Amazon Launches Updated Fire HD 8 Tablet Now With Alexa Voice Services (hothardware.com)

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Amazon Launches Updated Fire HD 8 Tablet Now With Alexa Voice Services (hothardware.com)

Posted by BeauHD on Thursday September 8, 2016 @09:00PM from the fire-sale dept.

MojoKid writes from a report via HotHardware: For the first time, Amazon's Alexa voice service is headed to a tablet. It's one of the standout features of Amazon's new Fire HD 8, a budget slate built to offer users all-day battery life, faster performance, and double the onboard storage of previous versions Fire HD tablets -- all for a low $90 price tag. The Fire HD 8 tablet's 8-inch HD (1280x800) IPS display is driven by a quad-core 1.3GHz processor and 1.5GB of RAM, and a capacious 4,750 mAh battery that is claimed to deliver up to 12 hours of mixed-use battery life. In addition, Alexa voice services works on the Fire HD 8 just as it does on other supported products, only here the voice assistant is conjured up by long pressing the home button. You can then task Alexa with reading the news, giving weather reports, playing songs, and so forth. The new Fire HD 8 32GB model is available to pre-order now for $90 with special offers (ads) or $105 without.

32 of 61 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

$15 for ad-free? by SeaFox · 2016-09-08 21:50 · Score: 1

I'm actually impressed that's all they want. I feel like previously Amazon hardware has wanted more like $25-40 to avoid "special offers".
1. Re:$15 for ad-free? by GrumpySteen · 2016-09-08 23:21 · Score: 1
  
  It depends on the model of Kindle in question. On some it's $30, some it's $20 and on this one it's $15. As far as I know, none have ever cost more than $30 to remove ads.
Don't forget the tax by Anonymous Coward · 2016-09-08 22:09 · Score: 1

In the US, listed price doesn't include tax. And EU has far more consumer protection laws which means manufacturers has to charge more to provide at least two year warranties which American consumers don't get.
1. Re:Don't forget the tax by Anonymous Coward · 2016-09-08 23:29 · Score: 1
  
  The laws are supposed to protect customers at no extra cost.
  ROFL. That's hilarious, where on earth did you get that idea from?
2. Re:Don't forget the tax by Anonymous Coward · 2016-09-08 23:30 · Score: 1
  
  Sure, then they can deliver the products by unicorn drone. Makes perfect sense.
3. Re:Don't forget the tax by GrumpySteen · 2016-09-08 23:42 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  US customers pay tax in addition to the list price, so they aren't getting these for $90.
  Demanding that the UK get preferential treatment by paying the same $90 list price (20% of which will go to taxes, leaving Amazon with a sale price of $75, which is almost certainly a money-losing proposition) shows that you have a shockingly retarded understanding of economics.
4. Re:Don't forget the tax by Anonymous Coward · 2016-09-09 02:00 · Score: 1
  
  Companies set their local prices based on the cost of doing business in that location, so if there are laws and regulations that push up the costs in a given location, the prices are going to be higher there; that's just basic business. To try to prevent companies from passing on the costs to customers would be unworkable, because unless you're going to go down the route of the government setting the prices that companies sell their products for, the companies can charge what they like, and they don't have to justify it or break it down. That kind of price control would in any case be illegal in most free-market economies.
5. Re:Don't forget the tax by FlyHelicopters · 2016-09-09 02:16 · Score: 1
  
  So basic laws that protect us from underhanded corporate tactics should justify a cash grab and exploitation?
  Were you under the delusion that those laws were free?
  Why is it that people think they can get such laws passed and there will be no response or cost to them?
6. Re:Don't forget the tax by bill_mcgonigle · 2016-09-09 04:25 · Score: 2
  
  US customers pay tax in addition to the list price, so they aren't getting these for $90.
  "Residents of certain high-tax US states", you mean.
  I pay the price that Amazon posts on their products, no more. Live free or die.
  
  --
  My God, it's Full of Source!
  OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
What does it cost without Amazon's garbage? by EzInKy · 2016-09-08 22:10 · Score: 1

Might be a decent product if Amazon didn't load it up with shit.

--
Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
1. Re:What does it cost without Amazon's garbage? by reboot246 · 2016-09-09 00:13 · Score: 1
  
  That's true about way too many products nowadays.
  
