Amazon Launches New Fire Tablets With Built-in Alexa in U.S. and U.K.

[doelcm82]

I was thinking the same thing - I'll bet the big difference is in the microphones to pick up your commands across the room and/or filtering out extraneous noise to hear your command.

Yeah, that and if you can easily take it off its stand and use it as a tablet, someone (perhaps even you) will do just that, and leave it in another room. You'll be in the kitchen wondering how many grams of tapioca starch you need to make Pão de Queijo, and you realize that your Alexa is on the bedside table, or maybe in the magazine rack by the toilet.

I expect I'll eventually have Alexa, or more likely a Siri speaker, in every major room of the house, so I don't have to worry about where I left it.

 

[jadot]

Yeah, that and if you can easily take it off its stand and use it as a tablet, someone (perhaps even you) will do just that, and leave it in another room. You'll be in the kitchen wondering how many grams of tapioca starch you need to make Pão de Queijo, and you realize that your Alexa is on the bedside table, or maybe in the magazine rack by the toilet.

I expect I'll eventually have Alexa, or more likely a Siri speaker, in every major room of the house, so I don't have to worry about where I left it.

Talk about first world problems. I mean, how have you even managed to stay alive this long without a digital assistant "in every room"?

 

[Urban Joe]

[doublepost=1495119915][/doublepost]
Apple's services revenue has been growing steadily. I know, for Apple, if it doesn't sell like iPhones, it must be called a dismal failure (because 18% growth is meh). Apple hasn't had a "success" in more than a decade. They are doomed to a future of steady growth.[/QUOTE]

For the sake of argument I hear people saying that Apple is mature and basically moving into "Warren Buffett mode" where the company becomes a large, expansive, behemoth cash cow in it's sector. What concerns me about that is this: at its heart Apple's success has always been fueled by innovation. As that slows down it becomes increasingly vulnerable to being displaced over time the same way Apple, years ago, blew out Blackberry and Nokia with the iPhone and then eroded Microsoft's position. Currently, it seems the roles have been reversed and, ironically, Apple now has a significant edge in software as their mobile platform has dominated. Take the software/appstore/ecosystem edge away...or erode it over time or give enough time for the competitors to match or better their offerings and what you have is a company that's lost its edge and ready to go into significant decline much like Microsoft did under Steve Ballmer. Keep in mind Microsoft's huge lead eroded beneath the exterior facade of great profits. They have a new CEO and things are definitely changing over there. Apple better watch out because without the visionary leadership at the top they can't buy enough companies to compensate for that deficit. It takes the right leadership to pull it all together and make it work. Cook isn't a bad person at all. He's a great industrial engineer. He's done a great job stewarding what was left to him but I don't believe it's in his DNA to be able to move Apple innovation, and hence Apple forward. At times I believe he thinks that he can do everything well. Recall, Apple skyrocketed to it's current levels of success under a visionary leader with great management underneath...Tim was that management underneath but he's in a role he's not designed for. As always, time will tell and hindsight is 20/20. Apple's meat and potatoes is innovation and the iPhone and trying to play parlor tricks with the retail stores isn't going to cut it. No matter how awesome the town square concept is it's not enough to compensate for lack of product/service innovation.

 

[44267547]

This is the kind of device you get for free in a promo and give to a friend.

For $50.00, I wouldn't even need a "Free promo", it's cheap enough where I would purchase it for a friend/family member.

 

[jinnj]

For what most people tend to need a tablet for I'd say that there's absolutely no reason for people to get an iPad.

I have an iPad Pro 9.7 and I use it to surf the internet, and check emails. It's amazing, and I love the design etc, but I don't need it.

A Fire tablet is around a tenth of the price - that should be a no-brainer - even if I buy the 10" Fire it's going to come in a around a third of the price of the iPad.

That's nuts when you think about it.

As a owner of the Fire 10 HD I can easily say... You get what you pay for. When it came out my iPad 2 (not the Air 2) was getting a bit slow so I decided to try it. The move was not an improvement. Speed is about the same for Apps like Hulu, Netflix. The wifi is worst. Constant drop outs and the router is in the next room! Once everything loads it works but switching between apps and just getting stuff to load is slow and painful.

