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I'm an Android developer by trade, so I can probably help out a bit here. Aemon Send a noteboard - 11/06/2013 08:02:03 PM

You should only root your device if there's something specific you want to do that requires root. If you're happy the way things are, don't mess with it. There are some neat things you can do with root, but most of them are primarily interesting to technically minded users. There are a few exceptions, sure, but unless you find an app that makes you say "I must have that and there are no alternatives," you're probably better off not rooting.

As to your specific questions:

1) Yes, rooting will allow you to add the Google Play Store to your phone. This is sometimes nice, but not necessary. Most of the big, popular apps are available on both markets.

2) Rooting may, or may not, wipe your data. Anytime you unlock the bootloader, all user data gets wiped. Some devices can be rooted without first unlocking the bootloader, and some can't. I haven't researched the various methods of unlocking a Fire lately, so you'll have to do your own research on this. Unless you're very sure that the rooting method you find does NOT unlock the bootloader, though, assume that it will wipe your data. Of course, you can back up most of your data, paid apps should be downloadable again for free (assuming you have access to the account that purchased the apps in the first place), etc, so a data wipe is not the end of the world.

So! Should you root? Probably not. I'm happy to answer questions or go into more detail if you'd like, but that's my recommendation for the time being.

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should I "root" my Kindle Fire or not? - 11/06/2013 07:20:25 PM 830 Views
I'm an Android developer by trade, so I can probably help out a bit here. - 11/06/2013 08:02:03 PM 701 Views
I am not an Android developer but I agree - 12/06/2013 06:36:18 PM 488 Views
Out of curiosity, why'd you put it back? *NM* - 12/06/2013 09:38:44 PM 373 Views
It was booting of the SD card and I wanted the memory back - 13/06/2013 12:58:11 AM 480 Views
Sounds like you had a lot more than just root going on. - 13/06/2013 07:06:29 AM 777 Views
The Nook id the Barnes and Noble answer to Kindle - 14/06/2013 06:00:27 PM 617 Views
Thanks for all the responses - 15/06/2013 01:54:50 AM 514 Views
AEMON: Any particular apps you worked on? - 15/06/2013 01:55:41 AM 575 Views
Well, I'm kind of a boring corporate Android developer, so no cool apps you'd know of. - 15/06/2013 06:41:46 AM 860 Views
actually, I think that's all pretty cool dude! - 16/06/2013 04:17:31 AM 587 Views
Thanks! - 16/06/2013 06:55:03 AM 716 Views
We use WebEx at work (General Motors). - 17/06/2013 02:38:09 AM 560 Views
Re: should I "root" my Kindle Fire or not? - 12/06/2013 03:22:24 AM 498 Views

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