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

[Technarchy]

I'll stick with my iPad3.

I don't shop on Amazon, I don't like their UI, and their app selection is ghetto compared to my iPad.

I'd rather wait to see what Windows 8 offers if I was seeking a non-Apple Tablet.

 

[divinox]

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.

To know if you are right, calculate the amount of pixels, divide it with the area, and see if you end up with 212. But no, you are not right.

Lets assume device A had 100 pixels (10x10), and device B had twice that. (2x10)x(2x10) = 400. 400/100 = 4. Youre essentially doing a double multiplication, so what you want to do (assuming fixed ratio) is take the square root.

600*sqrt(1.62) = 763
800*sqrt(1.62) = 1018

Safe conclusion: the device runs a 768*1024 resolution. That would be closer to 63% (over actually) than 62%, but unless they have a ****ed up resolution that is my bet.

Cant be bothered to divide 768*1024 with the area of a 4:3 6" device though. Do that, and you ought to end up with 212.

 

[Prof.]

I'm not wasting my money on any Amazon crap

Amazon products are far from 'crap'. Let go of the fanboyism.

 

[milo]

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?

Paperwhite includes ads, extra $20 to get it without (either model). Fire models don't list an option without ads.

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

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

Your math is wrong, it's 62% more pixels which is different than 62% increase in both dimensions.

Based on total pixels, the new one has 770k. Not sure the dimensions but it would be more like 770 by 1000.

Will it have eight weeks of battery life?

Of course not. But neither do any of the kindle fire models, the only ones with that kind of battery life are the e-ink models with monochrome screens.

Not to mention that Amazon's 8 week battery life claim is based on 30 minutes of use per day, which only comes out to what, 28 hours? We have a kindle touch and probably charge it at least every two weeks (since it often gets used much more than 30 minutes per day).

 

[Dmunjal]

Any 16:9 tablet, whatever it is, looks stupid to me. I'm not gonna sacrifice valuable surface area just to play a freaking movie. Tablet design is all about awesomely designed apps and intuitiveness, not about watching movie.

They just don't get it.

The iPad still rules.

The iPhone is going 16:9. I bet the iPad will go that route soon. Content rules and video is turning out to be the ultimate killer app for most of these tablets. Especially if Apple can make deals with content providers for Apple TV. That way all three screens will have the same ratio.

 

[Yvan256]

no, you actually can't

We can't?

Apple has been selling non-DRM'ed music for years now. The music format is AAC, which is an ISO and IEC standard, part of the MPEG specifications. It's not something that only Apple uses exclusively, contrary to what some people might want you to believe.

 

[KnightWRX]

Amazon products are far from 'crap'. Let go of the fanboyism.

Don't worry, he's more interested than he's letting on, since he just spent 15 pages arguing about how "crappy" this is

 

[Yvan256]

600*sqrt(1.62) = 763
800*sqrt(1.62) = 1018

Safe conclusion: the device runs a 768*1024 resolution. That would be closer to 63% (over actually) than 62%, but unless they have a ****ed up resolution that is my bet.

Oups you're right, it's 62% more pixels over the whole area, not in each dimension. I'm not sure what I was thinking.

And since the previous one was 600x800, you're right that this new one should be 768x1024. It's still a big improvement, especially for using the browser in landscape mode (1024x768), since very few websites support 800x600 in 2012.

 

[milo]

We can't?

Does that article say AAC is supported on every device?

The original post talked about playing on any device - most common recent devices play AAC...but he was right, it doesn't play on any device.

That said, you can probably find a few devices out there that don't play MP3. And in the rare case of a device that doesn't play AAC, iTunes batch converts to mp3 easily.

 

[Technarchy]

Resorting to a race to the bottom price war is something Apple will never do.

 

[linuxcooldude]

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.

I was going to mention the same thing. Its not only the consumer side Amazon has to worry about its the business/Enterprise too, where the iPad has more of an edge. The fire is good for media consumption, but thats about it. Its tied into mostly their services. While Apple is expanding into other fields.

I hear many conversations at work (hospital) about how they have a Nook or Fire and that the iPad is too big to bring to work and that the Nook and Fire does everything they want to do. Browse the web, Facebook and a game or two. Apple needs the 7" iPad at $250. I think that is the perfect price to compete against everything it would have to compete with.

Thats tied into what I've said previously. The iPad you could possibly take to work AND use it for your job. Not so much the Kindle Fire.

 

[MattyO]

...

No one reads the posts at the bottom of these threads ... Why bother commenting.

But I will more than likely get the kindle Fire HD mini over the Ipad mini. Apple will never be able to match those specs at that price.

 

[Dangerous Theory]

I would actually get the 8.9" or 7" HD model, if Amazon sold it IN THE UK!!!! What is wrong with them? Seriously? They are the only name missing from the UK yet the Kindle readers have a HUGE reputation here. Really don't understand it.
But I do understand I'll be getting a Nexus 7 come Christmas day instead, as will many others I've no doubt.

