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Amazon debuts $299 8.9" Kindle Fire HD, $119 e-ink Kindle Paperwhite

post #1 of 109
9/6/12 at 11:50am
Thread Starter 
Amazon on Thursday announced its new Kindle lineup, led by a 16-gigabyte 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD priced at $299, along with a $199 7-inch model, an updated $159 Kindle Fire with a faster processor, and a new e-ink frontlit Kindle Paperwhite starting at $119.

The new lineup is led by the flagship 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD, which has a 1920-by-1200-pixel resolution packed into a screen that is slightly smaller than the 9.7-inch display of Apple's iPad. The upgraded display is said to have 25 percent less glare than its predecessor with a sharper, clearer picture with better contrast. The 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD starts at $299 for 16 gigabytes, while a 32-gigabyte model is $369.

Though the new 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD lineup was announced Thursday, the hardware will not ship until Nov. 20.

However, a smaller 7-inch version of the Kindle Fire HD will ship Sept. 14 for $199, matching the price of last year's Kindle Fire when it first launched, but packing in 16 gigabytes of storage. A 32-gigabyte 7-inch Kindle Fire HD will run $249, and will be available Oct. 25. Both 7-inch models have a screen resolution of 1280 by 800.

New additions to the Kindle Fire HD also include a forward-facing camera, HDMI output, and new stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus sound, an audio engine exclusive to the Kindle Fire HD. Dual Wi-Fi antennas will also run on the 5 gigahertz band for better wireless connectivity that Amazon claims is 41 percent faster than Apple's third-generation iPad.

On the software side, the Kindle Fire HD has a slew of new features such as Whispersync for voice and games, X-Ray for movies through IMDB, and an all-new e-mail client geared toward corporate users with "world-class" Exchange support. A new built-in app called Kindle FreeTime also allows parents to set time limits for kids based on app categories, such as games, movies and books.

Kindle


With the launch of the Kindle Fire HD, Amazon has dropped the price of the lower-end 8-gigabyte Kindle Fire to $159. While cheaper, the hardware has still been updated to be 40 percent faster and with longer battery life. Customers who order today will have the device ship on Sept. 14.

For its e-ink lineup, the new Kindle Paperwhite display packs in 212 pixels per inch and is a capacitive touchscreen. Amazon's Patented Light Guide technology offers up to 8 weeks of battery life with the backlight enabled.

The device is 9.1 millimeters thin and weights 7.5 ounces. New features include the ability to change fonts on the fly, and an estimate that tells readers how much longer until they finish their current book.

Kindle


Kindle Paperwhite is available for preorder today, and will begin shipping on Oct. 1. It comes in a regular Wi-Fi-only model for $119, while a the version with free 3G connectivity costs $179. Without "special offers," the Paperwhite starts at $139, while the 3G version is $199.

The traditional Kindle has also been given a $10 price cut, to $69 for the ad-supported model, and $89 for ad-free. It features new fonts, crisper text and 15 percent faster page turns, and will begin shipping on Sept. 14.

Amazon
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos at Thursday's press conference in California. Image via CNet.


Amazon is also pushing into the direct publishing business with a new service that allows authors to publish their works for free and within hours. With Kindle Direct Publishing, authors will keep their copyrights and can distribute globally, while receiving 70 percent of sales.
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post #2 of 109
9/6/12 at 11:58am

Now let's see if iPad mini will be cheaper.

The Android way: Our problems become your problems.

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The Android way: Our problems become your problems.

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post #3 of 109
9/6/12 at 11:59am
Kindle Paperwhite? Seems like they're inviting a not-so-friendly nickname...
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post #4 of 109
9/6/12 at 11:59am

So the kindle fire @159 and the kindle fire HD w 16gb @199 designed to compete against ipad mini @???

 

wonder if this strategy will work.....prices are very compelling and they have a formidable infrastructure for content.

 

I still think if you have the iPad and want a second device it will be worth an extra $100 to get the ipad mini so that all your apps and music can be shared.

 

that is.....if there IS an ipad mini!

