Amazon introduces new Fire tablets and Kindle e-readers
Amazon has announced a faster Fire HDX 8.9, cheaper Fire HD tablets and a Fire HD Kids Edition. In addition, Fire OS has been upgraded to version 4 Sangria and there are new Kindle readers, including the Voyage.
The Fire HDX 8.9 has received a faster processor: an undisclosed quad-core with a clock speed of 2.5GHz and a GPU that is said to perform 70 percent better. The 8.9″ screen with a resolution of 2560×1600 pixels will have Plus Dynamic Light Control after a software update, which adjusts the color reproduction to ambient light. There is also support for Dolby Atmos and WiFi ac. The new HDX 8.9 comes in October for $379; the 4G version is $100 more expensive.
There are two new Kindle HD tablets, with screen diagonals of 6 inches and 7 inches and pixel density on the screens of 252ppi and 216ppi, respectively. These tablets also have a quad-core, with a clock speed of 1.5GHz, and they are available in five colors. The 6-inch Kindle HD will be priced at $99 and the 7-inch version will cost $139, with Amazon competing primarily on price.
In addition, there is the Fire HD Kids Edition, which comes in a 6″ and 7″ version. Amazon offers a 2-year warranty with the company promising “no questions asked” on replacement. The tablet comes with a FreeTime Unlimited subscription, which gives access to Amazon’s collection of books, games, movies and apps at no additional cost. The 7″ children’s tablet will be available in October for $149 and the 6″ version will cost $189.
Fire OS 4 “Sangria” has been released along with the tablets and the previous generation of tablets from Amazon is getting the over-the-air update. The OS is based on Android 4.4 KitKat and offers, among other things, Family Library for sharing content between family members and unlimited storage for photos, along with improvements in content streaming and battery life.
There is also news for e-readers: the Kindle Voyage has been officially announced. It is 7.6mm thin and weighs 185 grams. The screen shows a high resolution with pixel density of 300ppi. There is a light sensor for automatic exposure adjustment, and the screen edges contain touch buttons that allow users to turn pages with a soft touch. The price is 199 dollars in the US, but will be 189 euros in Europe, while the 3g variant will cost 249 euros.
The cheapest Kindle gets touch control, a 20 percent more powerful processor and more storage capacity. The price is $79.