOBE statement on Flash Player support (or not) for types of tablets. Also, the Android versions involved
 The Kindle Fire HDs are currently using Android v4.03, and the HDX's OS 3.x is a heavy customization of Android Jelly Bean v4.2.2.  The Google Nexus uses v4.3.x.

  Adobe: "The easiest way to ensure ongoing access to Flash Player on Android 4.0 or earlier devices is to use certified devices and ensure that the Flash Player is either pre-installed by the manufacturer or installed from Google Play Store before August 15th [2012].   If a device is upgraded from Android 4.0 to Android 4.1, the current version of Flash Player may exhibit unpredictable behavior, as it is not certified for use with Android 4.1. [Nexus]   [Discovered by josh1120 of the Kindle Forums]

  "Future updates to Flash Player will not work.  We recommend uninstalling Flash Player on devices which have been upgraded to Android 4.1."

  As we've seen, Adobe seems to be reluctantly providing SOME support via their archived file versions.

SHORTCUT Links for this blog article that will be easier to remember:
  http://bit.ly/kfhdflash
    OR   http://bit.ly/how-to-install-flash-player-on-kindle-fire-hd

---

RELATED posts on Kindle Fire HDs which are useful also for the Kindle Fire HDX line (descriptions of Kindle 7" features will apply to the 8.9" models also).

  . Getting non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fires
    (The basic models of each Kindle Fire tablet line
      have storage space limitations though.)
  . Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire,
      via enabling one device setting
  . Downloading and playing YouTube videos on Kindle Fire HD.
     Also, TubeMate app for Youtube will download videos to play on your Kindle Fire,
      and BSPlayer app will play almost ANY video format.
  . Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses
  . Add Wi-Drive pocketable disk/stream'g for Kindle models
      and for other tablet or phone devices,
      or, Portable wireless 320G Patriot Gauntlet drive/stream'g for 7" & 8.9" devices.
  . App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

For reference, here is the Current Global Listing of available Kindle devices.

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

Read More

Kindle Fire HDX and HD2 Tips: Software updates adding some promised features for the new tablets are here - v11.3.1, v13.3.1, and v14.3.1. Details added. Also, a Miracast adapter recommended by Amazon. And new customization of personalized Kindle covers announced.

SOFTWARE UPDATES for promised additional features for the KINDLE FIRE HDX's and the new 7" HD 2nd Gen

Amazon has made a software update available as of today for the new HDX line and for the new Kindle Fire Basic 7", which is called "HD 2nd Gen" (which replaces last year's basic Kindle Fire that had no HD, no camera, and no HDMI-out and which sold, retail, for $159).

Most of the new features added in this update group are described below, and they also include the usual general improvements as well as the mentioned feature enhancements.

  One neat feature not mentioned in the software-download pages, but noted in the press release, is the addition of Voice Dictation.
  "Voice dictation converts your speech to text -- available in all languages when online; offline support available in US English"

  In addition to the Voice Dictation feature, some other features mentioned in Amazon's press release but not detailed on the update pages include the following:

  "New accessibility enhancements that enable blind and visually impaired customers to save a separate accessibility profile for children in Kindle FreeTime, scroll lists automatically when swipe navigating, hear enhanced sound feedback and screen orientation changes announced, and have more control when editing text and navigating web content."

  "Dozens more new features, performance and battery life improvements, and bug fixes."

These updates will be delivered wirelessly as usual in a distribution over a few weeks -- but if you'd rather get them now, you can do a manual update by downloading the software and updating your device via USB cable.  Here are direct links to the software-update pages for the 3 tablets involved (emphases are mine):

  Update Page for Kindle Fire HD 7" 2nd Gen
  Update Page for Kindle Fire HDX 7"
  Update Page for Kindle Fire HDX 8.9"

The main added features described on the update pages (shown below) are the same for all three tablet models except that the sentence under the "Enterprise" category on the HDX 7" update page inadvertently omits "Protect secure data on your Kindle Fire with device encryption tools" although the feature IS included in the described features for the lower cost HD 7" 2nd Gen tablet.  So, that would just be an oversight.

