Remote Control Apps for Kindle Fire HD? Which tablet to buy?

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  • Thread starter slipperybidness
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slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
Anyone have experience with the Kindle Fire HD? Do the major manufacturers make remote control (or over wifi) for the kindle fire? Does it run some version of Android?

How does the fire compare to iPad? I know pretty much everybody makes control apps for iPad. I'm not a big Apple fan and don't like the way they lock down the hardware etc.

I'm leaning more towards the fire hd, but wonder if it can do these things like iPad does.
 
BMXTRIX

BMXTRIX

Audioholic Warlord
From proprietary to proprietary?

Worth a read:

Kindle Fire HDX: The Top 5 Apps You Won’t Be Able To Use On The Amazon Tablet On Release Date

Kindle Fire uses a modified version of Android which will limit functionality. If you think Apple is limited, this product seems not one bit better.

Frankly, I am not a fan of Apple, but I am thrilled with my iPad just as most people are. It has really good apps and does what I actually need it to do very well. Also, it seems like anything that is quality that is developed is done so for the Apple products first, then everyone else. So, yeah, there's an app for that. :D

If I didn't buy Apple, then it would definitely be a good Android device. But, my first experience with Android left a very bitter taste in my mouth, which is exactly what Apple never has done when I've used their product. Just food for thought that you are asking about other stuff, when you know Apple delivers.
 
darien87

darien87

Audioholic Spartan
I don't know about the Kindles but I have a Nook Tablet HD+. At the time they were on sale for $150. I've rooted it with Cyanogenmod 10.1 and it's awesome. A kick-*** 9" tablet for $150?!?! I don't see how you can beat that.

What remote control apps are you looking for? I have one that controls my DirecTV DVR and Panasonic had one that controlled the BD player I used to have.
 
slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
BMXTRIX said:
From proprietary to proprietary?

Worth a read:

Kindle Fire HDX: The Top 5 Apps You Won’t Be Able To Use On The Amazon Tablet On Release Date

Kindle Fire uses a modified version of Android which will limit functionality. If you think Apple is limited, this product seems not one bit better.

Frankly, I am not a fan of Apple, but I am thrilled with my iPad just as most people are. It has really good apps and does what I actually need it to do very well. Also, it seems like anything that is quality that is developed is done so for the Apple products first, then everyone else. So, yeah, there's an app for that. :D

If I didn't buy Apple, then it would definitely be a good Android device. But, my first experience with Android left a very bitter taste in my mouth, which is exactly what Apple never has done when I've used their product. Just food for thought that you are asking about other stuff, when you know Apple delivers.
Click to expand...
Yeah, Apple delivers......mandatory updates, locked-down s/w and h/w, a big PITA :D:D:D

I have the iPhone4 and it works fine for me, but there is a lot of stuff with Apple and Itunes that I don't like. I hate how itunes tends to duplicate my music after an update and there doesn't seem to be a way to delete all the dups at once. I much prefer Foobar.

I have played around with iPad a little at work too.

My SO has an HTC android phone and she prefers it over iphone. This will be her tablet, so I gotta consider that too.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback and honest response. I will read that link when I get some time, good stuff to know.
 
BMXTRIX

BMXTRIX

Audioholic Warlord
Or you just buy a good Android tablet from the start and don't deal with the hacks and backdoors and such.

I do like my iPhone, but I don't ask it to do much, and I think remotes on a tablet for any A/V control tend to be silly.

I mean, darien - Do you have one integrated remote interface that controls all that gear, or do you have a separate app for every device on your system that you have to switch between?

I use a control system that gives me one interface for everything, which works well, and I still have all the apps for all my gear. Not sure when I had to do a mandatory update, but I do typically update things every month or two. Don't really care about locked down anything since I want to use the device, not program it. Depends on your use though, if you want to hack it, tweak it, do weird things with it, then Apple certainly isn't a good choice. But, if you actually just want to use it... well, there is a world of people who are thrilled with doing that. But, another world who are perfectly fine with Android and Kindle Fire products as well.
 
darien87

darien87

Audioholic Spartan
BMXTRIX said:
Or you just buy a good Android tablet from the start and don't deal with the hacks and backdoors and such.

I do like my iPhone, but I don't ask it to do much, and I think remotes on a tablet for any A/V control tend to be silly.

I mean, darien - Do you have one integrated remote interface that controls all that gear, or do you have a separate app for every device on your system that you have to switch between?

I use a control system that gives me one interface for everything, which works well, and I still have all the apps for all my gear. Not sure when I had to do a mandatory update, but I do typically update things every month or two. Don't really care about locked down anything since I want to use the device, not program it. Depends on your use though, if you want to hack it, tweak it, do weird things with it, then Apple certainly isn't a good choice. But, if you actually just want to use it... well, there is a world of people who are thrilled with doing that. But, another world who are perfectly fine with Android and Kindle Fire products as well.
Click to expand...
Sure you could buy a Nexus 7 if you want to spend 3 times as much as a Nook. It's a great tablet though. I had a Samsung Galaxy Tab. That was good too. I just thought it was too expensive for what it was. I haven't had any issues with my Nook. The Cyanogenmod community is pretty rock solid. And I'm not a hacker by any means. My hands were shaking when I rooted my Nook. But if I can do it anyone can. Took me about 20 minutes and I had to do it twice because I did it wrong the first time.

