Amazon updates Kindle Fire HDX operating system

With both models of the new Kindle Fire HDX tablets now out in the wild, Amazon can concentrate on tweaking the system to add features and fix bugs. The device, while considered to be a competitor to the Nexus 7, is really more about media, specifically that from the retail giant's ecosystem.

The latest update, which rolls out today, takes the OS to version 3.1 and adds several new features to enhance the 'media device' perception even more.

The first part of the update brings integration of social book service Goodreads, which Amazon purchased in March of this year. "Goodreads on Kindle lets you connect with the Goodreads community to follow friends and see what they are reading, and share and rate books on your Kindle Fire", the announcement explains.

Also added is 'cloud collections', which is essentially the ability to group apps, much the way you can on traditional Android devices. There is also second-screen technology that allows users to 'fling' content to the TV, though you'll need to have a Samsung Smart TV or PS3 -- no word if other devices will be added.

Finally, there is a 'Smart Lookup' feature for books, print capability, archiving to free space, enhancements to the clock app and new features for enterprise that involve managing security certificates and use of VPN.

It seems the update is going to be one of those 'gradual' roll outs, as many devices still display an up-to-date message when checked. If you just can't wait, then head over to Amazon to grab the file and then follow these instructions to install it. A word of caution -- the download is 795 MB.