It has happened. Amazon has launched the new Android-based Kindle reader and it is called the Kindle Fire.
Already this $199 (wow!) tablet is making waves. That’s because Amazon already has a huge library of content available. This one device release puts Android in a position to compete with the iPad – despite some hype, none of the other offerings have counted for much. Amazon’s tablet is different because it leverages a very successful database of content and Kindle brand.
The machine is small at 7 inches and 1024 * 600 pixels (making it a nice high res for the size). They’re going primarily for the reading or mobile audience. It has just 8 GB of storage (“That’s enough for 80 apps, plus either 10 movies or 800 songs or 6,000 books”) but that’s a lot of books, and probably enough space for movies/apps for most users. Not everyone has a gigantic library of apps. But it is supplemented by Amazon Cloud Storage. The battery should be good for 7.5 hours of playback with a 4 hour charge time. And yes, it has USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi (no 3G).
I bet the Kindle Fire is a winner by one minute to midnight on Black Friday (the first day of Christmas shopping in the USA after Thanksgiving). It’s cheap, it’s got a huge library of content to sell, it’s based on a known and liked brand name (Kindle), and did I mention that it is cheap? So cheap, that Amazon might just be selling it at a $50 loss … just to get you to buy it and lots of content!
And I just bought the 3G Kindle last Christmas! What to do? What to do?
If you wanted a reader, then you have one. If you want a tablet, then you mighty want to check out EBay or NewEgg/Gazelle to find out your sales/trade-in opportunities 🙂