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I bought a Kindle Fire HDx on Black Friday (got a good deal).
So far I really like it, but not having my Google apps is almost a deal breaker (YouTube, Gmail, Maps, Play Books, Music, Chrome, etc).
I read a few posts about how you can sideload google apps.
I did that and I was able to get YouTube, Chrome and Gmail on my Kindle Fire HDx.
But it's really buggy, Youtube won't let me sign in and I keep getting an error randomlly that the Google Play services has stopped responding.
The biggest thing is that the apps I sideloaded look super low res in the carousel next the HD icons. Is there a way to fix that?
I'm really having misgivings about this device. I really love the specs and the screen is gorgeous but not having access to all my Google stuff is tough.
I noticed there is root for 8.9. Will 7 get root access soon? Will that help with some of the issues I'm having?
Any help/advice is welcome!
Thanks!
Newerabs said:
I bought a Kindle Fire HDx on Black Friday (got a good deal).
So far I really like it, but not having my Google apps is almost a deal breaker (YouTube, Gmail, Maps, Play Books, Music, Chrome, etc).
I read a few posts about how you can sideload google apps.
I did that and I was able to get YouTube, Chrome and Gmail on my Kindle Fire HDx.
But it's really buggy, Youtube won't let me sign in and I keep getting an error randomlly that the Google Play services has stopped responding.
The biggest thing is that the apps I sideloaded look super low res in the carousel next the HD icons. Is there a way to fix that?
I'm really having misgivings about this device. I really love the specs and the screen is gorgeous but not having access to all my Google stuff is tough.
I noticed there is root for 8.9. Will 7 get root access soon? Will that help with some of the issues I'm having?
Any help/advice is welcome!
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Apps are a work in progress and as you mentioned there are bugs to work out. I would recommend taking a look at this thread for the latest joint progress on them. As far as root is concerned the Kindle Fire HDX 7 has gotten root I would recommend checking out this thread for a simple utility that will allow you root access. Let me know if you still have any questions I'll be happy to help you out.
shimp208 said:
Google Apps are a work in progress and as you mentioned there are bugs to work out. I would recommend taking a look at this thread for the latest joint progress on them. As far as root is concerned the Kindle Fire HDX 7 has gotten root I would recommend checking out this thread for a simple utility that will allow you root access. Let me know if you still have any questions I'll be happy to help you out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot. This is very helpful. I'm wondering do you know of there 's a way to make the icons in the carousel HD? Right now the google apps look super low res?
Newerabs said:
Thanks a lot. This is very helpful. I'm wondering do you know of there 's a way to make the icons in the carousel HD? Right now the google apps look super low res?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I unfortunately don't how to make the icons HD, I have that same problem it's because Amazon expects people to just use their ecosystem apps which all have HD icons, there may be a way to modify the Amazon home launcher code to do so but that would be a lot of work for relatively little gain but might be fun to attempt.
Right now I think that if Google apps are real important to you, you would be better off with a Nexus 7. You trade the better hardware for seamless Googleness.
You have to hope that the Play Store is coming soon, but if the Amazon world isn't enough, then I would make the change to the Nexus. For me, the limited google apps with Fire OS is not a problem.
Sent from my KFTHWI using Tapatalk 2
Vire Launcher
Newerabs said:
Thanks a lot. This is very helpful. I'm wondering do you know of there 's a way to make the icons in the carousel HD? Right now the google apps look super low res?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could install Vire Launcher, which is one the few alternative home screens that work well on the HDX. It eliminates the carousel and uses higher res icons similar to those on a regular Android home screen. It also has its own wallpapers which work on the HDX, unlike other launchers.
zahir32 said:
You could install Vire Launcher, which is one the few alternative home screens that work well on the HDX. It eliminates the carousel and uses higher res icons similar to those on a regular Android home screen. It also has its own wallpapers which work on the HDX, unlike other launchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[email protected]
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
This iPad Air 2 clone from Onda: http://www.onda-tablet.com/onda-v91...reen-ram-2gb-octa-core-3g-android-tablet.html
Looks rather nice, (and very cheap) for what it is, the question is does anyone have one, and what's the battery life like?
