yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Thanks for confirming that Shortcut Maker widgets work on FireOS 8 with Nova and other launchers ... good to know. 😎
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
Yes, in the absence of workarounds. Various OTA blocking options are described in this thread; FTB can assist with many of them. Utilimately you'll need to invest time/effort into making sure your device never updates across a variety of 'real world' scenarios. I have my opinions on the value of that excercise. To each his own.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] s2tab:
is Fire OS 8.3.1.3 the best version to stay on for Fire 8 Plus 2022? I'm looking for play services to work, ability to block OTA updates, disable/hide non used Amazon apps.

Mine came with 8.3.1.1, I figured out I can manually update to 8.3.1.3 by not connecting to Wi-Fi.

I want to make sure there is not a newer Fire OS I should update to before I connect to Wi-Fi.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
Google Services works best on versions on or over 8.3.1.3. There is no reported decrease in the ability of Toolbox to operate on any of the later versions. GS interoperability has only seamed to get better with later versions. I wouldn't be too concerned with an OTA update in you're situation.

Always research before acting, though. I'm not an authority, just a helper. :)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] s2tab:
google play services may have worked best on 8.3.1.3 in the past.

Installed google play services with firetoolbox and got the play services message, had to manually update with google play store

I will leave it on 8.3.1.3 and see how it runs. If not good, I will attempt to upgrade to 8.3.1.9 for a comparison
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
Just remember that firmware updates can't be undone, even by factory reset. :)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] bibikalka:
I have used Fire Max 11 for a few weeks now. Overall - with Fire Launcher fully disabled and replaced by Nova the usability is excellent. The responsiveness is great, and the battery life is nice and long.

4GB of RAM really helps with usability, the system appears to be using about 2.2GB itself, leaving slightly less than 2GB for apps. As such, the tablet is very responsive. I had HD10 2021 with 3GB of RAM prior to this, and the leftover RAM for apps was less than 1GB - so 4GB effectively doubled that. HD10 2021 was laggy on occasions, this one is not.

I was maybe thinking of moving to a Lenovo like this if it dropped to ~$200+ at some point:

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 | Powerful & reliable 11.2″ Android tablet

Your entertainment is now portable with the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 tablet featuring long-lasting battery life, quad JBL speakers and a powerful octa-core processor.

www.lenovo.com

But Fire Max 11 seems to fully satisfy all my needs, so may just stick with it.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] s2tab:
Yes, hence why I was asking the best firmware for google play services.

I made a mistake with another tablet where it updated to latest version and I was unable to permanently hide apps I wanted.

yup learned the hard way

8.3.1.3 failed with the app I'm using. I get the google play message and nothing I do will allow the app to work 100%

the app works on another fire tablet I have with a newer FireOS version
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] s2tab:
thought I had downloaded 8.3.1.9 but it was 8.3.1.8. I'll give it a try and see how it works.

Finding old Fire OS bins has been interesting.

Would you mind updating your gdrive to include 8.3.1.9? Softpedia has the 8.3.1.8

This site has a link which seems to be direct from Amazon

Firmware Amazon Fire HD 8 (12th Generation) 8.3.1.9

TousLesDrivers.com permet de télécharger gratuitement toutes les mises à jour nécessaires au bon fonctionnement d'un PC. Les drivers, pilotes, BIOS, firmwares, utilitaires, logiciels et applications sont téléchargeables rapidement et facilement grâce au classement des fichiers par catégories de...

www.touslesdrivers.com

I had no idea Amazon would still host the old bins on their server

same error with 8.3.1.8
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] s2tab:
delete
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
@bibikalka posted a link about 3 or 4 pages back with an archive of old Fire tablet firmware. It's a french site so you'll have to use Google translate or just figure it out, but there is a wide variety of software there. Here's a link to his post and here's a direct link to the site itself. Under the second heading, Tablette tactile, is the tablet archive. What you're after may well be there. :)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] QneEyedJack:
@blaacksheep

I don't suppose you have or could point me towards a list of ADB commands that Fire Toolbox runs? I have a Fire Tab 8 HD and while it couldn't be fully released from its chains out of the box, FTB did install the Play Store and more importantly, it works. I have tried repeatedly but always failing to install a working play store (mostly so I can DL my paid apps rather than seek out modded APK files for apps that I purchased fair and square). That's really my only goal, so I suppose I don't need a full list of the commands but unless your know off the top, I can parse through them to find the relevant bits. I've got a remote ADB shell app, so I just need the words for the incantations 😂

Thanks!

PS - any known alternatives to accomplish the same thing are definitely more than welcomed, as well! I just want to be able to select my Fire TV from the "install on more devices" list like I'm able to with my Fire Tab.

