Amazon’s highly competitive, $199 tablet / e-reader Kindle Fire has only been available for a few months and already users are speculating about its successor.
The Kindle Fire is the first of Amazon’s Kindle product line to feature a full-featured implementation of Google’s Android OS as well as a full color touchscreen. It sells for an astonishingly competitive price of $199 USD. And for that not-so-hefty chunk of change, you get a decent set of hardware. The current model clocks in at 1GHz via the very power efficient TI OMAP 4 processor, and the 512 MB of RAM put it right on par with some of the higher end tablets. All this leads the curious consumer to wonder, “How much more can we expect from the ‘budget’ tablet computer?”
A similar entry into this market is, of course, the Nook Tablet by Barnes & Noble, the successor to its decently successful Nook Color. The Nook Tablet uses the same processor as the Kindle Fire, has a comparable screen and form factor, comes equipped with twice the internal storage (16 GB), and can be expanded even further (the Kindle Fire has no expansion capabilities) and costs only $49 USD more.
Prior to the introduction of these two devices, the best tablet experience users could be offered in this price range were often poorly made Chinese knockoffs; Things like the ePad which featured grossly underpowered and obscure processors, very little RAM, and unresponsive, resistive touch panels. So, given this evolution of the budget tablet market, what can we expect to see in the Kindle Fire 2?
The future.
One of the biggest problems users of the Kindle Fire have reported has been the speakers. Despite being among the few tablets to have stereo speakers, at times the sound coming from the Fire is almost inaudible. With the thicker than average girth of the device, users can certainly expect to see some improvements in this area.
Just recently, Amazon released a software update to address some issues users were experiencing with the user interface. Reportedly, those with “fat fingers” found navigating the heavily modified interface Amazon placed on top of the standard Android interface somewhat difficult. Users can expect that future software revisions will further improve the user experience and continue to correct bugs.
The Kindle Fire is one of the few tablets to be comfortable seated in the increasingly popular 7″ tablet market. The “big players” like the iPad, Xoom, and Transformer all play on the 10″+ field. It is conceivable, given how much Amazon has begun pushing its digital media delivery services, that a larger Kindle tablet may show up to either replace, or to complement the existing 7″ model.
Finally, the most painfully obvious inclusion we will undoubtedly see in future revisions is increased storage options. Currently, the Fire houses just 8GB of internal flash storage (only 6GB available to the user) which, when compared to the other similarly priced options, is inexcusably small. Additionally, Amazon, certainly in order to keep costs down, did not include any way to expand that storage further by way of a microSD card slot. In order to remain competitive at all, Amazon certainly must either include a substantially increased amount of on-board storage, or provide a external media expansion slot.
With your powers combined!
The naming for Amazon’s Kindle Fire going forward has also lead to some creative debating. Apple have their many cats (Lion, Leopard, Tiger, Panther, etc.), Google have their desserts (Cupcake, Donut Froyo, Gingerbread, etc.), Microsoft has their… indecisive naming scheme. And now, apparently, Amazon has adopted an elemental naming scheme. Will the next version of the Kindle Fire be the Kindle Fire 2? Or will it be the Kindle Water? Earth? Wind? Water? Heart (for some reason)? And is this all a build up to a iPad-killing Kindle Planet?
22 Responses to “Kindle Fire 2: rumors, name change”
The Kindle Fire is perfect. They don’t need an update. Anyone who doesn’t need all of the additional features will be mord than satisfied with the Kindle Fire. So many people purchased Fires, whose left to purchase any newer models? Many who purchased Fire’s are on budgets, and not ready to upgrade yet. Sales of the next model could suffer.
Many people wait for the second iteration of a product for improvements in both hardware and software. I know I’m one of them.
You don’t need to wait for the next version of the Kindle Fire for those upgrades. The company publishes them and you download them right from the device. No sense in waiting. Like the other reviewer, I believe if the next version of Kindle Fire isn’t SPECTACULAR, sales of it will flop. That is because the first version of Kindle Fire is THAT good. How about free 3G all the way around? That would be pretty spectacular.
At this point I don’t see a reason not to wait. I like the Fire, it is a good device, but like all first generation devices it has its issues. I try not to buy the first gen of anything. If for no other reason, waiting gives the end user the chance to compare products.
Apple doesn’t change their product names from generation to generation. The cat names like snow leopard, lion, leopard etc are internal code names for the operating system and they are not used as product names to the public. Same goes for google. Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, ICS…these are internal code names used as references to just versions of the Android software. the iphone has been called the iphone for 4 generations now just like Android is still Android. The Kindle Fire will remain the Kindle Fire. If they make an OS upgrade we’ll probably never know if they have a ‘code name’ for it or if we do it won’t be used to name a physical product. You’re comparing apples and oranges.
The names Apple and Google use are not internal. Yes, iPhone has remained iPhone since 2007. But the reference made in the article is clearly toward OS X. All the “big cats” are not internal code names. Indeed even the box artwork for every version of OS X has featured the feline after which it is named. The same goes for Android. Android 2.2.x is Froyo, 2.3.x is Gingerbread, 3.x is Honeycomb, and 4.x is Ice Cream Sandwich. These names were all supplied by Google and are even featured within the software itself. Go into any Best Buy and pick up a tablet running Honeycomb. The wallpaper is — Honeycomb.
Contrary to Apple’s consistent hardware naming scheme, the Amazon Kindle has never once kept the same name from one revision to the next.
At any rate, the point to be made was that given the current nomenclature, a creative marketing approach utilizing the five popular elements could be exploited; nothing more.
