Kindle Fire 2 to come in diffrent models! Staples reports a 10 inch model as well!

 Perhaps this is getting redundant but it the question of the different models and version of the Kindle Fire 2 is something that we cannot overlook. For example, there is a rumor about a special Kindle Fire 2 4G LTE model with a larger 8.9 inch screen and several credible sources claim this to be a very likely possibility. Perhaps that's just another word for a gossiping rumor, but I for one would quite like to be true. Perhaps our wish for all those rumors to be truthful is what actually keeps all of these "credible sources" delivering linkbaits and other content that is total bollocks. We try to filter only the quality news on the Kindle FIre 2 on this blog so I believe that Staples US Retail president, Demos Parneros will be an interesting figure from who can get some good news and insights on all the various KF 2 models and news.

  

 According to him, Amazon has big list of plans and will work hard to show off  five or six brand new tablets of the Kindle Fire 2 along with a deluxe model which will have many advanced features and a 10 inch screen so that it can combat tablets of higher prices will still remaining very inexpensive. This is a clear move against Apple's iPad series, but can Amazon really pull it off?  Staples is a company which sells the original Kindle Fire so I we can take their word on the 10 inch tablet story for now. It is unclear though if this will actually be just a different model using the same Kindle Fire 2 name, or a completely different device with its own name and branding. Whatever it is it better be good quality and at a low price if Amazon really thinks that they can sell it so easily.

 While the Kindle Fire 2 release date is set for August the 7th, it is still not known if this applies to just one model or all the others that are supposed to follow it. Perhaps we might even get to see one of the models being called the Kindle Ice (note that this rumor is very unlikely at this point) and who knows maybe they actually do call it the Hollywood tablet as many blogs and websites have posted (including us) but personally I would find that a very boring, uncreative and bad name for a branded tablet device.

 So what's your opinion on the whole matter? :)

Kindle Fire 2 in Trouble Already? Nexus 7 Dominating!

 I love the kindles, I really do and the Kindle Fire 2 just seems like a great new addition to that family. However, I am in doubt - is it worth it? Google’s Nexus 7 is doing a "killing" in sales and it does look as though as Google is finally on the verge of success in this market. This Android Jelly Bean OS tablet has been sold out in many stores across the USA and the UK and things were pretty tight for Google to respond to all the preorders. The tide of battle in the Kindle Fire 2 vs Google Nexus 7 war seems to be in Google's favor at the moment as Amazon has no doubt already lost a lot of potential clients simply due to the fact the Nexus 7 released a great tablet earlier than them.
 

Interesting fact: ZDNet reported that at least 7 major stores have ran out the Nexus 7 tablet already, but its not the $199 8GB version that is selling like crazy, but the bigger version with 16GB that costs $249. Does this means all that people really want is storage space and that a Kindle Fire 2 with all the specs of a Nexus 7, a 16 GB memory and an SD Card at the price of $199 could blow away the competition? I think it is logical to say yest to that and you'd be a fool to get a Nexus 7 over such a device to be honest. But can Amazon really deliver something like that? I am not so sure.

It shouldn't be "199?", but "199!"  :)

 To add to the last paragraph, I'd like to remind you of our article on what the Kindle Fire 2 needs to feature if Amazon really wants to beat the Nexus 7, but also be competitive to Samsung and Apple products. To save you the long read and to tie that to this article, we can narrow down it down to this:

• It will need a minimum of 8 GB of storage, but a model with 16 GB as well.
• Micro SD Card support seems as a must now.
• A higher screen resolution (a 7 inch 1280 x 800 Kindle Fire 2 is expected which would be just enough).
• Better processor - it needs something to compete with the Tegra 3 on the Nexus 7!
• Faster OS - the Nexus 7 was the first device to run on the smooth Jelly Bean OS, Amazon needs a better forked version of Android if they want to stay competitive. Even so, Google has a problem as their OS needs to be good with all devices, while Amazon has to make their OS optimum just for the Kindle Fire 2, thus it shouldn't be that easy. Right Amazon?
• Although not very important, the Kindle Fire 2 could feature a camera that could actually turn the tide into their favor.

A word of advice if you decide to go for a Nexus 7 and throw away the old kindles - you can still download the Amazon Appstore and enjoy the ebooks and mp3s that you have purchases previously. It could be said that this is another advantage for the Nexus 7. However, it is also possible to install Google Play on a kindle, although it is very difficult for most users which could be considered as another advantage for the Nexus 7.

