My perception of tablets in general and Kindle in particular is that advertising is one of the primary reasons for their existence, if not in fact THE primary reason. I would love to be proven wrong on this, so if anyone can...please do so and say why.

I think it's commendable that ad-free versions are available even if there is a cost attached, but I think that fact does more to prove than disprove my original allegation.

Advertising is the fuel that runs the internet.

azinoh, your comments suggest you don't have significant experience using these devices over an extended period of time.

Kindle was originally conceived by Amazon for one reason - to be the hardware to enable selling e-books. They've sold tens and tens (likely hundreds) of millions of Kindles, and Amazon's annual revenue from Kindles and e-books is billions, likely tens of billions of dollars per year. From my observation, the predominant use of Kindles is to read Kindle version books available only from Amazon. The book business has been permanently changed and a huge new market segment created. No advertising is involved for normal use.

Apple designs and sells hardware, of course. The iPad is a smaller, cheaper, more portable and more easily used surrogate for a PC for very many but not all uses. They sell tens of millions of them every year, for (again) billions and billions (likely tens of billions) of dollars. No advertising is involved for normal use. I would guess the main uses of iPads are for internet browsing, email, and occasional games. Advertising (other than what's normal on a web page) can be avoided altogether.

I understand that app developers (and just about everyone else) are incapable of developing content that people were willing to pay for. I once used CompuServe which charged by the minute of connection time. But none of that is necessarily germane here.

The question is if anyone knows of pay apps like simple card games from Amazon or Google Play that don't have advertising. My mom is not very good at computers, new to tablets, and advertisements just confuse her. I did get her a copy of "7 Little Words" which has very minimal advertising.

azinoh, NOTHING is free as I would hope you know that by now, not even a free lunch. App makers do it for money, not to spend tons of money creating something for nothing. They're either going to get paid by charging you for the app, or by using ads which allows you to use it for free, but have to see the ads. Just like your free broadcast television. Well you can't watch anything on tv without ads anymore, just like YouTube and other video sites. I don't understand your thought process, in fact I think it's backwards tbh.

Mike, I think the Kindle might get some of their apps from the Amazon app store. You'll just need to peruse the app store and see what is available.

Yes, Mike, you'll need to look. Many app developers have two versions - Free, with some ads, or not free (rarely more than a few bucks) with no ads. This is not a difficult search.

I have no experience with the Amazon app store (which is where the Kindle most easily gets apps), but if it works like the Google Play store and if you have the name and password used to register the Kindle Amazon, you may know already to do this:

Use a browser on a PC to sign on with that username and password, choose and pay for apps, and (if similar to Google Play) they should download automatically when the device is on and connected to a Wifi.

I have a Google Nexus on which I've downloaded several free games, all of which are played offline. If an opponent is needed, I play against the device/computer. They're "simple" games (no shoot-em-ups for me). I don't see ads since I rarely connect to the internet on this device.

Since you mentioned Google Play, I can recommend Solitaire Free Pack by Tesseract. It says it contains ads but I don't see them; I think it's because I play offline.

On the few occasions when I do go online and then disconnect, my free game will flash an ad near the top of the screen for a short period of time (I've never timed it but will guess 1-2 minutes) and then it gives up and the ad disappears.

My wife uses a Kindle, but not for games, just reading.

This doesn't pertain to game apps.

If you own a Kindle and wish to get rid of the Amazon and other ads that appear when starting or awakening your Kindle, simply pay $15 to unsubscribe. Amazon charges $15 because the low price of the Kindle is subsidized by the marketing ads. Makes sense.

So, if you wish to clean it up, log on to your Amazon account, choose Manage Your Content and Devices, choose your device (kindle), then Edit the device. A pop up will appear asking if you wish to unsubscribe and explains the charge.

Click Unsubscribe Now.

Right on, Brushworks, excellent point. I forgot about the with and without advertising option for Kindles.

It is a very simple matter to put Google Play on your Amazon Fire. I have the Fire HD8 (2017 edition) and just did so last week. Your mother might have difficulty doing this herself, but you could do it for her, then visit Google Play and pick out several games she would enjoy playing. This does NOT involve rooting the tablet, but just downloading and installing three files and then Google Play. Just Google "How to put Google Play on your Amazon Fire tablet".

I plsy 'Spider' solitaire for hours at night when I can't sleep... Not on a Kindle but on Android. You can play offline but will not be able to play Daily Challenge/winning Deal. Only Random Deal. BUT... I use 'Free Adblocker' which does block all ads. Takes a few seconds longer to load cuz it is removing ads. It also uses much data. I switched to an entirely unlimited/unthrottled program so that is not a problem anymore. Do not know if you can use Free Adblocker with a Kindle. At times I don't bother to switch to Adblocker- I just x-out the ads as fast as I can as part of the game. When your mom gets to understand the ads - there only about four repetitive ones- she will get so used to them it is part of the challenge to wipe them out as fast as she can to not 'cost her more time' in the game. Hope this will help.

Keep in mind if this is a new kindle you will void your warranty by illegally installing the Google play store on it and Amazon will not help you when you do that. Have known people to fry a new kindle doing this. I don't understand why if people want the Google store they don't buy a device that comes with the Google store. I saw a few Solitaire games in the Amazon store that were $1.00 so maybe those are add free. You will have to search the store and read if the paid games are add free.

