So the Fire is going to an older gentleman who really knows very little about techie crap. He can find his way around a computer OK, but he's not big on the technical details. We chose KF for a single major reason: The icons are huge, so they'll be easy for him to find and jab.
Here's what I expect he'll do:
1. Watch videos while he's out at car shows
2. Maybe listen to some music
3. Possibly read car magazine subscriptions
So I'd like to leave the software as stock as possible, but I'd also like to know:
1. What's the easiest software package to get ripped video onto the fire?
2. Does the Fire have its own sync software or is there something else I should put on his PC to use?
3. OK, I lied, there is no 3, but if you have a suggestion, I'll take it here
Thanks!!
I do this quite often for people on their desktops and laptops..
I create folders (Using GO launcher) appropriate for what they are using: folders called 'video', 'music', 'magazines', etc and dump their programs in each..
As for the others:
1. Dunno, I just use a stock file manager, its pretty simple cut and paste stuff.
2. I have not the slightest clue, sorry.
3. Personally, I like GO Launcher over the standard carousel but with the carousel he can still add favorites.
Best,
Chris
You might want to look a buying DoubleTwist with AirSync. Makes media syncing very easy.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SE9HXU
Related
I know this is a pretty retarded question but I did some googleing and found nothing on the desire z about sideloading and I'm not sure if following the steps for another phone would be a good idea. I was also wondering about getting rid of the bloat ware, what kind of apps do I need to do that and do I need to sideload those apps?
This is my first android phone. My last phone was a palm pre and all their homebrew stuff was very simple and put into 1 app you can download and get everything from (apps, overclocking, themes and custom kernels all from 1 place) so this is kinda big step because it seems to involve a lot more then 2 or 3 taps on a screen.
Thanks for any help you can give a newbie!
if you search you will see some info about how to remove bloatware, but its not pretty (IMO) and I think you need to root your phone.
As for side loading, if you go to setting>applications>manage applications there is a check box that allow you to load apps from any source. Just be sure its checked. I downloaded an app (TN5250 emulator) from www.mochasoft.dk and it installed just fine.
After you downloaded it did you have to move it to the SD card? Or are you able to download right to the phone?
Edit: Also, does anyone know if you can install stock android? What benefits would you get from doing so? The only thing I would care about is not having 40 pre loaded useless app/shortcuts. A few of them are uno, tv & radio, tunes & apps, twitter, superuser, search people (i can just go into people and press the search button, what is the point of this undeletable sortcut?), peep, navigation, lets golf, learn more. This is an awesome phone but there are so many useless things added and it makes it hard to find the handful of apps that I would actually use. Some of these "apps" are just shortcuts to webpages, why do I need this and why can't they go away?!
I have a few questions and they are probably answered here but I'm at work so its very hard tor me to get on my phone.
- is their a way to get android market on a KF even if its not rooted? I really would just like to install apps that are not in the amazon market. A new launcher,etc. Do you have to be rooted to install apps from android?
- What is side loading apps? I keep hearing people talk about this? What is it for?
- is there a way to text people from my KF? If so can anyone tell me a good app?
- how can I change the amazon keyboard to say swiftkey or something?
- any way to play movies on the KF? Could I drop a mkv, avi, divx, etc. movie from my pc onto my kindle? Or could I stream it to my kindle somehow?
- last question to now...is there a way to improve the touch screen response? I have to repeatedly touch icons, links and whatnot. I thought I saw an app that improves the KF screen?
Thanks everyone for the help, its greatly appreciated.
bal1985 said:
I have a few questions and they are probably answered here but I'm at work so its very hard tor me to get on my phone.
1) - is their a way to get android market on a KF even if its not rooted? I really would just like to install apps that are not in the amazon market. A new launcher,etc. Do you have to be rooted to install apps from android?
2) - What is side loading apps? I keep hearing people talk about this? What is it for?
3) - is there a way to text people from my KF? If so can anyone tell me a good app?
