Is Android Marketplace worth the root?

[skbgiants]

100 percent worth the root! Yes, it takes a bit of "geekery" to really get the Fire to function as a great Android Tablet, but sooo worth it.

I'm using Go Launcher EX and it's fantastic. I have access to most apps on the Android Market (the ones I really want that don't "appear" on the Market because of the build prop, I just download on my EVO 4G, use App Saver to rip the .apk and then sideload to my Fire.) Games run fantastic, I've got the entire suite of Google Apps, Gmail, Maps, G+, Docs etc. It's nice to have access to the Amazon App Store, Android Market and Getjar for all my app needs, PLUS all my purchased apps on my EVO 4G are on my Fire. Here are some screen shots.


ImageShack? - Online Photo and Video Hosting
ImageShack? - Online Photo and Video Hosting
ImageShack? - Online Photo and Video Hosting

 

[mercado79]

Pocketcasts is another one that I love and is only available on the Market (due to what the devs explained to be an awful experience with Amazon). It's one of my go-to apps. Other apps I use all the time include CNN, NPR News, all the Google Apps like Google Voice/Google Currents/Google Music, and alternate keyboards like Thumb Keyboard.

Also, like Died4u525 mentioned, apps are always up to date on the Market. Not so on the Appstore, though I wouldn't say months behind necessarily. GrooveIP is one that was broken for a bit until the update was approved. Pocketcasts had been available and then they decided Amazon Appstore was not worth their time, aggravation, and loss of income. There are others (though I can't think of them off the top of my head).

Still, unless you're willing to stay on top of the relevant updates and patches required to work around future updates from Amazon, it's best you stay stock. And yes... this comes from a "rooting fanboy". (love the tone, btw)

 

[fat_overactor]

Thank you everyone for your responses so far, you have definitely given me some food for thought!

This is my first Android device. Probably the main thing that keeps me from rooting is that I'm not very tech savvy and Im afraid I might mess up some code and brick my Fire. I guess like everything else it's always hardest the first time!

 

[misfit410]

I love all of the rooting fanboys saying that you need to root but they can't give even one example of an app that you can only get from the android market. Can you guess why that is? It's because many of them have no clue. Most of the responders probably don't even own a Fire. Of the ones who do own one, most of them probably rooted immediately without ever checking out the Amazon market because rooting is what the cool kids do and they're far too cool to be stuck with the Amazon market. If they use THAT, somebody might think they're a noob.

If you're curious, just read the app reviews on Android Central or one of the other Android blogs. Whenever you're bored, go read a couple of app reviews. If you see an app that looks like you want/need it, go look for it in the Amazon market. If it's there, you win. If it's not there, then you have your first data point. Start making a list of all of the apps that you notice like that. If you find one that makes you scream "WANT!!!!", then it's time to root your fire. When you finally have a big list of apps that you would like to have but don't absolutely need, then it's time to root your Fire. The definition of "big" is totally up to you. Maybe you'll find 3 apps that are making you drool and you'll be rooted by tomorrow night. Or maybe it'll be a couple of weeks from now and you'll do it because you've filled an entire sheet of paper with games that you're dying to try.

The biggest thing is that you're going to have to base it on your opinion, not somebody else's opinion. For example, there are a couple of million people who think that "Beautiful Widgets" is amazing. When I downloaded it, I kept trying to figure out what I was missing. I don't have any problem with other people liking it, and I hope that it makes them love their droid. For me, it was distinctly meh.

So, what's the must-have app that doesn't exist on the Amazon Market? Beats me. They have Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, and The Moron Test. Does anybody actually run anything else?

Dan

p.s. My DroidX is rooted because otherwise the damned button lights are psycho and won't turn off. My Galaxy Nexus is not because why bother? My GTab is rooted because the stock firmware is beyond sad. My Archos is not because it's mostly just a remote control for the Squeezebox and a way to do quick google searches from the couch.

Considering the entire reason to go Android is googles own app selection, there alone is about 20 apps you'll never find on the amazon market that I personally can not live without. There are also apps such as the remote desktop app that while you can find it on the amazon market, I don't want pay $20 for it twice!

 

[skulldroid67]

"Rooting Fanboys" I love it!

Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

 

[MrJedi]

I kind of see it like this:

1. Are you confident enough to follow instructions step by step, and are okay with the potential of bricking your device if you may a mistake? If YES proceed to #2, if not DO NOT ROOT.
   
2. Are you an Amazon Prime member? If YES proceed to #3, if NO proceed to #4
   
3. Are you okay with losing access to the Kindle Lending Library and Amazon Prime Video? If YES proceed to #4. if not DO NOT ROOT.
   
4. Are you frustrated with the Amazon Appstore selection and want to use the Google Marketplace instead/in addition? If Yes proceed to #7 , if no proceed to #5.
   
5. Is there a particular Google App you cannot live without that does not have a corresponding mobile site? If yes proceed to #7 , if no proceed to #6.
   
6. Do you plan on loading a custom rom on your Kindle Fire? If yes proceed to #7, if not DO NOT ROOT.
   
7. You should root your device

This is the thought process I used to decide whether or not to root my device. Because I have Prime, and I like the KLL I did not root my Kindle Fire. This negated my need to proceed further in this decision matrix. I gave myself a week to make this decision. There are plenty of people who would arrive at #7 in my matrix, and that is fine for them. I have nothing against rooting, and I am comfortably doing so myself. I am now on my second Android phone and I eventually put Cyanogen MOD on both (6.x on one, 7.x on the other).

So, to the original poster it is a decision only you can make

 

[skulldroid67]

Well stated!

 

[pistolpetefan23]

GoLauncher EX is a good-looking and quite customizable launcher that is easily installed without root. It gives much more of a tablet experience than the Kindle carousel. Again, can be done without root and gives a significant Android feel. I've been using it for a while and it works great.

Simply visit their site from your Fire and download the latest version (2.76): GO Launcher | GO. After download, click on it in the Settings menu to install. You can still use the traditional Kindle launcher; I'd recommend placing it as a shortcut on the homescreen.

 

[jywang]

If you want to use your purchased apps on more than 1 device then I think you are better off purchasing through Amazon appstore. I find it much easier to share my purchased apps with my wife and kids since we I can register multiple devices easily to a single Amazon account and keep each device connected to a unique Google account.