Kindle Fire Tips & Tricks & How-To's

poohbear_nc · 11-15-2011, 02:52 PM

Folks - start posting your discoveries here so everyone will have a common place!

sirmaru · 11-15-2011, 04:56 PM

My first tip:

When you receive your Fire perform the following steps first:

1. Connect to your WiFi.
2. Register your unit with Amazon if it is not already registered with them.
3. Charge your unit for four hours.
4. Check under settings if you have firmware version 6.0.0 or 6.1.0. If you have the former version, go here to update to the latter version:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200790620
5. Have fun !

xari · 11-15-2011, 07:35 PM

To remove an icon (including IMDb) from the Favorites shelf, press down and hold the icon. After a moment, a pop-up will appear with the option to 'Remove from Favorites'.

xari · 11-15-2011, 07:38 PM

To remove a bookmark from the Silk browser, press down and hold the bookmark. After a moment, a pop-up will appear with various options, the last being 'Delete'.

Blossom · 11-15-2011, 10:02 PM

To get sideloaded books to show up in the carousel you need to remove the pdoc tag from the mobi book.

You can do this in Calibre.

From Calibre's Book Conversion window click on MOBI output
Find the box that says Personal Doc Tag: [pdoc]
Delete [pdoc] from the box and reconvert book.
It should now show up with your other books on the Fire.

You can set Calibre to permanently do this in
Preferences/Output options/MOBI output.
Find the box that says Personal Doc Tag: [pdoc]
Delete [pdoc] from the box and click apply at the top.

Note: If you don't care about the books showing up in the carousel then just email them to your Kindle. This will use the Personal Documents Cloud and you will be able synch those without modifying them in Calibre.

sirmaru · 11-15-2011, 10:22 PM

Does anyone know how to add songs to a playlist in the Fire? I named the playlist but cannot figure out how to add my songs from the device (I had copied some from my PC)?

TomF · 11-15-2011, 10:29 PM

The Fire comes with Quickoffice pre-installed and there doesn't appear to be any way to remove it even if you have Quickoffice Pro installed.

If you open the pre-installed version of Quickoffice there is an option to update. Pressing this button and clicking Buy Now will take you to the Amazon App Store. Since you've already purchased Quickoffice Pro it will have an option to Open. Doing this does nothing to "update" the pre-installed version and doesn't remove it.

Blossom · 11-15-2011, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomF

The Fire comes with Quickoffice pre-installed and there doesn't appear to be any way to remove it even if you have Quickoffice Pro installed.

If you open the pre-installed version of Quickoffice there is an option to update. Pressing this button and clicking Buy Now will take you to the Amazon App Store. Since you've already purchased Quickoffice Pro it will have an option to Open. Doing this does nothing to "update" the pre-installed version and doesn't remove it.

Call Kindle Support. I don't think it can be removed but maybe they know something I don't.

Strether · 11-15-2011, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

You can set Calibre to permanently do this in
Preferences/Output options/MOBI output.
Find the box that says Personal Doc Tag: [pdoc]
Delete [pdoc] from the box and click apply at the top.

What are the ramifications of doing this in regards to your other e-readers?

Jim

Blossom · 11-15-2011, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strether

What are the ramifications of doing this in regards to your other e-readers?

Jim

It wont see the books are pdocs if you remove the tags on the other readers. Not sure of synching issue. Best bet is just email the docs to your Kindle. They wont show up in your carousel but they will still synch on your other "real" Kindles but not Kindle apps.

jswinden · 11-15-2011, 11:41 PM

How to Sideload Apps:
I recommend that you install the free ES File Explorer available through the Amazon App Store. You will need an app like it to install sideloaded *.apk files which are apps BTW.

Tap Quick Settings, More, Device, then click On to enable Allow Installation of Applications from Unknown Sources.
Google your app and search for the APK file. Try looking on the developer's website.
Download the APK file to your computer.
Copy the APK file to the root (or a folder of your choice) on the Fire via a USB connection to your computer. After copied, disconnect the Fire from the computer by clicking Disconnect on the bottom of the Fire's screen and then unplug the USB cable.
Start ES File Explorer and select the APK file then select install when prompted.
All done.

Scarpad · 11-16-2011, 12:03 AM

I manually loaded a Hi def File encoded for Appletv, an Episode of It's Sunny in Philadelphia, put it in the video folder and browsed to it with ES File Explorer, and played it with the ES Video player, it played Fantastic. And Looked Great the screen is nice on this player.

nimblem · 11-16-2011, 12:52 AM

Has anyone found a calendar that works well for scheduling several months in advance?

jswinden · 11-16-2011, 01:05 AM

Easily Import Google Contacts during Gmail Setup:
If you have already set up a Google account with contacts, then you can easily import those contacts when setting up the Fire's email app for your Gmail account.

Set up your Gmail account in the Fire Email app by entering the Gmail address and password.
The app will test the email address to ensure it is a valid account, then it prompts you as to whether you want to import your Google contacts. The prompt is in the form of a checkbox option.
Select the checkbox and click Finish and the Gmail account is set up and your Google Contacts now are in the Fire's Contacts app. It was insanely simple and easy and fast.

