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

[MacAddict1978]

And don't forget it comes with "special offers."

I freaking love the special offers, and would never take the non-special offers model if it were the same price.

They are not intrusive at all like you'd think, and the offers are good.
"Get any full length album reg priced 9.99 - 13.99 for $2"
"get any kindle book for 99 cents"
"20 books for $1.99 <and they are current best sellers lots of times.... now that apple got spaniked for their price fixing scheme with publishers and amazon can have sales again>"

Oh yeah, apple had special offers too... how could i forget about that special price fixing scheme of theirs they are paying out the wazoo for now.... oh my

 

[apolloa]

You really begin to get the feeling that Apple had better made damn sure the next iPad Mini is one hell of a upgrade! Because in my mind, my 2012 Nexus 7 is better let alone the 2013 one and the new Kindle Fire HDX!

I'm talking that new Mini better have a full retina screen and a full powerful A7 SOC and good battery life. You could say I don't want much, but when you can buy a screen like that with power like that for a hell of a lot less then the current iPad Mini, Apple must step up to the plate.

 

[slwiser]

If the new HDX is anything like the HD, after the first update it will crawl doing anything. That is assuming it will not be crawling out the gate.

My HD is a great e-reader but is all it does well. Therefore why would I update. I am looking hard at the new iPads coming our way for everything else.

If Apple adopted Amazons book business plan then it would be Apple for everything for me. I am so tired of the weekly updates from MS and the lagging on my HD when doing anything other than turning a page.

 

[HenryDJP]

Ummm, there's major potential behind this idea. You probably miss that because you're okay with driving your 27" iMac to the Genius Bar next Monday at 9:00am. On the other hand, there's a lot of hope Apple will follow suit; it's customer support is already outstanding, and this could really be the icing on AppleCare+.

Your snarky remark was childish and unnecessary. I didn't ask for it and you didn't need to throw it.

 

[Taz Mangus]

"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.

A quad-core 2.2GHz CPU and the thing still has bad lag?

I suspect that if Apple puts a Retina display on the iPad-mini, Apple will use a A7x CPU as well.

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Of course Apple plays by their own rules and will never race to the bottom. But can we perhaps see some flexibility? A non-retina iPad mini at $249 and a retina one at $329?

I predict that Apple will price the current iPad-mini at $229 along side the next iPad-mini for $329.

 

[Rodster]

I freaking love the special offers, and would never take the non-special offers model if it were the same price.

They are not intrusive at all like you'd think, and the offers are good.
"Get any full length album reg priced 9.99 - 13.99 for $2"
"get any kindle book for 99 cents"
"20 books for $1.99 <and they are current best sellers lots of times.... now that apple got spaniked for their price fixing scheme with publishers and amazon can have sales again>"

Oh yeah, apple had special offers too... how could i forget about that special price fixing scheme of theirs they are paying out the wazoo for now.... oh my

Yeah me too, I love the offers. In October Amazon will offer Madden 25 for $5 to ALL Kindle Fire owners.

 

[macguy360]

don't underestimate amazon. They have the bankroll to develop an iPad competitor and a solid ecosystem once they get the fan base to justify financing the upgrades. Here are just a few features of the hdx...
12 hour battery life
Magnesium body
Gorilla glass
100% color accurate screen with highest ppi of any tablet. iPads are ~80% color rating.
All amazon prime videos can be downloaded and watched later while offline.
Snapdragon 800 processor with 2gb ram

This tablet costs more to produce than what they are selling it for. Consumers will recognize the deal and snap them up. And to get rid of special offers is only $15

 

[polbit]

I love reading posts from people that either didn't read the release article and spread FUD like "new Kindles still run Gingerbread" or just don't know any better and keep saying crap they overheard over and over.

Looking at the new Kindles objectively, they look to be great devices - fast, super light, with fantastic screens, great battery life, and the OS improved in important ways - finally collections for books and magazines, and grid view instead of carousel as an option. Their price points are excellent as well and to look at it differently is to be living in a bubble.

Tablet market has changed significantly from the early days, and Amazon has a very strong ecosystem. They are a real threat to Apple and I for one am happy about it as it will make Apple products better in the future.

 

[Xiroteus]

You really begin to get the feeling that Apple had better made damn sure the next iPad Mini is one hell of a upgrade! Because in my mind, my 2012 Nexus 7 is better let alone the 2013 one and the new Kindle Fire HDX!

They really have to. They talk so much about the future yet everyone is beating them in several ways, want too much for memory along with using small amounts, got rid of optical drives because of things like iTunes. In a few areas they need to get ahead again instead of trying to get every penny for all there little upgrades. (I'm fine with most iPhone upgrades year to year, only so much that can be done)

 

[apolloa]

They really have to. They talk so much about the future yet everyone is beating them in several ways, want too much for memory along with using small amounts, got rid of optical drives because of things like iTunes. In a few areas they need to get ahead again instead of trying to get every penny for all there little upgrades. (I'm fine with most iPhone upgrades year to year, only so much that can be done)

And on that note, the new 7" HDX, 16GB is $229, 32GB is $269 and the 64GB is $309. Not even a $100 difference across them! Yeah I think Apple needs to seriously learn from pricing like this because it should embarrass them with th amount they charge for memory!

