I'm pretty sure you can install the amazon app store on the nexus, but I know you can't install the google app store on the kindle, so amazon cuts off the largest source of android apps. I really don't like the kindle fire for this reason.
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You can get access to all of amazon's ecosystem (except amazon prime video) on any android device, it's just not pre-installed. But with the kindle fire you can't access the play store unless you root it. A few minus's that nexus has is no sd card slot and no hdmi slot. It sounds like the kindle still won't have an sd card slot (but the nook has one) but it will have some sort of hdmi out.
If you want a bigger screen then that's a different story. I like the 7inch size since it can fit in my jacket pocket.
final thoughts; Kindle fire is probably nice IF you root it. The original fire seemed pretty easy to root, time will tell if the newer models have the same story.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skelms
If you want a bigger screen then that's a different story. I like the 7inch size since it can fit in my jacket pocket.
final thoughts; Kindle fire is probably nice IF you root it. The original fire seemed pretty easy to root, time will tell if the newer models have the same story.
Exactly how i feel. Most likely you will be able to Root and ROM a Kindle Fire (i had the original Fire and found reasonably decent ICS ROMs for it), but rooting is not for everyone. In it's stock form, the same Android Flexibility that you have probably grown to love on the Nexus 7 is completely absent from Amazon's heavily customized OS skin. You wont even recognize it as Android. I just read this article on Gizmodo.com. Check it out:
Also keep in mind that Amazon is unlikely to stay on top of updates very quickly.
I'd say if you're heavily tied to the Amazon ecosystem and your tablet is exclusively a media consumption device plus a web browser, then the Fire is an excellent tablet.
For those who are more heavily invested in the rest of the Android ecosystem (apps, development, updates, etc.), the N7 is probably still the way to go.
Also consider the fact that all of the new Kindle Fire HD models include a feature called "special offers and sponsored screensavers". In other words, they have ads on top of the ads you already see when using free Android apps. There is no way to opt out of the ads.
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I'd also like to note that you are probably going to see some biased opinions within this particular sub forum, and absolutely no one here has actually touched/seen a new Kindle Fire yet. I'm sure there are certain individuals that will LOVE these new devices, and I'm sure they will perform perfectly fine... that being said, once you get a taste of vanilla android, how could you possibly go to anything else. I cannot stand any of the skinned versions of android... give me stock every single day.
Now if you root/ROM and you can get more memory, storage, better specs, etc and have stock android all at a lesser cost, then go for it... but i dont think that will be the case here
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I got the Nexus 7 for 2 reasons, one its the best 7" tablet out atm esp for the money, two for the freedom of a Google Nexus device.
I enjoy the freedom so much I will now be getting a GNexus over a S3.
but as you can see I fit into the android dev, eco system bracket.
I have no doubt the Kindle HD is/will be a great device, but will be limited in its use and ability w/o modification.
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I am a tech addict. I love the latest stuff! Paid close attention to yesterday's news about the new Kindles and considered getting one. I read this today and it cured me:
Depends what you want from a tablet. Think of the Fire as way of buying Amazon content rather than as an Android device. It's probably a great device if that's what you want.
I have the fire from Christmas time and it's been pretty good. One of the things that Amazon does is protect you from bad applications. The browser is very fast. And their interface is actually very easy to use and you can very easily install applications that they do not allow you to download. All you have to do is copy the downloaded app into the fire and then run it and it will install. the other nice thing about it is a have a keyboard that actually works really well unlike this Nexus 7 which screws up so bad it's not funny.
Can't you stream amazon prime from a flash browser?
I loved the Fire. It was a high quality tablet...not many bugs. I had to deal with the limitations of the Amazon ecosystem. Had to download volume control, and so I didn't have to use the settings to turn volume up, and had to download a touch sensitivity app. Also had to side load some apps. But I like amazon and I liked the tablet.
However, you I live the nexus. It is all the fire had, and more. The only possible reason I can see to opt for the Fire is if you really want cellular.
Off topic, I decided to purchase the Galaxy Tab 2 SE over the N7 for the keyboard and USB adapter included. I haven't played with an N7 in person but will and may buy one for Christmas time and give the SGT2 to the wife.
