Amazon Takes on Apple iPad With Kindle Fire Tablet

Foxnews ^

[Red in Blue PA]

Putting to rest the endless speculation, Amazon on Wednesday officially introduced not one, not two, but four new Kindle devices. The company aims to lock up the e-reader market with an entry-level $79 Kindle, and to do what countless tech companies have failed at: building a color tablet device at a reasonable price that can compete with Apple's wildly successful iPad.

The Kindle Fire is that gadget.

It's designed mainly as a media consumption device rather than a touch computer and it undercuts Apple's iPad by hundreds of dollars—$199 compared to $500 for an iPad. It will go on sale November 15.

..

The Fire uses a dual-core processor and the latest version of Google Android software and looked zippy in hands-on demonstrations. Apps will also be available for the device, but Amazon is clearly focused on tying its own services into the tablet.

“This is an end-to-end service,” Bezos emphasized in his presentation in New York City. He touted not only the book store but the Amazon Prime service, which offers streaming movies and programs for an annual $79 subscription. So far, Amazon has lined up some big content providers, including Fox for movies, but still lacks the catalog depth of competing Netflix. According to Amazon, it is still interested in having a Netflix app on the Kindle Fire, as well as other popular competing services, such as Pandora. Such apps are not available yet, however.

[Red in Blue PA]

Looks very nice and is a perfect price point.

I pre-ordered one today as these are going to sell out.

[Red in Blue PA]

Forgot to add, the fact that it plays Flash is very nice, as a sizable portion of the web is lash enabled. Too bad Apple doesn’t trust consumers enough for them to turn on Flash should they wish.

[Mad Dawgg]

I've still not figured out what all the fuss is over iPads and "like" devices. (I hate touchscreens period, don't like fingerprints on my screen!)

But what does a iPad like device do for me my phone or computer won't do?

[FatherofFive]

But what does a iPad like device do for me my phone or computer won't do?

Shows you have more money than brains?

[jwalburg]

Does it still have the nice, Kindle e-ink display, or is it glossy like the others so it will collect fingerprints and be hard to see?

[Red in Blue PA]

Not sure. I have a Kindle and am going to use that as my e-reader. This will be primarily for surfing the web.

[ToxicMich]

But what does a iPad like device do for me my phone or computer won't do?

Shows you have more money than brains?

Bada Bing! lol...

[Mad Dawgg]

"Shows you have more money than brains?"

Ahhh, that might explain why the friends I know who rushed out to buy these vital bits of gadgetry have now mostly abandoned them and their kids use them to play games now.

One of my friends showed me how I could use it to play piano/organ. He started the piano app and had me play figuring I would be won over immediately. I tried the gizmo and it had problems tracking my keystrokes. Not sure if it was an issue with my finger positioning or the screen being smudged or just the app being buggy but it worked poorly.

[ROTB]

But what does a iPad like device do for me my phone or computer won’t do?

***

iPad replaces your notebook given:

1) most people consume, rather than produce content
2) better security than a laptop
3) easier administration than a laptop
4) easier to use than a laptop
5) solid state, so 10 hour battery life

[Red in Blue PA]

Add to that list for the Kindle.....

Can take to the beach and out by the pool because of the e-ink.

[avenir]

I have a Kindle that has the forever 3G ($189 total). Love it. The guy who runs a Kindle blog I visit suggested that to compete against Apple in the pad market, Amazon must offer something in the $200-$250 range. Trying to fight on Apple’s turf of “prestige appeal” was a no-win, for anyone.

[MamaB]

I had just bought a new desktop and a new laptop when I was given an iPad. I use the iPad much more than the other 2 combined. I can hold it in one hand and have gotten pretty good at typing with one hand. I have about 45 books on it already plus lots of music. Y'all do not know what you are missing.

[CrouchingTiger620]

i’m impressed. my wife loves her ipad and i like my kindle. but a dual processor for 199 with all their online content is quite strong. competition for ipad for first time.

[longtermmemmory]

betamax vs VHS

the tablets (this includes the ipad) have to come down to around $100 OR LESS.

MS better get in the game or they are just going to end up a video box company like sega...

[PUGACHEV]

I also pre-ordered one today. Amazon is so much better than anyone at integrating services, I expect the Kindle Fire to make the iPad look clunky by comparison, and this is only the first generation. What's more Amazon doesn't restrict you like Apple does. That's why I will ever own an Apple product, I don't care for the way in which they always want to be in control. OTOH Amazon will sell you MP3s you can download for a buck and do whatever you want with. You'll be able to buy books from Amazon, magazines, blogs, movies, TV shows, and whatever else, and Amazon will back them up for you in the cloud via Wispernet, and you pay not a penny for the monhly service. Amazon even has out of print films that aren't available anywhere else but the Amazon Box player. These and everything else Amazon can sell you will be fully integrated with the Kindle Fire, which will display your email, and surf the Internet with its own Silk browser, developed by Amazon, and said to be faster than anyother browser. Apple has nothing to compare to this, and it costs $200, about 1/4 the cost of an iPad.

[shorty_harris]

So, can I sideload my own videos onto the Kindle Fire and play them?

[jacquej]

I know I am not a “mainstream user” of the iPad, but I do use it “productively”.

I design on my iMac, mostly complicated Aran knitting patterns, sock patterns, and lace knitting patterns. I download these to the iPad, and do not need to carry around the books and paper patterns for my knitting.

I can keep up with what the market is doing, (and place an order) without having to be at home, and if stuck waiting, I can play a good game to improve my mental sharpness.

I can read a downloaded book, or if really stuck, can sit and knit from the iPad pattern, while listening to a good mystery/techno political thriller.

Also, can check my email, check on FR, the weather, listen to the radio, find a map to get me where I need to go, or find the closest yarn shop.

What else does a silver-haired granny need? AHA! instant photos of the grands to bore the socks off total strangers when they ask to see what the iPad can do!

Just my 2 pennies....

[Mad Dawgg]

"Just my 2 pennies...."

I understand but everything you listed I can do with my Laptop or cell phone. (plus much more)

Which takes us back to the original question What does it do that those two items can't?

[MediaMole]

You should be able to load your own videos. It only has 8 GB of storage, so you’ll be limited.

It supports: Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA, AAX)), DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, non-DRM AAC, MP3, MIDI, OGG, WAV, MP4, VP8.

Of those, MP4 is a pretty standard video codec.

[MediaMole]

Tablets are more about doing the couple things you need in a convenient unit, rather than doing things a laptop or phone can’t do.

An iPad is more portable than a laptop, but more usable than a phone. It’s a first-world item for people who can afford a phone, laptop and tablet.

I’ve been surprised how many lawyers are using iPads as their courtroom computers. For them, it’s replacing a laptop they used primarily to read documents.