 

[jdechko]

All amazon prime videos can be downloaded and watched later while offline.

This is a great feature and one that I wish netflix would copy.

They really have to. They talk so much about the future yet everyone is beating them in several ways, want too much for memory along with using small amounts, got rid of optical drives because of things like iTunes. In a few areas they need to get ahead again instead of trying to get every penny for all there little upgrades. (I'm fine with most iPhone upgrades year to year, only so much that can be done)

Two comments about what you said, really. First is that I really think it's time for Apple to drop the 16GB models. Base should be 32. At least then, the $100 feels like an upgrade. But by starting with 16gb, it feels like a forced upgrade to get a usable product. Especially when most competitors in that price range start at 32.

Second, I feel like the yearly incremental upgrades with the iphone work, not because of technical limitations (ie not enough stuff) but because of the 2-year carrier upgrade cycle. It's hard enough when you take a look at the industry advancements as a whole, but can you imagine if the iphone were updated every 6 months? That would be every 4th phone. Apple would sell way fewer phones, and the development would probably end up costing more (less recuperated R&D costs).

There's already a definite cycle as well. People hold off upgrading because they want to wait for the new model. It would be worse with 2 releases per year.

 

[Xiroteus]

And on that note, the new 7" HDX, 16GB is $229, 32GB is $269 and the 64GB is $309. Not even a $100 difference across them! Yeah I think Apple needs to seriously learn from pricing like this because it should embarrass them with th amount they charge for memory!

That is much better pricing between them.

Two comments about what you said, really. First is that I really think it's time for Apple to drop the 16GB models. Base should be 32. At least then, the $100 feels like an upgrade. But by starting with 16gb, it feels like a forced upgrade to get a usable product. Especially when most competitors in that price range start at 32.

They seriously need to. Back in 2009 going from 16GB to 32GB for a hundred was not so much of an issue. Four years later it is ridiculous using that as the means to increase the price so much even when every other part has been upgraded several times. $100 going from 32GB to 64GB is eve high yet 64GB to 128GB at a $100 would be okay. No tablet or phone should start at 16GB anymore, it's dated and kind of a joke with how large files can be.

Second, I feel like the yearly incremental upgrades with the iphone work, not because of technical limitations (ie not enough stuff) but because of the 2-year carrier upgrade cycle. It's hard enough when you take a look at the industry advancements as a whole, but can you imagine if the iphone were updated every 6 months? That would be every 4th phone. Apple would sell way fewer phones, and the development would probably end up costing more (less recuperated R&D costs).

There's already a definite cycle as well. People hold off upgrading because they want to wait for the new model. It would be worse with 2 releases per year.

Yearly works well for a company that has one phone. Android basically has the same set up depending who is making the phone yet several companies tossing out new models, no real way to always be ahead on a yearly set up. (Not that yearly should change) A decade ago people kept there phones for years so I'm not going to get on any company for a yearly update to be on the basic side. I often wonder what else they are suppose to do. My biggest issue is deal with the memory pricing and size. 32GB 64GB and 128GB would at least feel better.

 

[elgrecomac]

Not quite

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)

If the truth be known, Win 7 running on my MBP in bootcamp is faster in every sense compared to OSX 10.8.4

And the reason I use win 7 is because MS Project and MS Visio, defacto standards in corporate america, require me to do so.

just keepin' it real.


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And on that note, the new 7" HDX, 16GB is $229, 32GB is $269 and the 64GB is $309. Not even a $100 difference across them! Yeah I think Apple needs to seriously learn from pricing like this because it should embarrass them with th amount they charge for memory!

One can argue clean design etc etc, but Apple doesn't allow external storage on their pads
exactly for the reason you state: high price for memory= big margins.

 

[Lancer]

I'm guessing the current iPad Mini might hang around as a cheap model but will it compete with the Kindle range?

 

[CausticPuppy]

A quad-core 2.2GHz CPU and the thing still has bad lag?

"lag" is relative, but when you're used to iOS, anything with higher input latency just feels laggy. I notice this all the time when I switch from my iPhone 4S to my Galaxy S3 work phone.

https://www.macrumors.com/2013/09/21/iphone-5-touch-screen-twice-as-fast-as-android-touch-screen/

Each iteration of iOS device gets closer and closer to the mythical 1ms latency, whereas Android seems to have hit a brick wall regardless of increasing CPU power.

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And on that note, the new 7" HDX, 16GB is $229, 32GB is $269 and the 64GB is $309. Not even a $100 difference across them! Yeah I think Apple needs to seriously learn from pricing like this because it should embarrass them with th amount they charge for memory!

Different business models. Apple makes money on the hardware. Amazon doesn't. Amazon is essentially selling you a shopping cart that gives you a way to buy more stuff from Amazon.

For Amazon, the "shopping cart" service is the primary thing and hardware is secondary.

For Apple, the hardware is the primary thing and the "shopping cart" (i.e. app store, iTunes) is secondary.