Better yet, DON’T go to Best Buy. They have a bad reputation for cheating their customers.
7″ is just too small for illustrations or textbooks, in my opinion. I’ll wait for a larger version, thank you.
the size of the kindle is one of the main features that appealed to so many so that it may be portable, so im pretty sure they will not be making a larger version. maybe try an ipad
Or, as many have speculated, Amazon will introduce a 10″ version of the Fire.
While the 7″ version appeals to many, the fact remains that there are advantages and disadvantages to both sizes, and that a market exists for each. Amazon has dominated the eReader market because of the Kindle’s price-points, and if they can deliver a 10″ tablet with comparable capabilities to those already in the 10″ market, at a significantly lower price point as seen with the 7″ Fire, then they’ll grab a chunk of that market as well. Really, it’s a business decision that I’m sure Amazon is already working on.
If you follow Amazon’s path for it’s Kindle’s pre-Fire, the first couple releases after the original focused on product improvements like weight, overall size (same screen size, but smaller hardware and less excess), adding connectivity options, and eventually a larger screen version.
I think it’s safe to assume that if you want a color Kindle with a 10″ screen, and more than likely a 3G or even 4G connection, you may get your wish in the near future. For those of you that don’t need all of that, then the Kindle 2, 3, or Fire is probably enough to take care of your needs.
The fire is really great, love it, i have it for a month now and got perfectly used to it
I hope the next gen wont be any larger, lots of people buy it because its easy to takeaway even in pocket and unlike on andcellphones you can actually read a newspapers on it in subway or stuff.
And about the speakers, i don’t have any problems with them, if you want to listen music in some reasonable quality, you got headphones anyways and for the Tv shows/news are the speakers more than enaugh.
though what i miss on fire is the cam and mic for skypecalling
Thank you Amazon. Love my kindle although I am still learning it, since I have no experience with new gadgets.
Being a senior citizen (84) my mind is not as sharp as it used to be 10 years ago.
Woefully disappointed with Kindle Fire, the apps etc. All the deficiencies noted above are really annoying. Cannot stand the Carousel. Also too heavy. Would have been better off buying one of the upgraded kindle readers.
All I want changed is so Kindle Fire has 3G.
I’d be a buyer when it has a larger screen(ie. size of a standard sheet of paper), audio jack, mic jack. Love the idea of the cloud, Amazon Prime, and yes, I’d be willing to pay for it as long as it isn’t outrageous. Trust me, I will be buyer if they could do it for 300-350. And who cares about the memory if they offer the cloud.
Totally agree with comments above on 2nd gen buyers and larger screen (I’m holding out for both). There is no reason Amazon can’t launch a complementary, larger (9 or 10″) device with more features (notably camera for skype, SD/memory expansion, etc.)at a higher price point. One size doesn’t fit all for these very “personal” devices. If Amazon releases a 9-10″ version of the Fire with a camera in the $300-350 range I’m all over it. I need the larger screen as my eyes aren’t great and I can’t use tiny fonts for web pages and books – so the 7″ is too small for me (granted I will be giving up some portability with 9/10″ vs 7″). I’ve been holding out for either this or the iPAD 3 – if Amazon does this device in this price range they will put a SERIOUS hurt on Apple without question. I know it can be done as I’ve been in the electronics industry for many years. Adding the camera sensor is only a few dollars (doesn’t need to be high-res, can be a cheap sensor relying on the 1GHz processor), the SD memory card slot ~ $1-2 for the mechanical + ID changes, and the larger LCD is the wild card – it could add $30-$60 to the BOM cost (depends totally on LCD supplier sweet spots of cost/size). I know they want to push the cloud model and this is one of the reasons they gave for the small memory, but I think it is silly not to at least provide the option of expanding local memory via an SD slot for those that want it. I hope and expect this complementary larger LCD device to be available in 2Q (dads and grads) or summer time (back to school). Worst case next fall (Chrismas).
My wife owns one of these. She loves it. I wish it had a front camera and mic.
The biz models is terrific: they bundle the hardware with a 1 month trial of the Prime membership, which many people will find useful (like we did) and renew. There go $ip extra revenue. Plus all the media people buy from the via the kindle.
Brilliat move. I am sure they can subsidize a 9 inch ipad killer for ~ 350 USD
Sorry for the typos (on the train). I meant to say extra $80 in revenue.
I’m actually thinking they’ll go a different direction with the naming. Kindle is already a fire related word, so the Kindle Fire is a natural step for that. I’m expecting the next one to continue the fire theme. Perhaps the Kindle Blaze or the Kindle Inferno. At least, that’s my take.
Btw, I LOVE my Kindle Fire. With or without 3G (which I couldn’t afford on top of my phone plan and my internet plan, anyway), it’s an amazing little piece of hardware, particularly for the money. I’ve been happy with it every step of the way. Easily the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten.
I sent my Kindle Fire back to Amazon after about 2 weeks of ownership in the fall. My problem is with the on/off switch, which is a button, instead of a slide as in the Kindles. This is a problem for left-handers, who hold it in the right hand and work it with the left hand. The location of the button is such that it turns off unexpectedly. Annoying, to say the least. I’ve told Amazon I’m waiting for Fire 2. Hoping it will have a better on/off. I’d also like 3G.
Amazon’s naming scheme isn’t “elemental”. It’s fire based. You kindle a fire. You don’t kindle water or wind. That’s why ‘Kindle Fire’ is a clever name. Maybe it’ll be the Kindle Inferno.