Hiya,
I have some old Android tablets lying around, two of which are Kindle Fires. I'd like to figure out some use for them.
One thought is making one connected all the time to a to-do list app (like Google Keep) and have that mounted on a wall. I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions and getting an extremely barebones ROM on a Kindle Fire, but with the ability to login to Google and use up-to-date apps like Google Keep. Preferably it would be "pinned" that that app all the time. Wondering if there is a ROM that eliminates the launcher entirely and just goes to a single app (but with the ability to do full authentication with a Google account)
Thanks for any help!
This probably could be done - like you say, we'd need to have a non-stock rom that could utilize the tablet features of the kindle instead of the reader features.
I like the idea a lot!
I'll see what I can dig up, since I also have this tablet and would like to do that as well.
Related
I just got a nook simple touch which I am so far impressed with. However, there are a couple things I am disappointed about.
First, it seems difficult to add files to it. It would be much more convenient if I could add dropbox to it.
Second, I thought it would be possible put simple games like sudoku or word games on it.
Third, I was hoping I could have a rss/feed reader on it.
I know this device is very limited due to the grayscale and slow refresh, but I am not looking for a full fledged Android ROM on it. I would actually prefer to keep it as stock as possible, and simply add those three or four apps to it
What is the least invasive way to add these apps to the device?
Can I simply give it root access and install these apps without flashing a whole ROM?
Sent from my T959 using XDA App
Once rooted, you can have dropbox, sudoku, rss feeds and most android applications with little to no animation. Keep in mind the nook ST OS is android 2.1
To root it, you can check either this forum o http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1351719one. The process is simple, you 'burn' an image on a sd card, put it on your nook and restart it. Nevertheless, read the instructions carefully. I strongly advice you to backup your nook before attempting to do anything. Look here.
That looks pretty simple, but it sounds like it will have a new ui with the launcher and app drawer. Will I be able to have the stock
nook ui and still run the apps I want?
Sent from my T959 using XDA App
Well, original nook ui - and launcher, in this case - won't allow you to add apps. ADW or Go launcher, when well setup, won't hinder your experience in using nook.
Ok, I searched YouTube for a video on rooting it. (I can believe I didn't think of this already) it does give a different ui, but there is an option to load the factory launcher. I may just try it and see how a like it and just keep a backup or know how to factory restore it in case I don't
Sent from my T959 using XDA App
Rooting doesn't change the look and feel of the reader that much - the nook button still brings up the little launcher/appdrawer thingy at the bottom of the screen, regardless of if you have a replacement launcher as primary. You can even leave the stock reader app as default as well (I still like it better than the other ones I've tried).
After rooting it's very easy to install dropbox, dropsync(!) and other apps. Go for it.
just root and get apps that you want
Okay, i actually like the BNST, but I really miss basic stuff like gmail and an occasional browser... if I'd root... how about battery life if you mainly use the BN "launcher"? Anyone using it like that?
nicksbrain said:
Okay, i actually like the BNST, but I really miss basic stuff like gmail and an occasional browser... if I'd root... how about battery life if you mainly use the BN "launcher"? Anyone using it like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FWIW...
I'm running rooted 1.1, using it "purely" for reading (btw, Calibre is great for getting the book covers to show up, and for me at least the books MUST be on the sdcard for them to show the cover. Internal didn't work when I tried).
However, I'm also running Metro UI Lite (https://market.android.com/details?...EsImNocmlzbWFuLmFuZHJvaWQuaG9tZS5tZXRyb3VpIl0.)
Eink-friendly button savior (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1250278)
and:
dropbox (for downloading stuff/'cause I can).
gmail, basic google apps (including reader, although I would prefer a more friendly e-ink type)
opera mini
basic sudoku/reversi/etc
Runs great! Also have setcpu and have changed the governor, seems to run snappier. Battery life is great still.
hmm, okay, miss dropbox too, actually, but i'm sick of rooting each and every android device iown...I already have my Nook Color and my Galaxy S2 rooted, so I think I'll stick with those for my E-Mail and other needs.. Thanks for the clarification though!
Anyone have a solution to the Kindle Reader app not bringing up a book list if you change the launcher?
Currently I have to go to the stock KF Launcher and pick books/newsstand to selection a new book/magazine to read. Anyone have a hack or setting to change this?
I have the same problem, and would be very interested in hearing an answer!
