Now that a custom, hybrid ROM is available for the 7"KFHD, many owners are looking to take the plunge. Rather than cluttering up the development thread, I wanted to start something in Q&A.
For those trying this out, what is the benefit over stock? I have access to the Play Store, and can get to most of that with an added launcher (Golauncher in my case).
Is all the Amazon functionality intact? I see Prime videos are fixed. Does it use KFHD Amazon apps, or their Play Store equivalents? Any downside to this?
Does it keep the stock Amazon launcher, or does a recommended launcher come preinstalled? I love the fix to let us install without going to system/apps.
Thanks,
Alan
It solves a lot of issues with a stock root. Like moving launchers to /system/app no longer necessary. Gmail notifications crashing the status bar no longer an issue. Battery percentage on status bar. Lock screen ads. A whole lot more menu options.
Amazon functionality is intact but DO NOT update any of the Amazon apps in the Google play store.
It keeps the Amazon launcher. You can install whatever you want.
Related
Anyone figured out how to add sideloaded books on the 3 homescreens ? currently only stuff bought from the B&N store can go on the homescreens. Maybe some sort of hack ?
I can hope right ?
That is my only gripe about this device. I really wanted some control over the home page. I understand why they did it, but it just bothered me.
I have installed ADW as a new home screen and am looking for a copy of Launcher Pro to try as well as an alternate to the stock home screen. I also loaded Astro in the hope that I can somehow get individual books and folders on the home screen. The good thing is that you don't lose any of the main BN features at the bottom of the screen. I was able to put the library as an app on the home screen which works for now.
If anybody knows how to do this, I'd love to find out. It's my last hurdle to this being a perfect machine for me.
I originally wanted this as well, but since I rooted, I no longer want it or need it.
I installed LauncherPro and choose to use that as my defacto Home, so I never see the original B&N setup home screen.
Now I can place apps there or anything else. To me, apps are more important than seeing my book covers on the home screen. The only drawback is that I have to go to the library to see my books, but hey, it's a small price to pay.
My advice is this:
If you want to install apps and not just your books on the "home" screen, root the NC and go with LauncherPro or an equivilent.
If you want the original B&N experience and want to sideload your non B&N books then wait until someone comes up with a method, as far as I know, it isn't a priority at the moment.
But rest assured, someone will figure it out.
Hey everyone,
I just upgraded my Streak 7 to Honeycomb, and mostly everything is working great, and I really love the new interface. But some things I'm having issues with.
I've got the new Honeycombed Email app, Gmail app and Calendar, which make much better usage of the screen real estate. But I can't get the new version of Google Docs, or Amazon Kindle. Both of those have the same interface as before.
The other thing, and I don't know if this is normal or not, but I now have two Android Markets. One looks like it's for Phone Apps, and the other for Tablet apps.
I tried uninstalling and reinstalling Google Docs, but when I search for it in the tablet market, and click install, it just opens up the phone app market. I can then search in there, and install it, but I still get the old single column interface.
With the Amazon Kindle App I'm unable to uninstall it, as it's built into the Dell Android install (haven't rooted, still a bit of a novice when it comes to Android, so not sure what the consequences of that would be). I've tried updating the Amazon Kindle App, but I still get the same single column book list as before (saw screen shots in the Market showing a more tablet friendly interface with bigger book covers)
I just discovered this forum today, wish I would have found it sooner!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
To update Kindle you'll need to use the phone market (the second one on my tablet) and update it from there. I've found the tablet market crashes trying to update it.
I'm still playing around and I don't use Docs so I can't help with that.
I have found that enabling Google Instant can often cause the browser to crash when manually entering addresses.
Root and play services all went without a hitch, but I cannot run an app that requires an additional permission normally accessed via settings>security>apps with usage access. It simply does not exist in the settings menu on the kindle. Is there any way to add the option or access the setting another way?
I've attached a screenshot of the app at the point it gets stuck.
Did you ever get this working?