Blossom · 11-16-2011, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimblem

Has anyone found a calendar that works well for scheduling several months in advance?

I got the business calendar from Amazon when it was free. It's like a google or outlook clone.

11-15-2011, 02:52 PM	#1
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 61,049 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Kindle Fire Tips & Tricks & How-To's Folks - start posting your discoveries here so everyone will have a common place!

11-15-2011, 07:35 PM	#3
xari Kindle Obsessed. Posts: 96 Karma: 6436 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Here and There. Device: K3, K4, Kindle Fire.	Removing Items from the Favorites shelf. To remove an icon (including IMDb) from the Favorites shelf, press down and hold the icon. After a moment, a pop-up will appear with the option to 'Remove from Favorites'.

11-15-2011, 07:38 PM	#4
xari Kindle Obsessed. Posts: 96 Karma: 6436 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Here and There. Device: K3, K4, Kindle Fire.	Removing Bookmarks from the Silk browser. To remove a bookmark from the Silk browser, press down and hold the bookmark. After a moment, a pop-up will appear with various options, the last being 'Delete'.

11-15-2011, 10:02 PM	#5
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	To get sideloaded books to show up in the carousel you need to remove the pdoc tag from the mobi book. You can do this in Calibre. From Calibre's Book Conversion window click on MOBI output Find the box that says Personal Doc Tag: [pdoc] Delete [pdoc] from the box and reconvert book. It should now show up with your other books on the Fire. You can set Calibre to permanently do this in Preferences/Output options/MOBI output. Find the box that says Personal Doc Tag: [pdoc] Delete [pdoc] from the box and click apply at the top. Note: If you don't care about the books showing up in the carousel then just email them to your Kindle. This will use the Personal Documents Cloud and you will be able synch those without modifying them in Calibre. Last edited by Blossom; 11-15-2011 at 10:11 PM.

11-15-2011, 11:41 PM	#11
jswinden Nameless Being	How to Sideload Apps How to Sideload Apps: I recommend that you install the free *ES File Explorer* available through the Amazon App Store. You will need an app like it to install sideloaded .apk files which are apps BTW. Tap Quick Settings, More, Device, then click On to enable Allow Installation of Applications from Unknown Sources. Google your app and search for the APK file. Try looking on the developer's website. Download the APK file to your computer. Copy the APK file to the root (or a folder of your choice) on the Fire via a USB connection to your computer. After copied, disconnect the Fire from the computer by clicking Disconnect on the bottom of the Fire's screen and then unplug the USB cable. Start ES File Explorer* and select the APK file then select install when prompted. All done. Last edited by jswinden; 11-25-2011 at 03:21 PM.

11-15-2011, 04:56 PM	#2
sirmaru Wizard Posts: 2,426 Karma: 6561538 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014	My first tip: When you receive your Fire perform the following steps first: 1. Connect to your WiFi. 2. Register your unit with Amazon if it is not already registered with them. 3. Charge your unit for four hours. 4. Check under settings if you have firmware version 6.0.0 or 6.1.0. If you have the former version, go here to update to the latter version: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200790620 5. Have fun !

11-15-2011, 10:22 PM	#6
sirmaru Wizard Posts: 2,426 Karma: 6561538 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014	Does anyone know how to add songs to a playlist in the Fire? I named the playlist but cannot figure out how to add my songs from the device (I had copied some from my PC)?

11-15-2011, 10:29 PM	#7
TomF Kindle Enthusiast Posts: 243 Karma: 1818 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Device: Kindle 3G Graphite, Kindle Fire	The Fire comes with Quickoffice pre-installed and there doesn't appear to be any way to remove it even if you have Quickoffice Pro installed. If you open the pre-installed version of Quickoffice there is an option to update. Pressing this button and clicking Buy Now will take you to the Amazon App Store. Since you've already purchased Quickoffice Pro it will have an option to Open. Doing this does nothing to "update" the pre-installed version and doesn't remove it.

11-16-2011, 12:03 AM	#12
Scarpad Addict Posts: 310 Karma: 1013114 Join Date: Sep 2006	I manually loaded a Hi def File encoded for Appletv, an Episode of It's Sunny in Philadelphia, put it in the video folder and browsed to it with ES File Explorer, and played it with the ES Video player, it played Fantastic. And Looked Great the screen is nice on this player.

11-16-2011, 12:52 AM	#13
nimblem Addict Posts: 304 Karma: 7102 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Pocket Pro, Kindle Dx	Has anyone found a calendar that works well for scheduling several months in advance?

11-16-2011, 01:05 AM	#14
jswinden Nameless Being	Gmail and contacts Easily Import Google Contacts during Gmail Setup: If you have already set up a Google account with contacts, then you can easily import those contacts when setting up the Fire's email app for your Gmail account. Set up your Gmail account in the Fire Email app by entering the Gmail address and password. The app will test the email address to ensure it is a valid account, then it prompts you as to whether you want to import your Google contacts. The prompt is in the form of a checkbox option. Select the checkbox and click Finish and the Gmail account is set up and your Google Contacts now are in the Fire's Contacts app. It was insanely simple and easy and fast. Last edited by jswinden; 11-16-2011 at 01:17 PM.

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