I could see it maybe one day, if someone figures out how to root them and they get custom ROMs (like a LOS port or something). Especially once they get heavily marked down because that's what...
I could see it maybe one day, if someone figures out how to root them and they get custom ROMs (like a LOS port or something). Especially once they get heavily marked down because that's what inevitably happens to all Amazon hardware.
With Amazon already being the largest android tablet seller in the US, seemingly mostly for children, I guess it makes sense to try to start selling tablets that can appeal to older children and...
With Amazon already being the largest android tablet seller in the US, seemingly mostly for children, I guess it makes sense to try to start selling tablets that can appeal to older children and adults as those tablet-using children grow up. Most amazon tablets start to look really terrible in performance once you start comparing it to a decent phone.
Maybe they're also trying to appeal to people who use and like alexa devices. I don't personally know anyone who does, but apparently they are still selling.
The iPad is tough to compete against, but it seems like it wouldn't take that much to deliver a better software experience than what samsung offers. As a tablet user myself, I'm happy to see more competition in the space.
edit: I ended up looking into the specs, and the 8 and 11 inch tablets are still using a low performance SoC with 6 year old cores, same as the current fire max tablet. Only the 12 inch tablet is using a decent processor from less than 2 years ago. So, never mind about my previous comment on performance, except for the top end one starting at $500. If they don't sell, it might be nice to snag one of the 12 inch ones at half price in a year or two.
After my last underpowered Fire tablet, that I had to sideload google play on, I just bought a xiaomi redmi. Waaaaaay smoother. Why would I want another mid range Amazon tablet with their built in...
After my last underpowered Fire tablet, that I had to sideload google play on, I just bought a xiaomi redmi. Waaaaaay smoother.
Why would I want another mid range Amazon tablet with their built in crap installed on it?
Seems like a decent device to compete in the fierce mid-range tablet market, though it only really makes sense in the states to me where basically only really Samsung and Apple run things. I know...
Seems like a decent device to compete in the fierce mid-range tablet market, though it only really makes sense in the states to me where basically only really Samsung and Apple run things. I know elsewhere in the world, Chinese OEMs have really solid tablets in this price range. It's interesting they're moving away from the Fire Tablet branding but given that they're moving away from the FireOS platform as a whole, it makes sense to me. It's also huge that Amazon is finally bringing the Google Play Store to their tablets.
I share similar sentiments to @rodrigo however. The tablet market is a tough one, there's a reason why Apple dominate so heavily.
The Amazon Devices org is a bit strange and has gone through a lot of hands and visions. Alexa was a pet project for Jeff Bezos, and he hasn't been the CEO for awhile. The whole Alexa+ push is...
The Amazon Devices org is a bit strange and has gone through a lot of hands and visions. Alexa was a pet project for Jeff Bezos, and he hasn't been the CEO for awhile. The whole Alexa+ push is partially an attempt by various parts of Amazon to get some projects funded cause AI things make leadership happy.
Yeah I’ve seen that from the inside through friends, have had a handful of friends work in the Amazon Devices org and then leave a few years later. They’ve all said it’s a mess internally, I’m...
Yeah I’ve seen that from the inside through friends, have had a handful of friends work in the Amazon Devices org and then leave a few years later. They’ve all said it’s a mess internally, I’m amazed they can release anything.
Frankly I've heard that about literally every internal division of Amazon. The amount of nothingburgers that have come out of their game studios alone must have cost them some untold billions of...
Frankly I've heard that about literally every internal division of Amazon. The amount of nothingburgers that have come out of their game studios alone must have cost them some untold billions of dollars. I guess it's a good thing that rent-seeking is so profitable!
Though if I am being fair, Project Hail Mary was a pretty good movie, and that was made in-house, so maybe some things can still get done in the house that Bezos built. And obviously everyday work still gets done even if things are chaotic.