* Find and share books with Goodreads
Goodreads on Kindle lets you connect with the Goodreads community to follow friends and see what they are reading, and share and rate books on your Kindle Fire.

* Organize your content with Cloud Collections [Long requested]
Organize your content library into collections like "Favorite Books" and "Sports Apps" that are synchronized with compatible Kindle devices and reading apps.

* Watch movies and TV shows on another device with Second Screen
Fling movies and TV shows from your Kindle Fire to your 2013 Samsung Smart TV or PlayStation 3 using Second Screen.

* Learn more about books with Smart Lookup
With the Smart Lookup feature, you can quickly look up words in the dictionary or Wikipedia or translate text in a book.

* Print from your Kindle Fire [Built-in support instead of dependence on an external app]
Print Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents, photos, e-mails, calendar events, and contact information from your Kindle Fire to a printer that supports mobile printing.

* Free up storage space with 1-Tap Archive
With 1-Tap Archive, your Kindle Fire groups all content that has not been used recently so you can move it to the Cloud with just one tap.

* Enhanced enterprise features [See Note above]
Protect secure data on your Kindle Fire with device encryption tools, manage security certificates, and connect to your company’s Wi-Fi network—whether you’re at home or at work -- with remote VPN capabilities.

* Set alarms and view additional time zones with the Clock app
Use the all-new Clock app to check the date and time, set an alarm clock, and more.

The press release adds a larger explanation of Second Screen
"Fling TV shows and movies from your tablet to your big-screen TV.   Second Screen turns your TV into the primary screen and frees up your Fire HDX to provide playback controls, a customized display for X-Ray, or simply a place to email, browse the web, and more while you watch a movie.  Second Screen is available for PlayStation 3 and Samsung TVs, and will be available starting later this year for PlayStation 4."

  This is in contrast to Miracast, which -- like the cabled HDMI-out, in last year's HD models, will "only" MIRROR what is on your tablet (whether a movie or web-browsing) HDTV without using cables from your tablet to the TV.

  Here's a recommended Miracast adapter (seen mentioned positively in the Amazon Kindle Forums based on a recently added recommendation by Amazon as "Certified" at its tablet Miracast help page) -- The Netgear Push2TV PTV3000 --
-- BUT NOTE that Amazon says it requires a Firmware-update for the adapter before using it.
 The update likely fixes a main reason for some '1' ratings in earlier customer reviews on the product page).  The adapter is $60 but Amazon has its 30-day refund policy on this Prime shipping product shipped and sold by Amazon.

  Here are two recent comments given on the Amazon Kindle Community forums when I asked if anyone had found a Miracast adapter without notable lag time:

' Steve Z. says:
I have read the reviews of the miracast adapters sold on Amazon as well. They all seem to have a lag problem. Then I read the reports by several here in the forums that they had had good luck with the mirroring technology with their HDX's. I also did a search in Amazon help and see that Amazon recommends the Netgear Push2TV adapter. This happened to be the same one others in these forums have suggested. I purchased one figuring I could return it if it didn't work. It arrived last Monday and the first thing I did was update the firmware. ( the newest firmware is dated in November.) I hooked it up to my TV and it immediately worked. Turning on mirroring in the HDX is very simple. I detected no lag or stuttering. It mirrored well with pictures, video (youtube), and simple games. (Have not tried a graphics intensive game yet.) Last night we watched an entire Amazon Prime movie with no hiccups or errors. Works for me.


Jules Nichols says:
I agree with Steve Z, I got my Netgear Push2TV adapter on Monday, I didn't update the firmware, but went straight to try it out. Worked fantastic. No lag or stuttering. I'm using it with the 7"HDX. '

Note that the recommendation (and certification) is by Amazon and not by me, as I haven't bought the product yet.

For MORE DETAILS on the new feature enhancements on this update, see the earlier HDX/HD2 articles with far more thorough descriptions of what they do:

  1. Overview of New Features
  2. Things to Know about the new features

  Those articles have clarifications for some points that have puzzled some.

ADDED TIP on a tablet cover + a new "Personalization" feature
The first tip is for those who find the Origami cases more pricey than wanted.