Kindle Fire 2 - What it Should Feature to Win the Tablet Battle

 As you know we are still thrilled about the Kindle Fire 2 official release date which is set for August the 7th, while the revealing is expected on the 31st of July. These news sound rather good but do not tell us that much about the actual device. So how much to we know about the Kindle Fire 2 specs based on actual information and rumors? Well there is some solid information, as well as many rumors, but let us not be concerned about that right now. Let us see what the new device must have in order to win the battle on the low-end tablet market.

Kindle Fire 2 Screen and Resolution Must be Better

 So let us start with something most of us will first notice on the tablet - the screen size and resolution, as well as the quality. The first generation had a resolution of 1024 x 600 which was solid with its 7 inch screen and 169 pixels per inch. The Nexus 7 sets the bar at 1280 x 800 which is quite impressive when you look at it and since they are competitors in the same price range, the Kindle Fire 2 has to follow and produce the same if not better. Other tablets on the market that have this resolution are a bit more expensive, such as the Toshiba Thrive which starts at $380 so those won't be a major concern for the Amazon team.

See more of these Kindle Fire 2 model renders from t3n.de

 Storage Space

 As you know the first generation of the tablets had "only" 8 GB of storage space and the Google Nexus 7 priced at $199 also has this much. Neither feature the SD Card support which is a huge blow, however, the Nexus 7 comes in a 16 GB configuration for $249. Since there will certainly be a few of the Kindle Fire 2 models we can expect to see 16 GB as well, but perhaps at a lower price if the tablet really wants to sell! SD Card support would also be rather nice.
 

Better Design and Slimmer Body

 It is certain that a design doesn't really impact the quality of the what's going on under the hood and we should certainly not be buying tablets or any other device based on looks. However, a metal casing (which was announced) and slimmer body (also confirmed) will certainly be a good improvement. Just how good this will be can't say for sure. You can have a look at the Kindle Fire 2 renders from t3n.de and see how these groups of talented individuals see the new tablet device. I must say that if Amazon comes up with something similar then that would certainly be quite nice.

Better CPU!

Seeing as the Kindle Fire 2 runs a forked version of Android OS that will be heavily modified it will certainly be using less CPU as it is an OS that is clearly optimized for just that tablet. Even so, a better CPU is something we are always on the lookout for and a quad-core is what is currently needed to beat Google and the Tegra 3 on their Nexus 7. My bet is that the new tablet will certainly be sporting a quad core processor to be competitive.

A Camera Feature 

 This is certainly not a must for most people, but it is one of the highlighted things on the specs sheets on various review websites and it is something people will be judging the tablets by. The Google Nexus 7 took the lead with a 1.2 MP camera on the front for video chat, video calls and Google Hangouts, and Amazon should at least follow that minimum. However, a recent rumor said that it will feature a back camera as well. This sounds grate and could be a major threat for the Nexus 7 and the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 which is priced at $250. I am certain though that this feature might be reserved for some of the larger models and not the $199 7 inch one, although it would be a very nice thing to include.

Kindle Fire 2 Looking More Promising: Game Circle Announced !

 Reading on the comments around the web, people have noted that Amazon has great content to offer to their users when it comes to music, movies and even books. However, the content concerning apps and games is a bit limited. You can consider the latest feature - Amazon Game Circe, to be something that will sort this problem out and attract more developers. Essentially, this is a special API that will allow developers to easily implement achievements, badges, leaderboards and options to save your game progress on a Amazon cloud server. The last is especially great because it allows you to safe your game progress to your account and then if you switch your device you can just start from whee you last stopped playing.

 While many will say that his Amazon Game Circle is just a copy of Apple's Game Center, I don't really see the importance of that. The two systems work for two totally different devices devices and will each have their own special features. What concerns me is the release of this feature which corresponds the the approach Kindle Fire 2 release date which is obviously something they are probably keeping in mind. Is this another way to get users to buy the new device? I am almost certain that is! And we might be seeing more goodies like this these days. Here is the promotion video that Amazon made.

 Do you like what you see? While nothing special it is certainly a useful feature, especially the option to save my games files on a cloud. From what I recall Google and Android don't have something like that right? Boom, another trump card over the Nexus 7! I wonder if this move will actually attract more developers, because if it does then the argument that the Amazon App Store has little content will be void and that will certainly increase the sales of the Kindle Fire 2 device, and all future tablets.

