Kindle Fire app packages updated 18 October

Both Kindle Fire app packages have been updated again:

GoogleApps
Currents, version 1.5.2 (newer version than available on Play Store, from Jellybean release)

KindleFireApps
Facebook, version 1.9.11
VLC, version 0.0.7-git (beta) - newly added

The tutorial has been updated with a little blurb about VLC.  Links are there for both packages

Kindle Fire app packages updated 11 October

Both Kindle Fire app packages have been updated again:

GoogleApps
Earth, version 7.0.1.8177
Google+ (Plus), version 3.2.0.35289806

KindleFireApps
Dropbox, version 2.2
Firefox, version 16.0.1
GO Launcher EX, version 3.17

The tutorial has also been updated, links to new packages can be found there.

Kindle Fire app packages updated 10 October

Both Kindle Fire app packages have been updated:

GoogleApps
Play Magazines app, version 1.1.0 (new addition)
Play Movies & TV app, version 2.1.9 (new addition)
Street View for Google Maps, version 1.8.1.2

KindleFireApps
Firefox, version 16.0

The tutorial has been updated to reflect these changes, please check out that post for the links as well.

Video Tutorial: How to create basic transparent widgets [Android]

This tutorial will demonstrate the steps to create transparent widgets for your favorite apps.  This is for only image-based widgets (not XML-based).  The steps are written out below to accompany the video.  A few steps are done in a little more drawn-out fashion to illustrate what is going on, although the video moves quickly.  Are there shortcuts, other workarounds?  Yes, probably.  Text colors and some other parts of certain widgets (anything with a scrollable list) are in the XML files and require more complicated steps to edit.  That is not covered here.

I chose the ESPN ScoreCenter app as the example apk because it has two widgets: a scoreboard widget that uses a regular .png as the background, and a video widget that uses a .9.png file as the background.   So I'll demonstrate both ways you might interact with these image files, and the end result -- an installable ScoreCenter apk with transparent widgets -- can be downloaded here.

You can find a collection of other apk's I've made here.  You can also check out the great thread on XDA Forums where my apk's and others are available for download.

Tools you will need:

• 7-zip for working with apk files.
• image editing software, such GIMP or Paint.NET (free alternatives to Photoshop).
• the Android SDK - this is where we get the draw9patch tool needed for working with .9.png's.
• the APK Multi-tool - this tool was created by some brilliant folks (Daneshm90, brut.all, JF, farmatito, Raziel23x), go through the setup process to create the necessary folders: place-apk-here-for-modding, place-apk-here-for-signing, place-apk-here-to-batch-optimize, place-ogg-here, and projects.

 

Step 1 - Extracting the apk (Timestamp - start)

• Transfer the apk from your phone to your computer. It is most likely located in the data/app folder.

Step 2 - Extracting the all-important res folder (Timestamp - 0:07)

• Open the apk with 7-zip. Do not extract the entire contents.
• You will see a folder called res. Drag that folder onto your desktop.

Step 3 - Locating the necessary widget image files (Timestamp - 0:20)

• Inside the res folder, there may be several drawable folders for various display types. In some cases, the base drawable folder will contain the widget background; in others, you might find it in drawable-hdpi or whatever display type your device is.
• Locate the widget background image, it hopefully will be named something like "widget_bg.png". Look closely at the file type (if it has a .9 extension), as the next step depends on what type of image you are editing.

Step 4A - Editing a regular .png file (Timestamp - 0:30)

• Open the image with your image editor. Edit it as needed; for full transparency, simply select all and delete.
• Save the file in the same format and do not change the file name.

Step 4B - Editing a .9.png file (Timestamp - 0:59)

• Delete the .9 from the file name (ie. change "video_widget_bg.9.png" to "video_widget_bg.png").
• Open the image with your image editor. Edit it as needed; for full transparency, simply select all and delete.
• Save the file in the same format (now a regular .png file) and do not change the file name.
• Open "draw9patch.bat" in the Android SDK (located in ... android-sdk/tools). Drag and drop the image onto the workspace. No editing is required with transparent backgrounds. Simply select File --> Save 9-patch, and maintain the original file name, the tool will add the .9.png extension to the file name. Make sure to delete the original file you renamed.