I'm currently running an old (original) Nexus 7 Running 5.02 lollipop. It's usable. But having just bought my mother a ASUS HD7 (also an Intel build) http://www.theverge.com/2014/12/12/7377323/best-cheap-tablet-you-can-buy and seen how it performs in comparison I think it's time for an upgrade.
This: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2776829 seems to be how to root one, but I'm more interested in build quality and feel
So does anyone have one?
NOTE: These are INTEL ROMS for Baytrail, etc. https://01.org/android-ia/downloads
praxis22 said:
This iPad Air 2 clone from Onda: http://www.onda-tablet.com/onda-v91...reen-ram-2gb-octa-core-3g-android-tablet.html
Looks rather nice, (and very cheap) for what it is, the question is does anyone have one, and what's the battery life like?
I'm currently running an old (original) Nexus 7 Running 5.02 lollipop. It's usable. But having just bought my mother a ASUS HD7 (also an Intel build) http://www.theverge.com/2014/12/12/7377323/best-cheap-tablet-you-can-buy and seen how it performs in comparison I think it's time for an upgrade.
This: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2776829 seems to be how to root one, but I'm more interested in build quality and feel
So does anyone have one?
NOTE: These are INTEL ROMS for Baytrail, etc. https://01.org/android-ia/downloads
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, got one on order - delivery next week, I hope, according to the email received today. I ordered the Android Only version - the dual boot Android / Win 8 was quite a bit more and I already have a MS Win 8 tablet which I dont like so didn't need the pain Also it was USD40 cheaper, so spent themoney on a memory card.
I also have an iPad Air Mini, so it will be interesting to compare to see if the Onda can match an iPad - not quite a direct comparison, but will be interesting.
http://www.onda-tablet.com/onda-v919-3g-air-9-7-inch-retina-screen-ram-2gb-octa-core-3g-android-tablet.html
Jeff
Jeff, tell us how the tablet is. what are the features like? how is the dual boot? etc....
Sorry for delay - I didn't get an email note to say a reply had been posted!
Anyway, I bought the Android version as I have a Win 8 tablet and hate it.
As usual for a Chinese item, it was configured for English (US) and has a selection of rather "unusual" programs and apps loaded as standard. Most are in-built into the ROM and cannot be deleted.
It is, basically, a large Android Phone running 4.4.2. It has a well configured 16Gb internal USB drive of which approx 12Gb is free to load apps. I have put a 64Gb TF card in and it is recognised and formatted automatically. It has a Micro SIM slot but my WorldSIM card is not recognised as it does not pull-in the SIM tools from the SIM card so cannot find a signal. I will buy a PAYG SIM from Tesco when I next go there.
It proved impossible to root the ROM using all of the APK or USB type methods - 4.4.2 is known to be extremely difficult and 4.4.3 almost impossible (I have read). I saw an add on the web for a USD39.95 root or your money back. Nothing ventured, Nothing gained, so I clicked on the link. A chat box opened and I discussed the issue (Chinese tablet / 4.4.2 etc.) and the techy guy said it was 50/50. He did confirm that if it didn't work there would be no damage and a full refund; if it did work, then that's good. I paid by PayPal and as soon as it went through, I got an invite to allow remote access. The tech guy downloaded iRoot (which has already failed for me) as well as a small toolkit. He ran a DOS promt and got the phone to be recognised - this is the secret that made it work; a standard USB/Phone driver is not working well with 4.4.2.
Once the phone saw the USB connection, he ran iRoot and after 5 minutes and a few reboots, it was rooted. He then tidied up the PC by deleting the files he had downloaded.
