Issue 1404 27
FIRE TABLET
It’s easy to see that Amazon can make the device a loss leader to
get you into the Amazon ecosystem and still make its profit by
convincing you to purchase its other services.
The hardware itself is quite sturdy. It is all plastic construction;
you aren’t getting the nice metal finish of the iPad, but the Fire
costs a fraction of the price of an iPad.
FireOS
Fire OS is a customised version of Android specifically for the
Amazon range of tablets. One drawback of the Amazon tablets
is that they’re missing the Google Play store, along with other
core Google services, such as Calendar, Mail and Chrome. This
means that if you use an Android phone, then the Amazon tablet
will not be able to use the apps you already have or purchased
from the Play store. The Fire tablets use the Amazon App store
instead. This can be accessed from the Amazon website, as well
as on the tablet so you’ll be able to investigate the applications
available before making a purchase of a tablet, though this is as
well laid out as Google’s store. Most big name applications are
in the Amazon app store, such as Facebook, Netflix and iPlayer.
However, there some notable exceptions, such as Dropbox and
all the Google apps. Perhaps with these cheaper tablets anda
greater proliferation of Amazon tablets running Fire OS, some of
the more popular applications may consider entering the Amazon
app store.
However, because Fire OS is a customised version of Android,
you can install some Android apps by side-loading them. Side-
loading is installing software onto the device that is not found
within the app store by using the Android installer files (.apk files).
By default, the Fire (and most Android devices) have the ability
to side-load apps turned off, as this is a vector for malware to be
installed on the system. However, it can also be safe to use if you
know that it poses a potential risk to the security of the tablet.
It should be noted that installing apps by side-loading seems to
ignore the ability to install to micro-SD card, so you will be limited
by the 5GB free space that the Fire has. However, you can install
apps from Amazon’s store to the SD card by enabling the setting
within the options to allow compatible apps to be installed to
the SD card to help keep the main device space free for any side-
loaded apps. Another downside to side-loading apps is that you
lose the ability to auto update apps, because they aren’t being
checked within the Play store (not installed) or Amazon store (as
they aren’t in the store) for updates. Therefore, you’ll have to
manually update the apps as and whenrequired. For some apps,
this might not be an issue, but for apps that updateregularly, this
might become a chore.
Side-loading apps is as simple as getting the .apk files onto the
Kindle and installing them. However, you need to get hold of the
.apk files, and you need to be able to browse the file system on
the Kindle to install them.Procedure
Firstly, you need to get hold of the .apk files. This can be done
in a number of ways.You could browse the internet for them
and download them from various locations around the web.
However, this is perhaps an easy way of getting an infected app,
as people might edit the original .apk file to include malware. The
best location to get them from is the Google Play store directly.
To prevent malware being inserted, Google doesn’t just let you
download the .apk files themselves, so you need a workaround to
get hold of them.Because Fire OS isa
customised version of Android,
you can install some Android
apps by side-loading
Specifications
Screen: 1024 x 600 (171 pixels per inch).
CPU: Quad-core 1.3GHz ARM Cortex A7.
RAM: 1GB RAM.
Storage: 8GB.
Support for 128GB micro-SD card.iAdverts appear on the lock screen
of the Fire
iThe Kindle book page iTurning on side-loading gives a
warning that it can allow malware
to be installediHome screen showing installed
apps, including side-loaded apps