Kindle Fire gets bigger, anticipating smaller ipad
Amazon.com unveiled four new Kindle Fire models Thursday, including ones with larger screens, as the online retailer steps up competition with Apple ahead of the holiday shopping season.
Amazon unveiled the larger Kindle Fire amid expectations of a smaller iPad from Apple.
The larger Fires will have screens that measure 8.6 inches diagonally, compared with 9.7 inches for the iPad. The original Fire had 7-inch screens. The speculation on the mini iPad is that it’ll have a 7.85-inch screen. Apple isn’t commenting, but it has an event scheduled next week, during which it is expected to at least announce a new iPhone.
Amazon hopes to make a dent in a tablet computer market dominated by Apple’s iPad. Amazon has been selling lower-priced tablets at thin, if any, profit margins to boost sales of digital items from its online store. As a result, it has been able to compete with the iPad on price.
The basic, 7-inch Fire model will cost $159, down from $199 for the original model. It will start shipping next Friday. The cheapest iPad costs $399 and the most recent models start at $499.
Amazon is coming out with a high-end version called Kindle Fire HD. It will have two Wi-Fi channels for faster transfers. That will be crucial for highdefinition movies and other large files, CEO Jeff Bezos said.