Edited to add that I installed all if the same packages; extracted from the fire tab and installed each of the following on my Fire TV (still no joy):

Google Services Framework

Google Account Manager

Google Play Store

Google Play Services
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
I don't personally use Google Services on my Firestick because of size and memory limitations, but if you wish to install it anyway, I did a quick Google Search for "Google Play Firetv" and found a video that may help you. I think the problem is that the packages required for Fire tablets may differ from the packages required for Fire TV. (Just a guess.) Let us know if you get anywhere with that video and we'll help you further if needed.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
@OneEyedJack

If you are trying to manually install Google Play infrastucture on a Fire tablet, you have to know a couple of things:

a. You don't need specific ADB commands to install the Google Play infrasttucure apks; they self- install like any other Android apk.

b. You need the 4 Google infrastucture apk versions that are specific to your Fire tablet model.

c. You need to install the 4 Google apks in a specific order.

FTB does all this for you seemlessly and effortlessly, in most cases.

#edit

Google Play Store is incompatible with FireTV.

There are "alternative" app stores that mimic Play Store functions. YMMV. Proceed with caution.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
I think he's trying to install GS to a FireTV or Firestick.

@QneEyedJack

Yes, the specific versions are different for different tablets or FireTV devices so you need to get the appropriate versions from whatever source you're using.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] QneEyedJack:
Thank you both.

@Jumbo100 0 - that's what I'd always assumed but when I installed the 4 packages I mentioned in my edit which I imagine are the 4 you speak of and Play Store still crashed immediately upon launch, I assumed that Toolbox must've tossed in some ADB commands somewhere that made it all gel. However, you both raised points I hadn't considered but am encouraged by. You statement regarding them needing to be installed in a particular order or they will fail.

And @blaacksheep - your comment regarding specific versions dependent on device.

And yes, it's a FireTV. My initial hope was to run Toolbox remotely or something but after searching and seeing @blaacksheep 's response to another user that inquired about exactly that earlier this month inspired the question about ADB.

Thanks again to you both. I will now go in search of this particular order and the versions necessary to solve for this (unless either of you has a handy link that you might point me in the direction of. Not trying to be a help vampire, I've just been dealing with this for ≈ 18 months months. Link or no link, I appreciate the insight!)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] QneEyedJack:
Sorry I didn't see this before my last reply, but I can all but guarantee I've watched any video within the first 5+ pages of Google results (with and without filters for date) 🤢 🤮

I feel you regarding package size, especially since I've already got Aurora Store installed but I also have a 512GB external storage device - reformatted and partitioned, allotting 1 for additional internal storage space and the other half as external. Now if my Fire TV would just quit disconnecting it say random for 30 seconds which crashes any running app I've installed to it, all would be right in the world...
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
I've got a USB hub and an SD card for extra storage on my Firestisk but the USB port on the Firestick is only USB 2 so it's pretty damn slow compared to internal storage. My Kodi installation takes forever to start. :P I was more concerned with the small amount of RAM on the Firestick. That's the only reason I don't run Google Play on mine.

I'll have a look around in the morning to see if I can find either a list of the appropriate packages (you'd probably have to tell me which Firestick/FireTV version you are running) or at least find some instructions for you. (y)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] QneEyedJack:
Honestly man, I don't want to put you out. I'm perfectly capable of searching, I just meant if you'd bookmarked it and/or had a rough idea but if you don't then you've already provided more than I could ask for.

If you're like me and just because you bookmarked something didn't necessarily make it easy to locate (after decades of bookmarking), that's a different story. If that were the case, I'm running:

Fire OS 7.6.6.4

Fire TV Home Version - 649003.1

I don't imagine anything else should be relevant but in case I'm wrong, just tell me as much.

And really, thanks again. I feel a sense of relief just knowing that it should be doable!

Edited to add that I learned a bunch tonight, most good but I didn't know until today that the 1 and only USB port on my 4k Fire TV is USB 2.0, and further it seems like it must be an Amazon requirement or some such nonsense because as far as I could tell, no Fire devices (of any kind/type) have anything but USB 2.0 ports (and some don't even have that). WTF Amazon?! My Ethernet port and aux out are next to impossible to reach with my TV mounted (and it's ¼ of a quad-display setup, making things extra difficult), so rather than break my arm or at the very least dislocate my shoulder, I figured I'd take advantage of the Ethernet port and aux out on the USB hub I already had connected. Again, there's was no joy to be had. I wrote Hisense, hoping for drivers but I'm not holding my breath...

