Google Market/Amazon Appstore App Question

[KMLProxy]

OK... so I got excited yesterday (along with most people) and went ahead and preordered my Kindle Fire.

However, it didn't occur to me until later, that the Google Android Market may not be on the device - only the Amazon Android Appstore and, if so, that means all of the many apps that I've bought and paid for through the Market (as I've been an Android user for 2 years now - long before there even was an Amazon Android Appstore) will not be available to me on the Kindle.

I contacted Amazon's support and they confirmed that only the Appstore will be on the Fire - not the Market. Hopefully they'll change their minds and include either A) The ability to install the Google Android Market or B) the ability to "sync" apps purchases through the Google Android Market with the Amazon Android Appstore, allowing you to download those apps for free to your Kindle.

I understand that this isn't a conventional fully-fleshed Android tablet but, nonetheless, it is an Android device - they know it and we know it. The whole idea of having to re-buy apps inside of the same app ecosystem you already purchased them in, solely because the manufacturer wants you to purchase apps through their own in-house appstore is ludicrous.

I really hope Amazon reconsiders this... because my Fire will go straight to eBay for a profit or cancelled in place of a Kindle Touch if they really expect me to pay for the apps I already own on the Android operating system...

 

[BattleSwine]

I don't expect they will. AKF is a loss leader approach similar to game consoles. Only they won't be sell $60+ game disks. They will not pay Google to gain Market access and lose sales. It's a locked ecosystem. If you want Market on it root it, but you will lose access to Amazon's DRM content. I've been using Amazon Prime since it first came out, think it's nearly ten years ago. It's great that they've added video content without raising prices. I might get an AKF so I'm no longer tied to my computer to watch videos. When the rumored "Hollywood" Amazon tablet ships I might get it and root AKF. Since March I've been grabbing any Amazon's free apps I think I might use some day. Most I've never installed, but show in their system as a purchase. Now I'm kicking my self for not getting ones that I had already purchased through Market.... oh well live and learn. In any case I will have many apps available for AKF without spending any additional money.

 

[frmorrison]

It seems you will be able to sideload apps (like the market), so that may solve your issue with not having to buy the apps.

 

[BattleSwine]

It seems you will be able to sideload apps (like the market), so that may solve your issue with not having to buy the apps.

Depends how locked down there software is.... I think it will blocked unless rooted. It going to be more of an appliance than a tablet under its stock OS. Expect access to settings to be extremely limited. While based on Android it will be more like imbedded OS in a GPS.... Like Windows CE.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

 

[hoosiercub]

Doesn't it run off of Eclair?

 

[BattleSwine]

Doesn't it run off of Eclair?

Q&A with Amazon here on AC said it was built on 2.3 GB which version was not stated.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

 

[KMLProxy]

Many thanks to the kind AndroidCentral folks for giving this topic some prime real estate on the website; however, I don't think due thought is being given this situation by the comments left by fellow readers on that article.

We, here, are the technophiles of the Android world. However, your average Android user has no idea what rooting and/or modding their phone means, let alone how to actually go about doing it. So, in my mind, modding/hacking the device is something of a moot point when discussing this issue. Further, there is the point that you damn well shouldn't have to on an open operating system like Android.

Imagine, for a moment, that Best Buy announced a new DVD player - looks great, great price - sounds like a good deal. Then, however, in the footnotes of the announcement next to an asterisk, they note that their DVD player - despite using the same technology and architecture as other DVD players! - will only play proprietary Best Buy DVDs. Your DVD collection - which you began building long before Best Buy even sold DVDs, it should be noted - is now useless. The money you invested in your DVDs and the time you spent ordering some special, older films from other distributers is now wasted because you are forced to rebuy any DVD you want at a Best Buy and are limited to their selection in the store. Bought an expensive DVD, like the Criterion Collection's The Last Emperor? Buy it again. Bought a DVD that maybe isn't mainstream, something like a Bergman film? Well, we don't offer that in our store so you can't even re-buy it if you want to!

