Why The Kindle Fire and Why The iPad

Amazon Kindle Fire, the 7-inch tablet, has many differences compared to the iPad, in appearance, features, and also price. But the Kindle Fire is still considered to be one of the strongest competitor for the iPad, the tablet market champ. Why?

Price

The Kindle Fire's low price shakes up the tablet market. Amazon offers the Kindle Fire at only U.S. $ 199. While the iPad is now starting from U.S. $ 499 to U.S. $ 829, depending on storage capacity and 3G capabilities.

The Kindle Fire is considered favorable for parents, as a gift for their children. However, the price is certainly not the major consideration here, since many other tablets are also sold much cheaper than the iPad.

Screen Size and Dimensions

This difference is clearly visible here. The Kindle Fire's screen size is only 7-inch, while the iPad has a 9.7-inch. The smaller screen size makes the Kindle Fire's low price appropriate.

The Amazon tablet is also twice lighter than the iPad. Smaller size and lighter weight make the Kindle Fire easier and more comfortable to carry anywhere. However, small screen size can be a problem for some tablet users. 9.7-inch is obviously more enjoyable for watching videos or playing games.

Features and Specifications

Of course the Kindle Fire's less price means less features. No built-in camera,  therefore there would be no video chat and video recording capabilities. Also it doesn't have microphone, therefore there would be no voice chat and voice recording capabilities.

The Kindle Fire only has WiFi connectivity, hence with no WiFi network around, don't expect to be able to browse and download content from Amazon.

Of storage capacity, the Kindle Fire only has 8GB, while the smallest capacity of the iPad is 16GB. The small storage capacity makes users rely a lot on Amazon's cloud-computing feature, which is free for Kindle Fire's Owners.

As for the battery life, the Kindle Fire only lasts up to 8 hours. Compare with the iPad which can last up to 10 hours.

Apps

The Kindle Fire runs Android Operating System, makes it available to access more than 250K apps in Google Play. The iPad can access more than 425K apps in AppStore. BUT, Kindle Fire also has special access to Amazon Cloud Drive to download numerous contents from Amazon. This gives more added value to this tablet.

That's why Kindle Fire's start screen features a set of digital shelves, looks different than other android tablets. The shelves showcase various contents from Amazon. At least, Amazon provides 11 000 movies and television shows ready to be streamed over the Kindle Fire. At Kindle Fire launching event, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was very proud to show some video content, music, ebook, and games that can be downloaded from the Kindle Fire.

Conclusion

Kindle Fire presence provides a new alternative to tablet users, who have different needs. With its cheap price, it may be understandable if the Kindle Fire has some flaws in its features. But Amazon's rich content, with movies, ebooks, as well as games, makes the Kindle Fire a really good option.

Duo Kindle Fire Challenge the New iPad

Amazon seems to really want to compete with Apple. After planning to develop its 10-inch tablet, Amazon will also renew its 7-inch tablet. Amazon Kindle Fire is going to launch two models at once in mid 2012.

For these new tablets, as reported by Digitimes, Amazon is likely going to use touch screen panel made ​​by Wintek and TPK Holdings. The production process will be entrusted to Quanta Computer and Foxconn Electronics. The latter also manufactures Apple's iPad, located in China. While Quanta Computer is the manufacturer of the current Kindle Fire, and also Barner & Noble's Nook tablet.

The current Amazon Kindle Fire tablet has been sold successfully in the market. Some observers agreed that Kindle Fire would be a direct competitor to Apple's iPad. Moreover, Amazon's success also viewed, by some observers, as a great temptation for apple to create a similar sized iPad, but slightly larger with 7.85-inch screen size.

Amazon's strength as the biggest online store site will be a competitive advantage in promoting and marketing its tablet compared to Apple's iPad.

Amazon to Release New 10-inch Kindle Fire

Rumor has it that Apple is planning to release 7-inch iPad mini to face Amazon's 7-inch Kindle Fire. Amazon then answered by planning to release 10-inch Kindle Fire.

As reported by CNET, Amazon will release the larger Kindle Fire, 10-inch Kindle Fire, as part of efforts to secure a place in the middle of the iPad dominated market. With a 10-inch screen, Amazon is really going to put Kindle Fire as main rival to iPad, since it also has the same screen size.

Meanwhile, Digitimes reported, Amazon has asked Foxconn Electronics as the ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) for the 10-inch tablet, soon to be released in the first semester of 2012. The successful 7-inch Kindle Fire is manufactured by Quanta Computer, the manufacturer that also produces Barner & Noble's Nook Tablet.

Vendors usually pick one ODM when launching a new product. But as written by Digitimes, they will then seek additional ODM to reduce risks and to adjust price if the new product is getting possitive response from the market.

According to IHS iSuppli, Amazon has sold 3.9 million Kindle Fire, while Barnes & Noble Nook sells 1.92 million tablets in the fourth quarter of 2011. Digitimes Research estimates that 1.5 million Kindle Fire and 300,000 Nook Tablet will be sold in the first quarter of this year.