Kindle Fire Hdx 8.9 3rd Generation User Manual
Introduction
- Kindle Fire Hdx 8.9 3rd Generation User Manual Instructions
- Kindle Fire Hdx 8.9 3rd Generation Specs
- Kindle Fire Hdx 3rd Generation Manual
- Kindle Fire Hdx 8.9 3rd Gen
6000mAh 26S1004, 58-000065 Battery Replacement for Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9” GU045RW GPZ45RW Tablet with Installation Tools. Color: Black Type: Battery Compatibility: Compatible with the Following Models: Kindle Fire HDX 8.9” Tablet GU045RW (3rd Generation), Kindle Fire HDX 8.9” Tablet GPZ45RW (4th Generation). Kindle Fire HDX 8.9' (3rd Generation) Amazon logo on the back; Power and volume buttons on the back; Front- and rear-facing HD cameras; On-device Customer Support via. You can get access to all files on your Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, even the files which present in the root directory of your phone. You can increase the performance of your Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 by overclocking. By rooting you can increase battery life by underclocking Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9. The 7-inch and 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX models have front-facing cameras, and the 8.9-inch model has a rear-facing camera (handy for those Skype calls when you want to show the other person what you’re looking at. You can use your front-facing camera on either model to take both still photos and videos using the Camera. Upon first glance, there hardly seems to be any difference between the newer 2014 Fire HDX 8.9 (the 4th generation Fire tablet) and the 2013 Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (the previous 3rd generation Fire tablet) from Amazon. Both are nearly identical in their weight, size, and screen resolution, and the sleek, industrial design of each model is so similar that the two models look remarkably alike. For this article I'm using the latest 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX, which runs Amazon's customized version of Android 4.2. This should work the same on the 8.9-inch version too. Keep in mind that when.
Amazon’s Kindle Fire (and its variants) marks the entry of Amazon into touch-enabled mobile computing devices. While the look and feel of the Kindle Fire tablet appears distinctly different from other mobile operating systems, it is actually Android in disguise. In fact, it is very compatible for existing Android applications, which is customized to remove native access to the Google app ecosystem.
The first gen Kindle Fire devices are based on Android Ice Cream Sandwich (API level 15) and the second gen Kindle Fire (Kindle Fire HD) devices are based on Android Jelly Bean (API level 17).
For developers, this implies that building applications targeting Amazon’s Kindle Fire is similar to building an Android application. In fact, per Amazon, most of the Android applications (76% of the applications they tested) can work on Kindle Fire without needing any change or development effort.
Amazon offers additional features – like In-App Purchasing, GameCircle and Mobile Ads to enable developers a richer customer experience and monetization opportunities.
System Requirements
Hardware Requirements
To get started with building applications, here are a few requisites.
- Intel processor, which supports virtualization – To support Kindle Fire emulators, we need a PC with Intel processor that supports virtualization extensions (VT-x).
- A PC running Windows 7 ( or higher) or MAC OS X 10.7
- For Windows machines, a graphics card that supports DirectX 11 or higher.
- 4 GB RAM, with 1.25 GB free to run the Kindle Fire emulator.
Software Requirements
To build applications for Kindle Fire, we mostly use the same tools as the Android building environment – Java SDK, and Eclipse. In addition, we would need the Kindle Fire emulators.
First, we need to install the Java SDK, which can be downloaded from
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html . Make sure you download the SDK that matches the bitness of your Operating system (32-bit or 64-bit).
Next, we need to install the Android SDK which is available from https://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html.
As with the Java SDK, ensure that the Android SDK matches the bitness of your operating system and Java SDK. Upon completion of the download, extract the contents of the ZIP file to a local folder. I recommend that you download to an easy-to-discover path like c:android.
After extraction, the folder will look like the screenshot below.
Local Android Folder
Kindle Fire Hdx 8.9 3rd Generation User Manual Instructions
Workspace Launcher
Once Eclipse is launched, go to Windows -> Android SDK Manager.
Android SDK Manager
The Android SDK Manager should launch. Navigate to Tools -> Manage Add-On Sites...
Manage Add-On Sites
Navigate to the User Defined Sites tab.