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post #5 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:00pm

Holy **** balls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I might be trading in my iPad 3 for a Kindle Fire HD 8.9" (32GB) with LTE

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post #6 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:01pm

Looks interesting. I'd be willing to check it out. That 12/mo data plan is pretty damn compelling I must say. I like it.

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post #7 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:01pm

250 mb a month? that's nothing!!!!

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post #8 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:02pm

I hate to say it, but the iPad pricing now seems very out of line with the rest of these tablets. Yes, you get more functionality for the price point, but it seems like the iPads are more "Pro" tablets. I hope Apple can keep their margins up and keep dominating the market.

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post #9 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post
 a new e-ink frontlit Kindle Paperwhite starting at $119.

 

lol.gif

 

I use a kindle myself but that's just funny. 

 

Anyway, as far as the tablets are concerned, despite the fact that I've never once found myself interested in the Fire I'm glad Amazon's pricing them so aggressively. Race to the bottom or not, this will definitely heat up the competition in the 7-inch space. 

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post #10 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:04pm

Pretty excited about the new Kindle Paperwhite. If the screen is as nice as it sounds, I'll be picking one up soon. Kinda a terrible name, though.

 

I think the big thing is going to be data - at $50/year, that puts the 9" Kindle Fire at over $400 cheaper than the iPad for the first year. If the Kindle Fire 1 was any indication, it won't be anywhere as nice as the iPad, but if people are just using it to read, surf the net and watch movies, it'll definitely be something to think about. It's kind of funny, with all of the saber rattling between Microsoft, Google and Apple, Amazon is quietly sitting in the background, plotting world domination.

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post #11 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katonah View Post

250 mb a month? that's nothing!!!!

 

Hell, I barely use 200MB of my data plan allotment on my iPhone 4S... my wife uses even less. And that's even with me tethering my iPad Wi-Fi to my iPhone every once in a while. Most of my data usage is via Wi-Fi. 

 

Your mileage may vary though, of course.

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post #12 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazda 3s View Post

Holy **** balls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I might be trading in my iPad 3 for a Kindle Fire HD 8.9" (32GB) with LTE

If all you did is consume Amazon contents then you should do it.

The Android way: Our problems become your problems.

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post #13 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katonah View Post

So the kindle fire @159 and the kindle fire HD w 16gb @199 designed to compete against ipad mini @???

 

 

Backwards.  The iPad mini is response to  the Kindle Fire.  A few years ago Apple said, "NEVER!" to a 7 inch tablet.  Now they are going to release one at a price comparable to the Kindle Fire. 

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post #14 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by OriginalG View Post

I hate to say it, but the iPad pricing now seems very out of line with the rest of these tablets. Yes, you get more functionality for the price point, but it seems like the iPads are more "Pro" tablets. I hope Apple can keep their margins up and keep dominating the market.

That because these people don't sell for profit.

The Android way: Our problems become your problems.

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The Android way: Our problems become your problems.

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post #15 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:06pm

8.9in, 1920x1200 is 254ppi with an IPS display for $299. That will certainly look better than 7.9 at 1024x768... Of course iOS vs AmazFrankenDroid is a totally different story, but clearly Amazon is trying to take it seriously.

I'm not a pessimist. I'm an optimist, with experience.
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I'm not a pessimist. I'm an optimist, with experience.
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post #16 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:08pm
I buy all my books and magazines from Amazon because it works everywhere. Movies I haven't but I may start leaning more that way with the player available on the iPad now. I won't switch right away, but in a year or two it will be interesting. We have two of the original fires in our house now. Despite the reviews, they get a lot of use here. I am sure one of them will go to the HD, I look forward to checking it out.
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post #17 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:08pm

I think anyone who shed their money to buy Nexus 7 looks a bit silly now.

The Android way: Our problems become your problems.

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post #18 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by matrix07 View Post

I think anyone who shed their money to buy Nexus 7 looks a bit silly now.

