14 DAY TRIAL // Today Amazon introduced its new line of tablets, the Kindle Fire HDX. There are actually two models to come out under the HDX banner: a 7-inch and an 8.9-inch one.
With this new release, Amazon certainly seems ready to impress design and specification wise. Some aesthetic features have been tweaked here and there, to give the slates a more sleek and slender look. Moreover, the buttons for power and volume have been moved around the back of the device.
Amazon.com Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos commented on the launch. "It's been just two years since we introduced the first Kindle Fire, and the team is innovating at an unbelievable speed," as cited by AndroidOS.
Amazon has packed both slates with a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. The 7-inch model features a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels while the 8.9-inch one comes with 2560 x 1600 pixels.
Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus audio is offered for both. As for internal storage, customers can opt between 16GB, 32GB or 64GB.
Software wise, the tablets run on a specific Amazon OS, which is basically an altered version of Android 4.2 called Mojito. Even if the experience is focused on Amazon-related features, users will find that now they can do things they would be able to do normally, on any other tablet. Email, calendar and text processing apps have been visibly improved.
Speaking about the Amazon side of things, the tablets allow smooth access to the books, movies and the company's growing list of apps. But there's a bonus. Fire HDX owners will be able to download Prime Instant Videos and watch them offline, and they will be given a month of free Prime access when purchasing the next-gen Kindle.
But the most interesting feature to be found in the new Fire HDX is Mayday. This feature is basically a virtual genius bar of sorts. In case users happen to experience some malfunctions or issues with their brand new Amazon gear, there's the Mayday button to push.
As soon as possible, an actual tech support employee will be connected to the device, having full controls and fix whatever has gone amiss.
Amazon will offer both Wi-Fi and 4G versions of the Fire HDX. Those who are excited about getting their new Kindle Fire, can grab theirs soon enough. The Wi-Fi version of the 7-inch HDX will ship starting October 18 and be priced at $229 / €170, while the 4G will be available starting November 14 for $329 / €244.
The Wi-Fi 8.9-inch version will start shipping to customers on November 7 with a price tag of $379 / €281, while the 4G one will come later on December 10, priced at $479 / €355.