Play it again, Google!

It is official. On July 25th, I was finally able to install the Google Play Store on the Kindle Fire. I had to use a combination of about four different tutorials in order to get it to work, but that's beside the point.

It was a little frustrating at first, but I managed to be able to do it without rooting the device. I don't remember the exact order, but I used the Windows Instructions found here and following that, I also downloaded and set up the *.APK files on the Amazon Kindle Fire found here and installed them using ES File Explorer as well as ES Task Manager.

Once I installed the ES File Manager and ES Task Manager apps, I was able to run them and install the necessary services as noted above. After running the APK files for Google Play (which only installed settings and the Play Store) I was able to run and download most apps that were available. Initially, I wasn't able to install Pok'emon Shuffle or Pok'emon Go, but after a day or two, they installed without any issues, especially after an update. To date, the only app I cannot install on the Kindle that I had on the Samsung Galaxy S3 is Microsoft Office.

In a way, it's kind of a moot point right now regarding whether or not I have the RTD app, because I do not currently live within the boundaries of the Denver Metro area. At some point, I will need to see if I can download the app that is used by Salt Lake Express, so that I can have easier access to the information regarding when the Walmart Shuttle arrives and departs.

On another note, I have officially tried Pok'emon Go, and I don't see what the hype is. It honestly just feels like a fancier version of the GameBoy games without the RPG part. Both Pok'emon Shuffle and the Pok'emon Trading Card Game (the latter of which I uninstalled, due to storage concerns) are honestly a lot more fun for me. Even Nintendo's self-proclaimed "flagship" game, Miitomo is a lot more fun, and it is basically Nintendo's take on The Sims. Until I get a MicroSD card, I will probably uninstall it and put the Pok'emon Trading Card Game back on because I find it more enjoyable.

Sure, there is no consistently reliable public transit in Rexburg, but honestly, there's not much to do here, either. As I have heard people say before, "Walmart is Rexburg's mall." Therefore, it only makes sense that the Walmart Shuttle is its primary form of public transit. Sure, there are other far-reaching services, such as TRPTA and the actual Salt Lake Express, but both of those cost money, and unless I am desperate to go to Idaho Falls, or have tickets to attend #LDSConf live, I don't really see me having much use for either of them, especially now that I have a bicycle.

I was also able to get new wallpaper for the Kindle Fire, so now it looks almost identical to the Samsung Galaxy S3 that I wrote about almost a year ago. Probably the main key difference is the lack of Android widgets because FireOS replaces them with its own variations that tie in to Amazon services. At any rate, it's nice to have the Play Store and its exclusive apps back, even if it is at the cost of on-board storage.