Amazon Kindle Fire - User Manual

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AMAZON KINDLE FIRES --- TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

May 3, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. WHAT IS A KINDLE FIRE?

Tablet: The Kindle Fire is a tablet computer. “Tablets are the perfect choice for a take-it-with you, do-

all, device, good for e-mail, Web surfing, action games and more. Displays are crisp and bright enough

for you to enjoy movies, books, magazines, etc.” (Consumer Reports, August 2012, page 38.)

Compare Kindle Fires: Go to Exhibit A for detailed information.

Wi-Fi: All Kindle Fires access information via "wireless fidelity". The term refers to certain kinds of

wireless local area networks, or WLAN (as opposed to LAN, or computers that are networked together

with wires). At home, you will need a modem to update information. WI-Fi is available free at most

public buildings, hotels and restaurants.

4G: Some Kindle Fires are available with 4G LTE capability. This refers to the fourth generation of

mobile telephony (that is, cellular) technology. 4G requires an extra charge subscription from AT&T or

Verizon.

2. WHERE CAN I GET HELP?

Kindle Fire Device: Tap the Help icon(?) for Mayday, Wireless, User Guide and Phone & Email info.

Amazon: www.amazon.com/kindlesupport . Select your device and find 64 Help topics in 14

categories.. … Note: There are 23 Help Videos under Kindle Fire Basics.

Computer Club of Hot Springs Village: www.cchsv.org/sig See Section 8 for more information.

e-Books: Go to Books, Store and search on “Kindle Fire HDX”. The last time I checked, I found 88

matching titles. You may want to “Refine” this by Customer Reviews, Price, etc. Almost all can be

borrowed for free with a Prime membership (see Section 5).

Section

Title

What Is A Kindle Fire?

Where Can I Get Help?

Content

3.1 Apps (Applications)

3.2 Books

3.3 Music

3.4 Videos

3.5 E-mail & Social Networks

3.6 Photos

Buy HD or HDX?

Amazon Prime

Amazon Customer Service Answers

Trivia: Why Is It Called A Kindle?

Computer Club of Hot Springs Village

Exhibit A

Compare 7” Kindle Fires (9/25/2013)

Exhibit B

Tablet Comparison (11/2/2012)

Other manuals for Amazon Kindle Fire

Troubleshooting9 pages

Quick Reference Guide2 pages

Quick Start Guide5 pages

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Amazon Kindle Fire and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

Amazon Customer Service Answers

Trivia: Why Is It Called A Kindle?

Computer Club of Hot Springs Village

Exhibit A: Kindle Fire Comparison

Exhibit B: Tablet Competition Comparison

Summary

Amazon Customer Service Answers

Trivia: Why Is It Called A Kindle?

Computer Club of Hot Springs Village

Exhibit A: Kindle Fire Comparison

Exhibit B: Tablet Competition Comparison

The Amazon Kindle Fire is a tablet computer designed for a wide range of uses, making it a versatile "take-it-with-you, do-all" device. Its primary function is to provide access to digital content and services, including e-mail, web browsing, games, movies, books, magazines, music, and more, all presented with crisp and bright displays.

Function Description:

The Kindle Fire serves as a portable hub for digital media and communication. It allows users to:

Access Applications (Apps): The device supports a vast array of applications from the Amazon Appstore, categorized for various interests such as books, comics, city info, communication, cooking, education, entertainment, finance, games, health & fitness, kids, lifestyle, music, navigation, news & magazines, novelty, photography, podcasts, productivity, real estate, reference, ringtones, shopping, social networking, sports, themes, travel, utilities, video, weather, and web browsers. Many apps are free, including a "Today's Free App of the Day," and users are notified of free updates for purchased apps. Some apps are "Stand Alone" and do not require Wi-Fi, making them suitable for use while traveling. Others "Require Wi-Fi" for full functionality, while "Half & Half" apps work without Wi-Fi but offer added features when connected.
Read Books: Users can buy books from the Amazon Store, access free books with a Prime membership, or search for free titles. The Kindle Owners' Lending Library offers over 270,000 "free" books to Prime members, with no waiting or due dates, allowing one borrow per month. Eligible Kindle books can also be loaned to another Kindle user for 14 days. The device supports various enhancements for reading, including Immersion Reading, Text-to-Speech, X-Ray, Dictionary/Wikipedia, and Translate.
Listen to Music: Music can be purchased from the Music Store. Users who have bought music CDs from Amazon since 1998 can get a free MP3 version on their Cloud via the AutoRip service. Users can also load their own CDs onto the Kindle Fire by converting them to MP3 files on a computer and transferring them.
Watch Videos: The Kindle Fire provides access to over 120,000 movies and TV shows, many of which are free with an Amazon Prime membership. For Kindle Fire HD models, content can be watched on an HD television using an HDMI cable (Type A to Type D micro-USB). HDX models offer mirroring capabilities to an HD TV or media streaming device.
Manage E-mail and Social Networks: The device includes built-in apps for email and contact management, allowing users to read, send, and view attachments. Alternatively, email can be accessed via an existing Internet Service Provider (ISP) through the web browser. Social network accounts like Facebook and Twitter can be set up through the device settings.
View and Manage Photos: Users can take screenshots by pressing and holding the reduce-volume and power buttons simultaneously. These screenshots are saved in the Photos section of the Shortcut Bar. The device also supports taking and managing photos and personal videos.
Internet Connectivity: All Kindle Fires access information via "wireless fidelity" (Wi-Fi), which refers to wireless local area networks (WLAN). A modem is needed at home to update information, and Wi-Fi is often available free in public buildings, hotels, and restaurants. Some Kindle Fires also offer 4G LTE capability for mobile telephony, which requires an extra charge subscription from AT&T or Verizon.

