Another friend’s Amazon Kindle Fire root and Playstore integration, but this time is Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7 version KFTT 7″ model. The screen resolution is pretty amazing at 1280×800 pixels with Dual Core TI OMAP4 (4460) HS, 1.2 GHz, 1Gb RAM and PowerVR GPU. Overall, this is a nice device to read a book and browsing web on the couch. The OS still based on 4.0.3 ICS but since it’s uses own Kindle Launcher and framework then the SystemUI looks very slick and neat. Since I’m not a good reviewer, let’s skip this … 😀
The rooting process is pretty much the same as before on Kinde Fire 1’st gen, so I won’t share it again, but this time I want to share how to install Google Playstore on this KFTT Kindle Fire. The main goal is to copy the Google playstore service framework into system and also the vending aka market aka playstore to the system/app folder.
Here is how I achieve :
Preparation :
- Make sure the Kindle Fire is already Rooted.
- Make sure to allow the Kindle to install from Unknown Source, you may enable this feature from Settings menu -> Device -> Allow Installation of Applications From Unknown Sources
- Make sure the adb debugging service is enabled on the Kindle, you may enable this feature from Settings Menu -> Security -> Enable ADB
Installing Google Playstore :
1. Get the GoogleServiceFramework from any 4.0.3 ICS version android device. I get this framework from axioo Picopad GEA device stock rom, and then install it to the Kindle as usual like any other apk apps.
2. Get the Vending.apk also from any 4.0.3 ICS version android device. This time I want to copy this Vending.apk to /system/app and I’m using the famous RootExplorer to do this task. Go to sdcard folder, copy the Vending.apk on it, then go to /system folder, mount it to Read/Write using the top right button, then paste the clipboard.
3. The Market icon Launcher now show up on the kindle launcher, I run it and sign in my account, then I’m logged on to the Market aka Playstore. but … this is an old version of Playstore and I don’t like it.
4. Get the latest Playstore.apk from Google, I get this from my galaxy nexus which at this time had a version 3.9.16 and push them to the kindle. Once again I copy the GooglePlayStore_3.9.16.apk to the kindle’s sdcard, copy it to clipboard using root explorer, navigate to /system folder then paste it.
It’s important to set the /system as Read Only again, so before leaving RootExplorer, I push the “Mount as R/O” button.
5. Done. Now the kindle is at the latest Playstore version and can install and update the applications as on usual android device.
If you look closely the steps above, the steps is a little bit strange, why copy vending if at the end it will be replace with PlayStore ? … I also have no idea why I cannot push directly the latest version of playstore to this kindle without installing the vending.apk first. Without installing vending.apk first, everytime I run the playstore, it was crash and go back to kindle launcher immediately.
And here is the playstore on the kindle looks :
 
