Should I have my own Amazon ID?
This post discusses the implications of continuing to use the Gifts For Seniors tablets with the shared Tech For Seniors account (your original configuration) vs re-registering your tablet to your own account.
The Original Configuration
The Tablet Configuration that was distributed to you, plus modifications done in class has the following properties:
There is no credit card attached to the account. This is a safety feature to avoid unpleasant events while you are learning to use the tablet. You will not be able to buy anything online or download apps from the Amazon Library that have a cost.
Automatic backup to the Amazon cloud for things that you have done on your tablet, such as adding calendar entries, contacts, or notes will not be saved. This is to protect you and others since there is only one account and these items from all the tablets would be stored together, resulting in everyone seeing each others information.
Since the tablets are “owned” by the Tech for Seniors account, any changes to them will not be reflected in our “saved configuration” so if you need to reset your tablet, your tablet will be restored to the original configuration and all your added apps and data will be lost.
You don’t necessarily need to re-register your tablet. You can continue to use it and we can open more things up. Some of the Apps and Settings on the tablet will continue to need to continue to be locked down to protect the other students from anything done with the Tech For Seniors Amazon account.
Moving to your own Amazon account
You will need to have your own email address to register your tablet with Amazon.
You don’t need to necessarily provide a credit card number to Amazon when you re-register your tablet. You can always enter the credit information when you buy something.
All your data and unique configuration will be automatically updated to the Amazon cloud for backup.
You will be able to have complete control of your tablet to add, remove, etc (almost) anything. We still recommend that you continue to lock sensitive apps to protect yourself from mistakes.
There is a slightly involved process needed to re-register your tablet that we can help you with. Please discuss this with us if you would like to pursue this action.
You will be a little more exposed on the internet since you will be using your own email address to register your Amazon account. Be sure to understand the risks associated with this and review the security information on the Links for Seniors app. Search for posts associated with “security“.