Fire HDX

Amazon Fire HDX

Kindle Fire HDX 7
Developer Amazon.com
Release date 7" model October 18, 2013
8.9" model November 7, 2013 (USA)
Operating system Fire OS 3, upgradable to Fire OS 4
System-on-chip used Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
CPU Quad-core 2.2 GHz ARM Krait 400
Memory 2 GB
Storage 16/32/64 GB
Display 7" model:
1920 × 1200 px 323 PPI
7 in (18 cm) diagonal
8.9" model:
2560 × 1600 px 339 PPI
8.9 in (23 cm) diagonal
Graphics Adreno 330
Input GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, light sensor
Connectivity Micro-USB 2.0 (type B)
3.5 mm stereo socket
Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi
4G LTE
Bluetooth 4.0
Online services Amazon Prime, Amazon Cloud Storage, Amazon Cloud Player, Amazon video, Amazon Silk, Amazon Appstore, Amazon Kindle Store
Dimensions 7" model: 186×128×9.0 mm (7.3×5.0×0.35 in)
8.9" model: 231×158×7.8 mm (9.1×6.2×0.31 in)
Weight 7" model:
WiFi 303 g, 4G 311 g
8.9" model:
WiFi 374 g, 4G 384 g
Predecessor Kindle Fire HD
Website Amazon Kindle Fire HDX

The Kindle Fire HDX, later renamed to Fire HDX, is the third generation of Amazon's Kindle Fire line of tablet computers. It was announced on September 25, 2013 and is available in two models, 7 inch and 8.9 inch. The 7 inch WiFi model was released on October 18, 2013 and the 8.9 inch WiFi model was released on November 7, 2013 in the United States.

In September 2014, Amazon released the second generation of the Fire HDX 8.9 model that has a faster processor and a more powerful graphics processing unit. In addition, the name "Kindle" was removed from all of the Fire tablets' names.

Design

Hardware

Both the 7 inch and 8.9 inch LCD models contain a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor that has an Adreno 330 GPU. The models also have a 1.2 megapixel front camera that shoots 720p HD video. The 8.9 inch model has an 8 megapixel rear camera that shoots HD 1080p video. The exterior surface has angular, raised plastic edges with the power and volume buttons located on the backside. The Fire HDX features Dolby Digital Plus audio engine powering the two attached speakers. A normal user will get about 12 hours of battery life from a full charge.[1]

The Fire HDX 8.9" refresh in 2014 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor with an Adreno 420 GPU.[2] The sound system features Dolby Atmos speaker technology and the Wi-Fi version weighs 13.2 ounces (375 grams).

Software

Both models use Fire OS 3 which is a proprietary fork of Android 4.2.2. It features "Mayday", a button for free tech support available any time, "Silk", a cloud-accelerated browser, the Amazon Appstore for games and apps and Amazon.com services for media content purchases.[3] The tablets can send video content to a supported TV, game console or through a device like a Wireless Display HDMI adapter wirelessly using "Second Screen", but cannot send content via a HDMI cable like its predecessor, the Kindle Fire HD.

The 2014 refresh uses Fire OS 4 "Sangria", which features profiles so each user on the tablet can have their own settings and apps.[4]

Mayday feature

Sascha Segan of PC Magazine mentioned: "Press the Mayday button, and within 15 seconds, a live Amazon operator appears in a video chat window on your screen to answer all of your Kindle Fire questions. He or she will even tell you what apps to download. I've never seen anything else like it on a tablet."[5] In his review of the Kindle Fire HDX 7" he called the Mayday remote video support feature as "revolutionary" and "Amazon's most exciting feature".[6]

Fire OS UI

The Fire HDX's UI has a "Carousel" which contains the most recent apps used and ones that have been updated or purchased recently.[7] The Carousel also holds documents, videos, music, and books. The Fire HDX also has a favorites tab in which the user can access the users apps from any other application.