  Another gripe about the Fire HD is that it's Amazon's version of Android and they don't update it very often.
2. Re:What does it cost without Amazon's garbage? by unrtst · 2016-09-11 04:16 · Score: 1
  
  Agreed. I'm a bit pissed at everyone that's commented here and there that their Fire tablet is on par with other tablets. Hardware might be decent enough, especially for the price, but not the software.
  I picked up a couple during a recent sale. I think it was $40 for an 8gb, and $50 for a 16gb, or around those amounts. Gave one to the mother-in-law as a replacement/upgrade for her ancient Nook tablet. Instant let down though:
  * no play store, means
  * no google maps app
  * no google hangouts app
  * no gmail app
  * no ability to cast to chromecast
  * etc
  To make matters worse, there's no easy way to make a simple bookmark on the main screen, so you can't treat the web versions of those as apps. You have to open the browser, go to bookmarks, then go to that page. That's too much for this use case.
  I also couldn't find firefox or chrome for it, so couldn't use them instead.
  I could get by with this tablet, but there's some ugly hoops to jump through, and I'd put more effort into getting cyanogenmod on it, but this isn't for me. These restrictions are wacky. I understand why, but the justifications are pure political BS that only hurts the consumer.
Not possible with free software. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-09-08 22:13 · Score: 1

If this tablet was running free software, any user could simply remove the "special offers" (aka adware rubbish). Not to mention you wouldn't have to worry about endless tracking and spying because you could inspect the code, and even modify and recompile it yourself to suit your needs. So any attempts at snooping would be stopped short and/or only applied to users who consent for any reason.
Just another horror story from the Proprietaryland.
1. Re:Not possible with free software. by GrumpySteen · 2016-09-08 23:49 · Score: 1
  
  Sounds great. Why don't you list the plethora of free software based tablets that are comparable to the Kindle's specs and price so that everyone can buy those instead.
  Oh, right. There aren't any that come remotely close. I wonder if that could have anything to do with companies producing hardware having to actually make a profit?
2. Re:Not possible with free software. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-09-08 23:52 · Score: 1
  
  So snooping on users and ubiquitous spyware and customer-hostile tactics should be defended because they "have to make a profit"? Were you dropped on your head right after being born?
3. Re:Not possible with free software. by squiggleslash · 2016-09-09 08:40 · Score: 1
  
  I'd rather Amazon "spied" on me, than my creepy next door neighbor with the binoculars.
  
  --
  You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
Amazon's support policy by taxman_10m · 2016-09-08 22:17 · Score: 1

How long will the device get updates?
1. Re:Amazon's support policy by ArtemaOne · 2016-09-09 05:27 · Score: 1
  
  probably about 7
Anyone experienced with 1.5 GB RAM? by drinkypoo · 2016-09-08 22:52 · Score: 1

I've noticed that with 1GB [modern] Android is a turd, but with 2GB it's pretty smooth. Is 1.5GB really enough, or should one hold out for 2GB?

--
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
OK, now give us a new HDX by slaker · 2016-09-09 00:48 · Score: 1

I have an HDX 8.9. I actually love it for the combination of form factor and performance. It's lacking an SD slot and mine has been heavily modified from its stock software load, but more importantly to me, NO ONE has replacement parts for it, and it's old enough that the battery has deteriorated from a new model. I loved it to death, apparently.
The thing is held together with glue and as I understand it, HDX 8.9s are nightmarish to work on, so I'm just going to have to live with a device that can only manage 4 hours of screen-on time and hope that Amazon eventually gets around to offering an updated model of similar specs.
And that's the problem, because the product line hasn't been refreshed in two years or more. New Fire HDs don't live up to the hardware specs of the HDX. They're the wrong sizes and weights, have lower screen resolutions and slower CPUs. Even as somebody who isn't bothered by having to side-load a significant number of apps to overcome the shortcomings of Amazon's app store, it's a drag.
I have an nVidia Shield (another tablet that is no longer being manufactured) that I also like well enough, but it doesn't quite live up to the screen of the HDX. Samsung's high end tablets typically have gorgeous screens but never, ever get OS updates. Asus and LG make 8"-class devices are likewise not quite satisfactory.
I'm sure Amazon sells a lot more $200 HDs than $400 HDXs but damn, some of us actually do want one.