User Defined Sites tab
Click “New...” to add a new entry.
When prompted for a URL, enter http://kindle-sdk.s3.amazonaws.com/addon.xml and click OK, and then Close.
Add Add-on Site URL
The Android SDK manager will refresh the list of packages. After the refresh, select the following packages to install/update.
- Tools
- Android SDK Tools (if you do not have the latest version)
- Android SDK Platform-tools (if you do not have the latest version)
- Extras
- Amazon AVD Launcher
- Kindle Fire Device Definitions
- Kindle Fire USB Driver
- Android Support Library (if you do not have the latest version)
- Google USB Driver (if you do not have the latest version)
- Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator (HAXM)
- Android 4.2.2 (API 17)
- SDK Platform
- ARM EABI v7a System Image
- Intel x86 Atom System Image
- Kindle Fire HD 7' (3rd Generation)
- Kindle Fire HDX 7' (3rd Generation)
- Kindle Fire HDX 8.9' (3rd Generation)
- Android 4.0.3 (API 15)
- SDK Platform
- ARM EABI v7a System Image
- Intel x86 Atom System Image
- Kindle Fire (2nd Generation)
- Kindle Fire HD 7'
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9'
- Android 2.3.3 (API 10)
- SDK Platform
- Kindle Fire
Click “Install XX Updates”.
Click Accept License and Install.
Choose Packages to Install
This will install the necessary packages and prepare us to build applications for all generations of Kindle Fire.
Once the installation is complete, restart Eclipse.
Improving Your Development Environment Productivity
To help speed up things in your development environment, you need to enable virtualization extensions on your PC. This is typically a BIOS setting. Once you do this, you can install the Intel Hardware Acceleration Execution Manager. You will need to restart Eclipse after the installation to enable it.
You can download updated Windows emulator components from http://kindle-sdk.s3.amazonaws.com/qemu-updates.zip . Extract the emulator.exe, emulator-arm.exe and emulator-x86.exe to c:androidsdktools folder and restart Eclipse.
Working with the Kindle Fire Emulator
The next steps involve working with the Kindle Fire emulator.
Go to the command line and navigate to the Android SDK folder.
Now, navigate to the <android_sdk>/extras/amazon folder. If on Windows, go to AVDLauncherWindows directory. Execute amazonavd.
You will see a window titled Amazon AVD Launcher (similar to Android Virtual Device Manager).
Amazon AVD Launcher
Select a Kindle Fire Device and click “Create AVD”.
Create New Amazon AVD
Click OK and your Kindle Fire virtual device is created.
Amazon AVD Launcher
Now, you can choose the Amazon AVD and click “Start...” to launch the emulator.
A window with launch options will pop up. Leave the defaults and click “Launch” to launch the emulator.
Launch Emulator
You can see the Kindle Fire OS is booting up.
Once booting is complete, you will see a home screen depending on the image you have launched.
Home Screen
Building for Kindle Fire is as simple as building an Android application.
Under Eclipse, Click File->Create New Android Application...
New Android Application
Let us name our demo app as testKindleHDApp.
Put the other settings as shown below.
New Android Settings
Click Next.
New Android Application
Leave the defaults and click Next.
Configure Launcher Icon
Leave the defaults and click Next.
Create Activity
Click Next.
Blank Activity
Click Finish.
We now have a very basic Android application.
The MainActivity.java listing is shown below.
Now, we will run this on the Kindle Fire emulator.
Click Run -> Run.
Run As
Select Android Application and click OK.
Our application will compile and deploy on the emulator. Once installed, it will launch.
Demo App
We can see our demo application running on the Kindle Fire emulator.
Summary
In this article, we learned about how to get the development environment setup for building applications for Kindle Fire. I hope you have found the information useful.
About the Author
Vipul Patel is a Program Manager currently working at a large online corporation. He has formerly worked at Microsoft in the Lync team and in the .NET team (in the Base Class libraries and the Debugging and Profiling team). He can be reached at vipul.patel@hotmail.com
This article was originally published on February 17, 2014
Upon first glance, there hardly seems to be any difference between the newer 2014 Fire HDX 8.9 (the 4th generation Fire tablet) and the 2013 Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (the previous 3rd generation Fire tablet) from Amazon. Both are nearly identical in their weight, size, and screen resolution, and the sleek, industrial design of each model is so similar that the two models look remarkably alike.