Really don't get Amazon, we even have the cloud services from them here now?

You what?

 

[WoodNUFC]

This actually looks exciting!

 

[Dmunjal]

Resorting to a race to the bottom price war is something Apple will never do.

Correction. Something Steve Jobs would never do. The last time Apple tried it cost him his job and almost the company. What do you think Tim Cook will do?

 

[divinox]

The iPhone is going 16:9. I bet the iPad will go that route soon. Content rules and video is turning out to be the ultimate killer app for most of these tablets. Especially if Apple can make deals with content providers for Apple TV. That way all three screens will have the same ratio.

Doubt Apple will be careless enough to do that, actually. Once you go past 16:10, it rapidly goes meh. For large devices that is. For smaller devices, the added mobility actually matters (less wide = more pocketable). I have always argued for the iPad mini to be 16:9 for that particular reason.

 

[Cougarcat]

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 ..

It'll be 7.85, so the pixel density will be a bit better than the iPad 2 at 1024x768, but nowhere as good as a retina screen.

 

[Dmunjal]

The iPad you could possibly take to work AND use it for your job. Not so much the Kindle Fire.

Don't you think the new W8 tablets and hybrids are going to more popular at work than the iPad? Especially with Office and other enterprise apps.

 

[divinox]

I was going to mention the same thing. Its not only the consumer side Amazon has to worry about its the business/Enterprise too, where the iPad has more of an edge. The fire is good for media consumption, but thats about it. Its tied into mostly their services. While Apple is expanding into other fields.



Thats tied into what I've said previously. The iPad you could possibly take to work AND use it for your job. Not so much the Kindle Fire.

But very so much the Surface (or RT) and the Surface Pro (or Win 8 Pro). Apple needs to get back into the game. If not, they could very well face "irrelevance*" in a few years time.

* Obvious overstatement, but you - hopefully - get the point.

----------

Don't you think the new W8 tablets and hybrids are going to more popular at work than the iPad? Especially with Office and other enterprise apps.

The apps will help, but that is not really the key thing (apple v. msft). The key thing is that MSFT has massive backing within enterprise. Could very well turn out that Apple, in 3-4 years time, have nothing more than a 5-10% share within this sector. And then we might very well be seeing history repeat itself again. in fact, given the choice, i am fairly confident that 9/10 enterprises will default to the windows platform. thats hard to compete with - even if they (Apple) end up having a superior product (which at this point, i do not "think*" that they do).


And before someone says: its not just about the enterprise market anymore... you are absolutely right! Thing is, the same way Apple got its foot into enterprise much thanks to its success in mobile, MSFT can make the same journey in reverse. When every other employee is given a tablet, and that tablet runs Windows (the OS that they have come to know through out their lives anyway), chances are HIGH that they will stick with it at home too. Just like people did with the desktop.


* for obvious reasons it is hard to make firm statements about yet-to-be-released products.

 

[irDigital0l]

Wake up Apple!

 

[linuxcooldude]

Don't you think the new W8 tablets and hybrids are going to more popular at work than the iPad? Especially with Office and other enterprise apps.

I think it will have the best chance of competing with the iPad in business. Better or more popular? That remains to be seen. Its too early yet, and has not been released.

 

[Rodster]

One thing in favor of the Kindle Fire are apps made specifically for the Fire because it has gained in android marketshare. Their are many KF apps that are not as good on the android market.

 

[KPOM]

Amazon is not selling products, they are selling services. The Kindle is the means to the service. It is very similar to the cell phone subsidies. The carriers pay those so that they have you locked in. It works there, and works for amazon

But if you look at their income statement, you'll see that they aren't really making all that much money on anything. Their stock is trading as high as it does based solely on the promise of future profits based on their expanding customer base.

 

[linuxcooldude]

But very so much the Surface (or RT) and the Surface Pro (or Win 8 Pro). Apple needs to get back into the game. If not, they could very well face "irrelevance*" in a few years time.

* Obvious overstatement, but you - hopefully - get the point.

While Microsoft is already much ingrained in business, they are not in the mobile, tablet for business market. Apple is already in the game. Its Microsoft that has to catch up.

When every other employee is given a tablet, and that tablet runs Windows (the OS that they have come to know through out their lives anyway), chances are HIGH that they will stick with it at home too

I think Microsoft should of kept their two operating systems separate. Windows 8 desktop is just not optimized for touch like Metro/WinRT is going to be on tablets. User experience is going to play a part in being adopted too.

 

[Technarchy]

Correction. Something Steve Jobs would never do. The last time Apple tried it cost him his job and almost the company. What do you think Tim Cook will do?

Good point.

Guess we will see. This whole Browett hire for retail has me concerned about Tim Cook's Apple acumen.