 What is your opinion? Shout it out in the comments bellow!

Kindle FIre 2 Model Render Released by T3n.de

 This isn't a Kindle Fire 2 official image but a render made by the popular portal of 3D artists over at t3n.de who have done similar things in the past. While these images don't mean anything on their own, they do make us ask ourselves if this what the Kindle Fire 2 we wanted and imagined seeing. Their 3D model is made based on the following rumored Kindle Fire 2 specs:

• Metal casing
• Quad-Core processor
• Camera
• 1280 x 800 resolution

 Without further discussion here are some of the model photos of the Kindle Fire 2! Click on any of the photos to view them all in gallery mode.

the 7 inch Kindle Fire 2 and the bigger 10 inch model side by side

 Here is close up:

A white design? Interesting concept and there's the camera!

  Those of you still unsure about the possible camera, read up on the article - Kindle Fire 2 to feature a camera and see the first leaked photos which did showcase a back camera!

 And finally let us look at the display screen:

Looks like fun ay?

 So to summarize once again - these images to do mean anything and they are just artistic impressions similar to the "fake" iPhone 5 concept design. This particular design is inspired by a report from the magazine Boy Genius Report which among other things claims:

The build quality of the Kindle 2  may have been improved significantly compared with the first generation - instead of in a plastic casing, the new devices to be clad in metal.

 What we do know for sure is that the Kindle Fire 2 will soon hit the stores and we may get the first glimpse of it by the end of the month and have it in our hand by early or mid August with the official Kindle Fire 2 release date being set to August the 7th.

 What do you think of this "new" design?

Kindle Fire 2 to feature a model with 4G LTE support?

 There are a lot of Kindle Fire 2 rumors out there and this is something you already probably noticed. Yet we try to actively go through them looking for truth and important details. So far we have concluded that the device must feature a metal casing, a "sophisticated look" and a new battery due to Amazon changing the battery supplier. You can expect to see the casual physical volume button included on the new device which is something people have embraced with joy. 

There will be several models, but for now we can only say that the first 7 inch model will have a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels with ppi of 216. As for the other models there are several rumors. One of those that I trust the most is the tale of the 8.9 inch Kindle Fire 2 tablet which will feature a 1920 x 1200 pixel display but won't be launched by August and will remain in development in order to compete for the higher end market along with Apple.

 Since Google Nexus 7 has support only for Wi-Fi it seems that Amazon will try to hit it over here and get a new trump card by including a 4G LTD feature into its Kindle Fire 2 device. Why do I say "a new trump card", does that mean there are more? Well, they are not official but they are rumored. First of all there is the camera issue as the Kindle Fire 2 might feature a back and front camera while the Nexus 7 only has a 1.2 front MP camera for chat. The second trump card is the offer of digital content as you can buy a lot more things from Amazon than on Google Play. Either way, the battle will take continue to rage on until everything settles down and we can make an objective comparison of which tablet is better. 

Are we forgetting about Apple?

 

 Getting lost in the rumors and all of this Nexus 7 vs Kindle Fire 2 nonsense lead us a bit away from something important. Apple did announced they plan to get into the 7 inch tablet market with a device called the iPad Mini. This device would apparently also be in the $199 price range or somewhere near it. 

Is Apple going to enter the $199 market as well?

 Something tells me that this device might sell a lot better than most Android tablets on the market in the similar price range. A lot of people think they need to have an Apple product, even though they can't afford it. This would be an ideal solution for them to cure such a complex and get their hands on a device that will probably be nothing special or worth the attention it will be getting. It is a standard Apple strategy and the analysis I've done so far is that the market share might be looking like this Kindle Fire 2 > iPad Mini > Nexus 7. Then I remembered I can't exclude Samsung and their products, but a lot of other companies as well. Still, other companies can't really sell the tablets that good, considering that only Amazon, Google and Apple have digital stores that are very rich in multimedia content and they plan to make lots of money from it.

What ever happens, know that I will certainly keep you guys and girls posted!

Kindle Fire 2 to feature a camera?

 Now this is a bit of shocker for most of my readers (or at least I assume so) since most of the visitors stated in the comments that they don't expect the Kindle Fire 2 to dish out a camera at all! To be fair, it is still a rumor, but there might be something more to it than that. AllThingsD posted an article citing a credible source close to Amazon that we can indeed expect a camera to be featured on the back of the device. 