This is a known issue and there is as of yet no workaround. What I have done and what most people have done is to set a short cut on the desktop for the Kindle Launcher. Then you can select your books/newstand etc. Not the most ideal but it is what we have until Amazon releases a fix or some crafy dev comes up with a better fix in a custom ROM.
-Eric
Thanks Eric!
Just found a workaround. Searched kindle in the market and updated the app. This installed the version that would usually be used on an android device and shows your whole library.
edit: Just a warning, there seems to be no way to make this kindle app full screen. It has the navigation bar (albeit the minimized one) and I'm pretty sure it used to go full screen in the stock kindle app. Also this new kindle app wont work from the stock launcher. I'm thinking about switching back for these two reasons (mostly the full screen thing is bothering me), anyone know how to revert back?
edit2: Also the slider that allows you to quickly jump between locations in the book is covered up by the navigation bar.. Very annoying. Wouldn't recommend doing this unless you don't need that. You can still manually "go to" a section of the book but I'd rather have the slider. Just did a factory restore to get the original kindle app back.
Hi
I was wondering if there's a workaround in how to remove preinstalled apps from kindle fire. It's frustrating as I wanted to give Fire's to my kids and I don't really want them to have FB access. I thought I could control what apps live on the Fire but apparently Amazon has decided for us. I wish this had been on the product page.also it consumes a lot of RAM.
Thanks
Root it & utilize an app like Titanium Backup to freeze or remove the unneeded apps.
frank121977 said:
Hi
I was wondering if there's a workaround in how to remove preinstalled apps from kindle fire. It's frustrating as I wanted to give Fire's to my kids and I don't really want them to have FB access. I thought I could control what apps live on the Fire but apparently Amazon has decided for us. I wish this had been on the product page.also it consumes a lot of RAM.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do realize that the FB app on the fire just points to the site using the browser, so even if you remove the "app" they can still use the browser to get to all kinds of stuff right including Facebook, twitter, adult sites and much more? Not sure of the age of the kids, but this is a media device and as such, they will have full access to a lot of stuff you may not want them to access.
The FB app itself doesn't use much RAM at all since it is not really an app.
Thanks A lot krelvinaz
frank121977 said:
Hi
I was wondering if there's a workaround in how to remove preinstalled apps from kindle fire. It's frustrating as I wanted to give Fire's to my kids and I don't really want them to have FB access. I thought I could control what apps live on the Fire but apparently Amazon has decided for us. I wish this had been on the product page.also it consumes a lot of RAM.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this app. It works great & you can control what your kids can get to. I intend to set it up on the ones we got ours for Christmas. They will only have access to the apps I load up for them. I did try to install it on my Droid X & it just locked it down at the loading screen. I had to connect the thing to the computer to uninstall it!! One tip, don't lock the home button. The home button will get them to the regular home screen, but they'll still be locked out of any unapproved apps, even without that home button locked.
http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Place-Wi...1?ie=UTF8&s=mobile-apps&qid=1322925966&sr=1-1
I think you can do something with the hosts file too. Like how adfree blocks ad sites, you might be able to edit and add facebook.com in and it would stop it from working, browsers too.
I bought a nook Simple touch, I read it can be rooted. I know people look to get gapps and a bunch of other stuff working. The only thing I want to work (on top of the regular nook) is the Kindle app. Is there a build that is good for that?
Thanks,
Shadow.
shadowhawk2020 said:
I bought a nook Simple touch, I read it can be rooted. I know people look to get gapps and a bunch of other stuff working. The only thing I want to work (on top of the regular nook) is the Kindle app. Is there a build that is good for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any rooting method that lets you install 3rd party apps -- either from the Android Market or via sideloading of the .apk -- will work. You don't HAVE to install all the extras, though they're pretty much invisible if you don't use them. Gabrial's TouchNooter doesn't load a whole bunch of cruft, and installs the essentials in one easy pass. You could get rid of Gmail, YouTube (only used for initial setup anyhow) and even Market if you like, once you have the Kindle app installed. I suppose you could skip the Google registration process, though I've not tried that. Be aware that registering the NST with B&N is generally recommended, whether you intend to use their services or not. There have been reports of the battery being impacted by background checks or similar if you don't.
You might want to use NookTouch Tools to remap one of the QuickLaunch menu buttons to launch the Kindle reader.