It should be noted that since Amazon hasn’t released any newer HDX tablets, these two HDX tablets are the most powerful devices among all the tablets that Amazon has ever released—they’re both more powerful than all of the 5th generation Fire tablets Amazon released in the year 2015!
So is there any significant difference between the two? Which one is right for you? Let’s find out!
About the Model Names: Amazon Fire tablets like the “Fire HDX 8.9” released in 2014 no longer starts with the word “Kindle”; thus, there’s a little difference in its model name as compared to the name of the previous “Kindle Fire HDX 8.9” released in 2013.Since year 2014 (i.e. starting from the 4th generation of Amazon Fire tablets), Amazon dropped the word “Kindle” from names of all their newly released tablets, and only keep the word “Kindle” in their e-reader series. Even regular users still mix up these names, though, and will still use the name “Kindle Fire tablets” to refer to the latest Amazon Fire tablets.
Difference between Fire HDX 8.9 and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9
Below is a quick comparison of the two devices.
| Specs | Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (3rd Generation) | Fire HDX 8.9 (4th Generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 16, 32, or 64 GB* | 16, 32, or 64 GB* |
| Display | 8.9 inches, 339 ppi | 8.9 inches, 339 ppi |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Adreno 420 |
| Processor | 2.2 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 800 | 2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805 |
| Memory | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Wi-Fi | Dual band, dual antenna (MIMO+HT40) 802.11a/b/g/n | Dual band, dual antenna (MIMO+HT80) 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| 4G | 4G (Optional) | 4G (Optional) |
| Audio | Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Atmos |
| Size | 9.1' x 6.2' x 0.31' | 9.1' x 6.2' x 0.30' |
| Weight | 4G: 13.5 oz (384 g) Wi-Fi: 13.2 oz (374 g) | 4G: 13.7 oz (389 g) Wi-Fi: 13.2 oz (375 g) |
| Cameras | Rear camera 8MP Front camera 720p HD | Rear camera 8MP Front camera 720p HD |
| USB Port | USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) port | SlimPort enabled USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) port |
| Battery Life** | Up to 12 hours | Up to 12 hours |
| Release Date | November 7, 2013 | October 21, 2014 |
**Based on reading, surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, and listening to music. Actual results may vary.
Advantages of Fire HDX 8.9 over Kindle Fire HDX 8.9
CPU & GPU – The central processing unit (CPU) and the graphical processing unit (GPU) of both models come from the same manufacturer.
The difference here is that the Fire HDX 8.9 2014’s CPU uses Snapdragon 805, which is faster and more powerful than the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 2013’s Snapdragon 800. The 2014 model’s Qualcomm Adreno 420 GPU also provides 40% better performance than the 2013 model’s Adreno 330.
The result? The Fire HDX 8.9 2014 lets you open your apps faster, gives you more stunning picture quality for your movies, and render your games with graphics that are closer to the quality offered by a game-console.
Audio – The HDX 8.9 2014 features a Dolby Atmos sound system, which is an upgrade from the HDX 8.9 2013’s Dolby Digital Plus. Dolby Atmos provides 3-dimensional sound and is able to replicate the sound’s direction from where it would normally come when you’re in a theatre.
If you are watching a movie on the Fire HDX 8.9 2014, you will get the feeling that its sounds are coming from different directions. The movie-watching experience is therefore more immersive on the 2014 model. To optimize the effects of this new sound system, however, you’ll need headphones and content that’s Dolby Atmos encoded.
- Light Sensor – Both models have a light sensor. However, the 2014 model has a new function called Dynamic Light Control, which gathers ambient light data surrounding the tablet. Using this data, the tablet automatically fine tunes the LCD display color temperature and color balance which make the screen a closer simulation to the surface of a printed book.
- Wi-Fi – The HDX 8.9 2014 supports the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard while the HDX 8.9 2013 does not. This new 802.11ac standard support allows for up to 3 to 10 times faster Wi-Fi transmission speed. The actual speed gain of the 2014 model will depend on your Wi-Fi router at your home.