4) - how can I change the amazon keyboard to say swiftkey or something?
5) - any way to play movies on the KF? Could I drop a mkv, avi, divx, etc. movie from my pc onto my kindle? Or could I stream it to my kindle somehow?
6) - last question to now...is there a way to improve the touch screen response? I have to repeatedly touch icons, links and whatnot. I thought I saw an app that improves the KF screen?
Thanks everyone for the help, its greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) No. Market needs root to install. Some other launchers work without root, but you now have to side load them. You can add other non-Amazon apps in many cases, but without root, you can't use the Android Market, so you would need to side load them.
2) Copying the APK install files via download or via usb or other means.
3) The Kindle Fire is not a phone, there is no radio in the device so no text messaging. You can use things like Google Talk but you need root to install it. There are some web based txt stuff, but that is not really on the device.
4) Need root to do this
5) There are other video players that will do this. Like MX Video player
6) Not really.
6 In particular is starting to get on my nerves. I think its an OS/Kernel issue because tapping stuff elsewhere seems to be ok, but that bar is a headache. Hit back 5x and you see it light up each time.
Also I dont know if its dolphin browser or what but a lot of the times I tap a typing area like google search, after 2-3 letters it just hides the keyboard.
Also I've been having more issues where you click a typable area and start typing, but nothing shows. Keyboard is showing recommended words, but none will actually show on the screen.
Oh, also if you're watching a video on a site, good luck moving the time bar. Sometimes I have to press and hold my finger 2-3 seconds for it to trigger.
Seems to be a little worse since 6.2 imo.
Once the kindle is rooted and the entire market is installed does the kindle act like an android phone? Do you get the android home screen? With cm7 does your tablet act just like phone obviously without gos and so on.
bal1985 said:
Once the kindle is rooted and the entire market is installed does the kindle act like an android phone? Do you get the android home screen? With cm7 does your tablet act just like phone obviously without gos and so on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The market is just an app that you use to get more apps.
It will still look and feel like an out of the box kindle fire.
And last I recall the market wont show up in the standard kindle launcher, so no one would even know it was there.
You have to take additional steps to even utilize it.
CM7 would make it act like an android device. there are tablets with CM7 so it has nothing to do with phones. Gos I assume is gps, and some tablets have that so it isnt phone only.
Hi,
Please refer to the article below. It will give you a deeper understanding of what rooting is and some tweaks you can do to the unit.
http://www.terracode.com/KindleFire/KF_Review_and_Tweaks_P1.html
If you have google voice linked with your Sprint number, you can send and receive texts via Google Voice
I have the Market installed but for some reason there are tons of apps missing for the market. Is their way to fix this?
Apps like Yahoo Fantasy Football to Google Maps or Google Earth are not there.
bal1985 said:
...
- is there a way to text people from my KF? If so can anyone tell me a good app?
...is there a way to improve the touch screen response?...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you can send/receive a limited number of text messages as well as make /receive calls with a free Google Voice account. I have not tested this with the Kindle Fire, so someone else may correct me.
There is an app called TouchScreen Booster that may help you adjust your screen sensitivity.
the following is from an other thread i don't remember (thanks to them !)
additional settings in build.prop:
# Rendering User Interface With GPU
debug.sf.hw=1
# Increase overall touch responsiveness
video.accelerate.hw=1
windowsmgr_max_events_per_sec=150
debug.performance.tuning=1
MAKE BACKUP COPY !!! - CAUTION WITH MODIFYING BUILD.PROP !!!
if your not sure - leave it !
i made this settings and i'm satisfied ...