Models

Generation (within Fire tablets) 3rd Generation (2013) 4th Generation (2014)
Model Kindle Fire HDX 7" Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" Fire HDX 8.9"
Release date Wi-Fi October 18, 2013 November 7, 2013 October 21, 2014
+Cellular November 14, 2013 December 10, 2013 December 2014
Status Discontinued Wi-Fi Available
+Cellular Refurbished [8]
Available
Wi-Fi Refurbished [9] [10]
Screen size (diagonal) 7 in (18 cm) 8.9 in (23 cm)
Resolution 1920 × 1200 (323 ppi) 2560 × 1600 (339 ppi)
OS Fire OS 4 (fork of Android 4.2.2 (later updated to 4.4.3)) Fire OS 5 "Bellini" (fork of Android 5.1)
System Version 4.5.5.1[11] [12] 5.1.2[13]
CPU Maker Qualcomm
Kind Quad-core Snapdragon
Model 800 [14] 805
Cores 4x Krait 400 @ 2.2 GHz 4x Krait 450 @ 2.5 GHz
GPU Designer Qualcomm
Kind Adreno
Model 330 420
Clock 450 MHz [14] 600 MHz [14]
RAM 2 GiB
Storage Internal 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB
External N/A
Camera Back N/A 8 MP
Front 1.2 MP HD 720p still and video camera
Microphone Yes
Bluetooth BT 4.0 + EDR (HID and A2DP profiles only)
Wireless Wi-Fi Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac MIMO + HT80
+Cellular option adds 4G LTE
Location Wi-Fi Wi-Fi based
+Cellular option adds GPS and aGPS [14] [15]
Compass Wi-Fi N/A
+Cellular Yes
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Barometer N/A
Weight Wi-Fi 303 g (10.7 oz) 374 g (13.2 oz) 375 g (13.2 oz)
+Cellular 311 g (11.0 oz) 384 g (13.5 oz) 389 g (13.7 oz)
Dimensions 186 mm × 128 mm × 9.0 mm
(7.32 in × 5.04 in × 0.35 in)
231 mm × 158 mm × 7.8 mm
(9.09 in × 6.22 in × 0.31 in)
Battery 4500[16] mAh Up to 12 hours

Reception

Engadget gave the Fire HDX an 85 out of 100, saying that it may be the most compelling case for Amazon's tablet ecosystem. While advanced users may be turned off by the limited app selection, the display's gorgeous color accuracy may make the tablet a good buy for everyone else, especially Amazon Prime members.[17]

PC Magazine gave the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7" (Wi-Fi) edition 4 out of 5 and rated "Excellent" while following pros were noted: "Sharp screen. Fast processor. Extremely easy to use. Amazing live tech support."[6]

The Fire HDX's screen has high color accuracy and high pixel density at 339 PPI, and as of early 2013 was one of the highest of tablet devices commercially available.[18] However, CNET pointed out that no Google Play access means limited app selection compared to other Android tablets and some users may be bothered by an additional $15 to remove ads on the lock screen, while ads on the home screen can be removed with a system setting.[19]

The Fire HDX supports local FLAC and Wav music files up to 24/96 using Fire software and Apps like Avia (which also supports 24/192). Using music streaming Apps such as Mezzmo and Avia the Fire HDX supports UPnP/DLNA servers for FLAC and Wav playback (up to 24/192) for local and remote device playback.

See also

References

  1. Kingsley, Adrian (2014-01-27). "Five ways the iPad is lagging behind the Kindle Fire HDX | Page 4". ZDNet. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  2. Jason Hidalgo, RGJ (24 September 2014). "Technobubble: Sizing up Amazon's new Kindle Fire HDX 8.9".
  3. Wilson Rothman (2012-05-18). "Amazon's Kindle Fire HDX tablets pose real threat to iPad dominance". NBC News.com. Retrieved 2013-09-25.
  4. "What's new with Amazon's Fire OS 4.0 "Sangria"?". AndroidGuys.
  5. Sascha Segan. "Hands On With the New Kindle Fires". PC Magazine.
  6. 1 2 Sascha Segan. "Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7" (Wi-Fi)". PC Magazine.
  7. ""Using the Carousel, Favorites, and Content Libraries"Amazon.com Help". Amazon. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  8. "Certified Refurbished Amazon Devices". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  9. "Kindle and Fire Outlet". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  10. "Outlet Kindle und Fire". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  11. "Help: Kindle Fire HDX Software Update". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  12. "Help: Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" Software Update". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  13. "Fire HDX 8.9 (4th Generation) Software Updates". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Device and Feature Specifications - Amazon Apps & Services Developer Portal". developer.amazon.com. Retrieved 2015-11-28.
  15. "Fire HDX 8.9 product page". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2015-11-28.
  16. Kindle Fire HDX 7" (2013-10-14). "Kindle Fire HDX 7" Teardown". iFixit. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  17. Engadget. "The year in reviews: 2013's best and worst gadgets scored and scrutinized". Engadget.com. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  18. "Flagship Tablet Display Technology Shoot-Out". Displaymate.com. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  19. Franklin, Eric. "Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 Review - Watch CNET's Video Review". Reviews.cnet.com. Retrieved 2013-11-27.

External links

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