Kindle Fire Users - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

11/17/2011 01:40:54 PM · #1

I bought a Kindle fire as a moderate cost introduction to tablet OSs...(since I neither have a smart phone or other tablet...though I do have a convertible tablet/laptop (HP TM2) running Windows 7.

Did anyone else buy one? Let's discuss it here...

My first impression...very nice for reading anything it treats like a book (e.g., pulse, sample subscriptions). Music is great...sounds pretty good. Video works well.

BUT: it needs a mic! I wanted to be able to use my skype-in number on this if I didn't have my laptop with me! Huge disappointment there.

Also: I haven't found or seen a system password yet. I set up all my email on this...but what if someone steals it? Anyone figure this out? And why hasn't anyone put a fingerprint reader on these things! That would be the best and easiest security system (my laptop/tablet has one...it's GREAT!)

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/17/2011 02:46:03 PM · #2

I don't really have much use for a tablet right now. If I traveled by plane or train a lot I would find it very convenient. As it is, my netbook suits my needs, being a full flendged Winidows PC. A tablet is certainly a possibility in the near future, at the prices some of them are starting to come in at.

11/17/2011 05:00:02 PM · #3

So now that i have my christmas present, my wife was looking at these.

curious as to the thoughts. i read Engadget's review and it was a little underwhelming but they are generally harsh anyhow.

i was considering getting one for my 6 year old daughter for Christmas since she loves to read. the size (and price) seems right plus she loves playing games on my phone.

Message edited by author 2011-11-17 17:01:33.

11/17/2011 11:51:33 PM · #4

The more I use it the more I like it. I'll have a lot more time this weekend. It does make a great reader...anything formatted for the "mobile" format works great. Still a bit small for web browsing, but better than a phone I imagine!

And while a 9" tablet like an iPad would be much better for the web, this form factor is pretty nice to hold in one hand.

I am still bewildered why they left off a microphone. Maybe someone brilliant will change the software to the speakers to make them work like a mike? Or maybe a usb headset will work?

11/18/2011 12:14:03 AM · #5

I will have one tomorrow to evaluate. Not mine actually, but one that I bought for my Mom for Christmas - I will have to check it out to be able to show her how it works, right??

This seemed like the perfect compromise between cost (iPad is awesome but too many $$$), size, and features (based on early reviews) for someone who will primarily be doing reading, email, and some web surfing.

The lack of password protection is a little bit of concern if one is going to do any on-line banking, etc.

The lack of a microphone is not much of a concern to me right now.

I'll post some concrete thoughts once I have played with it a bit.

11/18/2011 12:22:24 AM · #6

I think it does have a screen locking password...I just haven't been brave enough to try it yet. When you enter your password, or change it, it gives you very little confirmation. I can't tell after I decide to change it whether it took or not.

Ok, it wasn't even the password I thought to lock it. There's a password called "Credential Storage Password", which it hasn't prompted me for yet, though I set it.

There's also a lock screen password. When you enable it, it asks for the password then. If you turn it off (instant on and off), it then prompts for the password you set.

Message edited by author 2011-11-18 00:30:23.

11/19/2011 06:13:57 PM · #7

Been playing arund a little with the new Kindle Fire and so far I am fairly impressed. I have an iPod touch, so I am familiar with the basics of an apple device. The operation of the Kindle is very similar to my wife's Android based phone. Not as slick as an Apple machine, but pretty darn close.

I do like the size of the Kindle. DPC photos look awesome on it. Amazon has streaming movies and TV through Amazon Prime ($80/yr), but there is a Netflix app (free) for the Fire that lets me stream from my Netflix account.

I have not tried email. Since this is really for my Mom for Christmas, I am about to deregister it and put it up. BTW, registration was seamless. Somehow it recognized my home network, knew it was me, and automatically registered itself to my Amazon account.

A nice tablet if you go in knowing it's limitations as compared to an iPad.

11/19/2011 06:52:59 PM · #8

how is the internet browser. one of my big complaints with these tablets its the browser is terrible since they lack flash. unless there is an app available the internet experience is very limited.