There are two important pieces in this puzzle: Alexa is Amazon's horse in the race for the next computing platform (AI, still unclear if it's a real race). Panos Panay, former Microsoft Surface...
There are two important pieces in this puzzle:
Alexa is Amazon's horse in the race for the next computing platform (AI, still unclear if it's a real race).
Panos Panay, former Microsoft Surface leader, moved to Amazon a couple years ago to lead devices, hence all the new distinct devices Amazon has releasing, like the new Kindles and, now, tablets.
I think he had: https://www.theverge.com/tech/1007648/amazon-alexa-tablets-price-specs and https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/18/24273208/amazon-kindle-panos-panay-ipad-mini-google-vergecast [2024]
I'm having a hard time trying to imagine why would anyone buy this thing at all.
I could see it maybe one day, if someone figures out how to root them and they get custom ROMs (like a LOS port or something). Especially once they get heavily marked down because that's what inevitably happens to all Amazon hardware.
You probably can use Universal Android Debloater to remove all Amazon crap. I did with my Boox tablet. It's wonderful!
With Amazon already being the largest android tablet seller in the US, seemingly mostly for children, I guess it makes sense to try to start selling tablets that can appeal to older children and adults as those tablet-using children grow up. Most amazon tablets start to look really terrible in performance once you start comparing it to a decent phone.
Maybe they're also trying to appeal to people who use and like alexa devices. I don't personally know anyone who does, but apparently they are still selling.
The iPad is tough to compete against, but it seems like it wouldn't take that much to deliver a better software experience than what samsung offers. As a tablet user myself, I'm happy to see more competition in the space.
edit: I ended up looking into the specs, and the 8 and 11 inch tablets are still using a low performance SoC with 6 year old cores, same as the current fire max tablet. Only the 12 inch tablet is using a decent processor from less than 2 years ago. So, never mind about my previous comment on performance, except for the top end one starting at $500. If they don't sell, it might be nice to snag one of the 12 inch ones at half price in a year or two.
After my last underpowered Fire tablet, that I had to sideload google play on, I just bought a xiaomi redmi. Waaaaaay smoother.
Why would I want another mid range Amazon tablet with their built in crap installed on it?
Seems like a decent device to compete in the fierce mid-range tablet market, though it only really makes sense in the states to me where basically only really Samsung and Apple run things. I know elsewhere in the world, Chinese OEMs have really solid tablets in this price range. It's interesting they're moving away from the Fire Tablet branding but given that they're moving away from the FireOS platform as a whole, it makes sense to me. It's also huge that Amazon is finally bringing the Google Play Store to their tablets.
I share similar sentiments to @rodrigo however. The tablet market is a tough one, there's a reason why Apple dominate so heavily.
The Amazon Devices org is a bit strange and has gone through a lot of hands and visions. Alexa was a pet project for Jeff Bezos, and he hasn't been the CEO for awhile. The whole Alexa+ push is partially an attempt by various parts of Amazon to get some projects funded cause AI things make leadership happy.
Yeah I’ve seen that from the inside through friends, have had a handful of friends work in the Amazon Devices org and then leave a few years later. They’ve all said it’s a mess internally, I’m amazed they can release anything.
Frankly I've heard that about literally every internal division of Amazon. The amount of nothingburgers that have come out of their game studios alone must have cost them some untold billions of dollars. I guess it's a good thing that rent-seeking is so profitable!
Though if I am being fair, Project Hail Mary was a pretty good movie, and that was made in-house, so maybe some things can still get done in the house that Bezos built. And obviously everyday work still gets done even if things are chaotic.
There are two important pieces in this puzzle:
New kindles come every few years no matter what and the 2026 models don't do anything groundbreaking. I don't think this guy had any impact on that.
I think he had: https://www.theverge.com/tech/1007648/amazon-alexa-tablets-price-specs and https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/18/24273208/amazon-kindle-panos-panay-ipad-mini-google-vergecast [2024]