Amazon unveiled the Kindle Fire, an Android-powered tablet that acts more like
Amazon unveiled the Kindle Fire, an Android-powered tablet that acts more like a color e-reader on steroids and will retail for $199.
The Kindle Fire marks Amazon’s first foray into the tablet market, which has so far been dominated by Apple’s iPad. But with its low price–most tablets retail for around $500–and the established Kindle brand, analysts believe Amazon’s product could represent the first legitimate competitor in an area where many other high-end Android tablets have missed the mark.
The specifications, however, are lower than other comparable high-end tablets. While it has a dual-core processor, it lacks many of the other typical features found in a tablet, such as a camera, microphone, and 3G wireless access. It also only has 8 gigabytes of storage space. The device is more intended to compete with Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color, which is essentially a stripped down Android tablet.
The Kindle Fire will be available on November 15
Earlier today, Bezos unveiled a trio of new e-ink Kindle readers, ranging between $79 and $149.