So far I'm liking the T2 and think it's a pretty good tablet. But then again, I'm fairly new with Android, tablets and smartphones...
I have the fire from Christmas time and it's been pretty good. One of the things that Amazon does is protect you from bad applications. The browser is very fast. And their interface is actually very easy to use and you can very easily install applications that they do not allow you to download. All you have to do is copy the downloaded app into the fire and then run it and it will install. the other nice thing about it is a have a keyboard that actually works really well unlike this Nexus 7 which screws up so bad it's not funny.
I have had a different experience with their browser. I found it slow as molasses. The fire is okay for Amazon content, and but for browsing and other apps, and I want my Nexus.
At first I thought it was nice. But I think that of a lot of new toys. Then I scrutinized it more and I think it is decent for most people but its inferior to the N7. Here is why.
- Until it gets jelly bean it will have a huge handicap
- GPS is a big deal for me since my N7 will do a lot of traveling.
- flexibility of a nexus. Rooting. Easier to side load.
- Google never interferes with unlocking or modification while amazon fought it with the first fire.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by val88
At first I thought it was nice. But I think that of a lot of new toys. Then I scrutinized it more and I think it is decent for most people but its inferior to the N7. Here is why.
- Until it gets jelly bean it will have a huge handicap
- GPS is a big deal for me since my N7 will do a lot of traveling.
- flexibility of a nexus. Rooting. Easier to side load.
- Google never interferes with unlocking or modification while amazon fought it with the first fire.
If you use the first generation fire as an example, then you'll probably see that the fire hd will never get jelly bean. The first gen fire released with gingerbread and about the time we should have seen an OS upgrade, we see a whole new tablet from Amazon. I think it's why we saw fewer updates through out the last year. I'm betting that Amazon repeats this same behaviour next year...
If you use the first generation fire as an example, then you'll probably see that the fire hd will never get jelly bean. The first gen fire released with gingerbread and about the time we should have seen an OS upgrade, we see a whole new tablet from Amazon. I think it's why we saw fewer updates through out the last year. I'm betting that Amazon repeats this same behaviour next year...
As disturbing as that thought is, it would drive sales of the hardware and put more Amazon ecosystem into people's hands.
The KF kept me quite content as I got it immediately when it was released. Up until about two months ago I began to not use it as much. I still like it alot but when the Nexus 7 came out, I felt the need to see what all the fuss was.
I wasn't completely thrilled with it when I first bought it but after awhile I knew I couldn't live without it and the new Fire HD will not cut it.
The reasons for me are Jelly Bean and the Google Play Store. You can still install the Amazon app store but you will never have access to the Play Store if you aren't a rooter.
Jelly Bean is the real deal. The more I dive into it, the more I know it is. And I never rooted any device I have so to have access to this OS on a device as good as the Nexus 7 is at this price works for me!!
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I purchased the Kindle Fire around Christmas time with the thought of rooting it. I quickly became tired of the interface and never really came around to getting it customized. I found a few bugs that never got fixed, and the updates were more centric to pushing more Amazon features (a tactic that Apple does with iTunes) than fixing issues. Don't get me wrong, issues did get fixed, but just not that many.
Reasons to stay with Nexus:
- Much, much more customizable
- Jelly Bean 4.1
- Updates will come from Google, and will be more frequent
- Reasonably better hardware.
Reasons (for me) to stay away from Fire HD:
- The interface. Don't like to be locked into the same old thing.
- No Google Play store. I don't like the idea of re-buyingmy apps.
- Jelly Bean unlikely to happen
- Ads. I plunk down that much money and you're still going to push ads????
- Slow updates.
I am intrigued about this attempt at faster wifi, but I'm betting it's going to be more problematic in the beginning...
I have the original Fire. I actually have two Fires on my account. I bought the Nexus in August. The more I used the Fire the more the carousel annoyed me. I installed Go on it, which improved it, but it really annoyed me that every book I bought showed up on the carousel, even though I had it delivered to my Kindle.