On the tablet, I now had a rooted ROM and a selection of new Chinese icons (SuperCLeaner / SuperUser and a few "extras"). Being untrustworthy, I wanted to replace those a.s.a.p. but being careful not to disturb anything that might un-root me. I went to bed, it was 11:30 and I didn't want to make any mistakes.
This morning, I researched what was available. First install was BUSYBOX FREE which I have always read is a util you should install. Next was SuperSU which is the utility that is normally part of a "Western" root process. As it loaded, it complained that there was already a SuperUser App installed (the Chinese one) so I ticked the box to say "replace it" and kept my fingers crossed. All went OK, rebooted and I now had SuperSU up and running. Next app to look at was the Chinese SuperCleaner which kept popping up saying it was cleaning up the cache etc. Made me suspicious. So, first thing was to get rid of it. It was a simple drag and uninstall.
I was still left with a lot of icons of unknown use (Chinese Characters / Chinese Browser / Chinese email app etc etc) that were part of the ROM and couldn't be deleted.
Next App load : Root App Deleter - says it all. I ran it in "Junior" mode (so no irrepairable damage can be done) and "disabled" everything I culd recognise - this removes the icon from the desktop, but does not delete the App. I will wait a few days and if nothing falls over, I will go back and run as "Professional" which allows permanent (and irreplaceable) deletion.
Next App : Root Explorer which, like a file explorer, lets you look everywhere.
Next App : Titanium Backup - allows you to backup to SD card or elsewhere Apps, setting etc.
Logged into Google / Playstore, clicked "My Apps" and started downloading all of teh Android Apps I wanted to replicate on the tablet (TV, Radio, AllCast, Netflix . . . etc)
There are a few very important apps which are involved with the Root, so Icreated a Root folder and moved all of the icons into it. ALso there were a few Chinese icons that I could not get ris of, so they went in the folder as well. I then moved it to the last desktop well out of the way - out of sight, out of mind
Interestingly, it looks like the full phone hardware is built in as well - along with SMS messaging app there is a phone dialler. I *#06# on the keypad and got an IMEI response and there is a phone onhook/offhook ability, so I assume there is a workin phone. Without a SIM, I cant try it (yet).
Downside : the wireless receiver is a little deaf - my iPad gets a 90% signal almost everywhere int he hosue, this droped the signal upstairs and gives a 75% signal strength within sight of the wireless router. This is a common complaint with Chinese phones and tablets.
So, for less than £100, you get a 9.7" iPad looking tablet, running Android 4.4.2 - not bad at all.
Quick update - PAYG 3G sim works fine- it is a phone as well, works perfectly but a bit large to hold to the ear - so a phone headset is best.
Hey all,
I have a Fire HDX 7 with ggows HDX Nexus 4.0.5 installed. As the title says, the GPS is slow (takes long to find a fix, >1 minute) and LTE often doesnt work at all (randomly, sometimes airplane mode and back fixes it). As I'm using the Fire as my navigation unit with Google Maps, both these issues are quite big for me.
So my question to the Fire HDX with LTE owners: How is your GPS? Do you have cellphone data location working (doesnt seem to work for me at all)?
And what OS are you running to have good LTE?
Thanks for your feedback!
OriginalJones said:
Hey all,
I have a Fire HDX 7 with ggows HDX Nexus 4.0.5 installed. As the title says, the GPS is slow (takes long to find a fix, >1 minute) and LTE often doesnt work at all (randomly, sometimes airplane mode and back fixes it). As I'm using the Fire as my navigation unit with Google Maps, both these issues are quite big for me.
So my question to the Fire HDX with LTE owners: How is your GPS? Do you have cellphone data location working (doesnt seem to work for me at all)?
And what OS are you running to have good LTE?
Thanks for your feedback!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issues you mention are common to all HDX models with these HW features. LTE seems to work reasonably well with FireOS but is dodgy with custom roms (Nexus and all of the CM variants). GPS is reported slow/unreliable regardless of OS. I suspect Amazon's intent was to support location aware shopping apps vs navigation.
