On Wednesday, 9/28/11, Amazon announced their new Kindle device, an Android-powered tablet named the Kindle Fire
Despite earlier speculation of a higher price tag, Amazon is charging only $199 for the device, compared to Apple’s iPad which starts at $499.
Similar to other tablets on the market, the Amazon Kindle Fire offers:
- A color touchscreen
- Apps and games
- An email client
- Web access
Amazon will use its powerful cloud technology to power the proprietary “Silk” web browser and offer free cloud storage for all Amazon content.
The Kindle Fire will allow users to quickly access Amazon’s shop of over 100,000 movies and shows, 17+ million MP3’s, and the millions of books in the Kindle Store.
In addition to the price, the Amazon Kindle Fire is also smaller and lighter than the iPad. It has a 7″ display, compared to the iPad’s 9 inches, and it weighs only 0.91 pounds while the iPad comes in at a heavier 1.33 pounds.
While Amazon is promoting these smaller specs as a feature–making the Kindle Fire easier to hold and carry–the Fire lacks some features that have made the iPad so popular, specifically a camera, microphone, and cellular data connection.
Though early analysts are saying that this isn’t quite the “iPad killer” that they expected from Amazon, it will be a huge competitor to the Barnes & Noble Nook.
For more information on the Kindle Fire and the option to pre-order, click here
In addition to the Kindle Fire, Amazon also announced a new Kindle for $79 and a Kindle Touch for $99.
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