Update to Amazon Kindle Fire adds Parental Controls and more

The fact that the Amazon Kindle Fire is a low-priced tablet and the most popular Android flavored one as well might lead to the device ending up in the hands of many youngsters. For many parents, this isn't an issue. For others, it might seem like they have given their sweet little angel Pandora's Box. In order for those parents to feel more comfortable with giving their kids a tablet, the latest firmware update for the Amazon Kindle Fire brings Parental Controls to the unit.

The update to version 6.3.1 should automatically be installed on the device and if it isn't, you can go to the sourcelink for instructions on how to manually download it. After the update, you will find Parental Controls which allows you to password protect certain functions like streaming video and even making purchases at Amazon's Appstore. With password protection enabled, the user will have to enter a previously set password to make a purchase, or stream video. Parents can also completely block functions like Web, Newsstand, Books, Music, Video, Docs and Apps. On the main Kindle Fire screen, any function blocked will be "grayed out" and will be unavailable for use.

If someone tries to access one of the blocked functions, a pop-up appears to say that it has been blocked and asks if the user wants to cancel the request or go to Settings to disable Parental Controls. The easiest way to do this would have been for Amazon to allow a parent to enter the password to temporarily disable the block. Instead, if a parent wants to use an area of the tablet that he previously blocked, it would require a trip to Settings and a removal of Parental Controls. Of course, this means that the parent has to remember to enable the controls again once he is done using the tablet.

There are other new features being added to the tablet with the update, including the ability to share specific parts of a book that you are reading on the tablet, to your social networks. Students will now be able to buy print-replica text books at a savings of as much as 60% over the cost of buying the textbook and the clock for renting a video now starts ticking once you begin to view it instead of when you downloaded the video as in the past. You can view the entire changelist at the sourcelink.

source: Amazon via MobileBurn