 

[doelcm82]

Talk about first world problems. I mean, how have you even managed to stay alive this long without a digital assistant "in every room"?

Quite well, thank you. But I do enjoy being able to reply to you electronically. If I had to write a letter, put a stamp on it, and deliver it by hand to the pony express rider, I doubt I would even bother.

 

[jinnj]

[doublepost=1495119915][/doublepost]
Apple's services revenue has been growing steadily. I know, for Apple, if it doesn't sell like iPhones, it must be called a dismal failure (because 18% growth is meh). Apple hasn't had a "success" in more than a decade. They are doomed to a future of steady growth.

For the sake of argument I hear people saying that Apple is mature and basically moving into "Warren Buffett mode" where the company becomes a large, expansive, behemoth cash cow in it's sector. What concerns me about that is this: at its heart Apple's success has always been fueled by innovation. As that slows down it becomes increasingly vulnerable to being displaced over time the same way Apple, years ago, blew out Blackberry and Nokia with the iPhone and then eroded Microsoft's position. Currently, it seems the roles have been reversed and, ironically, Apple now has a significant edge in software as their mobile platform has dominated. Take the software/appstore/ecosystem edge away...or erode it over time or give enough time for the competitors to match or better their offerings and what you have is a company that's lost its edge and ready to go into significant decline much like Microsoft did under Steve Ballmer. Keep in mind Microsoft's huge lead eroded beneath the exterior facade of great profits. They have a new CEO and things are definitely changing over there. Apple better watch out because without the visionary leadership at the top they can't buy enough companies to compensate for that deficit. It takes the right leadership to pull it all together and make it work. Cook isn't a bad person at all. He's a great industrial engineer. He's done a great job stewarding what was left to him but I don't believe it's in his DNA to be able to move Apple innovation, and hence Apple forward. At times I believe he thinks that he can do everything well. Recall, Apple skyrocketed to it's current levels of success under a visionary leader with great management underneath...Tim was that management underneath but he's in a role he's not designed for. As always, time will tell and hindsight is 20/20. Apple's meat and potatoes is innovation and the iPhone and trying to play parlor tricks with the retail stores isn't going to cut it. No matter how awesome the town square concept is it's not enough to compensate for lack of product/service innovation.[/QUOTE]
Yeah but he was replying to your comment about services and now you are flipping it to lack of innovation.

 

[justperry]

With built in macOS Sierra wallpaper!

Seems like the Matterhorn to me.

 

[WRChris]

Yes. Amazon may be a forward thinking and innovative company. But when did they last do a charity meal or right-on event like our Tim does? Something has to give somewhere. You can't do both. Or at least that's the message im getting.

Are you really suggesting that amazon doesn't do charity events? Or are you just trying to slam Tim Cook in an article that has nothing to do with him?

Apple is doomed because they sell charity dinners, smh. What's next? Apple can't innovate because _________.

 

[Tapiture]

Yes. Amazon may be a forward thinking and innovative company. But when did they last do a charity meal or right-on event like our Tim does? Something has to give somewhere. You can't do both. Or at least that's the message im getting.

Amazon has Amazon Smile which means they give .5% of any purchase made to charity if you buy it on smile.amazon.com. Far more than Apple does

 

[apolloa]

Amazon have become awesome product makers. I have always been impressed with their Kindle reader, the perfect device for just reading for everyone of all ages. My mums had hers for several years now, still works fine.
Based on that and curiosity, I got the Fire TV first gen for my birthday after it was launched in the U.K., the decision was easier as at the time the Apple TV had no App Store.
Anyway I've had it for 3 years I think? It's the one device I can't go without, use it every single day, it works as well and fast and smooth now as it did new, and I now have Alexa and a fresh interface on it thanks to Amazons support.

Now, I have an iPad Pro 9.7" which I also use everyday. If I wouldn't batt an eyelid in also having a Fire Tablet because of the smooth fast performance and support Amazon provides. It's a shame they don't offer the HDX how they end models anymore as the 7" model was awesome, not that I had one.

I have seen the current models in stores and they are very solid devices, and fast and smooth. Amazons interface is great too. The price can't be beat. If Apple
ditch the iPad Mini I would argue a replacement would be the Fire tablet. You get the same experience I think.