 As for the optical specification of the camera we have no information but it is possible that Amazon might opt to make both a back and front camera for the new device in order to have a trump card over the Google Nexus 7, which may I remind you only features a 1.2 MP camera on the front. Though I must say this is still great for Skype and Google + chat services and if the Kindle Fire 2 could deliver at least a front camera I would be very pleased. In my opinion the back camera isn't really needed on tablet devices, but people who think it is might choose the Kindle Fire 2 over the Nexus 7 in case the kindle really does feature a 5 MP camera on the back.

Our old leaked photo shows a camera on the back...

Kindle Fire 2 Screen Size and Resolution

 It seems that Amazon has contacted the developers who create apps for the Amazon Appstore instructing them to continue their hard work but optimize it for a 1280 x 800 screen resolution which the Kindle Fire 2 is meant to feature. Also you can see the Nexus 7 sporting this size, a long with a few others. The screen ratio is meant to be 1.6 which means the device won't be a as tall and narrow as the old Kindle Fire. Pixels per inch are thus at 216 which isn't bad at all as it makes the new device 29% greater than the first one when it comes to pixel density. These refreshing changes should have no effect on the battery size or life as it is getting upgraded anyway. Along with these latest news our list of rumors and Kindle Fire 2 specs is getting quite big I must say!

Amazon to launch an Android-based smartphone following the Kindle Fire 2?

 Yes, you read the title correctly and imagine it might be a bit of unexpected turn of events. I for one never really wanted an Amazon smartphone nor asked myself if one such device would ever exist. Foxconn, the famous hi-tech factory in China, is leaking rumors that they are working with Amazon on a device that can rival the iPhone as well as popular Android devices. A similar rumor to this was popular before the release of the first Kindle Fire and it seems to be alive yet again and is probably aimed at providing even more attention to the new tablet rather than draw attention to the actually idea of Amazon smartphone device. 

 First time I head the news was on AndroidAuthority (link) and to be truthful the report was a bit off-topic. The article was supposed to be about the Amazon smartphone but it turned into a debate and flame war involving tablet devices and a lot of guess work on why Amazon would make the smartphone in the first place. It is as I said, the news are no necessarily fake, but there is a good chance that they are only active as to market the Kindle Fire 2 better, which is still a solid strategy. Unlike the author of that article up there, let me try and give you some facts about the possible Amazon smartphone.

What is the Amazon Smartphone Really About?

 Quite simply put, it is about the money and lots and lots of money. I'll give it the author from AA, at least he go this part right - they are trying to sell more things from their stores: books, movies, TV shows, games, music etc. Remember that the Amazon Appstore is coming to Europe? You can be sure that they have understood from the critics over the year about their app offer and that they will work hard on updating in the following few years. We might see some new changes there and a lot more apps and games will be included. Since we can expect the smartphone to run on a forked version of the latest Android OS at that time, it won't certainly be using Google Play so the offer of apps has to be good!

 It is possible that Amazon might repeat the same move it did with the Kindle Fire - sell the device cheap but earn money from selling content. Any why not? We need a few solid choices for a smartphone that is affordable yet good and I am sure Amazon can deliver such a device. Still, I doubt the first versions of the smartphone will be popular anywhere outside the US so the market is quite limited for them. Since I doubt anyone really uses a smartphone to read books or watch movies, the content they will be selling will be limited more to the MP3 store and the Amazon Appstore which still gives a lot of room to creative and a lot room to make a lot of money.

The Hardware and Software Specs?

 We have no information on them, but I doubt one should expect anything special. If it is really something that is to come out this year then I suspect a nice scree and a good dual-core processor and a unique user interface and OS. If Amazon realizes the project in a few years then it will certainly be up the standards of a low-budget smartphone of that time. Amazon also seems to be doing some legal work registering some patents that are connected to wireless technology and are expected to be featured on their smartphone. Check this article out if you are interested in a more serious look at the matter.

As for the Kindle Fire 2, there are no recent news or stories so the release date is still set to be August the 7th.

 

Kindle Fire 2 to be on Sale from August 7th?

 While the Kindle Fire 2 is to be shown and presented to the general public on July 31st, the official release date now seems to be August the 7th, 2012! In case you are a new reader to our blog and haven't been following all the latest news on the new Amazon Kindle Fire 2, here is a great rumor roundup to help make a long story short. 