USB Port– The HDX 2014 boasts a SlimPort enabled USB port. While the USB port of the HDX 2013 can only be used for charging the tablet and connecting it to a computer, the SlimPort enabled USB port of the 2014 model can—with a proper adapter—also be used for connecting the device to an HDTV or VGA monitor, or even a thumb drive.
Operating System – Compared to the Fire OS 3 (Mojito) that comes default on the 2013 model, the 2014 model’s Fire OS 4 (Sangria) has a few notable upgrades.
Sangria allows users to create multiple profiles for both adults and children. Creating a separate profile for your child eliminates the need to tweak your tablet’s settings every time your child uses it. Now, you can simply switch to your child’s profile. Sangria also offers more efficient power saving, so that you can enjoy a longer battery life.
It should be noted that upon receiving the HDX 8.9 2013, which ships with the Mojito OS, all you need to do is to connect the device to Wi-Fi and press the “sync” button. If you permit the update, your device will automatically download and install the new Sangria OS. Thus, the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 2013 can run the same OS that comes pre-installed on the Fire HDX 8.9 2014.
Kindle Fire Hdx 8.9 3rd Generation Specs
Advantages of Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 over Fire HDX 8.9
- Price– The Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 2013 is cheaper than the new Fire HDX 8.9 (but it depends on the availability of models with different storage). If you’re looking for the most budget-friendly option, know that you can get the Fire HDX 8.9 2014’s memory, battery life, and HDX display with similar hardware at a cheaper price.
Who should buy the previous Kindle Fire HDX 8.9?
The budget conscious – For individuals who don’t mind making minor sacrifices in performance in order to save some money (comparing the 3rd generation to the 4th generation, and depending on availability of their models with different storage), the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 is a great choice.
New-comers to the world of tablets – The previous HDX 8.9 has everything you could hope to expect from a basic tablet. It’s a great start for someone who’s never purchased a tablet before. In fact, the 3rd generation model’s performance can even be compare to the performance of the iPad Air, but the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 3rd generation is cheaper than the iPad Air.
Causal users – If you’re not too meticulous when it comes to your demands for performance and features, you won’t find the previous HDX 8.9 to be much different from its 4th generation successor.
Kindle Fire Hdx 3rd Generation Manual
The following user comment should help you make a final decision:
Who should buy the newer Fire HDX 8.9?
Movie lovers – Movie fans will love the Fire HDX 8.9’s Dolby Atmos sound system. The 4th generation HDX makes theater-quality sound available at any time, as long as you’re equipped with headphones and Dolby Atmos encoded content.
Kindle Fire Hdx 8.9 3rd Gen
With the new model, you also have the option of watching your movie on your HDTV through a HDMI cable (using an HDMI adapter). Alternatively, you can watch your 2013 model’s content on Miracast-enabled HDTVs according to Amazon.
Gamers – The GPU Adreno 420 on the Fire HDX 8.9 provides a more realistic gaming experience by rendering graphics more quickly than the GPU of the 2013 model. Gamers, especially those who love playing graphic-intensive games, will find the 2014 model much more appealing than the 2013 model.
The productivity guys – For individuals who prefer to use a single device for both work and play, the current 4th generation Fire HDX 8.9 is a better device. The new model comes with WPS Office pre-installed, as well as faster and more powerful processors for enhanced multi-tasking. With the new model’s SlimPort enabled USB port, you can easily transfer files to and from your thumb drive. Working men will find that the features of the new model suit their needs markedly better than those of the previous generation model.
The following opinion from someone who owns both the Fire Tablet and the iPad should help you make your final decision:
Further Reading
Further References
Review on Kindle Fire 8.9 2013
- Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 review – Evan Kypreos, trustedreviews.com, November 27, 2013
- Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 in review (2013) – Jonathan Bray, alphr.com, October 04, 2014
Review on Fire HDX 8.9 2014
- Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (2014) – gadgets.ndtv.com
- Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 (2014) Tablet Review –Paul Lilly, hothardware.com, December 11, 2014