I just a few minutes ago finished ordering an Amazon Fire HD 8.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

I apologize in advance for what looks like a blatant sales pitch, but I'm omitting the links to the commercial sites, if that helps.

I just a few minutes ago finished ordering an Amazon Fire HD 8 from Best Buy. It will replacing or augmenting a 2015-vintage 5th generation Fire 7 I have now have.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Fire#Models

Here's how I'm using that Fire 7:

The big problem with the Amazon tablets is that you are stuck with the apps available at the Amazon app store. There are not too many of them. What you can do is to sideload apps onto the Fire that open the door to the Google Play store. A few weeks ago, I downloaded Radio Garden to my 2015 Fire and successfully installed it. Then I plugged its headphone output into a spare pair of audio input jacks on the back of the TV I watch all the time. Voilà. I now have Radio Garden playing through my TV. I can move the combination of device and wires to any stereo receiver and do the same.

The 2015 Fire is running Fire OS 5.7, so the device is getting cranky. A lot of Google apps won't work on it anymore. The Amazon Fire HD 8 is vintage 2022, and it's running Fire OS 8.3.1.2 or 8.3.1.3, depending on when it left the factory. The instructions for sideloading apps to it and thus enabling access to Google Play are at several places online. For example:

How to Install the Google Play Store on an Amazon Fire Tablet
They’re affordable, but the app store is extremely limited. Here’s how to get a broader selection.

The Fire without access to Google Play is pretty much a paperweight. With access to Google Play, it's a whole different ballgame.

The Fire HD 8 is on sale for the next ten hours, at $60 instead of $100. Several local stores sell it, but it was out of stock for miles around at Best Buy. Mine will be delivered in a few days. The shipping from Best Buy was free.

[emulatorloo]

1. Hope you enjoy it! I noticed Amazon has lots of big sales on Alexa enabled TVs, etc.

I’m glad you’ll get access now to the newer google apps. $60 is a great deal.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. They've got prices knocked down across the line for the next few hours.

People who know how to look that stuff up will be able to do so without any links from me.

The 5th generation Fire tablet takes about two to three minutes to start up Radio Garden. That task takes fifteen seconds, if that much, on a iPhone 6S.

Thanks for writing.

[emulatorloo]

3. I could go broke saving money at Amazon, ha ha.

Fortunately still getting good use of my Alexa devices. 2020 models like your new tablet!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Best Buy and Target, not to name names, are matching Amazon's online prices.

But you didn't hear me say that.

[DUar17]

5. A shout-out to Radio Garden! I love it.

It's cool because I can listen to the radio station I grew up, with across the country. A lot great stations all over the world and some don't break for commercials.