Resources For TV Channel Developers

I've been modding Kindles and Fire tablets for several years now. Even old devices have plenty of uses when you're finished with them. Originally, I was going to turn an e-ink Kindle into a secondary display. Just as I was preparing to work on the project, something crazy happened: the dang thing broke down and died on me. It could not be revived. I guess that's what happens when you pick up a Craigslist special for a deep discount.

But I still wanted a small secondary display, so I settled for the next best thing: an old Fire tablet that I picked up in a lot a while ago for about $25. I hadn't used any of them in a while and thought, “I wonder what'll happen if I convert this one to a second or third screen and figure out a way to make it simulate the look and feel of e-ink?”

The option for multiple screens is better than a dual-monitor setup

Why I converted an old Fire tablet to a secondary (and occasional third) display

I already run dual-screen setups on both my office and hobby machines. Since I do quite a bit of writing, research, editing, gaming, and audio production, it made sense to add another. I figured I could also use it to run dedicated or project-specific apps in a smaller window that didn't require my larger display.

I enjoy modding Kindles, Android devices, and Fire tablets, so it seemed like a no-brainer to pick up a cheap one to repurpose for my needs. Since the broken one was a non-starter, I chose a large-screenFire HD10 (although I could've gone with a mid-sized 10 or a very old 7; they didn't have what I wanted, which was a relatively large display).

I was concerned it wouldn't hold a charge after being abandoned for so long, but that turned out not to be much of a problem. It was absolutely bloated with old games and software. So I dusted off my trusty Fire Toolbox and got to work.

Starting over with purpose

Revitalizing an ancient Fire tablet for a brand-new purpose