Kindle Fire Tablets now starting at $99 with 6 to 8.9 inch

[s44]

It's easy to side load singular apps, I use the latest version of android chrome on my kindle fire hdx.

Yeah, but biggest add-on to the 6" might be Hangouts Dialer... which requires Play Services.

 

[Roland00Address]

It's easy to side load singular apps, I use the latest version of android chrome on my kindle fire hdx.

Not all apps can be sideloaded for some need APIs Amazon perfectly removed. And now you do not have auto updates since you side load. Furthermore the amazon marketplace versions of apps are often updated less frequently.

It just stinks, great hardware, a skin that while I do not care for I understand its use, and the os limitations just stink.

It is more useful than a blackbery tablet or something but it is no true android tablet.

 

[TheAdvocate]

I am still not seeing a reason to "upgrade" from my now 2 generations old Fire HD 8.9" that I only paid $139 for.

These are nice products, especially the HDX and the voyager, but the pricing is ridiculous.

 

[Trombe]

2+2 big.LITTLE is pretty awesome for such cheap tablets. I don't know what the deal with the insistence on gigantic bezels is for mid-size tablets (at least the side ones), shrinking them makes them considerably easier to wrap your whole hand around them in portrait orientation, like the newer 8.4" Samsung tablets and G Pad 8.3.

 

[Roland00Address]

2+2 big.LITTLE is pretty awesome for such cheap tablets. I don't know what the deal with the insistence on gigantic bezels is for mid-size tablets (at least the side ones), shrinking them makes them considerably easier to wrap your whole hand around them in portrait orientation, like the newer 8.4" Samsung tablets and G Pad 8.3.

Cheaper sensors for the touchscreen for you do not need them to be as precise on the edges if you have bigger bezels.

Easier to make them shockproof with bigger bezels if you design the internals just right and you have buffers. This may matter if you are selling free accidental warranties with the kids tablets.

The thickness of the tablets I think is a bigger deal but thick tablets can use cheaper parts.

 

[Geekbabe]

Have they officially said that old HDX 7 tablets will get updated to the new OS?

Great news if so.

edit:
Ah this article explains it - http://liliputing.com/2014/09/amazon-unveils-fire-os-4-sangria-smartphones-tablets.html

Fire OS 4 will ship with all 4th-generation Fire tablets, and it’ll be available as a free over-the-air update for 3rd-generation tablets as well.

My son has a 32 GB 7 inch HDX and this is good news. I try to upgrade him every Christmas, looks like he will get something else this year

 

[Geekbabe]

I am still not seeing a reason to "upgrade" from my now 2 generations old Fire HD 8.9" that I only paid $139 for.

These are nice products, especially the HDX and the voyager, but the pricing is ridiculous.

I had the 2012 8.9 inch HD and got rid of it months ago. The screen is nice but I found the tablet frustratingly slow for tasks other than watching Amazon Prime videos. Of course, at the $139 price point it isn't a bad deal.

 

[Geekbabe]

Fire HD 6 and 7 look pretty decent for their price. A $99 tablet with HD IPS display, impressive.

And I like all the colors it comes in. Why is it often the cheap tablets come in a variety of colors, but the expensive tablets when get only one or two color options? Boring.

The Fire HDX 7 stays the same, but it's getting a Fire OS 4 update. Thank good, this is one of the major reasons I ended up not buying an HDX because I was so worried it wouldn't get updated when the new tablets came out, like they did with last years tablets. Hopefully the 2013 HDX 8.9 is also getting the Fire OS 4 update as well.

I like that they updated the Fire HDX 8.9 specs a little. I always felt the HDX 8.9 was a tad overpriced considering it was mostly the same as the HDX 7, just bigger. Now it's got a faster processor, better WIFI, a little easier to accept the $180 price difference.

They also have a new e-ink reader. Nice improvements, has a flat non reflective glass (so has a more tablet look to it). Page turn "buttons" on the sides, better lighting, higher resolution. But $200 for an e-ink reader, hmmm. But I'm still using a Kindle I bought about 3 years ago, so these do last longer. So maybe.

Looks to me like Amazon is honing their focus and basically going after the lower price point market. The new 8.9 HDX looks good but at $379 for the entry level model will it compete with higher end Samsung tablets or with the current iPad Air?

The new e-reader looks attractive but I have a 2nd generation Paperwhite along with several tablets and a big phone so I am not sure the price point is justified for me to upgrade.

 

[Tom]

I am still not seeing a reason to "upgrade" from my now 2 generations old Fire HD 8.9" that I only paid $139 for.

These are nice products, especially the HDX and the voyager, but the pricing is ridiculous.

What is ridiculous is comparing clearance prices for old models with list prices for new models.

It does say something about the quality and value that a two year old product is still very useable.

 

[It's Not Lupus]

The Kindle Fire HD 6 should be fine for Netflix and Plex, right?