Guides for Fire Tablet

Kindle Fire Guide

Fire HD 10 2019 (9th Gen): everything you need to know

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Fire HD 10 2019 (9th Gen): everything you need to knowFire HD10 2019 (Fire HD 9th Gen) is an updated model for Fire HD 10 2017 (7th Gen). It is a significant update with some new features and improvements and at the same affordable price.

As Amazon stopped the Fire HDX series of tablets, Fire HD 10 is the “flagship” tablet from Amazon. And Amazon now refreshes the tablet every two years.  Fire HD 10 and Fire 7 were updated from 7th Gen to the 9th Gen in 2019. Update: Amazon Fire Max 11 is now the “flagship”.

This Fire tablet buying guide explains everything you need to know about Fire HD 10 9th Gen: the new features, pros and cons (review) of Fire HD 10 2019, alternatives to this tablet, and answers to questions you may have about this tablet.

Please note, the successor of Fire HD 10 2019 is Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen). You can find the updated features here.

Top 9 new  features of Fire HD 10 2019 (9th Gen)

The 9th Gen of Fire HD 10 looks similar to the previous 7th gen Fire HD 10. Actually, the ports, buttons, cameras, and speakers are located almost in identical locations. The dimensions are also almost identical.

But don't be fooled by the look. There are some excellent new features. Here are the top 9 new features (compared to Fire HD 10 2017).

USB-C port

Finally, Amazon ditched the vintage micro USB port with the future-proof  USB-C port on Fire HD 10 9th Gen.

The USB-C port offers numerous advantages. For example:

  • The connector is symmetric. You can easily insert the cable into the port without turning on the light.
  • More protocols can be supported.
… Read the rest

How to enable and access developer options on Amazon Fire tablet (Fire, Fire HD, Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HDX), and how to hide developer options again?

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Android developer options give app developers a lot of options to test the app under various simulated conditions. You can also enable developer options on Amazon Fire tablets.

But for normal users, sometimes, you may also need some features that are under developer options. For example, when you need to run an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) command to backup the phone, or take lots of screenshots of Amazon Fire tablet from your PC (if you just want to take a few, you can do this on the tablet with Power and volume up button as illustrated in this guide), you need turn on USB Debugging (enable ADB).

By default, the developer options on Amazon Fire tablet is hidden with the recent Fire OS. This is consistent with other Android devices which hide developer options since Android Jelly Bean 4.2,

But it is very easy to enable and access developer options on Amazon Fire tablet. In this guide, Fire tablet refers to Fire, Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD, Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HDX.

This Fire tablet how-to guide will show you how to enable and access developer options on an Amazon Fire tablet, and how to disable and hide the developer options on an Amazon Fire tablet (after you enable them).

How to enable and access developer options on Amazon Fire tablet?

Step 1: Go to Settings–Device Options

In your Amazon Fire tablet, go to Settings by swiping down from the status bar (top of the screen) or tap Settings app in the app drawer.

Then tap Device Options as shown below.

Fire tablet settings to enable developer options

Step 2: Tap Serial Number Field  7 times

In the Device Options page, tap the serial number field 7 times.… Read the rest

How to sideload Android apps in Fire, Fire HD, Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX?

Last updated on: , first published on: 81 Comments

Update (2018-12):

Please use this guide if you want to install Google Play store or use any Google services on your Amazon Fire tablet. It works on Fire tablet (HD 7, HD 8 and HD 10) from 4th gen, 5th gen, 6th gen, 7th gen and 8th gen.

Updated with video. Transcripts added at the end of this post.

Video guide: how to sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX?

sideload_android_apps_kindle_fireCan I run Android Apps on Kindle Fire tablets?

You may already know that Kindle Fire tablet (Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX) actually is an Android tablet. The Fire OS 3 in the new Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX 7 and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 actually is based on Android Jelly Bean 4.2.

Of course, Amazon hacked Android so heavily that it is hard to find any traces of Jelly Bean in the UI. But this does not mean you cannot install Android apps, for example, from Google Play Store.

Amazon Appstore for Android has a decent collection of apps that are compatible with most Android devices. Similarly, most Android apps can work on Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX tablets without any modifications.

So, the answer is very clear. Yes, you can run almost all Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX.

Why sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX?

Currently, Amazon Appstore for Android still has far fewer apps than Google Play store. Sometimes, you may need some apps that are available in Google Play, but are not available in Amazon Appstore.… Read the rest