Same problem with the longer kindle fire.....Amazon writes their own shell over whatever version of Android that they use. They want you to buy their apps, so block access to the Google play store. Even the new windows phones will give you race monitor.

Choices...if you can take it back, get a Samsung or Apple mini.
Or, if you don't have a smart phone...go to Walmart and buy one of their pay as you go cheap Chinese smart android phones. If you are going to use it as at home, won't cost you a cent more with yr wifi. At LRP, when I help out on the flatbed.....I use the wifi from the EMT building. I don't know for sure about the new Barnes and Nobles HD nook...but the previous one do the same as the Kindle's.

Hope this helps.......... PS: I wouldn't buy one of the off brand pay as you go phones(provider, not the phone) as a lot don't have great cell phone coverage outside urban areas...at LRP, one barely gets a signal from the big boys.......