  1. The Poetic Slimline cover is notable for having 65 customer reviews currently, with 63 of them 5-star and the other two, 4-star, while being inexpensive ($9.95 currently for the 8.9" model) -- and while this page highlights the 8.9" HDX model, the bordered TEXTBOX under Availability at the top of that product page gives links for these covers for the 7" HDX and HD 2nd Gen models as well.  They all carry the same ID number for links.  Each headlines a 3-year manufacturer warranty from Poetic.

  A new Customization or Personalization feature for Kindle covers was announced, and you can read about that on the "Create your own Kindle accessories" page but from what I see it has to be ordered at the same time you order the case.  You can upload your own photo or image design or choose from several pre-designed ones offered by Amazon.  This is all I know for now, though.

  Probably enough info, overall, for one day?  Am still working on a report on the 8.9" HDX 64GB I bought and have been putting through the mill (and it generally has exceeded my expectations).

---

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.

US: New Kindle Fire HD 7" 2nd Gen - $139/169 Kindle Fire HDX 7" 16-64GB - $229/269/309 Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" 16-64GB - $379/429/479 - with 4G added: $479/529/579 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 16GB - 1st Gen $229 - 32GB w/ no special-offers: $314 Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $69/$89 Kindle Touch WiFi - $99 Kindle Paperwhite 2, WiFi - $119/$139 Kindle Paperwhite 2, WiFi+3G - $189 Kindle Keybd 3G - $139/$159, Free web Kindle DX - $379 $199 (*New* price)

UK: Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £69 Kindle Paperwhite 2, WiFi - £109 Kindle Paperwhite2 3G, UK - £169 Kindle Fire Basic HD 8/16GB, UK -  from £119 Kindle Fire HDX 7" 16-64GB, UK - from £199. 4G/3G Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" 16-64GB, UK - from £329. 4G/3G CANADA - Kindlestore, CDN-$ Kindle Basic, NoTouch - $79 Kindle Paperwhite 2 - $139 Kindle Paperwhite 2, 3G - $209 KFire HD Yr 2012 7" $214,  8.9" $244. Yr 2013 KFires: HD Gen2, HDX line

*OTHER Int'l pages* Kindle NoTouch Basic - $89 Paperwhite 2 WiFi $139, 3G/Wifi $209 KFire HD Yr 2012: 7" $214,  8.9" $244 Yr 2013: HD Gen2 + HDX line Australia Kindlestore France Boutique Kindle Deutschland - Kindle Store Italia - Kindle Store Spain - Tienda Kindle Brazil - Amazon Brazil China - Amazon China [?] Japan - Amazon Japan

  For daily free ebooks, check the following links:

Temporarily-free books - Non-classics USA: by:    Publication Date      Bestselling   High-ratings UK: PubDate   Popular The Kindle Daily Deal What is 3G? and "WiFi"?       Battery Care Highly-rated under $1,  Newest: $1-$2, $2-$3

Most Popular Free K-Books U.S. & Int'l (NOT UK):    Top 100 free UK-Only:    Top 100 free Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. USEFUL for your Kindle Keyboard (U.S. only, currently):   99c Notepad 1.1,   99c Calculator,   99c Calendar,   99c Converter

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

Read More

Kindle and Kindle Fire Software Updates Roundup: Update for NEW Kindle Fire HD (2nd Gen) - v11.3.0.1 and for coming HDX - v13.3.0.1 + the recent one for Kindle Paperwhite 1, v5.3.8

SOFTWARE UPDATES for new KINDLE FIRE HDX and HD lineup
1. Amazon has rather quietly made a software update available for the already-shipped (Oct. 2) new Kindle Fire HD 2nd Gen tablet (which replaces last year's basic Kindle Fire that had no HD, no camera, and no HDMI-out and which sold, retail, for $159).

This now current Kindle Fire HD 7" tablet, the new basic model this year, has an even lower price, but has been given an HD (High Definition) display.  However, as with last year's basic model, it has no camera for Skype and no HDMI-out port. (Don't confuse it with last year's "HD" model, which had all that for $199.  Amazon has now titled this year's basic tablet model the Kindle Fire HD (2nd Gen) in the lineup at its all-encompassing Kindles Help page as well as at its software update pages.