Sorry, this isn't an answer. For some reason, posting a comment isn't working on this site in any web browser. In any case, I've got the exact situation you do (same HW/SW/root). I'm even trying to get the same app working through the google play store that you are, and am seeing the same message. Did you ever find a solution to this? Were you ever able to get MobileFence running on the Fire?
It is not available on Fire OS. Since Amazon has no use for Google play services.You would have to
Install a different ROM. I would ditch Fire Os and set it up as a kids tablet under CM or SlimLP. There is a good thread on how to do it in the Fire forum.
This proves Jeff Bezos is as big a crooks as the rest of them.
This stinks to high heaven!
Actually no, business model is solid even though it displeases some. Purchase a different device If you dislike Amazon's ecosystem.
This should work: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/help/guide-workaround-apps-access-to-usage-t3535705
I know this is an old post, but since I came across it looking for a solution, I thought I should answer for others that come across this looking for a solution...
I found the answer on this thread, but here's the tl;dr version:
Download App Ops, which also requires Shizuku Manager.
I was trying to install AppLock which has a similar issue and this fixed it for me.
I'm using a rooted 5.1.1 KFFOWI and would like to add widgets to WidgetLocker. (This is not about disabling the stock lockscreen, I did that with Xposed.)
However, attempting to add a widget with the program opens settings and does not add the widget, even when WidgetLocker is made a system app. Is there anything I can do, or has Amazon won this round?
This seems to be a feature of the stock Fire OS. On my Fire 7, I had rooted it and added Nova launcher with Root Junky's SuperTool. Still, it had the same problem you are seeing. When trying to add widgets from the Nova launcher, the Fire 7 went to the Fire OS setup menu instead of popping up a permission screen to add a widget.
.
Finally, I loaded the Nexus rom with Flashfire and now the Nova launcher is able to add widgets to the home screen. Adding a custom rom (I like the Nexus rom) is really the only way to make a decent tablet from the Fire 7. You have to get rid of the stock Fire OS rom and replace it with a custom rom in order to add widgets..
I have 3 Fire 7's (all with 5.1.2 firmware) that I have rooted with RootJunky's SuperTool (April 3 ver) and then added the Nexus ROM (20160405 ver) using FlashFire v.031. They all work great now.
Robo-rooter said:
This seems to be a feature of the stock Fire OS. On my Fire 7, I had rooted it and added Nova launcher with Root Junky's SuperTool. Still, it had the same problem you are seeing. When trying to add widgets from the Nova launcher, the Fire 7 went to the Fire OS setup menu instead of popping up a permission screen to add a widget.
.
Finally, I loaded the Nexus rom with Flashfire and now the Nova launcher is able to add widgets to the home screen. Adding a custom rom (I like the Nexus rom) is really the only way to make a decent tablet from the Fire 7. You have to get rid of the stock Fire OS rom and replace it with a custom rom in order to add widgets..
I have 3 Fire 7's (all with 5.1.2 firmware) that I have rooted with RootJunky's SuperTool (April 3 ver) and then added the Nexus ROM (20160405 ver) using FlashFire v.031. They all work great now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great suggestion. I just switched to the Nexus ROM and it's pretty great.
Shoot, I came here to ask this exact question (rooted a 5.1.1 Fire 7 5th gen with Supertool, used it to install Nova, now adding any widgets jumps to settings page). I actually tried the Nexus ROM at one point, but found it buggy and some much-needed apps wouldn't work (LIFX being the main one). The boilerplate answer seems to be "make the launcher a system app", but a) I'm pretty sure supertool did that, b) just to make sure I did it manually with Root Explorer, and c) when that didn't fix the issue, I moved it back and tried it with Titanium Backup Pro for good measure.
