Kindle Fire Application Development Limitations

In an IDC survey of more than 2,000 developers worldwide, the Amazon Kindle Fire garnered the second-most interest from developers among 15 Android tablets — second only to the Samsung Galaxy Tab. In North America, it was the top tablet, and the percentage of developers who said they were interested in developing for it was just four points less than the percentage who were interested in developing for the iPad before its launch in April 2010.

The tablet already lacks features such as a camera, GPS and an external microphone that render many apps useless. There are “No Google” services for Kindle. The modified Android for Kindle is different from the actual Android OS. Based upon the Android 2.3.4 OS, Kindle OS lacks following:

• Google services like C2DM (for push notification), Google Maps, and Location based API’s are not available.
• Amazon has its own Amazon store for the applications. No Android Store.
• Debugging the Kindle app from developers perspective requires little tweaking.
• No Android updates, like upgrading to HoneyComb or Ice Cream Sandwich.
• Limited Hardware support as Camera, GPS and Microphone are not available.
• Changed User Interface from the default Android provides UI.

For developers who want to use the Push Notification or GPS/Location based features, have to use some external tools to program their application.

• Push notifications: For using push notifications, one can use Urban Airship helium. Helium is Urban Airship’s proprietary push messaging service, and is the default transport for the library.

           URL: http://urbanairship.com/docs/android-client-push.html

• Location: Amazon Fire supports Skyhook sdk, which can be used for determining the location. Skyhook collect raw data from Wi-Fi access points, GPS satellites and cell towers with advanced hybrid positioning algorithms. By leveraging the strengths of more than one underlying position technology, Skyhook's Core Engine provides the best possible location available in any environment.

           URL: http://www.skyhookwireless.com/

• Maps: MapQuest SDK for Android can be used. MapQuest has been providing valuable solutions to solve business challenges since 1997, with a focus on reliability and service. They were the first major mapping site on the internet.

           URL: http://developer.mapquest.com/web/products/beta/android