The ever vigilant and often prescient Jesslyn of MyKindleStuff wrote early Friday to let me know she'd seen news of and pages for software updates for the new Kindle Fire HDX and HD line at Softpedia.  They, in fact, were mirroring what is at Amazon's software update pages, and after being alerted by Softpedia, I'd always actually get the latest update at Amazon itself.  So, here are the pages for those updates.  (This new trio of tablets will go International later on, with "Stay tuned" the word.)

For the above-described Kindle Fire HD 7" 2nd Gen tablet, software update v11.3.0.1 can be downloaded from its update page if you'd rather not wait for Amazon to send it "over the air," and one method is to merely do it from the tablet.  Instructions are on that page.

' This software update will be delivered wirelessly and includes feature enhancements and general improvements for your Kindle Fire HD 2nd Generation.  This update automatically downloads and installs on your Kindle Fire HD 2nd Generation; however, you can also manually download the software and update your device via USB cable. '

2. The HDX tablets have not shipped yet and are not scheduled to, until Oct. 18 (for the 7" HDX w/o 4G/LTE) and Nov. 7 (for the 8.9" HDX w/o 4G/LTE).
  However, there is already an update waiting for the HDX's, and once your Kindle HDX arrives, it will probably automatically install the update once you are connected to your WiFi network, which means it will reboot at least twice, at that point, since they tend to come with battery power at a 60% level, which is high enough for a software install process.  It's important to not interrupt the re-boot process.  Wait until it's done, even if eager to try it out.  I actually plug mine into the wall socket, to be sure.

  If the software update does not automatically install for you after awhile, you can make it happen at the Kindle Fire HDX software update page.  The changes in this update:

' This software update will be delivered wirelessly and includes feature enhancements and general improvements for your Kindle Fire HDX. This update automatically downloads and installs on your Kindle Fire HDX; however, you can also manually download the software and update your device via USB cable.

The software update includes the following enhancement:
  Mayday Button
  Tap the Mayday button from Quick Settings to get in touch with an Amazon Tech advisor from your device when you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. '

KINDLE PAPERWHITE 1 Software Update v5.3.8

Kindle Paperwhite Software Upgrade to v5.3.8

I incorrectly thought that I'd blogged this update and found today I hadn't when I actually received this "over the air" and couldn't remember what the improvements were and looked up Kindle Paperwhite 1.   See Paperwhite (US);   (UK Paperwhite: here; Global Paperwhite: here.) [Bracketed notes are mine.]

Amazon Kindle Forum Notice
"Initial post: Sep 5, 2013 9:56:10 AM PDT
David A. - Forum Moderator says:

' We have a new, free software update available for Kindle Paperwhite which can be found [here] [U.S.]

    [Here's the UK-only software update page]

This update automatically downloads and installs on your Kindle Paperwhite; however, you can also manually download the software and transfer the update to your device via USB cable.

The software update includes general improvements and the following feature enhancements:

* Search terms highlighted in search results
When you search for a word or phrase within a book, the search terms will appear highlighted within the search results. When you tap a result to go to that location in the book, the search terms will appear highlighted on the page.
* Select other dictionaries when looking up a word
When you look up a word in the dictionary, you can choose to look up the word in other dictionaries on your device from within the dictionary definition window.
* View other definitions of a word [within same window]
When you look up a word that has multiple meanings for the same spelling (homonym), you can navigate through each of the available definitions from within the dictionary definition window. '

As ever, note that keeping your Kindle always connected to a Wi-Fi network can drain your battery faster.  So, once you've got the update "over the air," put the Paperwhite back to "Airplane Mode ON" via the 'Settings' option on the Menu -- the option lets you toggle Wireless Off with the "Airplane On" choice.
 They still have not put the "Wireless Off" and "On" back on the front menu as they recently did for the Kindle Touch, removing the 'airplane mode' icon, which many of us wish they would do, as it is very inconvenient to have it on a secondary menu and many do not even know about the wireless-off feature, causing more battery drain and confusion over that.  Amazon: please do this in the next update; the Kindle Touch team has the right problem-avoiding idea.

