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Amazon Introduces 8.9-Inch and 7-Inch Kindle Fire HD at $299 and $199, Updated Kindle Fire Drops to $159

I just preordered the 32GB Kindle Fire SD for $249. That's a pretty sweet deal with a 1280x800 screen.
 
I like Amazons pricing, but the 8.9-Inch model is not available for preorder in Germany and I don't know if it will ever be available here in Europe in 2012. The 7-Inch model doesn't interest me.

I guess I will order an iPad 3 if it's getting a price drop this year.
 
stuffradio said:
Have you heard of Netflix or Hulu or Amazon Video on Demand?
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I wouldn't watch either of those while on 3G/4G/LTE. Even with the usual 2GB the big providers give you, you'd burn through your allotment in no time flat. I mean 2GB is, what? A whole movie?

The deal Amazon is offering isn't meant for full on internet consumption. It's a cheap option for surfing in places where you don't have a convenient wifi connection. For $50 a year, it's not half bad.
 
TOYSTER17 said:
I know I saw a few in here ask about UK availability:

http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/6/3298489/kindle-fire-hd-uk-release-date-price-announcement

Also, I don't remember if it was on The Verge where I read that after the 250MB is used up, it'll be $30 for 3GB and $50 for 5GB.
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Any word on how purchasing (and downloading) content from Amazon would affect your quota? Are they clever enough to gain share that with the carrier, offering it as a service to the end-user?
 
tripjammer said:
We still do not know if the Ipad Mini will not be retina. I could be with a crazy resolution. 1024X768 is weak sauce!
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If Apple wants the mini to run iPad apps without any tweaking, than it only has two choices: The iPad 2 resolution at 1023x768, or the iPad 3 resolution at 2048-by-1536.

The iPad 3 resolution and the graphics needed to push those pixels would probably be way too expensive. Not to mention, they probably wouldn't be able to cram all that power in a 7" case, the iPad 3 gets got as it is.

In a year or two the mini will be retina, but not this year.
 
Is the $49 year of LTE going to be available for subsequent years, or is it a promotional price to sell the box, then it goes up? The way it's worded on their site isn't really clear and seems a bit fishy.
 
drewyboy said:
let's just be clear that apple does NOT have to compete on price with amazon. it still lacks so much of apple's ecosystem (productivity). yes for a consumption device this is amazing, and very well priced, but an ipad mini I honestly don't expect it to go for less the $299. I expect to see it actually @ $349. Remember which one has millions of apps. Which one is currently being used in schools, governments, fortune 500 companies, airlines, hospitals, etc... That is because of productivity apps, not consumption. Yes amazon is creeping closer, yes it would be mind boggling for amazon to NOT open up their own app store eventually (edit: for clarification I mean ecosystem w/ special api and all), but what we have today is what we have today. But again, to think apple needs to compete w/ amazons currently offering, I don't think so, but I do think it would be wise of apple to plan accordingly, respond, and lock up the market while they have the opportunity.
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I agree. The problem for Apple, as far as productivity goes, is that MSFT is just about to charge through the door, axe in hand, screaming "Here's Ballmer!".

And oh, i dont agree that Amazon should open up their own "app store eventually". Theres very little value in it for Amazon doing so (a part from pure necessities, for example after adding hardware not currently supported etc.) They have very much to gain from building on a stable, open, platform with a huge developer base.

They should've teamed up with MSFT though. Plenty of strategic synergies there. But... i guess its hard to get two giants to tango together without toes getting stepped on, so i am not that surprised that it didnt happen.
 
same size

Cougarcat said:
If Apple wants the mini to run iPad apps without any tweaking, than it only has two choices: The iPad 2 resolution at 1023x768, or the iPad 3 resolution at 2048-by-1536.

The iPad 3 resolution and the graphics needed to push those pixels would probably be way too expensive. Not to mention, they probably wouldn't be able to cram all that power in a 7" case, the iPad 3 gets got as it is.

In a year or two the mini will be retina, but not this year.
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then the new *mini* will need to be under 10-inches.. as will be no longer a mini if its over this.

How small can pixels go before you start to get a headache. (on tan average sized) tablet ? like say, an 8 or 9 inch ..
 
Since these new Kindles are now ad supported, the user isn't going to get 250MB of data per month as some of that is going to be eaten up by ads.

EDIT: Okay let me edit this by asking the following: Will the ads eat into any of the 250MB data plan?

Also, why on earth would I want spam on my tablet. After awhile it would get very tiresome to have ads poping up on my tablet regardless of where it is. Thanks but no thanks.
 
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rhuber said:
but I (personally) never purchase books, movies or music from itunes. I do that from amazon, because I know I can read, watch, listen, on any device (including just about tv).
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And you couldn't listen to music bought from iTunes on any device?
 