My sole purpose for buying this thing was to use the LIFX widgets and use it as a wall-mounted home automation control, so this is pretty important. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
mwoody450 said:
Shoot, I came here to ask this exact question (rooted a 5.1.1 Fire 7 5th gen with Supertool, used it to install Nova, now adding any widgets jumps to settings page). I actually tried the Nexus ROM at one point, but found it buggy and some much-needed apps wouldn't work (LIFX being the main one). The boilerplate answer seems to be "make the launcher a system app", but a) I'm pretty sure supertool did that, b) just to make sure I did it manually with Root Explorer, and c) when that didn't fix the issue, I moved it back and tried it with Titanium Backup Pro for good measure.
My sole purpose for buying this thing was to use the LIFX widgets and use it as a wall-mounted home automation control, so this is pretty important. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surprised to see 'buggy' used in the context of Fire Nexus (@ggow's builds); those two terms are uncommon bed fellows. As you have discovered Nova on FireOS is not ideal. If you are seeking robust widget support you are going to have to bite the bullet and flash a custom rom. Suggest Nexus or CM 12.1. For a quick test I grabbed LIFX from APKMirror and installed on CM. Launched fine.
Davey126 said:
Surprised to see 'buggy' used in the context of Fire Nexus (@ggow's builds); those two terms are uncommon bed fellows. As you have discovered Nova on FireOS is not ideal. If you are seeking robust widget support you are going to have to bite the bullet and flash a custom rom. Suggest Nexus or CM 12.1. For a quick test I grabbed LIFX from APKMirror and installed on CM. Launched fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For my purposes, unfortunately, it didn't work. Programs would constantly hang for several seconds as if under extreme load, LIFX indicated it "wasn't compatible" in Google Play, once I installed LIFX from APKMirror it wouldn't let me log in to my cloud account and started crashing the bulbs, and eventually I lost wifi permanently (even through reboot). I don't know what it was about my experience that differed from the norm, but I was afraid it was going to brick if I didn't get back to stock.
Anyway, I know there are no guarantees with this sort of stuff, and I appreciate the response. If someone comes up for a widget fix, I'll be forever grateful, but I can work around in in the meantime. Nova is otherwise rock solid.
mwoody450 said:
For my purposes, unfortunately, it didn't work. Programs would constantly hang for several seconds as if under extreme load, LIFX indicated it "wasn't compatible" in Google Play, once I installed LIFX from APKMirror it wouldn't let me log in to my cloud account and started crashing the bulbs, and eventually I lost wifi permanently (even through reboot). I don't know what it was about my experience that differed from the norm, but I was afraid it was going to brick if I didn't get back to stock.
Anyway, I know there are no guarantees with this sort of stuff, and I appreciate the response. If someone comes up for a widget fix, I'll be forever grateful, but I can work around in in the meantime. Nova is otherwise rock solid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something may have been amiss with your Nexus install. Understand the hesitation on trying again but you probably won't get widget satisfaction on FireOS. Been a problem for years across multiple generations of Amazon devices and FireOS versions.
So how does this work? I have the widget issue as well. Does this install another OS over my kindle? I was not planning on going through the trouble of a new OS even after root.
Herox said:
So how does this work? I have the widget issue as well. Does this install another OS over my kindle? I was not planning on going through the trouble of a new OS even after root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A custom ROM (Nexus, CM, SLimLP, etc.) completely replaces FireOS from a UX perspective. Many report dramatically improved performance and battery life. Debatable, but certainly no worse than stock. The biggest score is direct access to the Google Play Store and associated applications. A custom ROM negates restrictions imposed by FireOS including widget support. Downside: takes time/effort and removes curated Amazon UX that many Fire owners enjoy.
I have a Fire 7 7th Gen, running Fire OS 5.4.0.1. It has Apex launcher & Launcher Hijack v3. I ran the script to setup widgets successfully.
I did set the Accessibility options for:
Apex Launcher
Apex Automatic Install / Uninstall Pro
To detect home button press
all on.
rebooted.
I see a flash of the stock launcher followed by Apex, which I understand is normal.