PS - I'm a LONG TIME Kodi user (since XMBC) and I still use it some but regardless of whether it's installed on internal storage or not, it's super sluggish on my Fire TV and every other Fire Device I've ever tried to run it in Even using the lite build option (I use Diggz builds, religiously). However, after recently learning of the torrent.io addon for Stremio and replacing my tech illiterate parents Kodi install with it, I was impressed with its playback so I figured I'd give it a go on my Fire TV where Kodi simply won't run smoothly. IDK if it's that it is a much leaner app and doesn't try to be a million things (probably) or the fact that a billion and a half devs all work independently towards a common goal every Kodi release, which is bound to result in some inefficiencies, but whatever it is, Stremio runs flawlessly on my FTV (which may as well be a Firestick, as I think they have essentially the same SoC, storage, RAM, etc. If you use Kodi as a true media center and not just TV and movies, then Stremio probably won't do it for you but if you just stream content , especially if you have a Real Debrid account, give it a shot but make sure to add torrent.io (for some reason it's not included amongst the add-on library and you have to do the Stremio equivalent of sideloading it)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
FireOS 8.3.1.8, correct? My overall experience with Max 11 mirrors yours once GPS dependent apps stabilized on 8.3.2.x ... at the expense of seamless Nova.

FWIW - considered the Lenovo tab you linked but lack of a fingerprint scanner in gen 2 was a deal breaker. Most passkey enabled sites/systems won't accept simple facial recognition in the absence of IR and associated hardware.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Firefox for Android mobile browser users.

Firefox has a vastly expanded extension/add-on library:

This Firefox for Android feature you've been begging for is finally here

Firefox for Android now has hundreds of cool new extensions for everyone to try out

www.androidpolice.com

Mozilla Firefox for Android browser brings a ton of new extensions to all users

Firefox for Android is now rolling out extensions to all users, with over 450 extensions available for mobile users to use. Read on for more!

www.androidauthority.com
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] ahsiong:
I've a Fire HD 10 and it kept asking me to register my device from time to time. Is there any way to stop this if I don't want to register for a Amazon account? Also how do I remove the "Register Device" widget on the home page as shown in the pic?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
Okay. I've been fairly busy with Christmas and all, so I'll let you do all the leg-work. Yeah, it isn't good that Amazon only has USB 2.0 ports on their Fire devices. That's a manufacturing decision that hurts them IMO. I used to run XBMC on an old converted Xbox and I set one up for my neighbor too. Back then I had an old computer that I used to use as a server that we could both connect to, and I had my media files stored there. Nowadays I run Kodi because I have only increased my media storage and it's a handy app for watching stored movies and listening to stored music. I don't really stream on it.

Let us know how it turns out. If you can't seem to get anywhere, I'll try to assist in any way I can. Sometimes, searching with Google for answers, you can include "XDA" in the search string and get better search results than using the site search engine. (y)

Have a Merry Christmas (or any holiday you may observe) and a great New Year. 🥳
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
The common answer would be to replace the stock Fire launcher with a different one (like Nova launcher). Most of us do that, but I think there may be a setting under "Settings > Apps & Notifications > Amazon App Settings > Home Screens" that could remove that, but I'm not sure because that intent is disabled on my tablet. Try it and see. :)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] gguerra:
Any foreseeable problems with using the toolbox on HD 10, 2019 models with 7.3.1.0?

I haven't kept up with the toolbox and any changes for a good while. Last time I checked, 7.3.2.1 was the last OS where I could use a custom launcher (Nova) and make the device basically a google tablet.

We use them for work just to view PDF files. I bought a batch of new old stock 2019 tablets and come to find out they came with 7.3.1.0 and naturally I am not updating them.

Anything I should know about?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
Wow! That's the first firmware version that those came with. I've got the same tablet with v7.3.1.2 and I'm hoping I can downgrade it to 7.3.1.0 so I can root it. It still works fine with Toolbox and I've blocked any further updates. There is a thread here that discusses the process of downgrading/rooting it. I'm just using it with Toolbox mods until I grow bored of it or get another tablet.

The only thing with pre-7.3.2.2 tablets is that Amazon updated some of the apps like Prime Video and Shop Amazon and they only update through OTA updates. The older versions don't work and redirect to the browser link of the store or Prime. These apps can be updated with newer versions that work by following the link in my signature to my small collection or using the other link there to get braveheartleo's more complete and newer collection. Once those apps are updated, you're good to go without enabling OTA updates and losing features that Amazon has blocked in later releases. :)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
It's the proper choice given the target demographic, intended use and operational characteristics of budget USB 2 vs USB 3. The former offers broader compatibility and limited to 500mA which permits a less robust (cheaper) SOC. USB 3 can be fiddly which is why you see manufactures include a few USB 2 ports on higher end devices.

I'd agree if Fire tabs were marked to prosumers or intented to interface with demanding peripherals. Most Amazon gizmos are designed to be self contained ecosystems fully dependent on 'mama' (and your wallet) for content.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
Wow! Lots of great stuff in this new build. Looking forward to downloading/trying the latest FTB!

Thanks, @Datastream33 , for your continued dedication to the Amazon Fire community, highly functional toolsets and always upbeat posts.