11/19/2011 08:13:01 PM · #9

The Internet browsing seems pretty normal (the same as an Android phone). I'm almost sure that the Kindle runs Adobe Flash (Apples do not). However, I read a few days ago that Flash is nearing the end of it's usefulness with the next generation of web programming.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/19/2011 08:25:09 PM · #10

Originally posted by dswann:

However, I read a few days ago that Flash is nearing the end of it's usefulness with the next generation of web programming.

yeah but until every recodes their sites, it will still be required.

blindjustice

Canon EOS-7D

11/19/2011 08:35:23 PM · #11

It might come down to whether you like amazon(amazon mp3, bookstore, media, and amazon cloud) rather than itunes. I guess although they are not nearly as powerful as ipad, Amazon is essentially giving them away for 200$ to get the customer market share of its salable media.

does it run android? I have an android phone and like the apps and internet surfing at least as much as iphones and ipods.

11/20/2011 10:14:20 AM · #12

Yes, it runs Android. However, the available apps are thru the Amazon app store, not the regular Android Marketplace. Presumably so Amazon can somewhat control app quality similar to what Apple does.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/20/2011 11:30:44 AM · #13

I just came back from a weekend away, and I left the laptop at home in favor of the fire. Gave me a good change to explore it better.

The email app is one of the best features. I was able to set it up for two google accounts and my msn account. There's a unified mailbox that shows all mail together, or you can look at the individual inboxes. Downloads some of the messages at least so you can read when you are not online.

Same for the "Pulse" news feature.

That's helpful, because you won't always be near a wifi connection.

Some of my music it automatically downloaded from my Amazon cloud account, but not others. I haven't figured out yet how it figured out what to download, but really, you almost need it all anyway, so it should really download everything (especially since I don't have much on Amazon cloud).

I think it's great for reading as well.

I did find out that you can't just let it sleep all the time, it drains the battery. The problem was I didn't know how to (or that you could) turn it off...it only has the one button. Hold it for a few seconds and it offers to power down.

blindjustice

Canon EOS-7D

11/20/2011 11:50:59 AM · #14

Originally posted by dswann:

Yes, it runs Android. However, the available apps are thru the Amazon app store, not the regular Android Marketplace. Presumably so Amazon can somewhat control app quality similar to what Apple does.

Thanks. I use the market and amazon appstore on the android, a free one every day.

If you had to list the major drawbacks compared to an apple ipad, what would they be?

11/20/2011 01:25:58 PM · #15

Originally posted by blindjustice:

Originally posted by dswann:
Yes, it runs Android. However, the available apps are thru the Amazon app store, not the regular Android Marketplace. Presumably so Amazon can somewhat control app quality similar to what Apple does.

Thanks. I use the market and amazon appstore on the android, a free one every day.

If you had to list the major drawbacks compared to an apple ipad, what would they be?

I don't have the iPad, but I'll list some obvious drawbacks.

It's much smaller! (both a pro and a con).
Fewer photography related apps (for now). Fewer apps overall (for now).
No microphone or camera.

One thing I think they did absolutely right...like the iPad...the screen is IPS. It's gorgeous when looking at photos.

And yes, it does support flash.

But though I've been able to load some android apps, they do lock you out of the android marketplace...you have to go to the Amazon android marketplace. If you can find the code as a direct download somewhere, that does work though, so not totally locked out.

11/20/2011 01:39:16 PM · #16

went to best buy today to check them all out.

the biggest reason against me getting one is the size. it just seems too small. they had magazines preloaded and i had to zoom into every page to read it, the same with the web browser. that's one thing i dont have to do with the ipad or the zoom or galaxy, now they have 10 inch screens though.

i seemed pretty snappy and it has a nice display, but its just tad to small. i think the wife may be happier with a larger device, however its hard to knock what it is for the price. its a great deal at $200.

Message edited by author 2011-11-20 13:40:08.

11/20/2011 01:43:44 PM · #17

Originally posted by mike_311:

One thing about this: I agree completely. But...if you read the mobile version of newspapers and magazines, it's fine. Even better than real life for someone like me who otherwise needs reading glasses. Of course, you don't get the "layouts" and pretty format you get in a magazine...more like reading a book on the Kindle, but with color photos.

If you try to read it on a regular web page, you need to zoom like a smart phone in most cases...it's just too small. If you have good eyes though, you may be able to do it.