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| Amazon's launches new Kindle Fire tablets in UK | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Amazon has unveiled three new Kindle Fire tablets at an event in California. | Amazon has unveiled three new Kindle Fire tablets at an event in California. |
| The Kindle Fire HD comes in two options: either with a 7in (17.8cm) screen or an 8.9in (22.6cm) one. That pitches the latter directly against Apple's slightly larger iPad, the bestselling tablet on the market. | The Kindle Fire HD comes in two options: either with a 7in (17.8cm) screen or an 8.9in (22.6cm) one. That pitches the latter directly against Apple's slightly larger iPad, the bestselling tablet on the market. |
| A third device upgrades its original model, and cuts its price. | A third device upgrades its original model, and cuts its price. |
| Amazon said the first Kindle Fire had captured 22% of the US tablet market - the only country it was sold in. | Amazon said the first Kindle Fire had captured 22% of the US tablet market - the only country it was sold in. |
| The 7in Kindle Fire HD will cost £159 in the UK, and the lower-end Kindle Fire £129. Both will be available for delivery from 25 October. | |
| There was no news of the 8.9in model being made available outside the US at this time. | |
| Improved connectivity | |
| Chief executive Jeff Bezos said the HD models featured stereo speakers, an HDMI port - making it easy to connect to a television - and a laminated touchscreen to reduce glare in sunlight. | |
| They are powered by a processor made by Texas Instruments. | They are powered by a processor made by Texas Instruments. |
| In addition they contain two wi-fi antennas and Mimo (multiple-input and multiple-output) radio wave technology to improve their connection to the internet. The bigger model can be bought with 4G connectivity at a higher price. | In addition they contain two wi-fi antennas and Mimo (multiple-input and multiple-output) radio wave technology to improve their connection to the internet. The bigger model can be bought with 4G connectivity at a higher price. |
| One analyst thought the devices could pose a serious challenge to the market leader. | One analyst thought the devices could pose a serious challenge to the market leader. |
| "This could easily be the product that beats the iPad particularly for those of us who are readers, easy and innovative in design and use with unique features like X-Ray which allows you to become far more intimate with what you are reading," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. | "This could easily be the product that beats the iPad particularly for those of us who are readers, easy and innovative in design and use with unique features like X-Ray which allows you to become far more intimate with what you are reading," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. |
| "Amazon has blown out expectations and set an impossibly high bar for the [rumoured] iPad Nano." | "Amazon has blown out expectations and set an impossibly high bar for the [rumoured] iPad Nano." |
| However, another industry watcher acknowledged that the device faced other competition. | However, another industry watcher acknowledged that the device faced other competition. |
| "It's going up against a whole myriad of Android based tablets including Samsung's Galaxy Note and Google's Nexus product," said Chris Green, principal analyst at Davies Murphy Group Europe. | "It's going up against a whole myriad of Android based tablets including Samsung's Galaxy Note and Google's Nexus product," said Chris Green, principal analyst at Davies Murphy Group Europe. |
| "And on the horizon Windows 8 tablets could potentially offer a challenge as well." | "And on the horizon Windows 8 tablets could potentially offer a challenge as well." |
| Price war | Price war |
| Amazon's strategy for its low-end Kindle Fire caught many observers by surprise. The device features more RAM memory and a faster processor than its predecessor but has had its price cut by about 20% to $159 (£100). | |
| Jan Dawson, chief telecoms analyst at Ovum, suggested Amazon might have felt forced to make the move. | Jan Dawson, chief telecoms analyst at Ovum, suggested Amazon might have felt forced to make the move. |
| "Amazon is clearly spooked by Google's Nexus 7 coming in at $200 for a much more capable device," she said. | "Amazon is clearly spooked by Google's Nexus 7 coming in at $200 for a much more capable device," she said. |
| "It's upped its own hardware specs while reducing the price, which is clearly an attempt to keep it somewhat attractive in the face of that new competition from Google and Asus." | "It's upped its own hardware specs while reducing the price, which is clearly an attempt to keep it somewhat attractive in the face of that new competition from Google and Asus." |
| Amazon's share price was trading about 2% above its opening price by the time the press conference ended. | Amazon's share price was trading about 2% above its opening price by the time the press conference ended. |
| Illuminated e-reader | Illuminated e-reader |
| Mr Bezos also unveiled a new dedicated e-book reader called the Kindle Paperwhite which will be released at the start of October. | Mr Bezos also unveiled a new dedicated e-book reader called the Kindle Paperwhite which will be released at the start of October. |
| It can display sharper text and more detailed images than previous models and features a "patented light guide" to illuminate its touchscreen, allowing it to be used in the dark. | It can display sharper text and more detailed images than previous models and features a "patented light guide" to illuminate its touchscreen, allowing it to be used in the dark. |
| The model - which is available with built-in 3G connectivity at an extra cost - will face competition from the existing Nook GlowLight and the upcoming Kobo Glo e-readers which also feature a built-in light source. | The model - which is available with built-in 3G connectivity at an extra cost - will face competition from the existing Nook GlowLight and the upcoming Kobo Glo e-readers which also feature a built-in light source. |
| "Amazon has a massive advantage in the UK because of its brand name and the fact it will have its devices promoted and sold in Waterstones book stores later this year," Philip Jones, deputy editor of the Bookseller magazine said. | "Amazon has a massive advantage in the UK because of its brand name and the fact it will have its devices promoted and sold in Waterstones book stores later this year," Philip Jones, deputy editor of the Bookseller magazine said. |
| "But I wouldn't write off the Nook or Kobo at this point. | "But I wouldn't write off the Nook or Kobo at this point. |
| "Barnes and Noble has done well in the US, and, if it puts a bit of oomph behind the Nook's launch, it could gain some traction - though that will be a big ask. And Kobo has the cash of a rich parent, Japan's Rakuten, to support it." | "Barnes and Noble has done well in the US, and, if it puts a bit of oomph behind the Nook's launch, it could gain some traction - though that will be a big ask. And Kobo has the cash of a rich parent, Japan's Rakuten, to support it." |
| Rumours that the firm would unveil a smartphone proved to be unfounded. | Rumours that the firm would unveil a smartphone proved to be unfounded. |