Gotta agree there. For the screen alone, I'd be crying myself to sleep ;)

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post #19 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thataveragejoe View Post

8.9in, 1920x1200 is 254ppi with an IPS display for $299. That will certainly look better than 7.9 at 1024x768... Of course iOS vs AmazFrankenDroid is a totally different story, but clearly Amazon is trying to take it seriously.

 

The one thing that concerns me about the new Fire HD is its aspect ratio. I don't know what the iPad's aspect ration is off the top of my head but it's definitely not 16:10 like the Fire. My brother has a 17" MBP with that resolution and I'm just trying to picture holding a tablet like that in portrait mode and it seems like it'll be too long to comfortably use. 

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post #20 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:15pm

I know some of you are going to get on here and trash this thing, but this device has some VERY cool stuff.  

 

1. A screen that reduces clear.  Fantastic and needed on the iPad.

2. Cloud saving for games. I hate having to start over.

3. Multiple profiles and time limits for kids.  Brilliant.

4. Ability to seamlessly switch between Audiobook and printed book.  Never even thought of this.

5. It's own data plan.  Yes, 250 MB is not much, but neither is the $50 price point.  It's enough to help you when your between Wi-fi hotspots and really need to access something.  I will never be used as your primary source of data.

 

Those are the things that have me taking pause.  They are looking at what Apple is NOT doing and the things people are sort of annoyed about and they are responding.  Apple had better take a look at these specs.  In particular to me is the parental controls.  As a parent who has had some issues with my kids doing stuff on the iPad they should not, it STILL pisses me off that Apple wants me to pay a king's ransom and buy 2 iPads to block certain things.

 

New Kindle Fire is worth it to me for that alone.  But I feel compelled to wait and see what Apple does with the iPad Mini before I jump, but I won't hold my breath on the parental controls.  Apple seems hell bent on making parents either pay extra or jump through hoops if they want to protect their kids.

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post #21 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:18pm

While this will undoubtedly be a success, it will never attain the popularity of an iPad or Nexus if Amazon doesn't start selling worldwide. 

 

It's a shame since I suspect Amazon's trump card is their content. Without licensing deals worldwide, an Amazon tablet is a lot less useful. 

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post #22 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:19pm

AAPL and GOOG slightly up from when the Amazon presentation started... AMZN slightly down.

 

There was about a $3  plus/minus range for APPL;  $2 for GOOG;  and about $5.50 for AMZN

"So at the end of the presentation, Steve came up to me and said: Is the iPhone worth criticizing? And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you’ll rule the world."
– Alan Kay –
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"So at the end of the presentation, Steve came up to me and said: Is the iPhone worth criticizing? And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you’ll rule the world."
– Alan Kay –
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post #23 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:20pm

Was just at Amazon trying to see if I can check these new readers and tablets out in detail and they're not even up yet. This just feels sloppy. Nothing on the website and not shipping most of the new stuff for at least another month-and-a-half! Not hating on Amazon, though, just an observation. I somehow get the feeling the timing has more to do with trying to take the wind out of Apple's sails or something like that. Guess we'll just have to wait and see if an iPad mini does materialize.

 

Also, I don't get the whole "better support for Exchange" thing. I really doubt any corporations are seriously looking into a tablet primarily designed to be a consumption device despite its price. 

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post #24 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by matrix07 View Post

If all you did is consume Amazon contents then you should do it.

 

Bull.

 

This thing is compelling.  If you don't think so, you've sold your soul to Apple.  Amazon is clearly trying to address some things Apple refuses to address, such as glare, parental controls, and expensive data plans.  You may HATE Amazon, but THIS is what competition is: offering things your competitor does not.  

 

An iPad knock off it isn't.  If anyone should be upset about the UI its Microsoft.  The Kindle UI looks an awful lot like what I see on my Xbox....

 

 

EDIT:

 

By the way, I am not implying you should ditch your iPad and buy the thing.  Just that it is an appealing device worth taking a look at.  It has merits beyond the "Amazon content".

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post #25 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rednival View Post

3. Multiple profiles and time limits for kids.  Brilliant.

 

 

I also like this feature -- it's a no-brainer in fact.