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They seriously need to. Back in 2009 going from 16GB to 32GB for a hundred was not so much of an issue. Four years later it is ridiculous using that as the means to increase the price so much even when every other part has been upgraded several times. $100 going from 32GB to 64GB is eve high yet 64GB to 128GB at a $100 would be okay. No tablet or phone should start at 16GB anymore, it's dated and kind of a joke with how large files can be.

I think a 32/64/128 lineup would make more sense today; 16GB on an iPhone 5S is kind of silly given how quickly you'll fill that space up with 120fps "slo mo" recording.

On the other hand, I haven't needed to keep as much music or videos locally since I stream pretty much everything except for some locally synched Spotify playlists.

Hopefully the iPad5 will be 32/64/128, sticking to the "rule of 3" rather than having 4 variants (16/32/64/128). 64GB seems to be the sweet spot now, for a device that needs to last 2+ years.

iPad mini could still be 16/32/64.

 

[Xiroteus]

I think a 32/64/128 lineup would make more sense today; 16GB on an iPhone 5S is kind of silly given how quickly you'll fill that space up with 120fps "slo mo" recording.

On the other hand, I haven't needed to keep as much music or videos locally since I stream pretty much everything except for some locally synched Spotify playlists.

Hopefully the iPad5 will be 32/64/128, sticking to the "rule of 3" rather than having 4 variants (16/32/64/128). 64GB seems to be the sweet spot now, for a device that needs to last 2+ years.

iPad mini could still be 16/32/64.

I used to like to keep all of my music on my phone and would if I had a 32GB phone which I did. (Only 13GB of music) I notice after years it really is not needed as I mostly play music from my computer vs my phone. Still can toss a few GBs of my favorite music. Mostly for photos and video that would burn up a lot of memory. I even wonder if 16GB should go away with their entire line up. I know a lot of people don't have that many files. I know a couple people that don't even have a 1GB of files on their desktop, so 16GB would likely be fine for such a person even if 32GB should be the new standard to bring their entire line up to date.

 

[typeadam]

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

Statements like this is why there are "[company x] haters."
No need to be an arrogant snob, my friend...
However, I will partially agree with you on the cheap part BUT not that one should or would feel cheap but the device is cheap (inexpensive) but that's b/c it's built to BE cheap! It doesn't pretend to be a Vertu while being a calculator and is priced accordingly.

 

[AppleRobert]

All Apple has to do is offer the iPad 5 with 16gb at $399, 32gb at $499. Drop the prices on the 4th gen below those. Game over.

I do have the KFHD, I will not buy another. I have a 2013 Nexus 7 as well.

 

[jimbobb24]

My brother has one

Allows for multiple users and allows parents to restrict which apps children can use and how long with a degree of granularity I found very impressive. Apple could learn at least that from these devices - it was very impressive.

 

[HarryWarden]

Do you guys think 7" is too small for watching movies vs. the 8.9 version?

 

[Rodster]

Do you guys think 7" is too small for watching movies vs. the 8.9 version?

No but it's a matter of preference. I have both the 7" and 8.9" KF-HD and movies look equally good on both. Keep in mind the 7" is going to be lighter than the 8.9" tablet.

 

[matthewhuk]

I've been a loyal Apple tablet user since the iPad1 but the ugliness of OS7 has me wanting a change. Safari in OS7 is just plain hideous and if I could go back to OS6 I would. I'm thinking the time has come to leave Apple and these new Amazon tablets are tempting me greatly. I'm getting the new Kindle paperwhite and now I'm seriously considering getting an amazon color tablet too. They have "no offer" versions too. I'm going to be checking them out closely.

I completely agree with you there, iOS7 looks hideous, the kindle interface looks sleek and easy to use. certainly the best of the non apple tablets.
Although I'm a loyal apple fan I'm not a blinkered one and when my ipad comes to the end of its life I would seriously consider getting a kindle to replace it with.

 

[FelixAng]

Amazon said the Mayday service brings a live person on for help. Sounds good on paper but in reality unless you're connected to the web this isn't going to happen, plus it's not often that people are going to need such help on a tablet unless it's a Surface Pro that uses full Windows where people will need help. I vote down on Mayday. Not impressed, meh.

Not sure what you meant by "snarky." Your initial reply reminds me why I reminded you of the potential for Mayday, not its first-generation pitfalls, and no one asked you for a "vote down." What does that mean anyway? That you vehemently oppose new approaches to customer support [that aren't invented by Apple]? If anything, that's how initially I read your "vote down" on non-Apple progress, now it's confirmed on second look.

 

[vito]

Mayday sounds like a great idea don't know how well it will work for a large customer base though, awesome if it works as intended.

 

[HenryDJP]

Not sure what you meant by "snarky." Your initial reply reminds me why I reminded you of the potential for Mayday, not its first-generation pitfalls, and no one asked you for a "vote down." What does that mean anyway? That you vehemently oppose new approaches to customer support [that aren't invented by Apple]? If anything, that's how initially I read your "vote down" on non-Apple progress, now it's confirmed on second look.

You haven't confirmed anything but whatever. Look up words you don't know. Thanks.