Why on earth would you assume this is "illegal"? It's your own device, you can do whatever the flip you want to do with it. If it's an older Kindle, sure, it will void the warranty if you root the device, but newer ones don't need it. And rooting a device is not illegal.

http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2017/06/09/how-to-install-google-play-on-2017-fire-tablets-in-5-minutes/

I don't understand why if people want the Google store they don't buy a device that comes with the Google store.

Because the Kindle itself is a great reader, but not the best media consumption device.. and an Android tablet is a great media consumption device, but not the best reader. You can't have the best of both worlds out of the box on one device, an not everyone wants to buy or manage two devices to accomplish what one can with a small bit of tech work. they both run on the same core OS. Amazon just severely locks down the Kindle to only use it's products and stores (like apple).

Would someone else care to comment about this please. Too annoyed right now to say anything. By the way the kindle app works perfectly on non kindle devices. Mary

Thank you, Steve J. I bought the Amazon Fire for two reasons: 1) I found out I could make it like a regular Android tablet without rooting and voiding the warranty, and 2) by buying this device, ads and all, it cost only a fraction of what I would have paid for a regular Android with similar specs. Now are you satisfied, acraftylady?

So you asked Amazon about installing the Google play store and they said no problem if it screws up we will still warranty your fire? Just so you know I have been a helper on the kindle forums for quite a few years and know most of the mods there. Back in the day when they did badges and perks for the helpers I had a badge so I am well aware of the ins and outs of Amazon's rules regarding this.

We mods have our own private forum to discuss things and this has been talked about a lot over the years and Amazon itself told us this violates your warranty. If you don't believe me ask Amazon their take on this. Heck tell me what Google says when you ask them. If both say it is ok then and only then will I believe this is not wrong because I know what Amazon has told us. When people have asked this on the amazon forums and someone starts telling them how to do this Amazon pulls the thread. Now why would they do that if they found it ok to install the Google store? Mary

If Amazon voids my warranty, so be it. I have never in all my years (and I'm rather sure I've been around much longer than you) had to rely on a warranty. My tablet is working just fine, thank you, and I'm not hobbled by being tied to Amazon. I might even spring for sending Amazon $15 to have the ads removed, but so far I'm smiling and just swiping them away. Android is an open source operating system, and it galls me when a hardware manufacturer takes this system and restricts its use to the point that you must use THEIR browser, THEIR aps, etc. I know phone manufacturers do this also to a certain extent, but none like Amazon. Do I buy other products from Amazon? Yes, but I often regret that I may be driving a small local firm out of business by doing so. I've had my say, so enough already. By the way, I am 87 years of age, and learned most of what I know about computers on this forum, "back in the day". I don't flaunt my knowledge, but most of my friends and neighbors know they can call on me when they need help, and it's freely given.

The kindle and fires need a warranty, they are such inferior products. Mary

They're also pretty cheap as far as electronic devices go and you get what you pay for. I trust they're good for at least a few years (absent physical damage).

One of my kids has had one for about 3 years, travels several times a year all over the world and goes camping/hiking/boating with the Kindle in tow and hasn't had any problems. If it died, they would replace it immediately with no tears shed. .

No offense, but you come off like a kindle/fire snob Mary. No doubt you’re very knowldgeable with their devices and can provide a lot of knowledge (which I’ve seen on this site)... but, you have to remember this isnt a Kindle forum or call center. You can provide advice and still mention that it may void your warranty without acting like the Kindle police. The fire is on the Android platform, and people (like grandms and myself) buy Android devices because of their openness to do whatever they want with them (well, and the cheaper prices). It’s is however in no way illegal, but yes, it voids your warranty and may cause the device to be unstable.

I have no experience with the kindle devices, but found your comment avbout needing a warranty interesting. That basically says they’re junk and should be a red flag for anyone who thinks about buying one. Anything that NEEDS a warranty is garbage, just like the extended warranties they try to sell you with it. Spend your money on a quality device up front and save yourself the hassle.

I have learned I prefer a real Android tablet better, I do love my kindle e-ink reader and it's still going strong after all these years. Mary

You say you have no personal experience with Kindles. Why have an opinion, then, about the experiences of others who do, concerning a device that's often purchased for less than $100?

Kindles were conceived and continue to be designed for a primary purpose - an e-reader for Kindle version books sold by Amazon. In this function I believe they are superior to anything else available for two important reasons - battery life (weeks of use) and screen readability. That apps can be downloaded for other uses is beside the point and probably not of any interest to a majority of Kindle users who see it as a reading device only. Yes, I am familiar with using the Kindle app on iPads and Android devices. It works fine but the experience is inferior to using a Kindle. Although I am in a kind of Appleland (the HQ is here in town), I think most people I know who use a Kindle also have an iPad. Difference tools for different uses.

Steve, I wouldn't take her comments either so seriously or literally or to heart.

I made that comment on my opinion because Mary specifically said the kindles need a warranty as they are inferior products... i dont take her comments to heart, I just think people shouldnt be saying you cant do things just because someone else believes you shouldn’t. Informed options are better advice than incorrect statements

I’m in total agreement with your comment about the kindle e-reader being the better “e-reader” and android/ipad tablets being bapetter for normal tablet use, and in fact I said that almost exact statement in in my initial post.

And grandms, at 87 years young, that’s awesome that you’re so “tecky”. Many people half your age are so computer/phone illiterate, it’s refreshing to see someone not afraid to roll up their sleeves and figure it out. Mobile devices are not that complicated if you’re willing to try and understand them. Cheers!

Thank you, Steve.