Kindle Fire - Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When is the Kindle Fire coming out?
A: November 15, 2011 (This is release date, not arrival date.)

Q: Can you read purchased books from Amazon?
A: Sure, all E-books purchased through Amazon are archived and can be download to any Kindle device.

Q: Does it have a SD card slot?
A: Unfortunately there are no built-in SD card slots.

Q: How much is it?
A: $199

Q: Can I create Word or Excel documents on it?
A: Kindle Fire is just like any other tablet that runs on the Android OS. You can use Documents To Go or QuickOffice Pro. The Free version of Documents To Go will only allow you to read Word or Excel files. The Full Version of both products will allow you to create and edit documents / spreadsheets.

Q: When will Amazon ship Kindle Fire to International countries?
A: Depending on laws and regulation. It should be out next year. If you live outside the USA, don't expect it  to be released this year.

Q: I like reading on my Kindle, will I have the same experience on the Kindle Fire?
A: No, because Kindle Fire does not use E-Ink technology and is not Back-Lit. It will strain your eyes like any other tablet if you stare at it too long. Kindle Fire is a LCD screen. Since it is a LCD screen, it will not be ideal for outdoor sunny day reading as it will have a glare.

Q: Is the Kindle Fire 3G?
A: No, it is WIFI only. Amazon may release a 3G version in the future, but for now it is only WIFI.

Q: Can you run Netflix on the Kindle Fire?
A: Not yet, Netflix is creating a potential app for the Kindle Fire, however no word yet. Netflix will most likely not be able to run through the Amazon Silk browser. It's just a waiting game.

Q: How much stuff can I put on the Kindle Fire?
A: Kindle Fire has only 8GB with 6GB of usable storage. Most of the data will be stored on the Amazon Cloud. You can download what you want to listen or view and delete anything your not going to use while traveling.

Q: What does Amazon Prime offer?
A: Amazon Prime is a $79 per year plan. That is about $6.58 per month. This includes 2-Day Free Shipping, Streaming videos (Television Series, Movies, Documentaries) and E-book Lending Library.
If you are a student, they have discount plans for $39 per year plan.

Q: I don't want to order online, I hate credit cards and purchasing online is unsecure.
A: Sure no problem. It is available at your local Best Buy for preorder.

Q: What type of WIFI connection does the Kindle Fire support?
A: "Supports public and private Wi-Fi networks or hotspots that use 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, or enterprise networks with support for WEP, WPA and WPA2 security using password authentication; does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks." - Haley Mills


Q: I'm buy two Kindle Fire, but don't want to create two Amazon Prime accounts. Can we share one account?
A: Sure you can. It can be shared up to 4 household members.


Q: Does Kindle Fire have Flash capabilities?
A: Yes it does, this means you can look at almost any flash website through Amazon Silk browser.

Q: What is Amazon Silk?
A: It is a customized internet browser created by Amazon to optimize your web surfing experience. The idea is that if you visit a webpage frequently, the Amazon Cloud can automatically feed you that page instantly as soon as you type the web address. It suppose to be much faster than any other browsers in the market. (Note: Web browsing response time will always vary upon WIFI signal strength.)


Q: Can I download Amazon Android Apps before I receive my Kindle Fire?
A: No, because you need the Amazon App Store to download it. The apps are downloaded directly from the device.


Q: Does the Kindle Fire come with a camera?
A: No it does not have a camera. 


Q: Does the Kindle Fire have Bluetooth?
A: No it does not.


Q: What are the tech specs of the Kindle Fire?
A:

Display	7" IPS, 1024x600 (169ppi), anti-reflective coating
Size	7.5" x "4.7" x 0.45" (190mm x 120mm x 11.4mm)
Weight	14.6 ounces (413 grams)
Storage	8GB internal, no SD expansion
Battery Life	8 hrs reading, 7.5hrs video playback (Wi-Fi off)
Connectivity	USB 2.0 (micro-B), 3.5mm audio, 802.11n Wi-Fi
Supported Media Formats	AZW, TXT, PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, AAC MP3, MIDI, OGG, WAV, MP4, VP8

Q: When will the Kindle Fire contest winners be announced?
A: November 9, 2011


As more questions are being asked, I will be updating this blog to include those questions and answers.