NOTE: There may also be other parts of the widget (logos, arrows, dividers, frames, landscape-view images, etc) that you might need to edit at this point in the process. You can follow the same steps with these images, whether changing the colors or making them transparent as well. In the final apk below, the arrows and logos have been edited here (not shown in video).


Step 5 - Merging your edited images into the apk (Timestamp - 2:15)

• Drag the res folder containing your modified images into the apk while open in 7-zip. Select "Yes" when prompted about overwriting the existing files.

Step 6 - Using the APK Multi-tool (Timestamp - 2:26)

• Move the modified apk file into the place-apk-here-for-modding folder in the APK Multi-tool.
• Run "Script.bat".
• Choose Option 24 - Set current project, and select your apk from the list. (This option might be #22-25 depending on the version of APK Multi-tool you are using.)
• Choose Option 1 - Extract apk
• Choose Option 3 - Zip apk
• Choose Sub-Option 2 - Zip as regular apk ... IF you are editing a system app, choose Sub-Option 1.
• Choose Option 4 - Sign apk ... if you are editing a system app, skip this step.

AND YOU'RE DONE!
You should now have a signed version of the apk in the place-apk-here-for-modding folder. Transfer it to your phone and install, or install using the APK Multi-tool if you have ADB enabled. Enjoy your app with a slick new transparent widget.

MLB At Bat Lite 2012 (transparent)

MLB has updated its At Bat Lite 2012 app for the playoffs, this will likely be the last update for the season.  Version 1.5.0 includes new postseason features and minor bug fixes.  This apk is lightly themed with a transparent widget and ICS-blue highlights.

Download

Kindle Fire app package updated 8 October

Google released new versions of the following apps:

Translate - version 2.5.1
Drive - version 1.1.4.29
Music - version 4.3.615
Street View - version 1.8.1.1

The tutorial has been updated, and these apk files are now included in the GoogleApps.zip file.

Google Play Music (transparent)

Google Play Music was updated as of 3 October, version 4.3.615.481147.  Minor bugfixes.


Download transparent version
Download stock version

Free your Kindle Fire

updated 18 February 2014

This guide will show you how to liberate your Kindle Fire from the locked-down Amazon environment WITHOUT rooting. It will allow you to keep one foot in the Amazon environment while still enjoying the great apps that Google developed and making the most of your tablet. Do not skip steps, or something might not work. It won’t take long and will be well worth it. None of this will affect your warranty or ability to receive support from Amazon if something goes wrong, and it can all be easily undone and uninstalled.

GOOGLE APPS

The files provided are all created by Google for use on Android devices. Some APK files are stock Android apps extracted from the Gingerbread (Android OS version 2.3) firmware that the Kindle Fire is built on. The other APK files are free apps downloaded from the Google Play Store and not available on the Amazon Appstore. As these were not all designed to work on a Kindle Fire, certain features, settings, or menu options in some apps will not be functional and may cause apps to force close. Click to download the Google Apps ZIP file.

Calculator.apk – stock Android calculator
ChromeToPhone_v2.3.3.apk – latest release of Google Chrome to Phone app
Currents_v2.1.2.apk – latest release of Google Currents
DeskClock.apk – stock Android clock with alarm
Drive_v.1.2.563.31.apk – latest release of Google Drive (Docs) app
Earth_v7.1.3.1255.apk – latest release of Google Earth
Email.apk – stock Android email app
Gmail_v2.3.6.apk – latest compatible Gmail app
GooglePlus_v3.5.3.apk – latest (available) compatible release of Google+ app
GoogleServicesFramework.apk – enables Google Account sync with your Kindle
Maps_v.6.14.4.apk – latest release of Google Maps app 
NewsWeather.apk – stock Android News & Weather app 
PlayBooks_v.3.1.22.apk – latest release of Google Play Books app 
PlayMagazines_v3.1.0.apk – latest release of Google Play Magazines app
PlayMoviesTV_v3.0.25.apk – latest release of Google Play Movies & TV app
PlayMusic_v5.4.1409N.apk – latest release of Google Play Music app
Search_v1.3.3.247963 – latest release of Google Search app
SpareParts.apk – provides access to more settings/information, such as battery statistics
StreetView_v1.8.1.2.apk – enables Street View in Google Maps (more a “plug-in”)
Translate_v3.0.1.apk – latest release of Google Translate app
Voice_v.0.4.2.82.apk – latest release of Google Voice app
YouTube_v.4.1.47.apk – latest fully-compatible release of YouTube app

1. In your Kindle settings under Device, turn ON the Allow Installation of applications from unknown sources option. Be careful with the apps you choose to side-load and install onto your Kindle.