I believe they still offer the 10" HDX model? Expensive but cheaper then an iPad and has top end specs.

 

[sirdir]

So if these new Fire tablets have Alexa... Then why would anyone buy that ugly Amazon Echo Show? Just get a Fire tablet with a cool looking stand & speakers... And then you can take it off and use it as a tablet if you want.

It doesn't work the same, you can't just 'call' her, you have to press the virtual home button. And mine very often answers 'I don't have an internet connection'. She'll say that in German, by the way, whereas Alexa itself on the tablet only speaks English.
I really wonder why Alexa should be something new for UK, when setting country to Germany I have the (English) Alexa for months now. But it would be typical for Amazon to make that kind of nonsense. It's about the same as offering the English Alexa on the tablet when you chose Germany as a country, but not if you chose Switzerland. Of course Alexa is available in German on the Echo. It just all doesn't make sense.

I wonder what's the difference between last years HD8 and this years...

 

[UltimaKilo]

I absolutely love the Fire HD8. For the price, they're amazing. I have purchased the device as gifts for multiple people, they're wonderful.

 

[J InTech82]

I'm an Apple guy through and through, born and raised and never owned a single other product from any other platform. I even have an iPad and a MacBookPro for business (yes there are apps where I need an iPad for business!) I'm even going to get an iPad Pro 12.9" as soon as an update comes out....

BUT...there is one app I need to use for a completely different business venture and I need a tablet I can hold with one hand. Buying an iPad mini for a $10 app that is crucial to this other business venture, is just ludicrous. The Kindle Fire at $50 is an absolute no brainer. Good on Amazon for making a decent product at an absolute killer price.

 

[jadot]

Quite well, thank you. But I do enjoy being able to reply to you electronically. If I had to write a letter, put a stamp on it, and deliver it by hand to the pony express rider, I doubt I would even bother.

That's nice, but not sure you're fully grasping the 'first world problems' reference there.

 

[blackcrayon]

It doesn't work the same, you can't just 'call' her, you have to press the virtual home button. And mine very often answers 'I don't have an internet connection'. She'll say that in German, by the way, whereas Alexa itself on the tablet only speaks English.
I really wonder why Alexa should be something new for UK, when setting country to Germany I have the (English) Alexa for months now. But it would be typical for Amazon to make that kind of nonsense. It's about the same as offering the English Alexa on the tablet when you chose Germany as a country, but not if you chose Switzerland. Of course Alexa is available in German on the Echo. It just all doesn't make sense.

I wonder what's the difference between last years HD8 and this years...

You're saying it's an artificial difference then? Seems silly they don't have a "hey siri" or "ok google" for the tablet.

 

[doelcm82]

That's nice, but not sure you're fully grasping the 'first world problems' reference there.

Well, you'd be wrong. I was merely belittling your 'first world problems' reference.

Very little that gets discussed on this forum falls outside the realm of "first world problems". People complain about Apple releasing too many watch bands, or about whether Apple's "Pro" labeled products deserve that designation. As though those issues really matter. If you own a tablet and a phone and a laptop, you're not really struggling to survive in this world, are you?

 

[jadot]

Well, you'd be wrong. I was merely belittling your 'first world problems' reference.

Very little that gets discussed on this forum falls outside the realm of "first world problems". People complain about Apple releasing too many watch bands, or about whether Apple's "Pro" labeled products deserve that designation. As though those issues really matter. If you own a tablet and a phone and a laptop, you're not really struggling to survive in this world, are you?

bit touchy

 

[doelcm82]

bit touchy

Only if my room's automated assistant fails to respond to my voice.

 

[Urban Joe]

[/QUOTE]
Yeah but he was replying to your comment about services and now you are flipping it to lack of innovation.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for pointing that out. I was relating the two. Long story short. I don't see that Apple's services are good enough to overcome their lack of innovation in either hardware or software. Apple has led with hardware innovation. Amazon and others lead with service innovation. If, as I perceive, Apple is slipping on the hardware innovation front then they are in trouble as their history with services, while not too bad, isn't strong enough to out compete their rivals.