  I realize they prefer Wireless 'On' due to delivery of Special Offers but the battery-drain problem can occur when circumstances involve subscriptions that are downloaded regularly or due to a weaker connection that results from the distance from the router, in which case the device keeps trying to connect when a download is due (and that can be for the special offers that Amazon regularly needs to send for those who choose to opt for the less-expensive special-offers feature).

Only if you'd rather not wait - DOWNLOADING and transferring the Update via USB
US:  Go to the Kindle Paperwhite Software Update v5.3.8 download section to get the instructions for the download and transfer to your Kindle via USB:
UK:  Go to the same for the UK-only page


Well, that should do it for today's software update alerts.  Expect more soon, since someone posted in the Kindle forums that they had received v5.4.0 on their Paperwhite (which may have been for the Paperwhite2, but this is all I know for now).



  For daily free ebooks, check the following links:

Temporarily-free books - Non-classics USA: by:    Publication Date      Bestselling   High-ratings UK: PubDate   Popular The Kindle Daily Deal What is 3G? and "WiFi"?       Battery Care Highly-rated under $1,  Newest: $1-$2, $2-$3

Most Popular Free K-Books U.S. & Int'l (NOT UK):    Top 100 free UK-Only:    Top 100 free Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. USEFUL for your Kindle Keyboard (U.S. only, currently):   99c Notepad 1.1,   99c Calculator,   99c Calendar,   99c Converter

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

Read More

A Kindle Fire Software Downdate to version x.3.1 for HD models and 2nd Gen Kindle Fire is available, but two of us received an update to x.4.3 ... This is an alert, and I'd wait for more news.

Kindle Fire software downdate to version x.3.1 from x.4.1 but with some Kindle Fires updated over-the-air to x.4.3

In the rest of the world, when an update may be causing unexpected oddities, vendors will offer an option to fall-back to the former software version.  Amazon hasn't done that in the past, though customers sometimes request that option if they feel an update brings unforeseen glitches and needs further updating.

  The other day, Nate Hoffelder of The Digital Reader found that his Kindle Fire now had software version 7.4.3.  The last update announced for the 7" Kindle Fire HD was v7.4.1, and the Kindle Fire Gen 2 and HD models received the version x.4.1 updates.

  However, when you go to the associated software update page linked for your Kindle Fire model, those Amazon software update pages now show (for the last 2 days) Version x.3.1 and there is no explanation for it there.  The main difference I see is that the update pages normally show what to do for downloading a file for manual-updating if preferred, depending on your software version number, with added update-steps for some devices with old software versions.

  For the last two days, it has said "If you see a System Version other than x.3.1_user_3140720, follow one of the steps below to download the latest version."  No mention of version x.4.1 that had been announced and used since May 29 or so.

  Stranger yet - Version x.4.3 was received by Nate, and today, when I looked at version numbers under the Device "About" settings for both my 7" and 8.9" tablets, they show "Current Version: 7.4.3..." and "8.4.3" respectively.

  It seems that Amazon developers are planning to do these over the air but aren't putting the x.4.3 update files on the public area until (maybe) they are certain that the apparent glitches with version x.4.1 are fixed with version x.4.3 sent wirelessly to customers, in batches.

What were the glitches?
Best guess? Problems with charging and battery drain and some random freezing were mentioned in the forums and those experiencing them hoped for a fallback to the older version.  But I have nothing to go by but that.

  I didn't have the random freezing but did see faster battery drain than normal. The newer x.4.1 update brought us the Show Battery Percentage in Status Bar option.  Anytime you monitor something like this and update the figure, the battery is used more than when it doesn't have to monitor or update what is showing for the figure.  However, the battery calculation IS used already for the battery icon, although small percentage changes wouldn't cause icon-display changes as often, and the drain seemed faster than one would expect.

  The version x.4.3 update being sent over the air (but the Amazon software update pages for those who want to do this manually not showing it yet and instead offering only the older x.3.1 software version) may lessen the drain.  Some apps will generally cause hanging when they're not taking into account what to do when operating memory is too low but there should be recovery methods in those apps and in the system.  I've not experienced any system hangs except with the very buggy ABCWatch app for its full-episodes.