Usage Features:

Portability: The Kindle Fire is designed to be a "take-it-with-you" device, suitable for various activities on the go.
User Interface: The device features a user-friendly interface with "library buttons" for easy navigation to content like Books, Music, etc.
Help and Support:
- On-Device Help: Tapping the Help icon (?) provides access to Mayday (live on-device expert technical support on HDX models), Wireless settings, the User Guide, and phone & email information.
- Amazon Support: Comprehensive support is available online at www.amazon.com/kindlesupport, including help topics and videos under "Kindle Fire Basics."
- Community Support: The Computer Club of Hot Springs Village offers a Kindle Fire Users Group for peer assistance and information.
Content Management:
- Sideloading Files: Users can transfer files like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents from their computer to the Kindle Fire via a USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) by dragging and dropping. Email attachments can also be sent to the Kindle Fire's email address, which appear in the Docs section.
- File Type Compatibility: The Kindle Fire recognizes a wide range of document formats (AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC, DOC, DOCX), image formats (JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP), music formats (MP3, Non-DRM AAC, MIDI, OGG, WAV), and video formats (MP4, VP8). Audible.com files (AA, AAX) are also supported.
- Collections: This feature, available on HDX and 2nd generation HD models, allows users to organize their content.
Amazon Prime Integration: An annual Amazon Prime membership ($99) offers unlimited free two-day shipping on over 20 million items, instant streaming of 40,000 movies and TV episodes, and access to over 500,000 books from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library each month. A free month of Prime is offered to new users.

Maintenance Features:

Battery Charging: The Kindle Fire should be charged when the "Low Battery, only 15% remaining" message appears. Charging the battery before it is fully depleted does not harm the device. To conserve battery life, it's best to shut down the device completely when not in use, or turn off Wi-Fi when reading a book.
Hard Reset: If the Kindle Fire cannot be turned On or Off, a "hard reset" can be performed by pressing and holding the power button for 20 seconds, then releasing and pressing it again to restart the device.
Device Naming: The Kindle Fire's name can be changed via www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle under "Manage Your Devices." After editing the name, click "Update" and connect the device to Wi-Fi to apply the change.
Anti-virus Protection: The Kindle Fire does not require an external anti-virus program as it comes with preloaded security malware. Installing non-recommended external anti-virus programs may cause damage to the device's functionality. Browsing websites from the device is always free from virus attacks, and sending emails with attachments to the Kindle Fire will not affect its security.
Warranty: The Fire comes with a one-year limited warranty. An optional 2-year warranty with accident protection is available from Square Trade Inc., with prices varying by model.
Trade-in Program: Amazon offers a trade-in program for Kindle Fires, with the value depending on the device's condition, original packaging, and the return of all contents. Details on how to trade in, store credit, account management, and terms and conditions are available on Amazon's website.

Amazon Kindle Fire Specifications

General

Color	Yes
Technology	TFT
Display diagonal	7 \
Display resolution	1024 x 600 pixels
Audio formats supported	AAC, MIDI, MP3, MP4, OGG, WAV
Image formats supported	BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG
Video formats supported	-
Document formats supported	DOC, DOCX, MOBI, PDF, PRC, TXT
RAM capacity	1024 MB
Compatible memory cards	Not supported
Maximum memory card size	0 GB
Internal storage capacity	8 GB
Bluetooth	No
Wi-Fi standards	802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g
Headphone connectivity	3.5 mm
Number of built-in speakers	2
Built-in processor	Dual-Core OMAP 4430
Processor frequency	1200 MHz
Battery life (max)	9 h
Battery recharge time	11.5 h
Product color	Black
Cables included	USB