Article Recap for January Week 4 and Free Apps

We're recapping another great week here at the Kindle Fire Department. Obviously the biggest event was that yesterday we started a Kindle Fire Case Giveaway, which already has about 1400 entries. If you haven't entered yet, don't miss your chance to! The giveaway will end next Monday.

In other news, we talked a bit about What People Use the Fire for, and the polls there are still going. Some people might even be using their Fire to Do Taxes this year, thanks to a few free apps. Our post on App Permissions was a popular one. Definitely good to be aware of what you're letting them do when you install them. And we started the week off with discussion about the future of publishing and the "war" between Amazon and Apple. And we'll have lots more coming your way this week too!

New Update Adds Notifications to textPlus
Being able to text on the Fire is one of the best things about it, but the lack of notifications meant you would have to stop whatever you were doing to check and see if a text came in. Fortunately, a new update has fixed that oversight, and you should be able to easily receive the alert and reply without having the app open. If you already have the app, hit sync and the down arrow to get the update.

Name: textPlus Free
Rating: 3.7 stars over 358 reviews
Price: 0.00
Description: Text anyone around the world for free. Break free from your mobile carrier's texting limitations and keep an open dialogue with your friends. GOGII, the makers of TextPlus Free , believe in the importance of staying connected with friends and family-- so much, in fact, that they're willing to pay for it.

Sending and receiving text messages using textPlus Free is totally free to you.

The thought of texting for free is liberating, no doubt, but textPlus Free offers much more than savings. This app presents unique texting opportunities, enhancing and expanding text conversations. After registering and getting your free texting phone number, you'll be able to invite multiple friends into existing text conversations, create and join texting communities, meet new friends, and text from anywhere in the world, free of charge.

Get your free copy of textPlus Free!

Though I don't think this could really compare with Plants Vs. Zombies, this next game just might be silly enough to get your attention. What will they think of next, Cheese Wheels Vs. Bacteria?

Name: Cows Vs. Aliens
Rating: 3.5 stars over 31 reviews
Price: 0.00
Description: Uh oh. Aliens have invaded the Earth, and they're hungry for some hamburger! Only you stand between the rapacious creatures in UFOs and your defenseless bovines in the fast-and-furious Cows vs Aliens.

Your mission, which you have no choice but to accept, is to get your cowering cattle into the barn and repel the alien invaders. Slide your finger across the screen, prodding your cows while keeping your eyes peeled for any alien ships. When you spot one trying to sneak in, bump it off the screen ASAP--if a single ship breaches the barn, it's all over.

The better you get in defending your farm, the more Milk Points you can collect. Redeem these for power-ups, boosters, saves, and other extras. There's even a fun Cows vs Aliens ringtone for you to download.

Get your free copy of Cows Vs. Aliens!

If you've got a lot of apps, this next one might help you keep them organized and allow you to find the one you want more quickly. Not bad for a freebie.

Name: Apps Box
Rating: 5.0 stars over 2 reviews
Price: 0.00
Description: If there are many installed applications on your Android device, it probably takes you awhile to find the app you need. Apps Box creates a folder system, showing the icons of your favorite applications in each folder.

The app creates categories for every genre of application (games, productivity, utilities, etc.). It also can create subcategories, using as many subfolders as you wish. Get this app and never again spend your valuable time hunting around amongst all your apps for the specific one you need.

Get your free copy of Apps Box!

Despite a terrible name, graphics, and laughably simple concept, there are a lot of these Papi games floating around that seem to be popular. I don't know why, but maybe there's someone out there who'll find them amusing.

Name: PapiSurvival
Rating: 3.7 stars over 30 reviews
Price: 0.00
Description: PapiSurvival is a simple and addicting game to play on your Android device. Your goal is to move the hungry red ball, Mr. Papi, around the screen collecting and eating delicious hamburgers along the way. You can tap the bombs to blast the walls around him. Make sure you keep Mr. Papi full or his health will decrease and the game will be over.

*Enjoy a simple, yet addicting Android game
*Steer Mr. Papi to eat hamburgers
*Tap bombs to blast balls around him

Get your free copy of PapiSurvival!