Recommendation:
  Do nothing, unless you're experiencing glitches that interfere with normal use of your device.  In that case, you can use the blog article announcing updates for versions x.4.1, which will link you to the current software files for your Kindle Fire (US and UK), which (until they offer the version x.4.3 file), currently shows the older x.3.1 software version.

  Since I hardly ever get a software update over the air until after most people have, I'd guess that the version x.4.3 upgrade will be here within a couple of days for most and if you sync your Kindle Fire, that may cause it to slowly download when the device is idle.  Once a file is fully downloaded, then it will be installed.

  If you're having no particular problem with yours, there's no reason to get the current older file.

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

Read More

Kindle Fire HD 8.9" Tablet Reviews - Overview, Excerpts, Thoughts

EXCERPTS FROM REVIEWS OF THE KINDLE FIRE HD 8.9" TABLET

The more-positive reviewer assessments:
"...the best media consumption tablet out there" -- CNET

"...may be a better value than the iPad 4" -- Examiner

I've waited before taking a good look at reviews because I've been trying out a replacement 8.9" Kindle Fire HD, as the first one had a lower-speaker-volume problem and the colors were not as saturated.  But slowly, the newer 8.9" has taken over here, and now I use the 7" mainly when I'm not home and need the smaller one.

  I'd felt the 7" was a really good size and loved using it -- it was more personal and 'large enough' but the 8.9" has turned out to be, for me, so effective for web-reading and magazines, at that middle area between 7" and 10", and so comfortable on 2-page Kindle book reading, that it's become the HD model I prefer when home.

 Although my 8.9" replacement is a definite improvement, the 7" Kindle Fire HD has stronger speakers, in volume and presence, and a few other reviews have noted this.  I probably wouldn't have noticed had I not used the 7" first.

  Most reviews do note the strength of the 8.9" speakers versus the speakers on other tablets though, when no comparison is made with the strangely muscular speakers on the smaller Kindle Fire HD model.

  Others reviewing tend to consider the 8.9" tablet-speaker system more impressive, overall, than speakers on the other leading tablets (iPad4, iPad mini, Google Nexus, Barnes and Noble Nook tablets) and definitely better for movies if you don't want to be tied to headphones or to external speakers.

  The display on both Kindle Fire HD models is beautiful, and although the 8.9" screen keeps impressing me because it's both larger and even clearer, the colors on the 8.9" model are mildly less-saturated than on the 7" but that is relative.   It's more like what Displaymate's Shootout between iPad mini, Google Nexus 7", and Kindle Fire 7" was looking at -- slight differences not always easily noticed.

  Magazines are terrific on both of the Kindle Fire HD models.  The 7" device isn't quite as effective as the 8.9" one on magazines because the eyes have to work more due to the smaller size of the screen and the smaller text.

  However, magazines still work well on the 7" (as well as on the larger model) for another reason -- you can double tap on the text of an article to see an optimized larger-font reading view of the text, with leading photos included.  This is an excellent feature, in that it's not just a narrow vertical strip of text but full-screen easily-readable text as an alternate view.

  If you prefer reading text while viewing the original article format, this is doable in that you can pinch-zoom the original layout version to get larger-size text while still seeing the photos in context -- in the placement that was used for the printed version.

  Printed versions can't match, these days, the slide-show backlit quality of these high-definition images that can be pinch-zoomed beyond the sizes presented on printed magazines, to get even more detail.

Sheet music and other PDFs are much more readable on the larger screen, and an advantage is that the 8.9" size is lighter to hold than any 10" tablet.  I like best the ezPDF app ($1.99 at 50% off currently) for its flexibility and excellent handling of margins and page-turns relative to the free Adobe Reader.

 The clarity of the screen is a real draw for me and is appreciated most with HD movies and tv show episodes, magazines, and small text on the web or in books.

 The image I used at the top, while not a striking one, is due to my new preference for the two-page book format feature on the 8.9" and the nibbles of text that somehow have me reading faster when the eyes don't have to move so much and there's no thought about how much more text I need to get through.

  The original screenshot is 1920x1200 pixels large and when needing to downsize it, compressing it to an average webpage size of 1024-width for display as a photo for the blog means a loss of clarity and an addition of artifacts.