How outrageous is the above scenario? I (and I imagine most folks) wouldn't touch the damn thing. I have time and money invested in my Android apps and I'm not about to re-buy them or be limited to Amazon's selection. There is ZERO reason that my LogMeIn ignition app can't work on the Kindle Fire. None, whatsoever. However, ignoring the fact that the Amazon Appstore doesn't even offer the app, I'd have to re-purchase it for a whooping $30.00!

Modding and/or hacking isn't a solution, it's a work-around. It isn't viable for most users and I, even though I'm capable of doing it, just don't damn well feel like I should have to work that hard on something that should just work. Sure, you might say that if I don't like what Amazon's doing I just shouldn't buy the device. But the truly vexing thing about all of this is the kernel of knowledge that it should work and it doesn't for Amazon's own arbitrary reasons.

Further, it represents the logical conclusion of the progression of Android fragmentation. It is, in my mind, almost the pealing of the death knell of Android as a viable mobile operating system choice. Here we have Android, which Google offers up open source, taken by a company, warped into it's own image and then locked into it's own self-limiting world, with it's own separate Android appstore that takes zero consideration for the other Android worlds. It isn't just fragmenting Android - it's breaking it in half, clean and whole, into two separate and disparate worlds. Why, then, would I choose to continue purchasing Android when I cannot with any degree of certainty know if my purchases will mean anything when I upgrade to my next device or buy a new device? I'll switch to a mobile app ecosystem like Windows Phone or iOS.

That, my friends, is why the Amazon Kindle Fire pisses me off and saddens me, simultaneously. And it hurts to even say that... I love Amazon. I've been a Prime member for years and spend umpteen thousand a year ordering things from them for both personal and business uses. I love my Kindle 3G to death, and will upgrade to the Touch, in all likelihood. But Amazon either needs to buy webOS and go their own route, or quit destroying Android in the long run.

 

[campanth]

This is probably not the device for people who are heavily invested in apps from the Google Market (unless they are willing to root). While this is obviously disturbing to some users, I don't think it is the end of the world.

Amazon is subsidizing this device (selling below cost) with the knowledge that they will make this money back, and then some, by selling their content. This is a much different approach than most other manufacturers use (HTC, Motorola, Asus, etc). These manufacturers are forced to make their money on hardware not content. On the other hand, Amazon is using the exact same approach as Barnes and Noble does with their Nook Color...only Amazon has a bigger variety of content to offer than B&N.

If you don't like the fact that you may need to rebuy apps, or don't want to root, then don't buy it. It is that simple. If you want access to the full Google Market, then buy a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7" or an HTC Flyer 7" tablet. They will both set you back about $300, only $100 more than the Kindle Fire.

Just my thought...

 

[smoledman]

I don't own a single Android app, so this has no effect on me. I agree with having a locked-down Android app store, because the Google Android Market is filled with malware, porn and other problems.

 

[GoldLeader]

I'm curious about the Kindle Fire.
I could probably make do with only the Amazon app market. I love their MP3 Android app on my phone.

But, the paltry internal storage of the Kindle Fire is another matter. I don't think 6 GB of personal storage is large enough for a multimedia device.
They'll be pushing cloud usage, but I like having off-line content, especially if the device is only Wi-Fi.
The display is a little shy of HD at 600 rows, instead of 720. I would prefer that a movie viewing device be HD. Haven't seen any indication of HDMI support either.

A little disappointed, but I'll see how well it's received, and how well the Amazon servers handle the additional load of this device. Might give it a try, but I'm more likely to pick up another tablet instead.

 

[drd1135#AC]

Amazon has no commitment to Android. I suspect if they could get hold of WebOS or just use some in-house flavor of Linux they might break off entirely. They are big enough to attract developers and support their own ecosystem if needed. More to the point, the vast majority of Kindle/Fire users are interested mostly in content and only to some extent in apps. It's really not that hard these days to cover the basic app types and after that it's mostly bragging rights. Of course, the folks on this forum are the worst examples because they are not typical Fire buyers at all.

 

[anon(220176)]

Yeah, just like the Nook Color I had before: I can sideload the FILE, but no way to INSTALL the app from within the Nook Color UI itself, even after Barnes & Nobles announces apps from THEIR appstore.

Of course, once I install CM7 on the Nook Color, everything else changes...