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Amazon drops 7-inch Kindle Fire HD's price to $179 for Mother's Day
Two can play the discounted-tablet-for-Mother's-Day game. Just a day after Barnes & Noble slashed Nook tablet prices across the board, Amazon has cut the prices of the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD to $179 (16GB) and $209 (32GB) for the occasion. Use the FIRE4MOM code at checkout until May 12th and you'll pocket $20 that could be better spent on flowers... or apps, for that matter. The sale isn't as far ranging as we've seen at the rival bookstore, but those whose moms thrive on Amazon Prime will likely be happy.
Xbox SmartGlass now available on Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets
Amazon's just updated its Appstore today with a much welcome offering for avid gamers: Xbox SmartGlass. Microsoft's app-based second screen solution has been available on iOS and Android since late last fall, but despite sharing a kernel with Google's OS, hadn't been made dispensable to Kindle Fire / Fire HD owners until now. The app's been configured to scale natively on Amazon's refreshed tablet line, letting users navigate their Xbox 360 remotely, push and pull streaming content, as well as access achievements, messaging and Xbox Music. So if it's the living room of the future you're after, you might want to hit up the source and make that free download your own.
Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: spring 2013 edition
Much like bears, tablet designers are coming out of hibernation: there have been a handful of noteworthy models reaching the wild after a few months of silence. Most of these are the Windows 8- and RT-based tablets that didn't quite make the cut for the holidays, and we're launching our 2013 spring tablet buyer's guide with a dedicated Windows section to accommodate a distinct and rapidly filling category. Just be careful before you commit to a purchase, wherever your allegiances lie: Mobile World Congress brought us tablets that haven't quite shipped yet, like the FonePad and Galaxy Note 8.0. (We've included a heads-up in those situations where waiting a few weeks, or months, may be wisest.) As chaotic as spring can be, our guide might just provide some kind of stability if you're shopping for your next slate.
Amazon Whispercast for Kindle now lets organizations manage mass app distribution on Fire tablets
When Amazon introduced its Kindle Whispercast service back in October, it did so with the promise that '"bulk app distribution" would be coming soon for Fire tablets. Fast forward to today and that feature is now live, giving organizations the ability to push purchased applications from an administration account to all managed Kindle Fire tablets. Yes, that even includes BYOD devices, although those users will have to accept an opt-in prompt to participate. If your school or business already participates in the service, there's no need to take any further action -- the ability should be enabled right now. But if you'd still like to sign-up, you can do so at the source.
Kindle Fire HD 8.9 launched in Europe and Japan, gets permanent price cut in the USA
Amazon today launched its largest slate, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9, in Europe (the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, to be exact) and Japan, where it's been up for pre-order since late last month. That's not all, though, as Amazon says having to make more 8.9-inch tabs for those markets has cut production costs, and the savings are being passed on to US customers in the form of a price cut. This isn't one of the time-sensitive offers Amazon has a habit of pulling, so from today onwards, you'll be able to pick up a WiFi-only 16GB model for $269, or the 4G option with 32 gigs of storage for $399. The higher capacity models -- 32GB WiFi-only and 64GB with 4G -- now tally up at $299 and $499, respectively.
Green Throttle officially launches its Android gaming platform, we go hands-on
Thinking of rounding out your entertainment center's arsenal with an Android-based game console? You've certainly got options: Ouya, GameStick and Project Shield are all vying for a spot on your couch. On the other hand, you might already have a perfectly serviceable Android device just waiting to be converted into a makeshift games console -- that's where Green Throttle Games comes in. By pairing a dual-stick gamepad with a console-like game launcher, Green Throttle aims to turn any Android device into a gaming platform. We spent some time with a developer build of the setup late last year, but today the company officially launched the Green Throttle Arena and its companion Atlas controller. We popped in to the firm's Santa Clara office to see what changed.
Kindle Fire HD 8.9 up for pre-order in Japan, ships March 12th
Amazon decided last year it was time to take the Kindle brand to Japan, but for some reason, the Fire HD 8.9 wasn't invited. Not being one to hold grudges, the biggest Kindle slate has agreed to a belated introduction, and is now available for pre-order on Amazon's Japanese portal, and in several bricks-and-mortar stores. Parting with 24,800 yen (around $269) will reserve you a 16GB model, or you can double that storage to 32GB for a total price of 29,800 yen (around $323). Both configurations are WiFi-only, and will begin shipping to early adopters on March 12th. If you've been holding out for that extra 1.9 inches, head for the link below to get in on the first batch, or peruse the Japanese PR if you're keen to hear the full pitch.
