Kindle Fire Help Desk

Adjusting the factory default settings is one of the first steps to take after get you new Kindle Fire. Getting the setting right can help to keep your machine secure and running fast, usings all the advanced features of this powerful, paperback book-sized android tablet computer.

Visit the Amazon Forum to learn basic Kindle Fire Tips: Getting Started

Set the wi-fi security restrictions on the Kindle to control surfing the web. This is an effective way of preventing unauthorized purchases on your account and to protect your information if the computer is lost. Enable password protected Wi-fi in the Settings > More ... > Restrictions menu. After setting your new password, a key icon will appear on the top of the screen. Be sure to check that the wi-fi is turned off before giving the Kindle to your kids.

Message on apps which allow purchases:
PLEASE NOTE: This app lets you purchase digital content using actual money. You can configure parental controls for in-app purchases, which will require your Amazon account password or a 4-digit PIN, by tapping the Menu icon and then Settings.
In-app purchasing is turned on by default, which means that buying new game levels and upgrades, for example, will be automatically charged to your account. You can opt-out of this completely in the main settings menu. Parental controls can be enabled in the settings menu for password protected in-app Purchasing. These settings can be different for each device connected to the Appsstore.

Simply stated, "sideloading" apps onto your Kindle is permitted by Amazon and has no effect on the standard warrantee. Amazon even gives you a way to allow sideloaded apps in Settings > More > Device > Allow Installation of Applications From Unknown Sources. The default setting is to restrict sideloading to protect the computer from potentially malicious software from "unknown sources". Make sure these kind of apps come from a trusted source.

"Rooting" a tablet computer like the Kindle Fire will void the Amazon warrantee. The operating system is removed from the internal memory when a device is rooted, and a different operating system is installed. The current version of Android operating system for Kindle Fire is Android version 2.3.5. Experienced users can replace this version with the latest Android 4.x "Ice Cream Sandwich" OS. Again, rooting voids the Amazon warrantee.

Magazines and newspapers can be delivered in two different ways on the Kindle: with an a separate application, like WIRED magazine, for example, or by subscription to the publication using the Kindle Newsstand. Subscribe to your favorite magazines via wi-fi by tapping the Store button in the Kindle Fire Magazine menu. Search through dozens of Magazines, Newspapers, Kindle Books or Interactive Magazines.

Find current magazines in 9 different categories like Arts, Business, Lifestyle and Sports. And just like browsing online at Amazon, when you pick a category, you can refine the selection by Price, Popularity and Average Customer Review. Note that while some of the magazines say they're free, look for the fine print that reads: Subscription may be required.

If you can't find your magazine at the newsstand, it may be delivered by a separate application stored in the apps menu on the Kindle Fire.

Newspapers delivered daily from the United States, Europe and other international news sources. Publications are arranged by regions at Amazon and all are delivered wirelessly to your device so it's ready to read, first thing in the morning.

There is an almost infinite number of free books available online from dozens of sources, and on loan from your local library. Hundreds of current bestsellers can be accessed at Amazon, and all of them can fit into your back pocket with the Kindle Fire or any kind of eReader.

Amazon has hundreds of "Kindle Free Classics" and enough free e-books online to fill a lifetime of reading. An annual membership to Amazon Prime also gives you access to hundreds of free books and magazines, streaming movies, TV shows and free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime.

The message below came in the email this morning from Amazon. Three days notice that I need to hurry up and finish the first e-book that I borrowed from the New York Public library. Amazon is the one that sends a message to remind you 3 days before a book is due. You can add the email address digital-noreply@amazon.com to your white-list of approved email senders to receive notifications about your Kindle library books.

To get an ebook, find it at your participating local library using your library card. They can send the ebook to Amazon where you can download it to a Kindle, or choose different formats for many kinds of tablet computers and smartphones.

Your public library loan will expire in 3 days

Hello Kindle Fire user,

Your public library book will expire in 3 days. If you purchase Secrets of The Lost Symbol: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code Sequel from the Kindle Store or borrow it again from your local library, all of your notes and highlights will be preserved.

Secrets of The Lost Symbol: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code Sequel

(Author) Daniel Burstein, Arne de Keijzer

You can actually read the library book until the next time you connect to wi-fi. Then, the book is automatically "returned" and removed from the memory.

Visit the Public Library Books For Kindle Help Page to get e-books from your local library.

Amazon uses the Cloud Drive to store your music online. Stream music directly to the Kindle Fire when you have a wi-fi connection. MP3 music files do not live on your tablet, they're in the cloud on Amazon's server farms around the world so they can be delivered on demand to your Kindle for free. This lets you save room on the memory for eBooks and other things.

Easily upload your music library from a computer to the cloud with the Amazon Cloud Player desktop application. The first time I used the player it downloaded the current version of the player software. Launch the Cloud Player from Your Kindle Library online at Amazon using the Manage your MP3s link in the lower left side of the page.

Your music can also be downloaded onto your tablet or smart phone so you can play music without a wi-fi connection. Simply navigate to your Music library and tap the "Cloud" button to see what's stored on your Cloud Drive. Then, long-press the song, album or playlist that you want and select "download". There is a 5 MB limit on the free Cloud Drive storage, with the option to upgrade for more storage space.

The internal memory is the place to keep your Newsstand, Books, Music, and Videos that have been downloaded to the Kindle. Downloading 100 songs from the cloud doesn't even put a dent in the 5.36 GB available memory on the Internal Storage. Check your Setting > Device menu to see the remaining memory and battery life available.

The universal, fix-all solution to many problems with the Kindle Fire is to remove the application from the device, and then reinstall the app. Be sure to remove the program directly on the device by long-pressing the icon of the magazine or application. The "intent menu" pops up and you can select delete. The application remains in the cloud until it gets deleted permanently for the Amazon website when you "manage your Kindle", so you can reload the app without having to go through the shopping cart.