There's never been a better time to be in the market for a
sub-$200 tablet. Right now your choices include the $199 Kindle Fire HD andNexus 7, the $179 Nook
Tablet, and the $159 Kindle Fire 2012 edition. In November we'll see the
debut of the Nook HD and I have a feeling it won't be the last budget-priced
tablet that's worth your time.
So what exactly is the 2012 Kindle Fire? Essentially, it's
the 2012 version of the 2011 Kindle Fire with some hardware and software
upgrades. It's not the best or most cutting edge tablet on the block, but for
only $159 it's worth a look for media consumption-oholics and Amazon Prime
members.
Design
The Amazon Kindle Fire ($159 for 8GB) is, from a design perspective, virtually the same Kindle Fire that was released in 2011. It's still boxy; it still sports a rubbery back; and it's still a bit too heavy and a bit too thick, especially when put up against newer tablets like the Nexus 7. I also noticed that its outer protective shell is a bit more angular and less rounded than the original Fire's.
The Amazon Kindle Fire ($159 for 8GB) is, from a design perspective, virtually the same Kindle Fire that was released in 2011. It's still boxy; it still sports a rubbery back; and it's still a bit too heavy and a bit too thick, especially when put up against newer tablets like the Nexus 7. I also noticed that its outer protective shell is a bit more angular and less rounded than the original Fire's.
In the middle of the bottom edge, from left to right sit a
headphone jack, a Micro-USB port, and power/sleep button. At either side of the
top edge is a single speaker. Volume buttons are still nowhere to be found.
Though 2011's Kindle Fire included a Micro-USB-compatible
power adapter, for some strange, ill-conceived reason, Amazon chose not to
include one with the Kindle Fire and instead supplied only a Micro-USB-to-USB
cable. While the tablet will charge when connected to a plugged-in computer, it
will do so very slowly and only when asleep. Thankfully, if you own the
original Fire (or pretty much any Micro-USB-to-power adapter) its charger
should be compatible with the new Kindle Fire.
(Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)
Software features: The refining
Amazon has completely redesigned the Kindle Fire's interface. It's sleeker, more streamlined, and feels more mature, eschewing the toylike quality the original had. Fonts are sharper and light and dark images feel more contrasted thanks to the new interface's darker tone. The carousel interface is still here, but scrolls faster and smoother, with app icons rendered in less pixely forms. Apps can be removed from the carousel at will and/or added to favorites, which appear at the bottom of the screen, negating the need to scroll through your entire catalog to find the app you want.
Amazon has completely redesigned the Kindle Fire's interface. It's sleeker, more streamlined, and feels more mature, eschewing the toylike quality the original had. Fonts are sharper and light and dark images feel more contrasted thanks to the new interface's darker tone. The carousel interface is still here, but scrolls faster and smoother, with app icons rendered in less pixely forms. Apps can be removed from the carousel at will and/or added to favorites, which appear at the bottom of the screen, negating the need to scroll through your entire catalog to find the app you want.
Newsstand, Books, Music, Videos, Docs, Apps, and Web return
as top-of-the-screen content tab options, and have now been joined by Shop,
Games, Audiobooks, Photos, and Offers. Search returns as well and now allows
you to search in Amazon's stores as well as your libraries and the Web.
Settings can be accessed with a quick swipe down from the
top bezel and now features more options for social-network integration, more
customization, and tighter security. Within each content tab, there are still
the very useful cloud and device denotations at the top that help signify which
pieces of content are on the Fire or currently in the cloud.
Software features: The newening
The streamlined interface isn't Amazon's only accomplishment here; it has added several new features to further set its Fire line apart from other tablets.
The streamlined interface isn't Amazon's only accomplishment here; it has added several new features to further set its Fire line apart from other tablets.
With X-ray for books you can get more information about
characters, terms, and historical figures mentioned in a Kindle book, and it
also highlights exactly where (via page number and a graph) in the book those
details are mentioned and can jump right to the appropriate page. Definitely
useful, but the ability to search for specific terms should be at the top of
Amazon's to-do list when the time comes to revise this feature.
X-ray for movies is frankly a lot less useful, as it's
essentially an integrated IMDb feature that provides access to actor bios while
you watch the movie. Just tap the screen while watching "The Hunger
Games," for example, and a drop-down menu of the actors appearing in the
current scene appears. Select whichever actor you're interested in, and as long
as that person is actually listed in IMDb, you'll have access to his or her
bio. Impressively, this works in real time, adding and removing people from the
list as they enter and exit scenes. It's not compatible with all movies yet,
and I've yet to see it featured in any of the TV shows I've watched on the
device.
Immersion reading uses the audio and Kindle versions of a
single book and combines them to create an experience currently not
reproducible on any other tablet. As the text is read by the original audiobook
reader, each word is highlighted on the Kindle book version, allowing you to
follow along, bouncing-ball-style (well, sans an actual bouncing ball), with
the story. It takes a bit of getting used to, but can be appealing for
audiobook fans like myself who love to listen, but want to retain the
experience of actually reading as well.
In addition, Whispersync for voice allows you to stop
reading at any spot in the Kindle version of a book and then continue later at
that exact spot in your audiobook and vice versa.
source: http://reviews.cnet.com/kindle-fire/buyetail.com
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