Kindle ad takes on iPad head-on
Amazon's latest Kindle Fire HD commercial takes a swipe at Apple's iPad by claiming the less expensive Fire HD is as good as the iPad. The ad compares the screens on the two devices and points out they both have stunning HD displays. Amazon concludes that the Fire HD is so good that the only place people will notice a difference is their wallet. On paper, though, it's a different story. The iPad edges out the Kindle HD with a 9.7-inch display that has a pixel density of 264 ppi. The Kindle Fire is smaller at 8.9-inches and has a lower pixel density of 254 ppi. [Via AppleInsider]
Amazon discounts 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD models as part of Valentine's Day promo
Amazon clearly doesn't have a problem with slashing the prices of its 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD from time to time. As such, don't color us surprised after the mega online retailer announced that it's kicking off Valentine's Day festivities by offering up to a $50 discount on the 8.9-inch Fire HDs. For starters, the WiFi-only slate is set to be up for grabs starting at a decent $269 for the 16GB model, while the higher-end, LTE-equipped Kindle will be tagged at a pricier $449 (with 32GB of built-in storage), which isn't too bad an offer when compared to the usual entry prices of $299 and $499, respectively. The Amazon deals run from today through February 8th, so there's still a little time to find out if your significant other would enjoy one of these -- or, if all else fails, perhaps you could just add some Fire to your personal gadget collection.
Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: winter 2013 edition
As we begin 2013, we're stuck in a kind of tablet limbo. Most companies rushed to get devices out for the fall, while the models we saw at CES 2013 aren't yet shipping. As such, it's a mostly familiar deck, with Apple, Google and Microsoft once again striving for the top spot. That said, there are new entries from Amazon and ASUS, and many of us who didn't score some sweet loot this holiday season have a slate-sized pile of cash to spend. If you're in that situation, continue on for our first tablet guide of 2013. Note: If you're looking for tablets with an Atom or Core i5 CPU, you'll find those in our forthcoming laptop buyer's guide, since they have the same guts as notebooks (or netbooks, in some cases). For the purposes of this tablet guide, we define tablets as slate-type devices with low-power ARM processors.
OpenCL mod for the Kindle Fire HD reveals untapped graphics potential (hands-on video)
As neat as the Kindle Fire HD already is, just a few dinky tweaks could turn it into so much more -- a platform for true physics-based gaming, for example, or even for surprisingly fast photo manipulation. How come? Because both the 8.9-inch and 7-inch versions of the Android-based slate come with a graphics engine that can handle OpenCL acceleration. It certainly won't work out of the box, but Amazon has been working quietly with Imagination Technologies -- the folks behind the tablet's PowerVR GPU -- to try it out. The demo after the break is subtle, perhaps, but it's fluid, detailed and goes far beyond anything that a stock device can achieve. It also proves that, in certain circumstances, OpenCL has the power to boost frame rates by 50 percent while simultaneously lowering power consumption by the same proportion. Read on for more.
Amazon slashes $50 off Kindle Fire HD 8.9 models during January, but only for students
While many of us are still recovering from New Year's celebrations, Amazon is considerably clearer-headed: it wants us ready for the winter school term that's about to start. Appropriately, it's offering a surprisingly steep discount on the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 for students. Americans headed back to class can get $50 off the price of the larger tablet for the whole of January, regardless of the capacity or the presence of LTE. The catch, apart from needing a .edu email address for the Amazon Student program, is the requirement for an active Prime subscription -- although that's no great shakes when Amazon accepts both the free six-month offer and the $39 yearly student plan. At $249, the discounted Kindle Fire HD is tempting for anyone who can do their course shopping at the Kindle Store... or just wants a convenient distraction during mid-terms.
WatchESPN sports streaming reaches Amazon Kindle Fire tablets
Although WatchESPN viewing has been an option for Android viewers since 2011, those with Amazon tablets haven't had the same luxury -- they've sometimes had to watch on an old-fashioned TV. Thankfully, ESPN is giving them a better start to the new year by bringing its app to the Amazon Appstore. Anyone with a regular Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD or Kindle Fire HD 8.9 now has access to live games and news as long as they have a supporting TV subscription. The app is free outside of the cost of ESPN itself; if you've got the right mix of hardware and software, it's easy to get your fill at the source link.