Davey126 said:
The issues you mention are common to all HDX models with these HW features. LTE seems to work reasonably well with FireOS but is dodgy with custom roms (Nexus and all of the CM variants). GPS is reported slow/unreliable regardless of OS. I suspect Amazon's intent was to support location aware shopping apps vs navigation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your response, although it is a bummer. Anyone knows a cheap bluetooth GPS receiver I can put in the car?
Maybe I should go FireOS to at least have decent LTE. It's possible to have a custom launcher and root in FireOS, right?
OriginalJones said:
It's possible to have a custom launcher and root in FireOS, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can root most versions of FireOS (up through 4.5.3) using various tools. Using a custom launcher is more tedious as FireOS offers no mechanism for selecting the default launcher. Screen orientation and rotation are also issues. You'll need to do some research on workarounds which are launcher specific. I ultimately gave up on the custom launcher but happily ran rooted/Xposed on 3.2.6 for many months.
Gapps is also a royal PiTA under FireOS as Amazon and Google frameworks don't play nice together.
Realizing that Samsung (long ago) abandoned th P7510 (p4wifi), I rooted and installed Lollipop 5.1.1 by decatf. Fabulous! Love the speed improvements. Happy the Samsung junk is gone. The past month or so has been great UNTIL.......
I am on a cross country trip and ran out of paperback books. "No problem, I will just buy some books from Amazon and read them with the Kindle App."
Oh, s**t, the Amazon Kindle App is happy to let me buy and download ebooks, but when I try to READ a book, the Kindle App crashes and drops me back to the desktop.
Does anyone have the Amazon Kindle App working on the AOSP 5.1.1 ROM?
Can anybody suggest how to troubleshoot this problem? I have deleted and reinstalled the Kindle App. Cleared cache. The app let's me download books, but crashes every time I try to read ANY book (have tried several).
(I would have posted there, but "newbies" are not allowed to post in Development forums.)
decatf is a bloody genius as far as I am concerned. Without his ROM, I would have tossed this tablet.
kindle app update will crash on both 5.1.1 and 6.0.1 too I think.
it crashes under AOSP 6.0.1 ROM too , I just wanted to let you know that on the new version, it also crashes on some ebook title not all of them crash when opening, its almost random on 6.0 when the kindle app will crash. not sure if their going to be an fix to this problem anytime soon.
Which 6.0.1 ROM
MaximalGreen said:
it crashes under AOSP 6.0.1 ROM too , I just wanted to let you know that on the new version, it also crashes on some ebook title not all of them crash when opening, its almost random on 6.0 when the kindle app will crash. not sure if their going to be an fix to this problem anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you get a 6.0.1 ROM for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (p4wifi)?
My impression was that decatf ran into a roadblock with Marshmallow and said, "That's all folks! Nothing after 5.1.1
I really have nothing to lose by giving Marshmallow a shot on this tablet, UNLESS..... are there other apps that you have found do not work on 6.0.1 ?
Thanks
UncleDick said:
Where did you get a 6.0.1 ROM for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (p4wifi)?
My impression was that decatf ran into a roadblock with Marshmallow and said, "That's all folks! Nothing after 5.1.1
I really have nothing to lose by giving Marshmallow a shot on this tablet, UNLESS..... are there other apps that you have found do not work on 6.0.1 ?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The rom is right here, but some features are not working like for example I can't run the game Subway Surf update The last version that worked on my hardware is 1.47.1 on 11 26 2015, the Christmas version displays an message saying it does not support my Samsung galaxy tablet 10.1 it has an failure to initialize! Your hardware does not support this application, sorry!. So I can't use the Christmas update for the game its not related to the AOSP version but the game app itself is broken.
and the camera flashlight flash hardware part is not working either, it says the camera is working on the person page below but I can't get my camera flash at night to go on when taking photos.
