Amazon Fire ?

Ted S

I've been wanting to get a tablet that I can use at Sunday School classes and where I can download books to read when traveling.

Amazon is releasing a new tablet: Fire HD8 plus. I have an older Kindle Fire but don't know anything about tablets. It's a real project to download Logos book to my Kindle, but what about this new tablet? Will Logos and Kindle play nice? How much of my Logos resources will run on this new tablet as compared with my laptop? It has a Quad-core 2.0 GHz cpu with 3 GB of RAM and 32GB storage (expandable)

Thanks for the help

David Thomas

Ted S said:

Will Logos and Kindle play nice?

I bought an HD10 for very similar reasoning to you about a year ago. Unfortunately, I bought the edition that was on sale (7th Generation) and then Logos announced ending support for older Android operating systems. I then bought the "most recent" (9th generation) of the HD10. I was surprised to find that the latest version of Faithlife apps still works on the 7th gen (limited to Fire OS 5.3) AND the latest FIRE HD10 (running Fire OS 7.3)

My advice is make sure you buy the 9th gen to remain compatible into the future. In the 9th Gen HD10 I'm able to run the following Faithlife APPS: Faithlife Groups, Faithlife TV, Logos Bible, Proclaim Remote & Faithlife Study Bible. I'm pleased.

BillS

Logos & Kindle play nice.... counsel to go with very, very latest generation is spot on... 

However, if you envision doing much with the tablet beyond Logos & Kindle, be aware:

• The camera may be useful for video telecon (Zoom is ok, for example), but not pictures; resolution is too low. Pix lack clarity.
• Voice dictation isn't anywhere near up to Google's quality, & correction is difficult due to the next issue.
• Any text involving the keyboard is so difficult to use that when my email client (Outlook) ceased working uninstalled it & decided it isn't worth the effort to reinstall it.
• Same with any other app that involves typing. Their implementation of typing & correction renders even a bluetooth keyboard (that does work) just as difficult to use as the e-keyboard built in.

So far, I've resisted the persistent urge to go get a real tablet (ipad? samsung? Microsoft?)& install a Kindle reader app on it. But I don't know howmuch longer I'll continue to resist.

If ALL you'll ever want to do is Kindle & Logos, it'll do just fine. Problem is, it'd be just so much handier if it were also good at...... ;-)

Ken McGuire

I currently have two Amazon Fire devices - a Fire 7 (7th Generation) and a HD 8 (8th Generation). The 7 I primarily use with headphones playing my CD collection that I ripped over the years.The 8 is used more for watching youtube, twitch, etc. Both have the Logos app installed, and both have been useful as ebook readers for my Logos library. I have seen some reports here of the app not working with some models of the Fire, but I have not had any problems with it myself.

While it is quite convenient to have Bible, Dictionary, and a Commentary wherever I go, it is not something I would ever want to use for study. Text input is not good on these devices, and the screen space is rather limited for anything more than just reading.

As far as how many resources? I have added SD cards to both of mine. On the HD 8, the FIre OS has an option to in effect merge this SD card into the file system so that all the storage space is available to any app. On the 7, however, it is just mounted as separate folder that some applications recognize and can use - but Logos will not, and so I am perpetually out of space on it since 8 GB just doesn't leave much room for things other than the OS itself.

MWW

Last year I bought an Amazon Fire for the purpose of reading. I ended up returning it because my eyes hurt when I read from it. I don't have that problem with iPads. 

Ted S

Thanks to all for your insight and good recommendations. So nice to have a forum like this - a place to go for sound judgement and the voices of experience.

Ted

JT (alabama24)

Ted S said:

I have an older Kindle Fire but don't know anything about tablets. It's a real project to download Logos book to my Kindle, but what about this new tablet?

 I’m not sure what you mean by “a real project,” but the method should be the same. If you have questions about the mobile app, it is best to ask in the mobile forum. 

some general thoughts  about kindle fires & Logos:

•  they are budget devices and use old technology to keep costs down. They are “old“ from day one. 
  
• Logos doesn’t make a specific app for kindle fire os. They make an app for Android. The kindle fire runs a modified version of android
  
• Android itself as a platform has troubles with devices being unable to update to the newest versions of android.
• the result of the last two points is that the life span of getting updates on a kindle fire for logos use may be much shorter that iOS. 
  
  
  

Ted S said:How much of my Logos resources will run on this new tablet as compared with my laptop? It has a Quad-core 2.0 GHz cpu with 3 GB of RAM and 32GB storage (expandable)

For clarification: nearly all of your books should be readable on the device. The mobile apps, however, are “reader” apps. The app isn’t intended to replace the desktop. I would not recommend downloading your whole library, especially since many features require internet anyway. 

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1100043#Comment_1100043

BillS said:

The camera may be useful for video telecon (Zoom is ok, for example), but not pictures; resolution is too low. Pix lack clarity.

I pastor a smaller church without a lot of tech-savvy people. During the whole COVID-19 pandemic (and before) we have been livestreaming our service on Facebook Live with a simple one-camera pointed at the pulpit and screen setup. My 7th gen HD10 has been our video and audio link between the Sunday service and our entire congregation (up to 450 views per week).