There's definitely a price to be paid for simplicity. If that's your thing then I'm sure it's more than worth the money. I'd rather save some cash. My Nook has been awesome for me. Even the battery life is incredible. My old rooted Nook Color would only last a couple of days, the HD+ will last me a couple of weeks on a single charge.

As far as the remote control apps, I honestly don't use them. I prefer the hard buttons of an actual remote that I can work by feel other than having to look at my tablet or phone.
 
slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
darien87 said:
Sure you could buy a Nexus 7 if you want to spend 3 times as much as a Nook. It's a great tablet though. I had a Samsung Galaxy Tab. That was good too. I just thought it was too expensive for what it was. I haven't had any issues with my Nook. The Cyanogenmod community is pretty rock solid. And I'm not a hacker by any means. My hands were shaking when I rooted my Nook. But if I can do it anyone can. Took me about 20 minutes and I had to do it twice because I did it wrong the first time.

There's definitely a price to be paid for simplicity. If that's your thing then I'm sure it's more than worth the money. I'd rather save some cash. My Nook has been awesome for me. Even the battery life is incredible. My old rooted Nook Color would only last a couple of days, the HD+ will last me a couple of weeks on a single charge.

As far as the remote control apps, I honestly don't use them. I prefer the hard buttons of an actual remote that I can work by feel other than having to look at my tablet or phone.
Click to expand...
Well, the remote apps are more of icing on the cake.

Like I said, this is really for the girlfriend for Christmas, so I'm doing my homework now. It will primarily be hers, but I figured the more functionality etc the better.

Something about the Nook just doesn't catch my attention. I'll read up on it some more though before I completely write it off.

Right now, I'm leaning towards the Fire HDX when it releases, ipad as 2nd choice. I need to go read up on the Nexus and the Galaxy.

The more I'm thinking about it, rooting it doesn't sound too bad. I am taking some programming classes now and am getting into imbedded tech and microcontrollers, so that might be fun.

Thanks again guys. Really useful and honest feedback here!
 
adk highlander

adk highlander

Sith Lord
We own both kindle hd and a nexus 7. It is not even a contest. The nexus is much much faster and is not limited with os locks and free of ads. The hardware itself also seems better made with a more solid feel. The new models are supposed to come out the middle of this month.
 
Lulimet

Lulimet

Full Audioholic
I bought a Fire HD about three months ago and returned it within 3 days. A lot of the competitor apps are not available for the Kindle. It is a worthless tablet if you don't root it.
Get a Google Nexus tablet instead.
 
slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
OK, so right now it looks like 2 votes for the Nexus 7, Ipad has 1 vote, and Kindle Fire has a vote if you root it.

Guess I'll go read up on the Nexus. Looks like if I want the fire HD then I need to plan to root it (that could be good or bad).

If I'm an Amazon Prime Member, does that change anything?

Edit: Now I see that the Nexus 7 is actually manufactured by Asus. I am actually a fan of Asus. I have an Asus Mobo in my custom tower, an Asus router (with the tomato firmware), and I think I have another piece of Asus hw that I can't remember right now.

So far, these items mentioned have worked flawlessly. I need to read up on it, but I have been pleased with my Asus products up to this point!

Where is the "best" place to buy the Nexus (or the Galaxy)?
 
darien87

darien87

Audioholic Spartan
slipperybidness said:
Where is the "best" place to buy the Nexus (or the Galaxy)?
Click to expand...
Depends on what you mean by "best". I tend to buy from Best Buy because of their 0% financing and rewards program. I know you can get both of them there. In fact Best Buy was blowing out refurbished Nexus 7's a while ago at ridiculous prices, (about $150 if I recall correctly), but those got snapped up pretty quickly.

If your local Best Buy has a Samsung center in it like mine does you can get a lot of useful Samsung-specific information from the rep there. Of course they're going to push you towards the Galaxy as that's their job but you'll still get useful info. I had almost no issues with my Galaxy Tab. I really liked it. Nice and fast with a slick interface. I just ended up returning it because I was able to get a Nook with a larger screen for half the price.
 
BMXTRIX

BMXTRIX

Audioholic Warlord
Don't count my vote for iPad, I'm just saying that it works and is hassle free. I am all for a pure Android device as well if it meets the needs of whomever is using it. :) :D :)
 
slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
Seems that most of my friends that I'm asking are also saying the Nexus 7 is a winner.

More homework to do.
 
slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
The more I'm looking into my options, I'm really thinking 10" is what I want. Unfortunately, the Google Nexus from Asus only seems to come in 7"

Is there any significance to the "Google" name on the tablet? Does it get me anything over a tablet without "google' name attached to it (like the 10" listed above)?

What's a great 10" tablet in the $300 to $400 range?
 
slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
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