Aside from upgrading its Kindle Fire line-up, Amazon touted compelling additions to the software running its new HD tablets. The software is now based on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich instead of the outdated Froyo. Software enhancements include a new email client with support for Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail, a custom Facebook app that allows sharing of highlights from books, a Skype app that makes use of the front facing HD camera, separate profiles for users of a single device, X-Ray app that provides information about the actors or characters in movies and textbooks, FreeTime app for parental controls, and Whispersync for Games for syncing gameplay across multiple Kindle devices.
What Else You Need To Know
- The new Kindle Fire tablets to be released in the U.S. all come with "special offers" ads that appear on the lock screen.
- Microsoft's Bing, not Google, is the default search engine for the new Kindle tablets.
- Amazon has yet to confirm if the new features would be available to previous-generation devices.
- Amazon on Thursday unveiled three new tablets: a 7-inch Kindle Fire HD (starts at $199), an 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD (starts at $299 for Wi-Fi only model and $499 for Wi-Fi + 4G/LTE model), and an updated version of the first-generation 7-inch Kindle Fire (starts at $159).
Other sources
The Kindle has always been considered something of a loss-leader for Amazon, the Kindle Fire particularly, with the retailer using the hardware to encourage content sales of ebooks, video, music, and apps.- Chris Davies, SlashGear
Of course, we’d have loved to see Android 4.1 Jelly Bean included on the Fire, but that operating system wasn’t released in time for Amazon to re-build their custom UI in time for the tablet’s scheduled releases.- Anthony Domanico, intomobile
- Engadget
- Amazon announces X-Ray for Movies, a Kindle feature that uses IMDB to name the actors for you
- Engadget
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Amazon unveils Kindle FreeTime, gives kids their own space to play
We'd call the parental control a long overdue feature, although we're sure Amazon also sees it as a chance to scoop up an extra Kindle Fire sale or two among families.
- TechCrunch
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New Kindle Fire Software: Multiple Profiles, New Email, Custom Facebook And Skype Apps
The Kindle Fire was known for its unresponsive operating system. The demos on stage showed a much more responsive operating system than previous versions. The home carousel was very snappy.
- SlashGear
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Amazon introduces X-Ray technology for Kindle lineup
If you’re watching a movie from Amazon, for example, you can simply tap the film playing and IMDB will pop up with everything you need.
- Other
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Amazon Kindle Fire OS updated with FreeTime custom profiles, X-Ray for movies, and more
Amazon detailed a number of new additions aimed at enhancing the experience for device owners.
- Cell Phone Signal
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The New Kindle Fires Will Display Ads On Their Lock Screens (AMZN)
There's no mention of a way to opt out of the ads. On its e-readers, you can pay the difference between the discounted Special Offers price and the regular price to unsubscribe.
- IntoMobile
- New Kindle Fire HD tablets will carry ads on the lockscreen
- Android Central
- All new Kindle Fire versions will make use of ads on the lockscreen
- Other
- The entire Kindle Fire family will be ad-supported
- Android Central
- Amazon beats Google to the punch, introduces Kindle FreeTime custom profiles
- More...