Amazon Announces New Fire Tablets & Fire TV

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

We do use our Amazon Echo every day for news, weather, Wikipedia, music, etc., so it'll be nice to have Alexa on the TV, too.

I use my Echo for music and audiobooks.

Beware! Alexa will be watching you!

[reise]

No 4G/LTE for any of the new models. I was without WiFi for about a week, so I'm regretting that I didn't purchase a HDX LTE model.

[conan50]

It is interesting how far we have come with tablets, and Amazon gets credit for helping us get here:

Less than three years ago, Apple announced the 7.9-inch iPad mini. The new Fire tablet has a display with more pixels per inch than that tablet had. It has a faster processor, and twice the RAM. Its storage is expandable. It can access Amazon Underground, which provides free games that on other platforms rely on in-app purchases. The iPad mini, at launch, started at $330.

http://www.wired.com/2015/09/amazon-...io-calculator/

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by conan50

It is interesting how far we have come with tablets, and Amazon gets credit for helping us get here:

http://www.wired.com/2015/09/amazon-...io-calculator/

That's a good one.
A nice reminder to people who expect every product to satisfy everybody... starting with them.

Bet Casio has no trouble selling those calculators.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Well, well....at this time, the cheap new Fire is a #1 Best Seller in Amazon Electronics. Just goes to show, to some people, price is everything! I bet most of them don't realize it only has a 90 day warranty.

I look at it this way, tablets have become commodity items -- especially Amazon tablets. Pretty decent hands-on review (one of the first I've seen) of this tablet from -- I think -- a British source.

http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/revie...poPVpV9rnJ4cN9

Here's what they say about the screen (definitely not that $40 DigiLand tablet) ...

Aside from the chunky frame giving the screen a slightly recessed look, the Fire's 7-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel IPS panel provides pleasingly detailed results. Given that image quality is usually the first thing on the chopping block when the prices come tumbling, this makes for a nice surprise.

Offering image quality equal to devices two or three times its price, the Fire's modest 171PPI resolution offers decent visuals by any standard, and outstanding results for the cost. There is some notable pixellation to text, making reading a little tricky, but image-viewing and movie-watching is perfectly acceptable for casual use.

EDIT: Another hands on review from a British source (they must have gotten them sooner) ...

http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/13...lls-no-punches

[ApK]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Amazon just announced their new fall lineup of the Fire Tablets and Fire TV

• New Amazon Fire TV Gaming Edition—Take Game Night to the Next Level.

Hey TM, it looks like you have the wrong link for the gaming edition press release in the OP. Should be:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....cle&ID=2088573

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ApK

[/LIST] Hey TM, it looks like you have the wrong link for the gaming edition press release in the OP. Should be:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....cle&ID=2088573

oh my...

Thanks for the heads up; I'll revise the link.

[leebase]

I am currently between iPads, so for $50 I ordered the Amazon Fire tablet. I'm holding off till Christmas for the iPad mini 4. Who knows, this device just might fit my needs if not my wants. I love my Fire Tv stick.

I've been an avid iPad fan since the original. Still, my uses are modest and I'm thinking of getting the big iPhone. As such, it's harder for me to justify iPad prices. I certainly wouldn't pay top dollar for an android tablet over an iPad....but if you can get quality devices for $50...well it's worth at least trying

[booklover6]

So, those who are getting this tablet today, let's hear your thoughts once you receive it.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by leebase

I certainly wouldn't pay top dollar for an android tablet over an iPad....but if you can get quality devices for $50...well it's worth at least trying

...and you can be pretty sure of a hassle free return if it's not usable for you.

I have a $50 tablet from Verizon, that I got primary as a 4g hotspot.
The Amazon tablet appears much better as a general use tablet.
I look forward to hearing about how it works.

[Justino]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've lost track of what low-end Android tablets cost these days. Are these good prices for the spec, or can you get cheaper elsewhere?

I believe the price is a bit more for the specs of the tab. Instead, Spidotech Sleek W1 is a better option. The tablet offers an HDMI support and external 3G dongle support. Plus, its price is £35.99, which is much lesser than Amazon Fire.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Justino

I believe the price is a bit more for the specs of the tab. Instead, Spidotech Sleek W1 is a better option. The tablet offers an HDMI support and external 3G dongle support. Plus, its price is £35.99, which is much lesser than Amazon Fire.

I guess if those partiular features are important to you, maybe. But on paper, the Fire has a better display, a faster processor and support for higher capacity SD cards.
Plus knowing Amazon's support, I can't see what would make the Spidotech a better choice for the majority of cheap tablet consumers.
Also note that in the USA, at current conversion rates, the Fire is cheaper, and while I have no idea what Spidotech's reputation is in the rest of the world, in rthe US it would be seen as an "off-brand" if it's even available or supported here.
And a 3G add on? Not 4G? What year is this?! . .

[JoHunt]

Oops just saw this posted elsewhere (Amazon ban of Chromecast and Apple TV).

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by booklover6

So, those who are getting this tablet today, let's hear your thoughts once you receive it.

I've started a thread here for the HD 10 Fire Tablet: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=265929

[thatworkshop]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Looks like Amazon is abandoning the premium tablet market.

With this, I really hope they bring back the audio and TTS feature back to Kindle (eInk not Fire!) - at least a darn headphone jack. I really don't care much about the tablets.