Go to Kindle Fire browser Google search for "applanet". Under the link will be on the left "familiar interface" I tried that one first and it didn't work. On the right of it is one called "Version". I clicked that one and it directly started downloading an app. Tap the upper left part of the screen where the notifications are and when it is done downloading tap on its notification. It will install. (prior to this you need to go to settings - device and turn on download from unknown sources) install it and it creates an app called Applanet Market. Go to the Amazon market and search for ADW ex. Download that. You may find apps on Applanet that are not in Amazons.Search for any application you want. Like youtube, earth, gmail, whatever. When you're done playing with applanet hit your home key. It will give you a choice of ADW or stock. Check off the default box and choose ADW. Go to menu at bottom and go to ADW settings. Advanced. Set columns to 6 and rows to 6 and return back. At the bottom middle you have the ADW 3 button controller. I opened the app drawer (middle button) and dragged the Kindle Fire launcher to home screen and then long pressed it and dragged it over the area left of the appdrawer button. It will stick here and with it you can get to the stock KF home screen. But whenever you tap home, you will go to ADW. If you ever want to change that, go to settings. Applications. ADW. And at the lower area you can choose to release the default.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
krelvinaz said:
5) There are other video players that will do this. Like MX Video player
QUOTE]
In response to this and OP's earlier question, MX is good. Moboplayer is good too, but I've been having full screen problems with Mobo. On streaming, you can use Dropbox or Sugarsync (I use SS, there is a thread on it in the apps category). For streaming though, I've found that MX doesn't work great and Mobo is better, which is why I use that for streaming, although I still have the full screen issues. If you stream using SS, just make sure that file is encoded in a quality to get a good stream. There is also another thread on how to setup files to do this in apps category as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is applanet back up?
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
I started on the wrong foot, but finally found that it likes Android 1.6 Apps!
- Angry Birds!!!!!! (with music and usable, albeit, it just takes a little time to Start just Once Initially, the everything is quite normalish after initial start..... But the initial Splash screen looks so cool on the smartwatch it is worth the wait).
- Dolphin Browser
- Opera Mini Browser
Hints:
- To download anything in Opera Mini, select the DCIM folder, it seems it does not like to download on initial root. Warning, it is not fast downloading.
- When typing remember that it is a good idea that when typing in the small keyboard, that if you are fast, and keep pressing a key and notice it was not the one you intended, before releasing the key, if you do it fast enough, you can move your finger towards the correct key before releasing your finger. This is much faster than having to delete a wrong entered letter. If you keep pressing and fail to move fast, it would suggest alternative based on the wrong letter and you can no longer move to next, but if you click elsewhere, it won't type the wrong letter.
- Dolphin Browser is great because you can define shortcuts for common menus (remember you don't have a menu key), with its gestures. I made a gesture for settings and other to go to downloads and for full screen!
More Apps come!!
Please Share your Apps!!!
More Apps!
- Aptoid works quite fine to install new apps.
- Backgammon Free
- Bazooka Rabbit works! (albeit, not all the screen appears, but it is playable).
- ES File Explorer
- .... more to try ...
Are you running the latest 2.1 os?
I'd be interested to see these apps in action on the watch. Anyone want to make a youtube video?
Rooted it
speedyink said:
I'd be interested to see these apps in action on the watch. Anyone want to make a youtube video?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just recently got my imwatch and I'm already using the amazing side loader machine to load random apps onto it. I'll try to get a video going of it if I can but otherwise not many apps seem to work on it. If you can give me some ideas and a link to the apk to make things easier I will have more examples to show.
Great little thread. Lets hope more people post the names of more suitable useful apps.
saint3251 said:
I just recently got my imwatch and I'm already using the amazing side loader machine to load random apps onto it. I'll try to get a video going of it if I can but otherwise not many apps seem to work on it. If you can give me some ideas and a link to the apk to make things easier I will have more examples to show.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd be interested to see how some apps work compared to my Motoactv. So some examples would be emulators such as gbcoid, snesoid and n64oid. Maybe some android games such as Hill Climb, and Hardest Game Ever. Apps, I dunno, maybe root explorer (or just explorer), a browser (I use boat browser mini), and mxplayer playing a video would be cool to see. Everything but the emulators I just got off the Google Play store. If you can't access the store on the I'm Watch yet I remember being able to take apps off my phone. Just download the app on your phone, then use a file manager to browse to /data/app/, then send it to your computer (I use bluetooth). I can send you the emulator apk's, just PM me your e-mail.