Warm wishes during the year-end holiday season. 🥂
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
Might get to try the latest FTB sooner than expected. Accidentally signed out of an app that uses Google authentication; getting the dreaded "Something went wrong" trying to sign back in. Here we go again...deciphering Amazon/Google ridicliousness. Also received a recent FireOS 'core' update that may be a contributor.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] gguerra:
Since these tablets are for basic production work, we don't use them for video or shopping or anything like that. Google drive and a pdf viewer are the main apps we use. Thanks for that.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
Wow! What a nice Christmas present to the community. I hadn't seen very much of you here recently and now I know what you've been doing. It sounds like the new Toolbox has even more good stuff in it than I was hoping you'd cover. I can't wait to download it and install it in my virtual machine. (I'm trying to subtly hint at asking when the Python port might be released. ;)) Haha, take you're time. You've done so much already.

Have a Merry Christmas @Datastream33, and a Happy New Year. 😁 Thank you for the kind words, too.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Datastream33:
Greetings!

I sincerely hope you like what V33.0 has to offer, and you're able to get Play Services back up and running! (let us know how it goes)

Well thank you so much for the kind words man, I really do appreciate it. Just trying my best to give back to this AMAZING community!
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Datastream33:
It's the least I could do for the holiday season!

Glad to see you like what I've cooked up!

As for the Linux port, I'm afraid the update is a little ways off. Working on getting it up to speed right now... but I'm just getting started. So sorry, my friend!

Thank you so much for the Christmas wishes! Hope you also have a great holiday too! Man, it's crazy to think that 2023 is almost over... did anyone else feel like the year flew by in an instant?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
That's OK, I was mostly curious about how far that was along. It's not like we're paying you to be a code slave! Take your time with it and I'm sure when you do release a new Python port, it will be excellent as usual. :)

Edit: Hey, have you tried asking chatgpt to do any of the coding? I've seen entire programs with inline documentation written by chatgpt. Sure, you have to go over the code and debug it a bit, but it can sure be a timesaver for the basic framework. Just a thought... :unsure:
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] ScottyJames2000:
Hi,

I just tried to use V33 on my new Fire Max 11, and after launching it tells me the connection to my tablet has been lost. After pressing OK on that dialog box it puts me in an endless loop of relaunching the menu screen and then losing the connection again. I'm on Win 11 and have attached screenshots of what's happening. I did a factory reset on the tablet, skipped the setup on the tablet, and it still does this. My tablet is on Fire OS 8.3.2.1. Can anyone help please? Thanks!
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] s2tab:
Where can I find the most recent version of Amazon update servers?

If my router can block dns, can I simply block Amazon update servers at the router level instead of using an app on my Fire Tablet?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] teatimecrumpet:
Hi all, so on some bad advice from someone here I updated past 8.3.1.5 so lost disabling OTA updates but automatic updates are disabled.

I had the workaround on where it put my wifi as metered but I think my VPN broke this so I just got a message saying that I've been updated further to 8.3.20

My question is should I expect now that the fire tab is just going to keep updating on it's own?

I imagine we'll always be able to sideload apps we just aren't able to delete some Amazon apps like kindle store etc?

super regretting accidentally updating.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Ref earlier posts:

[WINDOWS/LINUX][TOOL]Fire Toolbox V35.0

Fire Toolbox V35.0 All-In-One Toolbox for Fire Tablets! The Fire Toolbox is a collection of useful ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tweaks that can be applied to Amazon's Fire Tablets. The Toolbox project aims to help users fully customize...

xdaforums.com

[WINDOWS/LINUX][TOOL]Fire Toolbox V35.0

Fire Toolbox V35.0 All-In-One Toolbox for Fire Tablets! The Fire Toolbox is a collection of useful ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tweaks that can be applied to Amazon's Fire Tablets. The Toolbox project aims to help users fully customize...

xdaforums.com
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] thaui:
Have just got my new HD 10 (2023) running Fire OS 8.3.2.1. After installing the Nova Launcher and all the Google stuff I installed Contact and Calendar sync. Contacts are starting but not syncing. Calendar even doesn`t start at all. With Version 32.4 Calendar is working fine. Any help available?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] thaui:
took my old Fire HD 10 (2019) Fire OS older than 7.3.2.2 (I guess 7.3.1.9). I did the same like above and everything runs fine. Contacts are synced, Calendar is running and syncing as well. Spend alredy to much time to get the new tablet (fire HD 10 2023) running. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Google Calander Sync and Google Contact Sync apps have had ongoing compatability issues with FireOS 8.3.x. YMMV.

Google Calander and Google Contact web apps always available from any web browser.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] thaui:
Thanks for the tipp. This can be a workaround but I am looking for an opportunity to show my calendar data in a widget