Advertising is everywhere. There is no escape from it. Unless you are a monk and live in a cave, you will be exposed to some form of this. The mobile world and the internet are all about advertising, unfortunately. This is why, in theory, we can enjoy so much of the internet for free. The ad also provides occasional discounts on some of our favorite gear, gadgets, and content. For some, advertising is a necessary evil, some can set it up and continue on their merry way, and some will never see ads again.
Amazon’s Kindle tablets are made to make it easy to buy things, just like Amazon’s website. As an ad format, referrals are always front and center. These recommendations are based on your past Amazon purchase and search history. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to offering me something based on my past history, these recommendations often fail. Maybe that’s why I have such eclectic tastes.
Regardless of my Amazon recommendation observations, Amazon not only sells the Kindle Fire tablet in various sizes, storage capacities, and screen resolutions, but also sells them with and without a feature called Special Offers. Special Offers is essentially an advertising program. Your Kindle Fire Tablet’s lock screen will display a “special offer” every time you turn on your device. These offers may include books, Apps, music or any content Amazon sells. Special Offers can also appear as a screen saver. The special offer disappears when you swipe to unlock your device. Special Offers also send you special offers from time to time via notifications.
When you purchase a Kindle Fire tablet, you can choose a model with or without Special Offers. With Special Offers, the price is $15 less than outside. Obviously this is appealing for those with tight budgets or who don’t mind a little advertisement always front and center.
If you’re sick of seeing it on your lock screen, there is a way to get rid of Special Offers. Note that you have to pay $15 to do this, but if you’re willing to pay the freight, you can eliminate them.
Here’s how to get rid of special offers on Kindle Fire tablets.
Go to Amazon’s website from a web browser. You can enter it in the search box on Amazon’s homepage. At the top of the results page you will see this link:
Scroll down the page until you see it in the left column. click
When you get to the screen, you will see all Kindle devices and other devices that have Amazon’s Kindle App installed, listed in front of you. Below this horizontal list of devices, you’ll see a device’s Kindle email address, the device’s name and serial number, and whether the device is subscribed.
You will see an edit button to its right. Click that button.
When you choose to purchase a Kindle Fire tablet with Special Offers, you will be greeted with a transaction screen informing you that you will be charged the $15 you saved. You can unsubscribe with one click on the big yellow button. Note that the credit card in your file will be charged immediately.
This much. You’re done. You will no longer see Special Offers on your lock screen or as your screen saver.
Other Amazon Recommendations
If you hold your Kindle Fire tablet in portrait mode (the screen is in portrait orientation), you may also notice a small image line below the Carousel Menu of recently accessed content and below the grid screen of Apps. This row displays suggestions for content similar to content that is immediately focused in the Carousel.
For example, if you have a focused book in the Loop, you’ll see book recommendations based on that title. Same with video content, music and Apps.
This row also displays action buttons for some pre-installed Amazon Apps if one of them has focus in the Carousel.
Different buttons and different actions appear in the loop depending on what’s in focus. There are three action buttons for the Email, Calendar, and Contact Apps:
If the Silk Browser icon is in focus, the action buttons from left to right will take you to a screen with your most visited sites. This will take you to Silk Browser’s search screen and the button will take you to your bookmarks.
If your Photos App icon is in focus, you’ll see your photo albums that you can click to view.
Again, this line only appears on the Home Screen in portrait mode. If you want to remove the line, it’s easily done.
Swipe down from the top of your screen and select Settings.
Then select Applications.
Then select Home Screen.
You will be presented with the options to Show or Hide. Make your selection and you’re done.
Other Kindle Fire HDX coverage and How-To’s