So I bought the Nexus and am really happy with it. DH uses the Fire a bit, but mostly the grandson plays games on it. I wondered if I would be tempted or regret the Nexus when the new Fires were announced...but I don't.
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Meh, the KHD is even more constrained than the N7, since both are sans a sd slot, but the KHD more locked down and stuck with the Amazon market. Both devices are cloud corralling, so pick your poison. Now, if the KHD had a micro sd slot, that would tip the balance some....
Still, for the cloud adhering consumer, or people that just read or want streaming content, the KHD seems a better value, due to the (per reviewers) apparent better & bigger display and build quality.
It wouldn't surprise me if this was planned by Amazon. I mean look at what happened: They roll out new hardware and BTW, you have to have ads on your lock screen. Consumers backlash stating they don't want ads. Amazon quickly says, oh OK, you can pay to get the ads removed. It takes time to add functionality to software. You have plan, develop and test for new additions. They could have created the functionality, measured customer response, and introduce if the response is too negative.
I just find it sad that the user has to pay extra, to get something they don't want, removed...
... I am happy to have the choice of buying a cheaper e-reader.
That was the issue with me, not having the choice. Now I can look at it as a Kindle Fire HD costs $215 but if I want to save $15, I can go with the ads.
I'm pretty sure you can install the amazon app store on the nexus, but I know you can't install the google app store on the kindle, so amazon cuts off the largest source of android apps. I really don't like the kindle fire for this reason.
Too many Google apps don't work on Amazon kindle. I love the Nexus 7
The N7 has a quad core SOC w/12 core GPU and project butter fueling it's engines... I saw a hands-on of the Fire HD and the guy was saying it lags. Plus you could see it lagging on web surfing. So far my N7 does NOT lag. So to pay $50 extra for lag... I can not recommend this option to anyone. I say stick with the pure Android experience you get with the Nexus and save your $50 for something else. Lots of good stuff will be coming out soon with NO lag and no ads either. Like the new nexus phones for instance. Or the quad core Acer a110 w/Jelly Bean.
:-)
My Mom enjoys her original Kindle Fire. She reads and watches videos, she also is subscribed to Amazon Prime. I cannot stand it, even before I had a Nexus 7. The nexus7 is so much smoother, lighter, and faster. Also, their version of Android is horrible, and I find it quite hard to use. The new Fires might be faster and more responsive, but imagine their software to still be horrible.
Last edited by DWasilew; September 11th, 2012 at 09:55 AM.
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My Daughter has the kf and loves it. I have the N7 and I won't change. My wife wants the fhd. Go figure! It is all personal choice.
As far as ads on the lockscreen... It's a lockscreen! Its not like it will bug once you unlock it... I've even heard some of the deals are unbelievably good (I'll have the wife tell me when she sees something I might like. win~win)!
My Daughter has the kf and loves it. I have the N7 and I won't change. My wife wants the fhd. Go figure! It is all personal choice.
As far as ads on the lockscreen... It's a lockscreen! Its not like it will bug once you unlock it... I've even heard some of the deals are unbelievably good (I'll have the wife tell me when she sees something I might like. win~win)!
Now I am totally. I followed the link above for Amazon prime videos/movies. While on the CDs site so many people are saying prime members CANNOT access the Amazon free leading library. Someone else said they purchased a book but was not able to download it.
Does anyone no for sure that prime are able to access prime books free/purchased books? I'm not too concerned about the streaming, I just want full access to the books free and purchases.
Update
I watched a video on CNET that "confirmed" the use for prime users minus movies but not sure if it's totally accurate. For all I now, he could have downloaded the app, bought a stylus using prime account and concluded that everything else works fine...except movies.
I really want the Nexus 7 but if I can't access prime then there's no use for it for me. I want to read books mostly, but would enjoy a little Web surfing. And the look of the KDHD is sickening.
Last edited by Myicha; September 20th, 2012 at 10:01 PM.
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Thinking of trading Nexus 7 for a Kindle Fire HD
. I followed the link above for Amazon prime videos/movies. While on the CDs site so many people are saying prime members CANNOT access the Amazon free leading library. Someone else said they purchased a book but was not able to download it.
