Hi,
so I am fairly new (tbh: completely new) to Amazon tablets. I just saw the new tablets announced for June and thought about replacing my old-as-f*ck Nexus 7 with a HD7 or HD8. How is the experience so far - is it likely that you can easily root/remove the ads, put on a custom rom and so on? Will this limit the tablet in any way? Or do I need to leave it stock, otherwise not be able to use Kindle/Prime Video and so on? Thanks!
fBx said:
Hi,
so I am fairly new (tbh: completely new) to Amazon tablets. I just saw the new tablets announced for June and thought about replacing my old-as-f*ck Nexus 7 with a HD7 or HD8. How is the experience so far - is it likely that you can easily root/remove the ads, put on a custom rom and so on? Will this limit the tablet in any way? Or do I need to leave it stock, otherwise not be able to use Kindle/Prime Video and so on? Thanks!
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Most of the times as you can clearly see here on xda it takes a while or maybe even a long time, for the amazon tablets to be root able. I would buy a 6th gen right now, when your not connecting it to the internet it should be possible for you to root it right now (if it has the right software version installed).
If you want to buy a 7th gen then there is the problem that you can't connect it to the internet, because it will automatically upgrade you will have to wait until there is a method to root it before you can normally use your tablet....:crying:
Both the 6th and 7th Gen. Fire HD 8 are near if not identical specs wise, as above if your hoping for root buy the 6th Gen. as you may get lucky and get one with a pre-installed lower software version that's rootable, however you may not, the 7th Gen is very likely to come with 5.3.3 which I don't think is currently rootable.
As for custom ROMs, Amazons tablets are pretty locked down and as such there's little to no custom ROM development going on, not in recent years anyway. Go with something else if you like trying new ROMs otherwise the Fire HD tablets are pretty well made and you can sideload the Google Play Store pretty easily too.
Okay, I cross-referenced 2016 and 2017 and it's basically the same specs. Not sure it would be that much of an upgrade. I'll check what a 2016 HD 8 goes for at ebay.
Gilly10 said:
Both the 6th and 7th Gen. Fire HD 8 are near if not identical specs wise, as above if your hoping for root buy the 6th Gen. as you may get lucky and get one with a pre-installed lower software version that's rootable, however you may not, the 7th Gen is very likely to come with 5.3.3 which I don't think is currently rootable.
As for custom ROMs, Amazons tablets are pretty locked down and as such there's little to no custom ROM development going on, not in recent years anyway. Go with something else if you like trying new ROMs otherwise the Fire HD tablets are pretty well made and you can sideload the Google Play Store pretty easily too.
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Is it expected that loading Google Play on the 7th gen will work the same way as it did for the 6th? I don't need root or a custom ROM, but I don't want to be limited to the Amazon app store.
I will say that loading google play has worked so far on the latest HD 8. Used instructions and files linked here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/general/how-to-install-google-play-store-fire-t3486603. Was able to load paid version of a couple apps and they worked fine.
joshparr said:
I will say that loading google play has worked so far on the latest HD 8. Used instructions and files linked here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/general/how-to-install-google-play-store-fire-t3486603. Was able to load paid version of a couple apps and they worked fine.
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so just to confirm...
I don't need to root it to get play store working?
just need to get the Google drive suite up and running as it's mostly used for work.
is so, I'm all set to take the plunge and get myself a firehd8!
[my Nexus 7(2013) just died. :crying:]
psychoxman said:
so just to confirm...
I don't need to root it to get play store working?
just need to get the Google drive suite up and running as it's mostly used for work.
is so, I'm all set to take the plunge and get myself a firehd8!
[my Nexus 7(2013) just died. :crying:]
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I took my HD 8 (7th Gen) straight out of it's box and followed the instructions. Now someone reported in the other thread their Fire 7 (7th Gen) had issues with the versions linked in the thread. Mine was sitting at Amazon OS 5.3.3.0 out of the box and I didn't update that first. The guy with the Fire 7 stated he was at 5.4.0. One other person with the Fire 7 ran into a similar issue, but used newer versions of the Play Store and Play Services to get it working.
I just checked on my tablet and the Play Store and Play Services on the HD 8 just updated in the last 5 minutes, they are within the same build cycles as the one guy listed as working on his Fire 7.
Google play works
I took my tablet (hd 8 2017) straight out of the box in 5.3.3, follow the instructions in the link from this thread, google play works but location services dont. Factory reset, install google play with the files from the link again, and everything works!! after that, the tablet upgrade itself to 5.4, google play and services still works perfectly fine :victory::victory:. So the method and files in the link works, for me at least, if any problem appears just factory reset the tablet and try again. Sorry for my english.
alex192004 said:
I took my tablet (hd 8 2017) straight out of the box in 5.3.3, follow the instructions in the link from this thread, google play works but location services dont. Factory reset, install google play with the files from the link again, and everything works!! after that, the tablet upgrade itself to 5.4, google play and services still works perfectly fine :victory::victory:. So the method and files in the link works, for me at least, if any problem appears just factory reset the tablet and try again. Sorry for my english.
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Thanks for the suggestion. Did you try the Gmail app from the Playstore? Does it work correctly for you?
trovatrice said:
Thanks for the suggestion. Did you try the Gmail app from the Playstore? Does it work correctly for you?
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Yes, Gmail from Google Play work correctly in my HD 8 2017.
so ive just found this site, only a couple days too late by the looks of it. i read (not very carefully) that it would be easy to root a kindle fire hd 8, so i just got one in the mail today (7th generation). i havent connected it to the internet, its got 5.3.3.0 on it, and my goal was to replace the stock OS with regular android. is this not currently an option?
