Tablet challenge of prices and quality: Amazon launches new Kindle Fire HDX, 7 and 8.9 ... - Corriere della Sera

HDX Kindle Fire 7 “and 8.9″. Click on the image to see the photo gallery

Into The tablet industry, one of the few that runs as sales even in times of crisis, it is ready for a new wave of products. No epochal novelty but a relentless evolution of features, quality of display, processor speed and refinement of operating systems. The increased competition is driving down prices, always with the best tablet at a cost more accessible, to the benefit of the public.

Into Among the most aggressive proposals are those of Amazon , which has just announced for Italy renewed its line of Kindle Fire . Compared to the first generation jumping is remarkable. Not only hardware but also software. Given the prices, which by tradition of the company Bezos are affordable (the business model on the other hand focuses on the sale of content is not guaranteed margins on the device), the proposal is interesting.

Kindle Fire is a two. On the one hand there is the “family” Fire HDX, the top of the range, with two versions 7 and 8.9 inches.
Then remains on sale the Kindle Fire HD: Amazon proposes the Fire HD 7 inch. That keeps the name of the tablet “small” in 2012, but truth is completely redone. Most thin, light, new materials (soft plastic), with the new design more “edgy” identical (see it in the photos) to that of the Fire HDX. The Dual Core processor goes up to 1.5 GHz while the screen remains Hd with 1280 × 800 resolution (216 ppi), as well as other characteristics remain excellent last year (two stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus, Wi- Fi dual band). On the operating system, Fire OS 3.0, we spend a few words more avanti. All at 139 €, a very attractive price to Amazon, which should ensure a significant role in the low-cost end of the market.

Into The Fire HDX two have in common with the HD 7 the new design, but in most there is a hardware definitely “pumped”. From processor Qualcomm 800 Snapdragon 2.2 GHz,  which makes it (to date) the only tablet on the market with processor above 2 GHz frequency. Associated with the Adreno 330 GPU, will guarantee satisfaction to those who want to play with the titles on the App-Shop Amazon.
The highlight though is the display HDX, the outstanding resolution : 1920 × 1200 pixels (323 ppi) in version 7 inch and well 2560 × 1600 pixel (339 ppi) in the “big” 8.9-inch. Amazon has worked not only on the density of the pixels, but also on the color fidelity, contrast, brightness and attenuation of reflexes: the result is really good to see, that goes well with the vocation to the consumer media (books, comics, video, etc.) typical of the Kindle Fire.
The new body shell is a “unibody” worked with a mixture of glass and nylon. The buttons (standby and volume) are actually on the back © because the new design leaves no space on the sides. 8.9 The model weighs 374 grams (34% less than the 2012 model): very few for a large format tablet (although more smaller than an iPad or other tablet 10 inch Android).
The model now also has a 8.9-inch rear camera  that was missing before: it’s 8 megapixel (1080p HD video) with LED flash, image stabilizer lens with electronic opening f2. 2 . Just a shame that the missing younger brother.

If Into the novelty hardware are significant but incremental improvements more difficult to tell but the most obvious are in the software . We could try a little ‘new Fire from Amazon and the impression is of a radical improvement in usability. The Achilles heel of the previous generation, which also boasted a good quality / price ratio, it was definitely the Fire OS system. Based on Android but “independent” from the Google system. Fire Os 3.0 (code name: “Mojito”) not only is definitely more smooth and responsive but gains essential features that Amazon has added © requests because a loud voice from the utenti. You can access the app through a classic “grid” and not just through the carousel of the previous genearazione. You can (with an upgrade coming up in November) to create folders. There is finally multitasking. There’s the “Do Not Disturb” to disable incoming notifications and calendar reminders at preset times. With Miracast you can duplicate your tablet’s screen on the tv. She was the magazine mail app, with many improvements such as email grouped into conversations. Winking an eye on business use, there is the management of documents via the cloud and even wireless printing to compatible. Support for encryption, Wi-Fi and VPN company and other utilities for use in the enterprise.

Into Obviously remain the strengths World Amazon: full integration with the entire universe of digital content and services; synchronization with other devices with Kindle or Kindle app on other devices (iPad, Android, Windows, etc.), the level and reliability of the service.

Into The Prices , then: Â said the Fire Hd (139 euro), both of Fire HDX can be ordered from now on Amazon.it (but most will also come forward in the sales outlets of the big chains electronics). The HDX Kindle Fire 7 “starts 229A, ¬ (16GB â, ¬ 229.00, 32GB â, ¬ 269.00, 64GB â, ¬ 309.00) and will be delivered by November 13. The Kindle Fire 8.9 “from 379a, ¬ (16GB â, ¬ 379.00, 32GB â, ¬ 429.00, 64GB â, ¬ 479.00) arrives on November 21. For now it will be marketed in Italy LTE versions available in America.

Into The Amazon tablet if it will face tough competition. Next week events are planned launch of the new iPad (5) and iPad mini (2), noncha © tablet Nokia . Also coming Surface 2 of Microsoft. While they are already on the market the tablet Samsung , from the 3rd to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Notes (2014). On the medium size Lg has the interesting upcoming G Pad by 8.3 inches. While Google is now selling directly in Italy its Nexus 7 (2013), and later this year could present a new 10-inch model. On the low-end price, in addition to the plethora of Chinese products (rebranded and Chinese), are moving well Asus and Acer .

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