Micro Mart - 10 March 2016_

28 Issue 1404

If you have an Android phone already, then you have an
easy access method of getting the .apk: you can download the
app to your phone and then extract the file from the phone.
Alternatively, you can use the device ID with a browser extension
on a desktop to download the files as needed.
You’ll need to download an application from the Amazon
app store to get started – a file explorer to view the underlying
Android filesystem. I used ES File Explorer (goo.gl/C5jf5F) for
this article.

PhoneBackupMethod
One of the easiest methods is to get the app from your phone
already or download the app to your phone and then transfer
it to the tablet. For this, you’ll need to download a backup app;
I used Super Backup by MobileIdea Studio (goo.gl/gHVEUm),
because it can save the .apk files to the micro-SD card. Note that,
by default, it’ll back up every app as and when they’re updated,
so your micro-SD card could fill up with every single version of
every app that is updated! If you don’t want this to happen,
you can choose to disable it in the settings. However, one of the
downsides to side-loading apps onto the Fire tablet is that they
aren’t automatically updated, since they don’t have access to the
Play store, so this auto backup behaviour may be something that
you want to keep in mind.Team it up with BitTorrent Sync, and
you’ll be able to sync the new versions of the .apk files directly to
the Fire tablet (there’s a version of BitTorrent Sync in both the Play
and Amazon app stores).
Open Super Backup and you’re presented with a list of items
to back up. Select apps. If your device isrooted, you can back
up all the app data as well as the included .apk file, but if not,

you can only back up the .apk itself. This is saved to a folder on

your phone or micro-SD card (change this within the settings).

This provides you with an .apk file that you can now transfer as

you please to whatever cloud service or machine you want to

use. Based on the Android version of your phone, you may or

may not be able to change the location of the backups to the

micro-SD card.

The best way I found to move the files from my Android phone

to my Kindle tablet was to use OneDrive – Microsoft’s cloud

storage service. This is on the basis that it would allow me wire-

free access (I didn’t have to be sat at my computer to move an

app across) but, importantly, OneDrive has an app in the Amazon

app store, whereas services like Dropbox or Box don’t. If you can

use OneDrive, you could then switch back to a cloud service you

useregularly by side-loading the Android app from the Play store,

but you would need OneDrive to start with. Of course, you could

use a USB cable and your computer to side-load the apps (or

perform an initial side-load of say, the Dropbox app).

Toimport the .apk files using a USB cable and laptop,I

backed up the apps using Super Backup and connected my

phone to my laptop. This let me browse the files on my phone,

and I was able to copy them off the micro-SD and onto my

laptop. It mayrequire some playing about; I had to connect

the device as a camera (PTP) and have the .apk files in my

camera folder to be able to see them. Once downloaded to your

Adverts

Part of the reason for the low price of the tablet is that

Amazon displays adverts devices on the lock screen for

services, apps and other items it sells. These can be removed

by buying the tablet from Amazon for £10 extra or from

speaking to Amazon support afterwards (also for a £10 fee).

It’s personal preference if this bothers you.

iGoogle Chrome installed and

open on Amazon Fire

iGoogle Chrome asking you to

sign in; it won’t work without the

Google Services installed

iThe Fire appears as a media player within Windows

iRemove the micro-SD card and

apps get greyed out and will need

to be reinstalled

iOn installing, you’re still

presented with a list of permissions

the app needs