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post #26 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:20pm

With Amazon making this announcement a month before Apple unveils the iPad mini, it gives Tim Cook time to rethink his strategy.  If Apple planned on releasing the mini with a 7.85" 1024x768 screen at $299 then they now know that something more aggressive is required.
 

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post #27 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thataveragejoe View Post

8.9in, 1920x1200 is 254ppi with an IPS display for $299. That will certainly look better than 7.9 at 1024x768... Of course iOS vs AmazFrankenDroid is a totally different story, but clearly Amazon is trying to take it seriously.

 

 

There is also a 7" kindle fire HD at 1920x1200. that would give even higher ppi.  aint that pretty close to retina display? Did I get this wrong or they are releasing a 7" retina display tablet at 199$ ?

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post #28 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rednival View Post

I know some of you are going to get on here and trash this thing, but this device has some VERY cool stuff.  

 

1. A screen that reduces clear.  Fantastic and needed on the iPad.

2. Cloud saving for games. I hate having to start over.

3. Multiple profiles and time limits for kids.  Brilliant.

4. Ability to seamlessly switch between Audiobook and printed book.  Never even thought of this.

5. It's own data plan.  Yes, 250 MB is not much, but neither is the $50 price point.  It's enough to help you when your between Wi-fi hotspots and really need to access something.  I will never be used as your primary source of data.

 

Those are the things that have me taking pause.  They are looking at what Apple is NOT doing and the things people are sort of annoyed about and they are responding.  Apple had better take a look at these specs.  In particular to me is the parental controls.  As a parent who has had some issues with my kids doing stuff on the iPad they should not, it STILL pisses me off that Apple wants me to pay a king's ransom and buy 2 iPads to block certain things.

 

New Kindle Fire is worth it to me for that alone.  But I feel compelled to wait and see what Apple does with the iPad Mini before I jump, but I won't hold my breath on the parental controls.  Apple seems hell bent on making parents either pay extra or jump through hoops if they want to protect their kids.

 

The screen is definitely awesome, and I suspect we'll be hearing more of the same from Apple if and when the mini shows up. Wasn't there an article just a couple of days ago about potential screen shortages cause the suppliers were having yield problems with the new laminated screens? 

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post #29 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rednival View Post

 

This thing is compelling.  If you don't think so, you've sold your soul to Apple.

Well, the price is certainly compelling. As for the rest (hardware, software), we'll have to see.

 

It doesn't mean anybody sold their soul, just that the price isn't the only (or most important) thing for everybody.

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post #30 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rednival View Post

 

Bull.

 

This thing is compelling.  If you don't think so, you've sold your soul to Apple.  Amazon is clearly trying to address some things Apple refuses to address, such as glare, parental controls, and expensive data plans.  You may HATE Amazon, but THIS is what competition is: offering things your competitor does not.  

 

An iPad knock off it isn't.  If anyone should be upset about the UI its Microsoft.  The Kindle UI looks an awful lot like what I see on my Xbox....

 

 

EDIT:

 

By the way, I am not implying you should ditch your iPad and buy the thing.  Just that it is an appealing device worth taking a look at.  It has merits beyond the "Amazon content".

Oh, it's compelling alright but let put in a little bit of perspective here. If iPad mini is $250. Isn't it cheaper than this Fire HD? Also, you might have a point about parental control but Amazon said many things on their presentation that turned out to be not as spectacular as what they told, like Silk browser technology for example. So I will take the wait-and-see approach here and judge it from the real thing only.

The Android way: Our problems become your problems.

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The Android way: Our problems become your problems.

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post #31 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by herbapou View Post

 

 

There is also a 7" kindle fire HD at 1920x1200. that would give even higher ppi.  aint that pretty close to retina display? Did I get this wrong or they are releasing a 7" retina display tablet at 199$ ?

The 7in HD is 1280x800 not 1920x1200. But it is 199.