Use bluestack make it easier to grab the apk and download multiple apps at the same time,
Games or apps compatible with android 1.6 will have a much better chance of working...
Good info
apps
Got some more apps that seem to work on the i'm watch after the 2.1.2 adb update
go jkeyboard works
mobicalc
advanced task killer
voice search kinda works, cant find netwrok connection. would like someone to get that working.
dropbox works
graffiti pro keyboard works
dolphin browser works
gesture search
but there arent many people who are rooting and or doing things for the watch,. So if you can give me any ideas as to what to do to it or how I'd appreciate it,. Such as unlocking the bootloader
What I'm finding is that anything where you can draw or speak is more useful for this watch.\
rooting with super on click was the best way of doing it honestly .
Ok so I found a useful group of apks that make customization something a greater thing.
email me @ [email protected]
for the link. (don't have enough posts for links)
Thanks!
There is a new ADB version out. The last was 2.1.2 but now there is a 2.2.0 which I am going to update to now and attempt to see if it changes much.
Heres hoping.
how do you install those apps on the watch , i just got me a i'm watch 2 weeks ago and this sounds interesting:good:
eddol20 said:
how do you install those apps on the watch , i just got me a i'm watch 2 weeks ago and this sounds interesting:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well theres two ways to do it.
1. you can do the whole rooting process by getting the ADB software from imwatch and using super one click to root it then install it through a sideload manager.
2. you can download all the apks in there and go to the im market and get Sideload Manager app from there. Then you'd put the apks in the DCIM folder and go through the Sideload Manager and install it that way.
Note: You should disconnect from the pc when trying to install through sideload manager app for option two.
Hello, could anyone help me check "Endomondo" and/or "Runtastic" apps can work on the I'm Watch pls?
Very BIG thanks !
I'm watch with last july firmware
Hi all with this smartwatch. How is it with the last update? Better sound in conversation?
Or still buggy?
Thanks all
cob94440 said:
Hi all with this smartwatch. How is it with the last update? Better sound in conversation?
Or still buggy?
Thanks all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's still pretty buggy. But from the things I've seen android phones have apps that are capable of handling and changing the volume and etc on there.
Don't quote me but its just what I've heard. I have an iPhone 5 so I can't really share from experience.
saint3251 said:
It's still pretty buggy. But from the things I've seen android phones have apps that are capable of handling and changing the volume and etc on there.
Don't quote me but its just what I've heard. I have an iPhone 5 so I can't really share from experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem ... The calling from watch is bad ((
How do you get hangouts to work with this watch? Also other apps like whats app and KIK
It's been a long while since I've played with the Nook. Can you update me. Last I looked I had on the todo list:
1) a lightweight email client that only runs when you ask it - is k9mail good enough nowadays?
2) a filemanager. Astro didn't display the filenames in portrait for me last time I checked.
3) Is there any less animated apps that have been found now - like an non animated launcher?
4) got any wallpapers that play nice eink and fit perfectly?
5) what would be a nice way to share files to and from the nook? I remember something for windows that goes via adb allowing a gui to directory browse. needs to be completely lightweight so scp, ftp, dropbox sound like either battery wasting or inconvienient to start and then stop after use. what's your preferred way other than eject the sdcard, samba?
jago25_98 said:
It's been a long while since I've played with the Nook. Can you update me. Last I looked I had on the todo list:
1) a lightweight email client that only runs when you ask it - is k9mail good enough nowadays?
2) a filemanager. Astro didn't display the filenames in portrait for me last time I checked.
3) Is there any less animated apps that have been found now - like an non animated launcher?
4) got any wallpapers that play nice eink and fit perfectly?
