Amazon has updated its Appstore Developer Portal to contain the requirements on the recently introduced 7-inch Android tablet that is the Kindle Fire. The device ships on November 15, so all apps should be submitted as soon as possible to ensure they’re approved and available by this day. There are some key restrictions imposed on Fire apps, however, including the need for the apps to support the seven-inch, 1024×600 touchscreen and Android 2.3.4, revealing that Amazon is using a much newer OS than the 2.1 once thought.
Apps also can’t require Google Mobile Services (GMS) and in-app purchases and can’t require a gyroscope, camera, 3G module, Bluetooth, microphone, GPS or microSD card to function, as none of those exist in hardware. Amazon suggests these are removed from current apps or are greeted with an error message that appears “gracefully” when called for. The app can’t manipulate Amazon’s user interface at all.
As with all other Amazon Appstore apps, it needs to comply with the company’s usual policies on content. The Kindle Fire also doesn’t support apps that require root access, although this was expected given Amazon’s desire to curb piracy for its own music and video shops.
