Most Hotmail users likely used the native mail app to check their email.  You can still use the Kindle Fire mail app to check your Hotmail email, but Hotmail users may want to install this dedicated app. The Hotmail app lets you sync your mail, contacts, folders, and subfolders via Microsoft Exchange Active Sync. The Hotmail app for the Kindle Fire is available in the Amazon App Store for free.

[Via Windows Live Blog]

Amazon may be losing money on the Kindle Fire hardware, but it’s making up for that loss (and then some) through its content. According to a survey by RBC investment firm, Amazon makes about $136 per Kindle Fire. This additional income comes from the purchase of digital items over the lifetime of the unit. Most of these purchases are eBooks. RBC’s survey suggests about 80 percent of Kindle Fire owners have purchased an eBook, and 58 percent bought three or more books in their first two months of ownership. Kindle Fire owners are also buying apps, videos and other accessories for the device. Combined, all these digital purchases will bring Amazon a good chunk of change, especially when you take into account the millions of Fire tablets that Amazon sold last quarter.

[Via AllThingsD]

Amazon is rolling out the 6.2.2 update to its Kindle Fire tablets. The latest version of the Android software contains a handful of bug fixes and tweaks including the ability to use the Silk browser in full-screen mode. You can wait for the update to land on your Kindle Fire or download the update and install the software manually using the instructions on Amazon’s website. The update will remove root access, but the Burrito Root 2 utility has already been updated for this latest software version. Just run the rooting tool and you’ll be back in business.

[Via Engadget and Amazon]

If you’re buying a Kindle Fire outside Amazon, follow these simple rules which’ll help you avoid being scammed.

• Check the seller’s feedback to make sure its positive.
• Look at the product description and make sure that it’s a Kindle Fire tablet and not just a generic tablet like the Kindle Fire.
• Look closely at the images to confirm they are actual pictures of the product that you will receive and not a stock image.
• Make sure the retailer you buy from has a return policy or a buyer protection plan that’ll protect you if the seller turns out to dishonest.
• Use your credit card to fund the purchase. Many credit cards have a buyer protection plan that protects you if the product you buy is not as described.
• Trust your instincts. If the deal is too good to be true, then it’s likely a fake.

These guidelines should help you make an informed purchase and avoid being scammed by counterfeit sellers. If you have any other tips, please leave them in the comments.

[Consumer Tech Radar]

Every Kindle Fire is given a name that’s derived from the name of its owner. When my Kindle arrived, its name, “Kelly’s Kindle”, appeared on the tablet’s notification bar. If you don’t want your name front and center on your device, you can change it easily using the steps below. Click on the “Continue Reading” link to get started.

Amazon released its holiday sales figures and the Kindle Fire is the undisputed leader. The tablet was introduced 13 weeks ago and is Amazon’s #1 best-selling, most gifted, and most wished for product in the US. The Fire is also the best-selling product on both Amazon’s mobile website and across all its mobile applications.

It’s not just the Kindle Fire that’s flying off Amazon’s virtual shelves. All the Kindle devices sold well during these past few weeks. Right behind the Fire in Amazon’s best-selling list is the #2 Kindle Touch and the #3 Kindle. Amazon sold over four million of these devices in December and, consequently, set a new record for Kindle book downloads on Christmas day.

[Via Amazon]

With the newly released firmware update, you can now remove items from your Kindle Fire carousel on an item-by-item basis. Just tap and hold the any item and choose Remove from Carousel from the pop-up menu. This new choice appears between Add to Favorites and Remove from Device.

Once selected, the item is removed. You are not prompted to confirm. If you wish to return an item to the carousel, just browse to it in the Silk browser or open it in any other application. All recent items appear in the Carousel until you remove them.

Kelly wrote a few weeks ago about emptying your browser history and other ways to fully clear your Kindle. The methods she discussed  still apply, although the new shortcut makes them a lot less necessary.

It’s a great deal and super-handy to have in the car when travelling. It allows you recharge as you drive, so your reader is ready for whenever you arrive at your destination.

If you have some sort of portable wi-fi solution (like a MyWi) with generous bandwidth, I’d imagine you’d also be able to leave your Kindle Fire plugged in for charging as your kids watched streaming movies and TV shows while on the go.