  Sometimes a large page of text can be both distracting and mildly daunting.  The color of the book pages in the screenshot is due to my choice of 'Sepia' background as I prefer that to white when reading on a backlit LCD color device.  White on black is the 3rd option.  I've been using the 2-page format for the Kindle edition of my local newspaper too :-)

REVIEWS - a few excerpts.

CNET Editors - ...[Vs the iPad Mini and its many apps], the Fire HD 8.9’s lower pricing, superior streaming capability, and higher-resolution screen make it a better deal if you're looking for a media consumption device.  Especially if you're an Amazon Prime member...the Fire HD 8.9’s $299 entry price is a great deal... as the content and services Amazon provides are well worth the price...not as versatile as the iPad or top Android tablets...but it's ...the best media consumption tablet out there.

...The Kindle Fire line is still the strongest media consumption tablet line going, and this latest version is the best one yet." [See more at the very detailed CNET review page


Examiner.com's Daryl Deino - "While the [iPad 4 may have better specs, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is easily a better value, especially if your primary purpose for buying a tablet is consuming multimedia."

  [He notes the $200+ difference in price between the two.]

"... Text and pictures really pop out.  The colors could use a little more saturation, but they are much better than on most devices, including the Google Nexus 10."

  [He feels the iPad 4  "may be the most beautiful screen we have seen on a tablet" but then mentions "the two dreaded black bars above and below your widescreen videos since the iPad 4 has a 4:3 screen ratio."

  "Even though the Amazon Appstore has many useful apps, several important ones are missing.  However, you can easily download the apk files of many popular programs and install them through the ES File Explorer."

[And there you have a rare tech-reviewer who realizes that Kindle Fire owners can get apps from 3rd party stores and they're not tied to Amazon, as so many write.
  He recommends getting the Beta version of VLDC Media Player because Amazon's video player is limited in the formats it will play, but I recommend BSPlayer (which is in the Amazon store and plays just about every type of video format on the Kindle Fire HDs.]

  "The Hulu Plus and Netflix apps worked very well on a connection that was only 600kbps.  On many Android devices, such as the Galaxy Note 2 and the Galaxy S3, movies take a long time to load.  This isn't the case with the Kindle Fire HD 8.9."

  "The best part about watching videos on the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is the Dolby stereo sound, which is very lifelike.  It's safe to say that because of the high resolution, good color reproduction and fantastic sound, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is definitely the best portable video player on the market today."  [I agree.]

  [Re iPads]  "... It is quite a pain to convert every movie to an iPad format and then upload it through iTunes. The 9.7-inch screen will crop your HD movies, unless you zoom in -- however, this makes the video look increasingly blurry."

 "...At $200 to $230 less than the iPad 4, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is a far better value. ...Watching movies with the Dolby stereo sound is a portable experience which will blow you away. You can't have this experience on the iPad 4."

  [He mentions the iPad's access to tons more apps and its "slightly faster processor."]

  "However, if you don't mind easily side-loading some apps on the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 and downloading others from the Amazon app store, you will have the best tablet money can buy."

  [Read more details, including battery life comparisons in the full review.]


MakeUseOf - "It’s a fantastic device and it comes with a very reasonable price tag when compared to the competition."


MobileTechReview's Lise Gade - "...an appealing budget tablet with better than budget features...with pleasing, accurate and rich colors."

  "...It's a member of the skinny tablet crowd...At 1.25 pounds it's relatively light for a large tablet and we didn't mind holding it when reading a book for a half hour."

  "...The micro HDMI output good quality audio and video in our tests with a Sony AV receiver, and we were able to watch Amazon Prime videos on the big screen using the tablet."

  "...The front camera delivers surprisingly sharp and bright video when using the included Skype for video chat.  It's one of the better mobile video chat cameras on the market, and the only thing that reduces quality is if you walk around while chatting (the camera has a hard time keeping up with quick background changes and sends out blocky video).  The mic picked up our voice and sent clear audio to our chat partner."

  "...The Kindle Fire HD models have remarkably good stereo speakers with Dolby audio...full and rich sounding with noticable channel separation.
  ... music is actually enjoyable through the speakers rather than sounding like the soft, hissy nastiness that we hear from most 7" tablets including the Nexus 7."

