Amazon Introduces 7" and 8.9" Kindle Fire HDX at $229 and $379, Kindle Fire HD Now Starts at $139

[MacRumors]

With Apple expected to introduce a new line of iPads in the coming months including a thinner, lighter full-sized iPad and an iPad mini with Retina display, Amazon has refreshed its Kindle Fire line, headlined by the redesigned, 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX with a resolution of 1900x1200 at 323 pixels-per-inch (PPI) and the new 8.9 inch Kindle Fire HDX tablet with a resolution of 2560x1600 at 339 PPI.

As noted by The Verge, both of the Android-based tablets feature a new quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, Dolby Digital Plus audio, a 720p front-facing camera, and a new Adreno 330 GPU, with up to 11 hours of battery life, or an extended 17 hours of battery life for strictly-reading use. Both tablets also feature the new Fire OS 3.0 "Mojito", and an on-screen "Mayday" button, which enables live on-device tech support. Specifically, the feature allows for an Amazon technical support advisor to walk users through any feature with 24/7 one-way video support, enabling tech agents to draw on the screen and even remote control the device for support purposes.

The standard 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX is priced at $229 with 16GB, but Amazon is also offering a $329 version of the model with 4G LTE connectivity. Meanwhile, the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX starts at $379 for the 16GB model, but also has an LTE option priced at $479. The 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX ships on October 18, with the LTE option shipping on November 14. The non-LTE 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX ships on November 7, with the LTE configuration of the model shipping on December 10.

Finally, Amazon has also updated the 16GB 7-inch Kindle Fire HD with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and is now selling it at a new lower price of $169, down from the previous price of $199. Like the two higher-end Kindle Fire tablets, the Kindle Fire HD also features the new Fire OS 3.0 Mojito, which contains new features such as multi-tasking, speed enhancements, new content management options, and additional accessibility features. Additionally, a new 8GB model of the Kindle Fire HD is retailing for $139, with both models scheduled to ship on October 2.

Article Link: Amazon Introduces 7" and 8.9" Kindle Fire HDX at $229 and $379, Kindle Fire HD Now Starts at $139

[OneMike]

Pretty cool. I may pick up a fire hd at that price.

[rosalindavenue]

I'm a big fan of the Kindle e-ink reader. My kindle keyboard is still going strong. But these things? I think the OS is a huge turnoff. Its as though Apple made a giant newsstand as the home page. A good tablet needs to be app-centric. Also, given all the cheap Android tablets, the low price is no longer revolutionary. I think these things will sink like a stone.

[mrxak]

Good old AmazonRumors.com. Always timely information.

[newdeal]

Wow $139 thats pretty impressive I can see these being hot tickets for christmas but I have the feeling the old model will out sell the new one strictly based on price.

[Elbon]

Originally Posted by rosalindavenue

I think the OS is a huge turnoff. Its as though Apple made a giant newsstand as the home page.

I assume you mean Amazon?

The integrated advertisements are the big turnoff for me. I'll stick with my Kindle app for iPad.

[bchery21]

I'm not really in the tablet game. I rarely think about them, but when I do, what Amazon offers almost never comes to mind.

[Rodster]

Originally Posted by OneMike

Pretty cool. I may pick up a fire hd at that price.

Really?!

I bought the original KF and KF-HD. They offer nice hardware but the OS is absolutely the worse thing about their tablets. Their OS brings nice tablets to their knees. If you like the buttery smooth feel of iOS the KF will drive you nuts.

My KF-HD 7" has auto brightness which doesn't work because Amazon says it's not supported.

[PracticalMac]

And the herd runs to Amazon.

This is a broadside across Apples bow, the average price of tables is falling.

I expect to see faster erosion of Apples market % of iPads

[FelixAng]

the virtual genius bar is very cool, especially because all it takes is clicking a Mayday button and you'll have support in 15 seconds. This is a real consumer-oriented product---With this price point and that kind of service structure, this could really get the old-age tablet latecomers.

[dannyyankou]

Originally Posted by mrxak

Good old AmazonRumors.com. Always timely information.

It's a competitor to the iPad, so it does have some relevance here. Same reason there's occasionally Microsoft and android news here.

[PracticalMac]

Originally Posted by Rodster

Really?!