5) what would be a nice way to share files to and from the nook? I remember something for windows that goes via adb allowing a gui to directory browse. needs to be completely lightweight so scp, ftp, dropbox sound like either battery wasting or inconvienient to start and then stop after use. what's your preferred way other than eject the sdcard, samba?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) I use k9mail and kill it whenever it bothers me using TaskXP
2) 'Es File Exlorer' or 'Rhytm file manager'
3) ReLaunch
https://github.com/yiselieren/ReLaunch/downloads
4) There is a whole thread devoted to wallpapers. Look it up.
5) Don't know about that. I use ADB 'push' and 'pull'
ReLaunch is exactly what we all needed - thanks for letting me know!
I always try on not to be a party p**per but also would like to make this debate as civilized as possible so no need to bash me if you found my doubts in a negative way.
But after spending all this time with the Nexus Player of Google, I found myself with the conclusion, why is worthy my time for any root for the device.
At least I have a goal on showing my step-dad that paying DirecTV (Nothing against DirecTV BTW, just want to save money) is not 24/7 cost-effective versus Google Play Service and popular streaming services.
Heck, I didn't even felt left out in terms that versus Apple TV, the Nexus Player is still short without service like WWE, Amazon, NFL, etc. I was happy with the service available as of the writing of this.
To tell you the truth, the exact moment when I read all the possibility for free TV and streaming needs with Kodi (XBMC), I realized that was exactly why I bought the Google Nexus Player on the first place, beside having an alternate set-top box instead of my lovely Playstation 3 and except for improvement on hardware level for Android TV (reboot capacity WILL BE so WELCOMED!) I don't see how rooting the device can be compared as rooting a Smartphone.
Also some needs that we find regularly on Android Smartphone can be requested to Google either by AOSP or direct feedback (I realize that Google might just ignore anyways) and I am pretty sure that future Android 5.0.x or 5.x version will be synonymous of improvements.
No, this is not ignorance and definitely not naive-ness, perhaps I need another point of view to better understand or see more benefits for rooting the device.
Again, please I created this thread as a informative and debatable spot for this topic, do not flame me and not flame each other if you don't agree with an specific opinion.
TheGeeZus said:
I always try on not to be a party p**per but also would like to make this debate as civilized as possible so no need to bash me if you found my doubts in a negative way.
But after spending all this time with the Nexus Player of Google, I found myself with the conclusion, why is worthy my time for any root for the device.
At least I have a goal on showing my step-dad that paying DirecTV (Nothing against DirecTV BTW, just want to save money) is not 24/7 cost-effective versus Google Play Service and popular streaming services.
Heck, I didn't even felt left out in terms that versus Apple TV, the Nexus Player is still short without service like WWE, Amazon, NFL, etc. I was happy with the service available as of the writing of this.
To tell you the truth, the exact moment when I read all the possibility for free TV and streaming needs with Kodi (XBMC), I realized that was exactly why I bought the Google Nexus Player on the first place, beside having an alternate set-top box instead of my lovely Playstation 3 and except for improvement on hardware level for Android TV (reboot capacity WILL BE so WELCOMED!) I don't see how rooting the device can be compared as rooting a Smartphone.
Also some needs that we find regularly on Android Smartphone can be requested to Google either by AOSP or direct feedback (I realize that Google might just ignore anyways) and I am pretty sure that future Android 5.0.x or 5.x version will be synonymous of improvements.
No, this is not ignorance and definitely not naive-ness, perhaps I need another point of view to better understand or see more benefits for rooting the device.
Again, please I created this thread as a informative and debatable spot for this topic, do not flame me and not flame each other if you don't agree with an specific opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dunno, i rooted mine because i really needed to have expandable storage. So i rooted for chainfires stickmount. So i could have all my movies on my external hard drive run through xbmc natively.
↑This!↑
I have not rooted mine but if i do it will be for the ex-storage as well.. i am at the point of not storing a lot of movies because they are almost all online for a fee or free if you go that way.. We watch a movie once or twice and that is the end of it.. So to add to your debate i don't at this point see why you would root this device.
