Amazon Launches Kindle Fire HDX Tablets

New submitter casab1anca writes "In classic Amazon fashion, without much fanfare, a bunch of new tablets just popped up on their homepage today. The new range, dubbed HDX, is available in the usual 8.9" and 7" versions, with improved hardware and software, but perhaps equally interesting is the revamped 7" Fire HD from last year, which goes for just $139 now." Compared to the Kindle Fire HD, the new models feature a jump in display density (216 PPI to 323 PPI for the 7" and 254 to 339 PPI for the 9"), a switch from a dual-core TI OMAP Cortex-A9 (at 1.2/1.5GHz) to a quad-core 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon, and a bump from 1G to 2G of RAM. On the software side, Android has been upgraded from 4.0 to 4.2.2 and Amazon added a few new features to their applications. Businessweek has an interview with Jeff Bezos running today too (starting a bit down the first page).

Comments

Screen resolution

[ardmhacha]

"Exclusive 8.9" HDX display (2560x1600)"

Dear Laptops

Please increase your screen resolution to something usable.

Thanks

Re:Screen resolution

[Russ1642]

They can't because people are still on Windows, which heavily depends on bitmaps. If you increase the screen resolution that much it screws up lots of existing applications to the point of being unusable.

Re:Screen resolution

[Anonymous Coward]

You're talking about strapping a Kindle to your face and some stranger making conversation on the bus is the weirdo?

Re:Screen resolution

[ArcadeMan]

I don't like when weirdos on the bus keep asking me questions about the hentai movies I'm trying to watch.

Re:bootloader still locked?

[geekoid]

Is it safe to assume you don't own a microwave, TV, and car becasue there not easy to change the boot?

Re:Google Play Store

[Archangel Michael]

You can. You just can't do it without sideloading the Play Store App. It does require gaining "root", in order to sideload the play store APP.

This alone should cause the"average" user to balk at Kindle anything. If you look at any other Android Tablet, and find one that uses Play Store, then you can add the Kindle App to it, and it becomes essentially the same thing (all other spec being the same).

Ownership is being able to modify

[cervesaebraciator]

I'll not complain that my truck has no unlocked bootloader since it doesn't boot. But I wouldn't buy a truck that had only proprietary, locked bolts that no standard set sockets could turn.

While my truck does not boot, it does start up and I can change the starter motor or anything else as I please. I can swap out the engine entirely, convert it biodiesel or electric, or take it apart and sell its components as spares. That's how I know I own it: however it may have come, I can make it as different as I want.

Re:Ownership is being able to modify

[MightyYar]

Your truck almost certainly has a computer running the show, and that computer is almost certainly not open.

Re:Ownership is being able to modify

[cervesaebraciator]

Yes, quite. That's part of the reason I added the bit about being able to change out the engine.

Indeed, I'm not terribly happen that vehicle computers are often locked down. But relative to, say, and iPad, the vehicle computer is one small, closed, replaceable part on a far more open system. In other words I was saying OP was not irrational or inconsistent in wanting an unlocked tablet, even if he/she happened to own a car.

But, then, now that I put it that way I don't know why anyone would object to someone wanting a more open tablet. Likewise I can't see why one ought to be regarded as hypocritical for wanting an open platform if he happens to own some things which are closed. It's a rather odd response to OP's post really.

Re:Ownership is being able to modify

[coinreturn]

...the vehicle computer is one small, closed, replaceable part on a far more open system.

Wait, you're under the illusion that you could replace your vehicle's computer with some other computer? So your manufacturer gives you all the specs and protocols to control the engine, transmission, ABS, entertainment system, airbags, climate control, etc? Wow, nice.

Re:Ownership is being able to modify

[MightyYar]

That's part of the reason I added the bit about being able to change out the engine.

You can't do that without voiding the warranty, though. If you are going in that direction, then you can just root the Kindle HD. You can't unlock the bootloader, but AFAIK that is not a real impediment, since you have root you just boot "twice" and load whatever code you want.

I don't know why anyone would object to someone wanting a more open tablet.

I don't object to that. I object to every story about a proprietary toy getting polluted with "but it's not open!". Yeah, we know, but if it doesn't impact our use of the tablet then it isn't even a mark in the "negative" column. And historically, the Kindles seem to get rooted so it REALLY is immaterial.

Re:bootloader still locked?

[h4rr4r]

My car will take me where I choose, the microwave will cook what I want, and the monitor will display what I want.

This tablet is not like those. If I could buy bootloader unlocked versions of all of those I would as well.

Where is my Amazon Streaming Video app?

[CosaNostra Pizza Inc]

Nice but when are they going to release an Amazon Streaming Video App for Amazon Prime customers who use Android (other than Kindle) devices?

Re:bootloader still locked?

[coinreturn]

And it's priced accordingly. Amazon is willing to accept meager profit on hardware under the assumption you will buy software from them. It's like the wireless providers subsidizing phone prices, except the contract never ends.

Is it still just Amazon content consumption?

[water-and-sewer]

I have a Nexus 7 and like it, so after a year of playing with an Android tablet, I figured I knew what all tablets were like. Then a friend let me try his Kindle and I was bewildered how locked down and confusing it was.

It was great for downloading books and movies from Amazon but from no where else, and I wasn't overly impressed by its other features. It was also freaking HEAVY.

I concluded it was simply a window/screen through which you send your money to Amazon, and not good for much else. Give me a stock Android tablet any day. On my Nexus I've got a Nook app, but I've also got several other ebook readers (Aldiko is great). And I guess I could put a Kindle app on it if I wanted.

Amazon has a great book store and lots of other media too. But if the new Kindle is just a better version of their last Kindle, they can keep it - give me stock Android and a choice of apps any day of the week over a device that's been locked down to be a simple content consumption (hate that word) device.

Re:Is it still just Amazon content consumption?

[Optic7]

Exactly, I came on here to say basically the same thing. The new Kindle Fire HDX 7" is the same price as a Nexus 7 of the same configuration (16GB, WiFi): $229. Why on earth would anyone buy a hobbled, locked down thing that does nothing beyond what the more open option does (in fact, it does a lot less)? In fact, that price on the HDX is for the "special offers" version, which forces you to have ads. If Amazon was subsidizing it to be under $100 to compensate for all the shortcomings it would be a different story, but at the same price? I just don't get it.

Ok, so I just did a search for a comparison between the two, and apparently the HDX has an upgraded CPU and GPU vs. the Nexus. Big flipping deal. They should still make it $100 or less if they want us to put up with major lockdown and ads. Talk about one being born every day.

WTF, where is my laptop with a 9"

[bored]

2560x1600 display.

Dell, Hp, Asus, etc????? Hello!!!!!!

Idiots.