When Amazon announced the $199 Kindle Fire, it was the first time I was intrigued by a tablet other than the iPad. I'm a big fan of the Amazon value proposition and I was impressed with their focus on content consumption at a reasonable price.
I didn't have any disillusions about the device being an iPad replacement. I had plans for it being two things: A kitchen counter web browser usable by everyone in the family -and- a replacement for our portable DVD player.
But as it turns out the device doesn't provide a very satisfying web browsing experience and (due to the fragmented content marketplace) it's not a very good value as a portable video player.
Apps
Leading up to the device's release there was a lot of information swirling around about which Android apps would be available on the device. By default, you purchase apps through a special section of the Amazon App store, and there are indeed a number of apps there.
But as you push forward and attempt to make the Kindle Fire perform like your iPhone or even your iPod touch you start bumping into limitations. Read this article to get a sense for what it's like install non-approved Android apps on the device. Within an hour of opening the box I'm wandering around the web learning about .apk's, sideloading, and rooting. The fragmented app situation on the device is a total mess.
Web Browser
Amazon made a big deal about the "Silk" web browser when they announced the Kindle Fire. It was said to speed download times as it predicted where you were going to browse next. My complaint isn't so much with the time it takes pages to load as with the lousy overall experience of navigating web pages on the device.
Often you have to tap on hyperlinks several times to be effective, Apple's brilliant "double-tap" to fit a column of text gesture is missing, and some pages don't function properly. I thought the larger screen size would enable the Fire to be a usable web browser, but on the contrary, the device is slightly worse than a 3 year old 2nd generation iPod touch - which has a much smaller screen - in terms of web browser usability. Browsing the web on an iPhone 4S is a much more pleasant experience than on the Kindle Fire due to the iPhone's speed, excellent page rendering, responsive touch screen and intuitive and effective gestures.
Since web browsing was one of the primary things I was looking for in the device it's a big disappointment.
Books
I've never owned an e-ink Kindle, but so many people say they love theirs, I figured this device was a good time to get in on that experience. Unfortunately I'm not feeling the magic. I thought it was pretty nice that I could borrow "Moneyball" for free from the Amazon Lending Library with Amazon Prime, but I find the experience of reading on the Fire a little awkward given how heavy it is.
Compared to an e-ink Kindle, the battery life of the Fire and lack of 3G connectivity is also a concern. I think I'd be better off getting an entry level Kindle e-reader - they start at $79
Videos
Next to the web browser this was my second area of interest and also a big disappointment. Video playback looks great and purchasing/renting content from Amazon is a breeze (if you know what you want, navigating the Amazon store for free content is still a bit of a morass in my experience).
My beef is with the still-fragmented market for digital content. It's still often cheaper to buy a hard copy than it is to rent or buy. Take for example Rio. $8.99 to buy the DVD (free shipping with Prime) or $14.99 to buy the digital copy. Cars 2 isn't available for purchase - you have to rent it at $3.99 a pop. I see similar with books.
I can guess why this is, but it doesn't make me any more enthusiastic about accepting it. Until it's more convenient and affordable to buy digital content it feels like digital just doesn't make sense yet.
Ripping DVDs for playback on the device is also a complicated mess. After experimenting for a day with the best file format and resolution I still can't get a video to make use of the full screen. It's a total pain in the neck.
Magazines
The magazines I want to read (for example Wine Spectator) aren't available. I want a model where I pay one price for a subscription and I can consume it any way I want to. Print, online, on the go. I don't think this is any better elsewhere but it's certainly not good on the Fire.
Conclusion
It's not so much that the Kindle Fire is a lousy product. It's that Apple spoiled us and Amazon is doing the best they can within the confines of the ecosystem they're operating within.
It's been magical watching our kids intuitively navigate their way around the iPod touch and iPhone. The Kindle Fire has them peppering me with questions about why things don't work. "You've got to tap it a few times sometimes," says our 6 year old. The iPhone found the perfect intersection of being intuitive, looking gorgeous, and being immensely effective.
About the only thing I like about it is the random high resolution images that greet you after waking the device. Unfortunately, the novelty wears off as soon as you swipe your finger across the device and you're reminded of the laggy, herky jerky responsiveness you experienced last time you touched it.
My experience playing with the device the past few days has made me appreciate what a breakthough device the first iPhone was. And what an amazing device the iPhone 4S is. The core interface of the iPhone hasn't changed much since it was released - it's just gotten better and better. Will Amazon be able to pull the same trick? Release a valiant 1.0 and continually improve it through software updates? We'll see, but I don't think I'm going to be along for the ride.