I'm not a pessimist. I'm an optimist, with experience.
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I'm not a pessimist. I'm an optimist, with experience.
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post #32 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacVicta View Post

With Amazon making this announcement a month before Apple unveils the iPad mini, it gives Tim Cook time to rethink his strategy.  If Apple planned on releasing the mini with a 7.85" 1024x768 screen at $299 then they now know that something more aggressive is required.
 

 

I don't care if Tim Cook adjusts the price.  But he'd better be looking at how people react to this for sure.  I don't want to say this is the biggest challenger to the iPad ever, but it is the right way to challenge the iPad.  Don't copy.  Research and find out what people wish the iPad would do and fulfill those wishes.  I think Amazon did some major homework on this thing....

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post #33 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thataveragejoe View Post

The 7in HD is 1280x800 not 1900x1200. But it is 199.

It's confusing and it doesn't help when Amazon doesn't have a webpage up explaining the new offerings (at least I'm not seeing it anywhere).

That's one thing Apple gets right. Have the info up, the moment after a keynote!

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post #34 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thataveragejoe View Post

The 7in HD is 1280x800 not 1900x1200. But it is 199.

 

ok thanks makes more sense.  Not retina but very nice resolution for the size.

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post #35 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by matrix07 View Post

That because these people don't sell for profit.


They are selling for profit, they're just making the profit elsewhere. That does make a huge difference to the consumer though. They see functionality, specs and a price tag. How much do they really consider how much they're paying after the initial purchase?

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post #36 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by matrix07 View Post

Oh, it's compelling alright but let put in a little bit of perspective here. If iPad mini is $250. Isn't it cheaper than this Fire HD? Also, you might have a point about parental control but Amazon said many things on their presentation that turned out to be not as spectacular as what they told, like Silk browser technology for example. So I will take the wait-and-see approach here and judge it from the real thing only.

 

As a parent, if the Kindle Fire has decent, or even usable, parental controls it could win me on that alone.  Not for me mind you, but for my kids.

 

 

Right now what Apple offers fits somewhere between unusable and non-existent.

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post #37 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacVicta View Post

If Apple planned on releasing the mini with a 7.85" 1024x768 screen at $299 then they now know that something more aggressive is required.
 

 

Required? For what? To be the cheapest option?

I don't think Apple needs (or even should try to be the cheapest) option to be successful. They're positioning themselves as the premium brand. Like Coca Cola they just need to be practically affordable by the average person.

 

I considered $299 to be uncharacteristically (and needlessly) aggressive for Apple, actually. I'm still not sure it's true, either. But amazon's offer does make it look like a less erratic move, so that I'm pretty confident Apple isn't at all that surprised by amazon's price point.

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post #38 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Banana Bonanza View Post

Well, the price is certainly compelling. As for the rest (hardware, software), we'll have to see.

 

It doesn't mean anybody sold their soul, just that the price isn't the only (or most important) thing for everybody.

 

I don't recall ever mentioning the price.  All I have spoken about is the features.  You're right on if they can deliver, but I think (hope) they will.  Keep in mind, I still love my iPad.  I am rooting for this thing because I want to see some of this stuff find its way to the iPad and iOS.  Success will help make that a reality.

 

EDIT:

And FYI- I have submitted suggestions to Apple for better parental controls features on more than one occasion and it falls on deaf ears.

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post #39 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by matrix07 View Post

Oh, it's compelling alright but let put in a little bit of perspective here. If iPad mini is $250. Isn't it cheaper than this Fire HD? Also, you might have a point about parental control but Amazon said many things on their presentation that turned out to be not as spectacular as what they told, like Silk browser technology for example. So I will take the wait-and-see approach here and judge it from the real thing only.


Good points here I think. It really will boil down to execution (though it could be executed worse than Apple, but 'good enough') but I still think Apple has to reconsider price points now.

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post #40 of 109
9/6/12 at 12:39pm
Another company wants to be Apple, Inc. How cute!
"And just like that, everyone here realizes you're just another sweaty little Google licker with an axe to grind and no idea what he's talking about." --addabox
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"And just like that, everyone here realizes you're just another sweaty little Google licker with an axe to grind and no idea what he's talking about." --addabox
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