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Amazon reverses course on encryption for its Fire tablets
It's been only one day since -- in the midst of a national debate over encrypted devices -- Amazon started pushing a new Fire OS 5 to its tablets that ditched support for device encryption. Just yesterday, the company said that was because customers weren't using the feature. Tonight, the company tells Engadget that it will bring the option back in another update that is due to arrive this spring. Given the attention Apple's battle with the FBI has brought to this security feature it seems logical that encryption remains at least available as an option, even on a device intended for casual usage.
Amazon Fire review: $50 of incredible value
With every passing year, Amazon finds ways to upgrade its Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets while also lowering the cost of entry. The company's Fire HD 6, launched last October, broke the sub-$100 barrier, and yet it now looks relatively expensive in comparison with the new entry-level Fire. At $50, it's pretty much the cheapest tablet money can buy, but don't let that price fool you. Compromises have been made in the race to the bottom, of course, but the pessimistic idiom "you get what you pay for" doesn't really apply here. The new Fire might only be the cost of a night out, but what you're getting in return is a perfectly capable device that sets a benchmark for budget slates.
Amazon's thinner Fire HD tablets always have something to watch
Amazon tablets are for content consumption. That's what the company keeps saying and with today's announcement of new two new Fire HD tablets, it's clear that the company that sells you socks and cat food over the internet is doubling down on that message. The new lighter tablets come in eight and 10.1-inch versions and are only 7.7mm thick. But that's only a small part of the news, the tablets and new Fire OS 5 are laser focused on reading, watching and listening. For example, the new tablets now preemptively download Amazon Prime videos based on your video recommendations so when you are offline, you have videos ready to watch. The new Word Runner feature for reading is to help you quickly get through a chapter or a book in record time, And to make sure you have enough room for all those videos, songs and books you'll be consuming the tablets ship with microSD slots for additional storage for content. Content is king at Amazon and these are the devices they've created to deliver it to you.
Amazon launches Fire OS 5 dev preview, based on Android Lollipop
Amazon is still trucking along with its customized version of Android -- though we'd imagine updates are more focused on the company's Kindle Fire tablets and TV hardware, rather than the disastrous Fire Phone. Developers can get their hands on a preview version of Fire OS 5 today, while the final version is coming later this fall. The new OS finally brings Android Lollipop to the company's devices, though you likely won't see many of Google's interface improvements under Amazon's skin. The addition of Lollipop should also make Fire OS 5 compatible with more Android apps than before. Amazon's also updated its online testing service to tell developers if their apps are compatible with the new OS in 90 seconds. [Photo credit: AP Photo/Reed Saxon]