Rating
74/100 points - Not Recommended
Here's a link to this same review on Amazon.com
33 comments:
Did you try to root it at all? I was wondering if it was easier to get video going that way. It wasn't worth the hassle to me, I've been spoiled by the iPad.
I didn't try rooting it. I've already done more tinkering with the Fire the past few days than I've done in the past 4 years with iPod touches and iPhones.
I'm with you. Bring on the $299 7" 8GB iPad and I'm a buyer.
Indeed, but Fire is the most comfortable tablet for reading, emails, reading, and audio books.
Among all the kindle unit they've produced, I guess the kindle fire has received a lot of good reviews from various gadget aficionados. Can't blame them, me myself liked the new features of it.
I used kindle fire to read ebook and listen rather than other devices. My others friends sometimes use iphone to read e book. I think Those are good, To me I just feel more easy when I will go for kindle to read and listen. best Mac software
Amazon make a great job in here for reading e book. My vote for kindle fire but,the iPhone found the perfect intersection of being intuitive, looking gorgeous, and being immensely effective.
apa research paper
Every post containing a lot of information has its own value and everybody love it.
klebe bh
Wonderful post. I appreciate your attention to this subject and I learned a good deal.
Der Bye Bra Klebe-BH besteht aus selbstklebender Folie in
Hufeisenform, welche es ermöglicht die Brustwarzen um einige
Zentimeter nach oben zu positionieren
Klebe-BH
I have read about keep updating about their present works and keep sharing. I love to read on more of this sort. Thank you with regards.
Very informative post thanks for share this with us i highly appreciate you for this information thanks once again for sharing information like this Very informative post Thanks for sharing with you
Such a very useful article. Very interesting to read this article.I would like to thank you for the efforts you had made for writing this awesome article.
Thanks, this is in every respect what I need to know. Thank you, it's very interesting. I wish you all the best and every success in future.
I should definitely do this. My daughter has so many toys! and although a lot of them are in the basement so she doesn't play with them everyday there are still a lot of toys upstairs and by the end of most days she can barely walk in the living room!
It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or suggestions. family dentistry complete gum disease
Do you want to learn meditation online? Light Watkins has been providing meditation course from many year in new york.Get the best meditation audio course online and best personal trainer now.
Maybe the best profit to owning a cell is the security of realizing that they can call for help at whatever time or anyplace they require as well. In past decades, a great many individuals were stranded as an afterthought of the street amidst no place in light of the fact that their auto broke down. Not having the capacity to get help and needing to depend on the graciousness of outsiders who passed by. It was not just baffling it was additionally exceptionally perilous. essay writing
There are still individuals out there who would prefer not to possess a cellular telephone. They would prefer not to pay for a remote telephone plan. For those individuals, a prepaid mobile phone is the ideal blessing. They can utilize the telephone as a part of crises just. With a prepaid wireless, you don't get a month to month bill and you don't need to sign any agreement.
Several things should be checked before a long driving. It is only for the safe driving. All the basic problems of a vehicle, like: break problems, light problems, gear problems.see the migration
Very well created work Thank you
Thank you for this very beneficial information on the right way. This will be very beneficial for those you are just beginning to weblog. Your publish has been more than beneficial. καναπες
thanks for sharing awesome article really very helpful
Very nice I accept as true with your thoughts. Many thanks a great deal I’ve benefited therefore usually I’ll visit your website.
Very good post you have shared here Thanks
EMTV is the prime source for all PNG News such as: PNG politics news, PNG Finance news, PNG Hollywood news, PNG Education news, Advertising on EMTV, PNG share market news, PNG Government jobs, PNG classifieds.
It's a good piece of work. I have no words to express my gratitude. Hopefully waiting for your next post. Buy essay online
Have you been searching for ways to accrue popularity promptly? You merely need to Buy Facebook Followers to become well-known on web. facebook followers service
To get a higher publicity for your facebook account, Folks spend funds to Buy Facebook Followers to quickly obtain hype on internet. buy followers on facebook
Are you presently trying to find genuine genuine YouTube likes? Leave behind your fears, we can adequately guide you to buy YouTube likes. buy youtube subscriber
If you are being guaranteed 24/7 Support and lifetime replacement then don’t think again after you Buy facebook reviews from a service agency. buy facebook page reviews
No longer longing to become popular right now. Buy Facebook Followers as a strategy to gain status and acceptance on internet in a small period. boost fb followers
What are the signs of worldwide recognition of individuals during this modern world? Of course, numbers of followers to the Twitter account is truly a firm sign in these days. permanent twitter followers
I need someone to recommend the best product among those listed on this site???
nice
Post a Comment