Would like a reboot function..
Im sure someone will come up with some nice ways to use root.. give them a week or so lol..
The main current use for rooting in my home is support for PS3 & 4 controllers wirelessly, using stick mount & folder mount to store game data and kodi data on an external drive and the ability to modify xml to re-arrange the order of programs in the NP's leanback interface (kodi gets top billing). My daughters now have immediate access to over twenty very large installed games so far thanks to folder mount. I also store all my kodi fanart, cover art, cd art, etc on the external as it takes up so much space internally for my large media collection that kodi accesses from my nas.
There will be future uses for root as well, of course (there always is), but these were my immediate needs.
Elrondolio said:
The main current use for rooting in my home is support for PS3 & 4 controllers wirelessly, using stick mount & folder mount to store game data and kodi data on an external drive and the ability to modify xml to re-arrange the order of programs in the NP's leanback interface (kodi gets top billing).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recently rooted my NP, and I'm completely new to android and rooting. My main desire is to be able to get all of my sideloaded apps into the leanback interface, and to be able to rearrange the order and hide app icons I don't use. I've noticed by default Kodi RC2 appears in the leanback interface.
Do you have any tips for modifying the leanback interface in the way I've described?
kaess said:
I recently rooted my NP, and I'm completely new to android and rooting. My main desire is to be able to get all of my sideloaded apps into the leanback interface, and to be able to rearrange the order and hide app icons I don't use. I've noticed by default Kodi RC2 appears in the leanback interface.
Do you have any tips for modifying the leanback interface in the way I've described?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since things are so new with the leanback launcher there hasn't been much time for any semi-automated tools/apps to be coded to accomplish what you want. Manually, however, is very doable depending on your desired time investment.
You can modify select sideloaded apps to make them show up on the leanback interface by uncompressing its apk, editing its manifest then re-compressing and re-sideloading. See this post: How to sideload XBMC/Kodi on Nexus Player. See also this helpful post from @zlexy : [Q] Launching Netflix From Within Kodi.
You can re-arrange the order of apps listed in the leanback interface by editing leanback launcher's database. See this post by @ariful : [Q] Rearranging Apps on Android TV Nexus Player.
Again, these methods are a bit labour intensive... it'll have to be that way until more devs start/finish coding for this brand new interface/device and/or for Google to release more customizable updates. Good luck.
Elrondolio said:
Since things are so new with the leanback launcher there hasn't been much time for any semi-automated tools/apps to be coded to accomplish what you want. Manually, however, is very doable depending on your desired time investment.
You can modify select sideloaded apps to make them show up on the leanback interface by uncompressing its apk, editing its manifest then re-compressing and re-sideloading. See this post: How to sideload XBMC/Kodi on Nexus Player. See also this helpful post from @zlexy : [Q] Launching Netflix From Within Kodi.
You can re-arrange the order of apps listed in the leanback interface by editing leanback launcher's database. See this post by @ariful : [Q] Rearranging Apps on Android TV Nexus Player.
Again, these methods are a bit labour intensive... it'll have to be that way until more devs start/finish coding for this brand new interface/device and/or for Google to release more customizable updates. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The last thing you said is exactly why I am resisting the temptation.
I am being fair with the fact that this is the first face of Android Tv and there is yet more to see and I am faithful that most feature that needs root for now, Google might have something on their sleeves, but they are waiting to see how many Nexus Player gets sold, specially after the holidays.
My mom and my step-dad were impressed with the Nexus Player so great, that my step-dad sold me the Google Chromecast as he wanted to have an experience on his own and he really didn't find the Cast environment hard but he liked the more controlled environment of the Nexus Player, so we are buying a second one for me and I will let him take the first one after the second arrives.
I think that is another example that rooting (again, my exception is that a proven restart method gets developed) for now is not needed in base of a normal usage and still haven't got the problem of storage (yet, I know the day will come).