Amazon recently unveiled their new Kindle Fires , offering three different sizes.
The company also just announced an updated version of the operating system, Fire OS 4.0. Some of the new features include the ability for families to share content across Amazon accounts — including Instant Video — as well as more kid-friendly profile features that allow children to easily sign into their apps and access videos.
In addition to the new features, the new Amazon Kindles offer new color choices — blue, bright green, magenta, black, and white — and also have better displays than last year’s Kindle. The screens are brighter and more colorful, and the smaller version has a better, higher resolution (252 pixels per inch instead of 216 pixels per inch). The screens are also made of Gorilla glass, making them resistant to cracks and scratches, and have been tested to be break-proof from up to a meter. since people tend to use their Kindles at places like the beach or at pools, Amazon also made sure that the new Kindles can withstand sunscreen, salt water spray, and fresh water spray — but they are not waterproof. Amazon even used a machine called a tumbler to test how the tablet would hold up if it spent an entire year being knocked around in a cluttered purse.
The lowest price model begins at just $99. As an Amazon executive said during a product briefing with the press, “We make money when customers use these devices, not when they buy them. We sell at break-even prices.”
Below are a list of the new Kindle models and their prices.
Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 — Priced at $379, this is the most expensive model. According to Yahoo News , this Kindle is the “first Android tablet in the U.S. to boast Qualcomm’s fast 2.5-GHz Snapdragon 805 CPU, promising a quantum leap in graphics power.” The screen is 2560 x 1600 pixels that reportedly “puts the iPad Air to shame.” It also features Dynamic Lighting Control, and an optional Bluetooth keyboard and Origami case that can turn the HDX into a mini PC.
Kindle Fire HD Kids Edition — This Kindle model starts at $149. It has the same specs as the Kindle Fire HD 6 and 7, but the Kids Edition also comes with an ultra-durable case. However, the case is just secondary to the Worry-Free Guarantee, which covers any damage to the Kindle for two full years. Even if it’s been cracked by a hammer, or doesn’t work because your kid decided to try to stick his peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the port, Amazon will replace it. And as an additional bonus, Amazon includes a year of FreeTime Unlimited with the purchase of this Kindle model, which allows easy access to around 5,000 kid-friendly books, movies, apps, and more.
Kindle Fire HD 6 and HD 7 — The HD 6 is priced at $99, whereas the HD 7 is priced at $139. Both models offer a 1280 x 800 pixel display, as well as quad-core MediaTex CPUs. The difference in model price is due to screen size. The HD 6 offers a 6-inch screen and the Kindle Fire HD 7 offers a 7-inch screen.
The devices will go on sale in October, and are available for pre-order now… just in time for the holiday season.
[Image via The Business Insider ]