GameStop now stocking Kindle Fire tablets, handing out free virtual bucks with purchase
The Kindle Fire line of tablets is the latest set of electronics to grace GameStop store shelves in the US, the Texas company announced recently. From the baby 7-inch all the way to the larger 8.9-inch, the entire Fire line will be carried in all of GameStop's 4,400 US-based locations after a successful test run earlier this year with various Android-based tablets -- presumably it won't be too long before discounted, used versions of the tablets become widely available, as GameStop's offering a $100 in-store credit trade incentive toward the original Kindle Fire. Sadly, you'll only snag the free $25 Amazon.com gift card (offered through the end of January) if you purchase a brand new Fire, but then there's always that $50 off sale going on today, right?
Amazon shaves $50 off the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD for today only
Amazon may already be selling its Kindle range at cost, but here's your chance to snag one for even less. The e-tailer's knocking a cool 50 bucks off the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD just for today -- valid on both the WiFi-only and the 4G LTE editions. Just use the code FIREHD89 while checking out and you can save enough to get rid of those pesky ads, load it up with apps, and still have some left over for a few literary classics.
Kindle Fire HD 7.2.2 update adds Camera app, Swype along with FreeTime Unlimited
Liked the sound of Kindle FreeTime Unlimited? Well it turns out that's not the only new goodie on the way. Software update 7.2.2 for the seven-inch Kindle Fire HD also brings a few other bonuses. First up, is a Camera app, to let you take mug-shots with that front-facing shooter, while the keyboard gets a boost with added Swype functionality. The update should come over the air automatically, but if that's not the case -- or, like us, you're not the patient type -- then you can manually initiate a software sync. More details on that can be found in the source.
Amazon bringing Voice Guide and Explore by Touch features to Kindle Fires for vision-impaired users (update)
Amazon's been attuned to the needs of its vision-impaired customers for years, first rolling out text-to-speech technology on its original Kindle e-reader years ago. Today the company revealed plans to add to that feature set in its Kindle Fire and Fire HD (7-inch) tablets with Voice Guide and Explore by Touch technology. Voice Guide's an improvement upon regular text-to-speech tech that reads aloud any action performed by users -- things like announcing app names and book titles when they're selected. Explore by Touch lets folks swipe their fingers across their Fire's display and identifies each onscreen item as their phalanges pass over them. Once aware of what app or piece of content's being touched, a simple tap opens the item. Ready for the new assisted navigation experience right now? Well, all you anxious Fire owners will have to wait, the update doesn't land until early next year. Update: The good folks at Amazon reached out to let us know that the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 already has both Explore by Touch and Voice Guide.
Amazon Appstore update gives its UI a facelift and fixes a list of annoying bugs
The Amazon Appstore updated to version 4.3.14.3C today, mending an account switching logout issue plaguing Android 4.2 users. Other new software highlights include: long press removal of applications from My Apps, a battery drain bug fix and a Kindle Fire HD inspired makeover for the Appstore's UI. Don't have Amazon's alternative to Google Play, but would like to give it a spin? Hit the source link below for a complete installation walkthrough of its latest version. Incumbents, feel free to pull down the update from within the app itself and wave bye-bye to those pesky bugs.
Kindle Fire HD 8.9 gets torn asunder, reveals a Samsung heart
Would you like a little silicon gore to go with that Kindle Fire HD 8.9 review? Well, you're in luck as the folks over at PowerbookMedic have just posted a teardown of Amazon's high-end tablet. Despite sharing a physical similarity to its 7-inch sibling, there are a few surprises inside: like its predominant use of Samsung-sourced components, in addition to a connected 6,000mAh dual battery setup. DIY types can hit up the source below for an illustrated how-to, but as always, we caution you to proceed at your own risk.
Amazon Kindle Fire HD review (8.9-inch, 4G LTE)
What a difference a generation makes. While the original Kindle Fire impressed, there was only one thing that really made it worth considering: it was cheap. Really cheap. But, when we got our hands on the 7-inch, 720p Kindle Fire HD a few months back we had an honest-to-gosh nice device -- that happened to be cheap. And what do we have here? Why, it's a slightly larger version of that very same tablet, but at a significantly higher cost. It's the Kindle Fire 8.9, a tick under two inches larger at the diagonal but with a starting price of $299 for 16GB, $100 more than the cheapest 7-inch Fire HD. It goes way up from there, though, with the 32GB LTE version we tested starting at a rather more dear $499. That's far beyond the threshold of cheap, but does it still make for good value? Join us as we find out.%Gallery-171301%
