6.2.1 Update for Kindle Fire now available

It’s been just under 3 months since Amazon launched their Kindle Fire tablet, and the company is now rolling out a software update for the device. The update, which is now available over Wi-Fi or directly from Amazon.com, fixes certain issues with the device but is not without side effects.

Included in the update are improvements such as smoother scrolling, the ability to remove items from the scrolling carousel, the ability to remove the stock Facebook shortcut and the option to add a password to turn on Wi-Fi in order to curb unwanted purchases or access. On the other hand, rooters may not take too kindly to the update, as the XDA Developers Forum is now reporting that the update removes root access on rooted devices, and disables the ability to re-root via the SuperOneClick App. Furthermore, for those not running Cyanogen Mod 7, the update is downloaded automatically when connected to Wi-Fi and there doesn’t appear to be any way to block it.

While the 6.2.1 update does paint a target on Amazon’s back by removing root privileges, the ever-resourceful developers probably won’t have too much trouble in finding a way to regain root access. However, if you do have access and have yet to update, then switching to CM7 appears to be the only effective way of preserving your root. 

In other news, VMware has announced that their View Client is now available for the Kindle Fire and will be coming soon to the Amazon App Store. The client, which was released along with Mac and Linux versions, enables the device to access a virtual Windows environment and could make the Fire an appealing option for enterprise customers. 

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