  "...It has solid though not cutting edge 3D performance.  It handily outperforms the Nvidia Tegra 2's GPU, but can't touch the quad core Tegra 3 with 12 core GeForce graphics."

  "...more than fast enough... from HD video playback to moderate gaming. Web browsing speeds are as good as on devices with much faster CPUs, and games on the Amazon App Store played perfectly. This isn't a tablet for cutting edge geeks who crave the fastest silicon in production... It's here to get a job done, and it does that job just fine."

  "...The Fire HD now has access to X-Ray for movies in addition to books, so you can get info about the movie and actors when watching an X-Ray compatible Amazon video (courtesy of IMDB, which Amazon owns)."

See a LOT more detail and points at Gade's very detailed, unusually thorough review


Engadget's Tim Stevens - "...The WiFi-only model includes the same MIMO wireless getup that we found to be quite impressive on the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD, offering better range, reception and performance than other tablets and smartphones we tried."


TheVerge's David Pierce - "...Where the 8.9 really shines is in its color reproduction, viewing angles, and brightness. While whites have the slightest tinge of yellow...blacks are incredibly deep...and create great contrast, so even the darkest scenes in The Dark Knight are watchable...this is one of the best displays out there, especially for watching video."

  "...dual speakers blast sound out the back of the device, and are among the best tablet speakers I've used...Dolby Digital seems to do most of the work here:  with the setting enabled, sound immediately becomes louder and richer, and comes through in better stereo."

  [Their model was laggy, with keyboard and any navigation.  Not my own experience and they felt it a software problem.  There have been a couple of software updates since then.
  They like the iPads and Nexus 7 better for the access to more apps.]

  "If you get most of your content through Amazon (and that's totally possible), the Kindle Fire HD is the best way to get it – the Prime Video experience is better on this device than any other I've tested, and if you make use of the HDMI port the tablet becomes a great Amazonian set-top box for your TV as well."

  [But, for the rest, "...for the content omnivore, or a person who wants a good email experience or a better browser or a more powerful suite of apps, Apple and Google's tablets are a better bet."]


PC Magazine's Sascha Segan - "Amazon has built a killer budget media tablet in the new Kindle Fire HD 8.9 ... Nope, it's no iPad.  But at this price, more than $200 less (for the base Wi-Fi model) than Apple's competing tablet, it doesn't have to be."

Sacha Segan continues, on "Multimedia" - "The Kindle Fire played all of our audio files, and the two Dolby-enhanced speakers on the sides are the richest and clearest I've heard on a tablet yet...Amazon's streaming and downloadable video store is the best in the industry."

  "With the Editors' Choice fourth-gen Apple iPad, you get more, but you spend more, too.  The iPad 4 is faster, with an even better screen, no lag, and many more apps.  It's the best large tablet on the market. At $499-$829, though, it's a lot more expensive.  The $329-$659 iPad mini gets you those apps for less cash, but at the cost of a significantly smaller and lower-quality screen."

  "The Kindle Fire also competes with a slew of Android tablets, including the $399-$499 Nexus 10, the $499-$599 Asus TF700 and the $499-$549 Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1."

  "The simplified Amazon interface makes the Kindle Fire easier to use than any of them, although the other Android tablets have a wider range of apps and media stores.  The Nexus 10 has the best specs, but the unit I tested was slow and buggy."

"...If you're counting your dollars, the Kindle Fire offers the most bang per buck so far."

Additional thoughts - If you want to use a tablet mainly as an e-reader, the 7" HD is likely to be your best bet, as it's easier to hold with one hand and costs less.   For watching movies, tv shows, Amazon Prime videos, Netflix or HuluPlus,  the 7" model is very good, but for impact and for magazine and easier reading of PDFs, the 8.9" screen is better.

An e-Ink reader is still the best for those just wanting a device for e-books, and the battery lasts a lot longer.


RELATED ARTICLES for the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" model
Adobe dropped support for mobile devices using Android 4.0.x and higher.  This has affected flash-viewing on the Google Nexus as well, and there are recommended solutions for both.
  . How to install Flash Player on the Kindle Fire (and Google Nexus)
  . Getting and installing non-Amazon apps

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

Read More