I bought the original KF and KF-HD. They offer nice hardware but the OS is absolutely the worse thing about their tablets. Their OS brings nice tablets to their knees. If you like the buttery smooth feel of iOS the KF will drive you nuts.

My KF-HD 7" has auto brightness which doesn't work because Amazon says it's not supported.

Millions of people look no further then then $ tag, and will tolerate slow OS.

(that's why Windows is still the #1 OS in the world)

[Patriks7]

"both of the Android-based tablets feature a new quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM"

With infinite amount of lag to go with it.

After this, I just don't see how Apple could release a Mini without Retina.

[gotluck]

Wow that's cheap. I've only had a chance to use a fire tab for a few minutes. Not long enough to know anything

The amazon fork of android would likely be annoying.

[Jessica Lares]

I like the Amazon fork of Android, however I HATE the new body of the device. Controls slanted in the back, really?! Don't like how they've now slapped a big Amazon logo either.

The Kindle Fire HD was perfect last year. This HDX thing is just garbage though.

[Rodster]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

And the herd runs to Amazon.

This is a broadside across Apples bow, the average price of tables is falling.

I expect to see faster erosion of Apples market % of iPads

I don't see how. Have you dealt with Amazon's ecosystem? I have. Most of their Apps are not updated as they are on the Google Play store. I have first hand experience of that. Also as you move up in resolution don't count on those Apps being available on your shiny new KF tablet.

[absurdamerica]

Originally Posted by mrxak

Good old AmazonRumors.com. Always timely information.

-> There's the door, don't let it hit you on the way out.

[levitynyc]

The cheapest iPod touch is still 229 and a Fire HD is 139.

not the same category, but thats huge for parents who want to buy their kid a small tablet.

[PracticalMac]

Originally Posted by rosalindavenue

I'm a big fan of the Kindle e-ink reader. My kindle keyboard is still going strong. But these things? I think the OS is a huge turnoff. Its as though Apple made a giant newsstand as the home page. A good tablet needs to be app-centric. Also, given all the cheap Android tablets, the low price is no longer revolutionary. I think these things will sink like a stone.

Amazon is an online store, these tablets are only a "tiny" storefront.

It is not new, but the best example of custom hardware to sell mail-order goods.

Amazon could give away KFire for free, and still make profit.

[JHankwitz]

Let the "Race to the Bottom" begin.

[bbeagle]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

And the herd runs to Amazon.

This is a broadside across Apples bow, the average price of tables is falling.

I expect to see faster erosion of Apples market % of iPads

The fantasy world of apple haters must really be interesting. They've had these fantasies for years and years, yet the real world doesn't match their fantasies.

[Santabean2000]

Nice work amazon. Quality products, reasonable price. Timing is spot on too, just enough time to get some attention before the new iPads suck the air out of the room.

Bring it Apple. Competition is good for keeping you honest.

[Bonte]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

Millions of people look no further then then $ tag, and will tolerate slow OS.

Yeah, but they will feel cheap and dirty every time they use a crap tablet.

[ValSalva]

Some of these prices are so low that this release may not affect iPad sales at all.

Kindles are a different breed. It's likely that most consumers think of them as mainly E-Readers. But for apps and productivity the iPad is still the way to go. I'll bet a lot of people have both but not a lot get a Kindle instead of an iPad.

[horsebattery]

Originally Posted by rosalindavenue

I'm a big fan of the Kindle e-ink reader. My kindle keyboard is still going strong. But these things? I think the OS is a huge turnoff. Its as though Apple made a giant newsstand as the home page. A good tablet needs to be app-centric. Also, given all the cheap Android tablets, the low price is no longer revolutionary. I think these things will sink like a stone.

The newsstand theme is no longer mandatory, if you cared to read the Verge's write-up. In terms of the price, you likely won't be able to find one with these specs also at the same or similar price.

Originally Posted by ValSalva

Kindles are a different breed. It's likely that most consumers think of them as mainly E-Readers. But for apps and productivity the iPad is still the way to go. I'll bet a lot of people have both but not a lot get a Kindle instead of an iPad.

I think Amazon shot themselves in the foot by straying away from Google's Play store. I got Switftkey and a few other utility apps through Amazon's App Store. Restoring my phone from scratch is an enormous pain since I need to use both the Google Play Store and Amazon's to re-download everything I need.