I'm not sure how Google Market works, but I couldn't guarantee that apps loaded from the Market will continue to work if you delete the Market app.
I know that deleting the Amazon Market app will prevent some (most?) apps downloaded from there to continue to work, even if they are free apps.
That's why I hate all this "Market" stuff.
Nobody distributes apps on their own website anymore.
Renate NST said:
I'm not sure how Google Market works, but I couldn't guarantee that apps loaded from the Market will continue to work if you delete the Market app.
I know that deleting the Amazon Market app will prevent some (most?) apps downloaded from there to continue to work, even if they are free apps.
That's why I hate all this "Market" stuff.
Nobody distributes apps on their own website anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlike amazon apps the market ones do NOT require market to be installed.....additionally not ALL amazon apps require it but many of the more popular ones do.
By the way, does the kindle app read RTL language? any one tried it. thanks.
bobstro said:
Any rooting method that lets you install 3rd party apps -- either from the Android Market or via sideloading of the .apk -- will work. You don't HAVE to install all the extras, though they're pretty much invisible if you don't use them. Gabrial's TouchNooter doesn't load a whole bunch of cruft, and installs the essentials in one easy pass. You could get rid of Gmail, YouTube (only used for initial setup anyhow) and even Market if you like, once you have the Kindle app installed. I suppose you could skip the Google registration process, though I've not tried that. Be aware that registering the NST with B&N is generally recommended, whether you intend to use their services or not. There have been reports of the battery being impacted by background checks or similar if you don't.
You might want to use NookTouch Tools to remap one of the QuickLaunch menu buttons to launch the Kindle reader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the great information. This is great. I got a great deal on the Nook, but since I have had the Kindle for so long I pretty invested in them.
So after several hours of hacking away at it, I never was able to successfully connect to the glowlight via ADB over USB but after uncommenting the line in the init.rc about adb on port 5555 I was able to connect over wifi. It turns out after doing some digging around in the system that the Glowlight is running the ANCIENT and Android 2.1 "Eclair" and getting usable apps for it is going to prove challenging unless some rocket scientist can figure out how to get a GAPPS pack flashed onto this.
Anyway, it took me some digging but I was able to find an old Cyanogenmod 5 build to grab some APKs from. I wasn't able to install ADW launcher or the stock 2.1 launcher, but I was able to get Launcher Pro running.
EDIT 8/20/14
Added working ADW Launcher. Will be adding Aldiko, Adobe Reader, Amazon Kindle App, Root Explorer, Busybox and a few others later.
And last but not least, I was able to install an older version of the Kindle app, so now my wife has access to both her Nook books and her Kindle books (came to the Nook from 1st generation Kindle). Next I'll probably throw Adobe and Aldiko on there just to get all the bases covered.
Well, if the system is the same, as in the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight, then list of working apps from this post may be helpful: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=49470538&postcount=1 . And, if I remember correctly, Kindle app needs an active internet connection to work properly. It may be more convenient to download them, and open in FBReader or AlReader (they both work well with .mobi files). I do not know if there would or would not be any Amazon file protection issues though. I do not shop there.
thrackanomir said:
Well, if the system is the same, as in the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight, then list of working apps from this post may be helpful: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=49470538&postcount=1 . And, if I remember correctly, Kindle app needs an active internet connection to work properly. It may be more convenient to download them, and open in FBReader or AlReader (they both work well with .mobi files). I do not know if there would or would not be any Amazon file protection issues though. I do not shop there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kindle requires an active internet connection to download books just like the Nook software, but once they are on the device you're good to go. That list of apps is hardly useful though, because it doesn't have any LINKS! just a list of junk software this guy installed onto his nook.
N00b-un-2 said:
That list of apps is hardly useful though, because it doesn't have any LINKS! just a list of junk software this guy installed onto his nook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well... It is not so hard to google those apps you need. And it is not "just a list of junk software". It is a list of apps versions that do work on NST.
thrackanomir said:
Well... It is not so hard to google those apps you need. And it is not "just a list of junk software". It is a list of apps versions that do work on NST.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the point is that this device is running a version of Android that is officially well past EOL and most of those apps are REALLY difficult to find anymore. My point is that the user has the apps on his device, so why not do a simple 'adb pull /data/app/' and save us all some trouble. No amount of Googling is going to locate that which doesn't exist anymore. Since nobody else seems to care, I took it upon myself to do exactly that and throw these apps up here for others to use.