Google's Nexus 7 is the tablet to overcome right now and it won't be an easy task (not by a long shot!) and Amazon knows it. There were long running rumors which told us that Amazon is planning to launch a refresh of its line of kindles and all the current news support that theory. As for the competition, nobody is really worried about Apple or Samsung anymore at Amazon since Google is making use of its brand name, technology, and additionally its content (apps, games, singing, movies) to woo consumers to its new tablet device the Nexus 7 which is a direct competitor to Amazon in the lower-end sector.

 Based on the report conducted by ChinaTimes.com the production of the Kindle Fire 2 has been ramped up and Amazon is ready to have 2 million models fully manufactured and ready for sale by August 7th. Furthermore the report backs-up our previous information that the new device will feature a metal case and  a new rumor that Amazon will hire a different battery supplier. The full HD and different screen sizes are also on the rumor mill, but the processor is something I am more concerned with. Will it be a quad-core to compete with the Nexus 7? We shall soon see!

The Kindle Fire 2 Rumor Round-up (Long Story Short!)

 Ah, the latest rumors of the new Amazon Kindle Fire 2 launch which has unofficially been scheduled for July 31st, 2012 are quickly taking over the blog-sphere. Perhaps it is only Samsung and Apple who can do a better job at starting a whole line of debates across the Internet community when it comes to their upcoming products.

 The words throughout the street would be that Amazon already provided us the Kindle Fire 2 release date penciled in on July 31st. Is this a true release date or is Amazon trying to rain on Google Nexus 7 tablet's parade? However, credible business insiders are telling us, with a lot of self-assurance, that the upgraded 7-inch Amazon will not be the only new kindle we will see this year. Are these the rumored Coyote and Hollywood tablet we talked about in the previous article? I for one, actually don't like the idea, as a 8.9 inch tablet is as large as I would be willing to buy. What about you, my dear readers? Well, in any case, read on!

Kindle Fire 2 Specs (New Details!) to Rain on the Nexus 7's Parade?

 Today's news come from an online portal in Hon Kong called Sina which speaks of the latest leaks that Amazon is being forced to publish due to the overwhelming rise and success of the new Google Nexus 7 tablet. I love Amazon and the kindles, but honestly even I am thinking of trading my stuff in for the Nexus 7 tablet which features the new Android Jelly Bean OS, a speedy 1.3 GHz processor and great integration into Google's app networks and other services. Even so, there is one major argument - it isn't as fun, as you will find much larger libraries of books, movies and music via Amazon than you ever will via Google Play and other alternatives Google has to offer. That being said I've thrown out some steam, so now I better get to the actual point of the article - the new Kindle Fire 2 specs!
 

I repeat: Marketing will have a huge impact on the sales, bigger than the actual specs of the devices!

New Feature: Kindle Fire 2 Metal Case Body?

 First of we will talk about quality and materiel. When you actually think about it, plastic isn't so bad. In fact there are many different forms of it and God knows what sorts of chemical and physical characteristics they can achieve. That being said, the same thing can be said about metal and bodies that use a metal case. The new Kindle Fire 2 will feature a metal case body and Amazon is turning away from plastic as a solution for the upcoming tablets. Since this is a trend on the market, it is expected and mandatory of Amazon to follow.

 Apart from the metal case, the Kindle Fire 2 will have a lowered thickness meaning the device will be much slimmer. But what's the hardware inside? I wonder...

Physical Volume Buttons and a Camera?

 The latest report from Digitimes and CNET is that the new Kindle Fire 2 is hitting the stores at the end of July with a higher resolution, physical volume buttons and a camera on the back which is still a bit unknown and new thing for us. We showed you the leaked images, so do you believe us now?
 

The Return of the "Hollywood" Tablet?

 This tablet that I am referring to is a rumor from later 2011 which says that the Kindle Fire 2 will feature a 10 inch model which will, due to its form of luxury in size, be named the Hollywood tablet. This is the type of rumor that didn't hold on for too long, yet today we are getting a reappearance of the story with some different details. The new device is supposed to come in three sizes/models and the best selling one will no doubt be the normal 7 inch one. The other two will be bigger and the biggest might actually be something close to a 10 inch tablet, though most sources (more reliable) are saying that 8.9 inches is the highest Amazon will go.