The other thing is the crashing of kindle app when opening some ebooks, otherwise they do load.
under Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android Development and its title [ROM][Unofficial][AOSP] Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-10-1/development/rom-android-6-0-marshmallow-t3266663
p4wifi: WIFI only tablet.
aosp-6.0-p4wifi-20151211.zip
above is the build that I tried on my tablet. I don't think the 3D hardware is working with this build because the 3D running game called Subway Surf will not play at all and Fruit Ninja Free plays but it seems to slow down at times during the cutting of the fruits. I hope its fixed in future builds, Bluetooth somewhat works for my Bluetooth soundbar hardware but you have to turn it on each time you boot the android. and the percentage text is missing from the charging mode when the tablet is turned off, it just shows the icon changing without the text.
What does seem to work is scummvm app, these games they run just fine under aosp 6.0 p4wifi , I tried a few of mine like day of the tentacle, sam and max hit the road, and other titles etc.. so if you own these Lucas Arts games they will run on this tablet with this build they seem to run fine as far as I can tell , I got the scummvm build version from the play store but you can download it from here too.
http://www.scummvm.org/
you can use the above web link to also download new builds of scummvm if you need to they seem to work fine, on the new version. so far it has not crash the scummvm app at all, so as far as I can tell it runs under android 6.0 on this tablet, not sure how long the batteries work on the tablet running these games, I have not really test it that much so I don't no how long you can play them for on it.
Subway surfers fails to run , not related to AOSP version but the update itself cause
The last version that worked on my hardware is 1.47.1 on 11 26 2015, the Christmas version displays an message saying it does not support my Samsung galaxy tablet 10.1 it has an failure to initialize! Your hardware does not support this application, sorry!. So I can't use the Christmas update.
its not related to the AOSP build but the app itself fails to run on Samsung galaxy tablet 10.1 , the last version 1.47.1 on 11 26 2015 still runs, you don't get that message above until you update the version to the Christmas one, so its been brokened since the latest release, I just check that since I downgrade the app, and now it plays again.
Older Kindle App Works as Well!
Thanks for the wonderful observation that sometimes an older version of an app will work, whereas the more recent versions do not. I went to apkmirror.com and downloaded the Amazon Kindle app from Feb, 2015. Installed it as a "foreign source", and to my surprise and amazement, it appears to open and READ A BOOK! There are several updates between Feb, 2015 and today. I could, perhaps, try them one-after-another and find the most recent app that works. But, why bother? All I have to do now is be alert and NEVER "update" the Kindle app. (That's a good question. Since I did not install the Kindle app through Android Play, maybe it will not know the app is even installed, and will never offer me an "update".)
Of course, xdadevelopers has cost Google a sale, since I now have less incentive to purchase a Nexus tablet to replace my Tab 10.1
Thanks!
Kindle crashing lollipop
Hi
Mine crashes only on ebooks purchased after a certain date - all of them. it will still open ebooks previously purchased.
I am also running 5.1.1 on my Galaxy S4 - kindle works fine - sick of reading on the smaller screen.
thanks for the apkmirror.com hint brother
John
My Fire HDX (4th Gen, running OS 5.1.2) suddenly stopped running video's. I've restarted it several times, and made sure it was fully charged, but it refuses to run any video's either from Prime video, or my library. Is there anything else I can do?
MangoMike said:
My Fire HDX (4th Gen, running OS 5.1.2) suddenly stopped running video's. I've restarted it several times, and made sure it was fully charged, but it refuses to run any video's either from Prime video, or my library. Is there anything else I can do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooted? If so you *might* be able to clear cache and dalvik which sometimes get mucked up. Unfortunately the reset options in FireOS also clobber personal apps/data. You probably don't want to go that route.
Although a long shot put your device into recovery mode (<power>+<vol-up> from cold start) and report back on options displayed. Curious if Amazon included more robust recovery/reset options during the FireOS v4 to v5 upgrade. May simplify clearing the caches noted above.