--
-- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
1. Re:OK, now give us a new HDX by lexman098 · 2016-09-09 06:55 · Score: 1
  
  Buy a Nexus 9
2. Re:OK, now give us a new HDX by slaker · 2016-09-09 15:41 · Score: 1
  
  That would be a step down from an HDX. They only have 2GB RAM and they're 4:3 (2000x1500) instead of 16:9 (2560x1440). The 16:9 thing is nit-picky but since I do more reading than anything else, having something in a more traditional book shape is appreciated.
  
  --
  -- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
Re:Don't forget the tax rate by jratcliffe · 2016-09-09 01:06 · Score: 1

UK: £90, or $120 UK VAT: 20% UK price before VAT: $100 So, the price that Amazon actually gets (after tax) is 11% higher in the UK than the US.
Alexa by rossdee · 2016-09-09 02:14 · Score: 1

Would that be aLexa Doig who played ;Rommie' the computer in Andromeda
that would be cool.
Re:Don't forget the tax rate by FlyHelicopters · 2016-09-09 02:22 · Score: 1

At current exchange rates, the UK price is the equivalent of 120 USD; that's 33% more.
How much of that $120 goes to VAT?
How much goes to the cost of doing business in the UK?

Almost as bad as your understanding of mathematics.
Shame your understanding is even worse than his...
Re:Fire "HD" 8? by AF_Cheddar_Head · 2016-09-09 03:19 · Score: 1

While I don't entirely disagree with you about truth in marketing, the vast majority of over-the-air "HD" broadcasts top out at 1080i so well you know.
4W by TechyImmigrant · 2016-09-09 04:41 · Score: 1

A friend stuck an ammeter in line with his Alexa. It was drawing 4W continuous, night and day.
The cost is more that you paid for it.

--
I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
1. Re:4W by rat7307 · 2016-09-11 14:21 · Score: 1
  
  Based on my calculation that uses a whole $4.20 of power a year.
  Hardly an overhead,
  
  --
  Burma?
For film, i vs. p doesn't matter by tepples · 2016-09-09 05:31 · Score: 1

Almost anything filmed is at 24 fps or lower, so 1080i vs. 1080p doesn't really matter because the frame can be reconstructed from two fields. The only time I know of when interlacing causes an uncorrectable problem is during rapid action or pans in live sports.
1. Re:For film, i vs. p doesn't matter by AF_Cheddar_Head · 2016-09-09 05:39 · Score: 1
  
  Agree completely with the assessment that P v I is usually irrelevant, more commenting on the GPs assertion that HD=1080p when the vast majority of what people call HD ain't 1080p.
Basic HD vs. full HD by tepples · 2016-09-09 05:41 · Score: 2

Isn't it a little disingenuous to call a tablet that's only capable of 1280x800 "HD"? The TV people get away with calling low-res 720p televisions "HD"
1280x720 is still higher than what came before it (704x360 NTSC, 704x480 anamorphic NTSC, 704x432 PAL, or 704x576 anamorphic PAL).
It's just that as technology marches on, the definition of "high" changes. It's like "HIGH DEFINITION GRAPHICS" above the cartridge slot on the 1989 Sega Genesis when its VDP was just 240p. The Genesis was higher definition than what came before it: two 320x224 pixel scrolling planes with 100% sprite coverage and 61 of 512 colors, as opposed to one 256x224 pixel scrolling plane with 25% sprite coverage and 25-31 of 52-64 colors on the NES or Master System. In fact, the Genesis had a 480i mode (320x448 pixels) that only Sonic 2 ever really used due to video memory concerns.

much the same way the USB people managed to pull the wool over people's eyes with their "Full Speed" vs "High Speed" nonsense
In USB 1, 12 Mbps was the full speed of the interface. High speed (480 Mbps theoretical, 280 Mbps usable) didn't come until USB 2.

but reality is most people know 1080p as "HD".
The marketing terms to distinguish the two are "basic HD" (720p-class) and "full HD" (1080p).
Re:Fire "HD" 8? by Zxern · 2016-09-09 13:31 · Score: 1

Most tablets in this price range are at that resolution unfortunately. Seems only the higher end tablets actually have a full 1080 display.