(if not, any suggestions on what i should do/not do with it in the meantime? will connecting it to the internet begin an automatic software update that will render the device even more useless? i thought i read someone post something about that)
Fire HD 8 (2017) here on 8.4.0.0. Google apps sideload just fine. Removed lockscreen ads permanently just by submitting a help ticket.
It's a fabulous tablet for the price. I'm using mine primarily as a retro emulator although I can't find any good compact tablet gamepads (hoping to find a joycon-ish clone).
Fire HD 7thG- Screen cracked... What to do????
my FIRE HD 7th G screen cracked in a SPIDER WEB! I do not have warrenty. What to do? Is there a replacement screen for this new one?
cataldridge said:
my FIRE HD 7th G screen cracked in a SPIDER WEB! I do not have warrenty. What to do? Is there a replacement screen for this new one?
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As far as I know, the difference between the 6th generation and 7th, is pretty much the programming and a few internal tweaks. I am about 90% sure there is nothing different about the physical hardware of the devices. So if you can find an HD 8 that's 6th generation, for real cheap, you can probably swap out the screen. There are several tutorials online if you do Google search, on how to do that. It sounds harder than it actually is. With that said, i am still looking for a cheap HD 7 so I can replace the screen in the one I have tucked away in a drawer.
I have Google Play installed on my Kindle Fire HD 8 6th gen, and it shows a nice update available, but it won't update. The Amazon app store doesn't show any updates.
Is there a workaround, or do I just have to wait for Amazon to release an update?
I'm surprised that Amazon doesn't provide the update.
Suggestions?
Apparently Amazon has loaded a slightly different version of the Kindle app on Kindle Fire tablets, so the play store version will not update it. No idea why they did that.
It also frustrates me to no end that the Kindle app on Kindle Fire tablets cannot be locked in portrait orientation, while the Kindle app on every other android device can.
I am thinking about replacing an old tablet with an Amazon Fire HD 10, but I am a little confused about the Fire OS, and the tablet not having Google Play. How does Fire OS relate to the family of Android OS's? Does the Fire OS update as often or keep pace with the Android OS's?
I use Google Play for all my apps, how would I get Google Play and the other Google apps on an Amazon Fire HD 10? Does the Amazon Fire HD 10 need to be rooted to get the Google apps on the tablet? Do Google apps run well on an Amazon Fire 10?
Thanks for any insight on the Amazon Fire HD 10.
migoblu said:
I am thinking about replacing an old tablet with an Amazon Fire HD 10, but I am a little confused about the Fire OS, and the tablet not having Google Play. How does Fire OS relate to the family of Android OS's? Does the Fire OS update as often or keep pace with the Android OS's?
I use Google Play for all my apps, how would I get Google Play and the other Google apps on an Amazon Fire HD 10? Does the Amazon Fire HD 10 need to be rooted to get the Google apps on the tablet? Do Google apps run well on an Amazon Fire 10?
Thanks for any insight on the Amazon Fire HD 10.
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Click to collapse
Nope, all Google apps run well without root. But, obviously to get it like normal Android, you would need root. Also, the Fire OS does NOT keep pace at all. It is 5.1.1, and still hadn't got 2018 security patches. Got to go now, will explain more later.
Supersonic27543 said:
Nope, all Google apps run well without root. But, obviously to get it like normal Android, you would need root. Also, the Fire OS does NOT keep pace at all. It is 5.1.1, and still hadn't got 2018 security patches. Got to go now, will explain more later.
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Thanks for that info. It really helps.
migoblu said:
I am thinking about replacing an old tablet with an Amazon Fire HD 10, but I am a little confused about the Fire OS, and the tablet not having Google Play. How does Fire OS relate to the family of Android OS's? Does the Fire OS update as often or keep pace with the Android OS's?
I use Google Play for all my apps, how would I get Google Play and the other Google apps on an Amazon Fire HD 10? Does the Amazon Fire HD 10 need to be rooted to get the Google apps on the tablet? Do Google apps run well on an Amazon Fire 10?
Thanks for any insight on the Amazon Fire HD 10.
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I would suggest it 100%. Unless you are in a rush to replace your older tablet, though, I'd just keep my eyes peeled for a sale since they have come down to a $100 a couple of times- but you have to act fast when they do cuz they don't stay around long. I actually prefer it to my Samsung Tablet. Getting the Google Play Store on it is easy and it's fairly simple to root and disable some of the bloatware, though it's not necessary. With Launcher Hijack you can get your preferred Android layout if the Fire Launcher isn't jiving with you (it doesn't with most)
dondraper23 said:
I would suggest it 100%. Unless you are in a rush to replace your older tablet, though, I'd just keep my eyes peeled for a sale since they have come down to a $100 a couple of times- but you have to act fast when they do cuz they don't stay around long. I actually prefer it to my Samsung Tablet. Getting the Google Play Store on it is easy and it's fairly simple to root and disable some of the bloatware, though it's not necessary. With Launcher Hijack you can get your preferred Android layout if the Fire Launcher isn't jiving with you (it doesn't with most)
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Thanks, it seems like a good tablet from what I've seen. Thanks for the input.
Picked up a HD8 Plus (2020) off a mate and he used it for emulation and had used Fire Toolbox to put google play on it.... I'd like to get it back to the original state Amazon everything. Is this possible?
spong80 said:
Picked up a HD8 Plus (2020) off a mate and he used it for emulation and had used Fire Toolbox to put google play on it.... I'd like to get it back to the original state Amazon everything. Is this possible?
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Yeah, just do a factory reset from Settings. Although, installing Google Play Services and the Play Store is *really* recommended, because the Amazon Appstore is pretty lacking.