2. Download ES File Explorer from the Amazon Appstore. It is a great free file manager that you will likely find useful even after this installation process.

3. Once you've downloaded the GoogleApps.zip file, transfer the file to your Kindle. Open ES File Explorer and locate the ZIP file. Long-press the filename to unzip the contents, and open the folder.

4. Install GoogleServicesFramework.apk. DO NOT open the app when it finishes. Hit Done to continue.

5. Restart your Kindle Fire.

6. When you have rebooted, open ES File Explorer again and browse to your GoogleApps folder.

7. Press to install PlayBooks_v3.1.22.apk. DO NOT open the app when it finishes, same as before. Hit Done to continue.

8. Again, restart your Kindle Fire.

9. When you have rebooted, open the Google Play Books app on the Carousel. You will be prompted for your Google account credentials, and your Kindle will start syncing.

10. You can now install Gmail, Maps, or whatever other Google apps you would like. They will all function and connect to your Google account as they would on any other Android device. You will have to allow Google access when first opening most apps.

There are several Google-made apps that will NOT work on your Kindle Fire for various reasons (compatibility, lack of features such as camera): Google Play Store, Google Talk, Chrome, Google Goggles.


EXTRAS 

You can also download the KindleFireApps.zip file, which contains a few popular and highly recommended apps that are not available on the Amazon Appstore. See below for some general information. Click to download the KindleFireApps ZIP file. 


Go Launcher EX ~ version 4.0.1 included, updates and more information here 
If you hate the clunky carousel/bookshelf launcher, you can install this launcher to further escape from the Amazon environment. This is a highly customizable launcher that will provide a more traditional tablet/smartphone interface. The first time you hit your Home button, you will be prompted to choose between the Amazon Launcher or your newly installed Go Launcher. If you want Go Launcher to totally replace the Amazon Launcher, hit the check box to make it your default launcher. If you have trouble reading your app names on the homescreen with the ever-changing built-in Kindle wallpapers, go to the launcher preferences. Under Screen Settings, change the App icon labels setting to “Show with background”. Or you could use the wallpaper app below to set a permanent dark wallpaper.

This can be undone by going to Settings >> Applications and selecting Go Launcher from the app list. Scroll down and hit the “Clear defaults” button. The next time you hit the Home button, you can choose the built-in Amazon Launcher and restore that as your default launcher.


MyKindleWallpaper ~ version 1.0 included, more information here 
This will enable you to better customize the wallpaper that appears on your Kindle lockscreen, as well as the homescreen if you choose to install Go Launcher. It is far from a perfect app: at times, the wallpaper won’t show up or will show as a small square in the middle of the screen; the resolution is sometimes fuzzy. Turning the screen off and on again will likely fix this, or you may need to open the app and disable/re-enable the feature. Flaws aside, it gives you much more control and gets the job done overall. 


Firefox ~ version 27.0 included, updates and more info here 
Self-explanatory: if you dislike the stock Amazon Silk browser or simply prefer Firefox, you can install this for a better and more familiar browsing experience that syncs with your desktop profile. 


Dropbox ~ version 2.3.12 included, updates here 
This is a great cloud storage service that will make transferring files to/from your Kindle much easier.  If you don't have a Dropbox account yet, click here for a tour and bonus storage. 


VLC video player ~ version 0.2.0-git (beta) included, more info here 
This is a great video player app that will greatly expand the formats you can watch on your Kindle Fire (.avi, .mkv, to name a few).  The app is currently in the beta stage, but it has handled every video I've thrown at it so far on multiple devices without so much as a hiccup.  I highly recommend this program for your Android device (or for your personal computer, it's great there as well). 


Flash Player (update) ~ version 11.1.111.73, more info and updates here 
This is an update that will overwrite the existing Flash Player that comes pre-installed.  You will see a new Flash Player Settings icon in your app list with a few options, and you may see better performance (or you may not, it's not anything major).

All applications can be downloaded individually from my public Dropbox if you do not want to download the large ZIP packages.