Kindle Fire HDX and HDX 8.9 - Impressive

www.androidcentral.com 

Amazon has just announced the latest version of the popular Kindle Fire tablet.  There are several upgrades and changes to mention, all of which make this a top notch device.

• Exclusive 7" HDX display (1920x1200), high pixel density (323 PPI), and perfect color accuracy (100% sRGB) for vivid, lifelike images that go beyond standard HD
• The fastest processor on a 7" tablet—powerful 2.2GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM for fast, fluid multi-tasking, gaming, and video
• Introducing the "Mayday" button—revolutionary, on-device tech support. Connect for free to an Amazon expert 24x7, 365 days a year
• Stay productive on the go with ultra-fast web browsing, built-in OfficeSuite, and updated e-mail and calendar support for Gmail, Outlook, and more

www.stuff.co.nz

One one hand, the HDX is simply catching up to the competition in terms of internal specifications. But the innovative software feature that may make other companies uncomfortable is the "Mayday" button.

www.youtube.com

Live technical support offering remote control of your device is not something new by any stretch of the imagination, but to do this on such a large scale with tablets, as opposed to desktop computers, is remarkable.  Some people may find this unsafe or downright creepy, particularly with such a potent 'privacy' hysteria sweeping the nation.  But it makes a lot of sense. In the early days of Kindle vs. Nook, one argument against the Kindle was the lack of physical stores with technical support. This feature basically makes this a moot point. Plus, it is REALLY cool....but a little creepy. 

The other major changes that I absolutely love is the change in design to incorporate magnesium into the slimmed down body.  The Kindle Fire HD also has very good build quality, with a soft rubberized finish, but this style is even better. Amazon appears to be taking one of the best aspects of Microsoft's Surface tablet and giving it the magic touch. 

And for the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9: 

www.theverge.com 

• Exclusive 8.9" HDX display (2560x1600) with unsurpassed pixel density (339 PPI) and perfect color accuracy (100% sRGB) for vivid, lifelike images that go beyond standard HD
• Breakthrough ultra-light design—weighing just 13.2oz, it's 34% lighter than the previous generation
• Ultra-fast 2.2GHz quad-core processor—3x more powerful than previous generation—with 2GB of RAM and Adreno 330 GPU for fast, fluid gaming and video
• Introducing the "Mayday" button—revolutionary, on-device tech support. Connect for free to an Amazon expert 24x7, 365 days a year
• 8MP rear-facing camera with LED flash for high-resolution photos and 1080p HD video, plus a front-facing 720p HD camera for Skype video calls and more
• Stay productive on the go with ultra-fast web browsing, built-in OfficeSuite, plus e-mail and calendar support for Gmail, Outlook, and more

mashable.com 

There are two major updates here. First, the weight is almost 10oz less than the full size iPad with with a higher screen resolution at 339PPI at 2560x1600 compared to the iPad's 264PPI at 2048x1536. Granted, the iPad has a larger screen at 9.7 inches. But many people have complained about the iPad heft and difficulty holding the device for extended periods of time. Amazon is showing how a large tablet can be light and powerful.

Second, the HDX 8.9 has an 8 megapixel rear facing camera with flash.  That is a big upgrade to the Kindle Fire line.  However, upgrades to the larger tablet will cost you a pretty penny, starting at $379 for the lowest model, as compared to $229 for the HDX (with no rear camera).

mashable.com 

The other thing to mention is the price increase for upgrading internal storage.  For the Kindle Fire HDX, doubling the storage is only $40 from 16gb to 32gb and $80 from 16gb to 64gb.  And upgrading the storage on the HDX 8.9 is only $50 each time.  

SO WHY CAN'T EVERYONE DO THIS????? Any other company charges $100 to double the internal memory of smartphone and tablet devices (hmmmm....Apple).  That is completely ludicrous in today's technological landscape. But why should Apple be smart about pricing when no one else is charging less for storage upgrades?  Maybe Amazon will be able to push other companies to come to their senses.     

 

allthingsd.com

To finish on a positive note, Jeff Bezos has worked his magic once again. I might even break down and get an HDX myself, although I really do not need it at all. But when someone does something right at the right price, they can entice a lot of people to throw money their way. At least this should be money well spent.