Sometimes I see a message :
Use Apex Launcher as Home with a 'Just Once or Always ' choice,
I say always but it does not seem to stick. Did I miss any steps
in setting up an alternate launcher, or is it more Fire OS weirdness?
For the most part, the directions are fine, and everything works around
95%. I have the launcher running an HTC sense style flip clock / weather
widget, mini widget (battery, wi-fi, bluetooth and airplane mode in
a 1x1 widget) and a calendar agenda widget all working as expected.
I just wondered if it is just a Fire OS thing for it not remembering
I'd set use Apex Launcher always before??
Running Apex (free) on 7th Gen 10 Inch 5.5.0.0. Doesn't ask for me it sticks.
I don't know, weird. I suppose I should be happy that it woks as well as it does . It does seem more responsive
than my 5th gen Fire 7's
fuzzynco said:
I don't know, weird. I suppose I should be happy that it woks as well as it does . It does seem more responsive
than my 5th gen Fire 7's
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I had to guess, I would say it's a new thing with the most recent Amazon patch. Maybe they came to the conclusion they weren't going to win users over with their launcher. Though it asking all the time is annoying, It could be a way to switch between them. The flash happens on all launchers, some more so or less so than others. On 5.4.4.0 you could Downgrade Fire launcher and uninstall/disable it, while keeping the home button, but breaking the recent apps button, but there is no flash. However you can downgrade back to 5.4.0.0, since you do have a 7th Gen. tablet.
DragonFire1024 said:
If I had to guess, I would say it's a new thing with the most recent Amazon patch. Maybe they came to the conclusion they weren't going to win users over with their launcher. Though it asking all the time is annoying, It could be a way to switch between them. The flash happens on all launchers, some more so or less so than others. On 5.4.4.0 you could Downgrade Fire launcher and uninstall/disable it, while keeping the home button, but breaking the recent apps button, but there is no flash. However you can downgrade back to 5.4.0.0, since you do have a 7th Gen. tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just want it to work reasonably, (if that is itself not unreasonable ).
Since 5.4.0.1 I am having problems installing Kodi No Limits builds,
the wizard gets loaded, and then is unable to download any of the
4 builds from any of the sources. It worked fine with 5.4.0.0 and 5.3.3.0
(which came on the tablet). Sometimes widgets stop updating for
not reason. I wish Amazon would let the device work as I the user
want it to. What I want to run as user app is my business on my
device not theirs.
Fire Launcher can be force stopped and its data cleared. There does
not appear to be any updates. The usual Android option to disable is
missing. Is there a package manager command to disable or hide it
or something? Something I can issue from adb shell?
fuzzynco said:
I wish Amazon would let the device work as I the user want it to. What I want to run as user app is my business on my device not theirs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep in mind Amazon does not market this device as a fully customizable Android tablet. It exists as a captive (locked down) portal to Amazon's vast ecosystem. Ever wonder why there are no open/unlocked tablets at similar price points? Money talks.
fuzzynco said:
I just want it to work reasonably, (if that is itself not unreasonable ).
Since 5.4.0.1 I am having problems installing Kodi No Limits builds,
the wizard gets loaded, and then is unable to download any of the
4 builds from any of the sources. It worked fine with 5.4.0.0 and 5.3.3.0
(which came on the tablet). Sometimes widgets stop updating for
not reason. I wish Amazon would let the device work as I the user
want it to. What I want to run as user app is my business on my
device not theirs.
Fire Launcher can be force stopped and its data cleared. There does
not appear to be any updates. The usual Android option to disable is
missing. Is there a package manager command to disable or hide it
or something? Something I can issue from adb shell?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The widget issue I think has a lot to do with not being able to control wifi scan intervals or other scan related functions so the wifi drops out more than it should. For example, one setting not available is the 'avoid poor connections' toggle. With root, there are apps and simple build.prop edits that control that some of those features. With older Fire 7s, the Nexus custom ROM really does an incredible job of fixing the problem altogether.