SO i haven't been able to read the whole thread - but I read elsewhere they ALL have Special Offers. AKA, ads.

Which is why they are cheap..... It will probably be $50+ to buy them out on that.
 
TOYSTER17 said:
I know I saw a few in here ask about UK availability:

http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/6/3298489/kindle-fire-hd-uk-release-date-price-announcement

Also, I don't remember if it was on The Verge where I read that after the 250MB is used up, it'll be $30 for 3GB and $50 for 5GB.
Click to expand...

divinox said:
Any word on how purchasing (and downloading) content from Amazon would affect your quota? Are they clever enough to gain share that with the carrier, offering it as a service to the end-user?
Click to expand...

I believe it will count against your quota.

http://gizmodo.com/5941076/amazons-...you-250mb-a-month-for-50-a-year?post=52459126
 
I have an iPhone, an eInk Kindle, and a rMBP. I can't justify to myself a tablet too, whether it's a Kindle Fire or an iPad. I am interested in this Paperlight thing. Maybe I'll replace my Kindle Touch if it seems more useful. Anyone know if the price is for an ad-supported model that I'll have to pay an extra $30 to get rid of ads?
 
tripjammer said:
We still do not know if the Ipad Mini will not be retina. I could be with a crazy resolution. 1024X768 is weak sauce!

Apple can also hit these Amazon price points and still make money. People really want a Ipad mini, if it is close to that an Ipad 3 is but smaller.
Click to expand...

Going retina (or, rather, 2x 1024x768) would make for a very expensive screen, i am afraid. I am not sure, but i truly doubt technology is mature enough to allow Apple to do that. Next year, for sure, but not today.
 
While amazon is producing deviced geared around their content, Android and iOS tablets can still do Amazon prime video. And of course the game markets are big on both.

If Apple comes out with an iPad mini, I see no real reason to go with a Kindle fire vs a Nexus or iPad. You get better specs on paper, but Kindle's skinned OS doesn't hold a candle to Jelly Bean on the Nexus from the impressions I've read, much less the snappiness of iOS.

I like their new readers. But after my kindle started to literally fall apart, I'm hesitant to go with more of their hardware.
 
No way

I would not trust Amazon to write any software more complex than a web page. I use their cloud drive and the software has never worked correctly. Their tech support is virtually non-existent. The one person I know who bought a Kindle Fire gave it away. I tried it out. The person he gave it to couldn't figure out how to do much of anything. What a confusing, poorly organized, buggy p.o.s. No thank you.
 
Previous Kindle touch:
"Amazon's 6" diagonal most advanced E Ink multi-touch display, optimized with proprietary waveform and font technology, 600x800 pixel resolution at 167 PPI, 16-level grayscale."

New Kindle Paperwhite:
"Paperwhite has 62% more pixels for unsurpassed resolution., 212 PPI."

600*1.62 = 972 pixels (width)
800*1.62 = 1296 pixels (height)

So, am I right in thinking the new Kindle Paperwhite display is 972x1296 pixels? Why wouldn't they publicize that? It may be lower than the new Kindles or the new iPad, but it's an e-ink display, you just can't compare...

I do like the comparison photo vs the older Pearl display. I'm also glad they kept the webkit browser.
 
jagolden said:
I won't disagree with you but can you explain what you mean by "awkward".
It's shaped like a book, you hold it portrait or landscape, tap a few icons and voila!;)
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Well, quite frankly, its a bit big. And heavy. Theres just something about it that makes me rather carry around - and use - a 13" macbook air. Feels too much like a 2 handed device pretending it can be used single-handedly. Plus, its too big to be truly worth while carrying with me anyway (since i carry around a 13" anyway).

That said, this is not Apples fault. Not in any way. Its undoubtedly a solid device. Just not for me. If they get the 7" right, i'll happily buy it.
 
And the best news is... IT RUNS FLASH!!!!

This is great. Good for Amazon. I like the fact that the iPad is getting some serious competition, specially in terms of prices. And as Apple gets more and more greedy, purposely turning their older products obsolete with annual iOS editions, screwing customers out of basic new functions, competitive alternatives are welcome. They may not be Apple, but sometimes thats a good thing. Specially when it comes to mobile devices - tablets and smartphones - that help put technology in the hands of a wider market by reasonable prices and an open and flexible platform.

So, will amazon drag Apple to court and sue them till the end of times if they come out with an iPad Mini? after all, it seems this time Amazon is the "inventor" of a 7", black bezeled, rectangular touch tablet... it would only be fair :p
 
Is Video over LTE not counted against your usage? Cause if it counts against usage and this is meant to be a media consumption device, that plan in garbage - even if it was free.
 
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