New Kindle Fire HD Specs: 2GHz Snapdragon 800 Quad, 2560x1600 Display

[Tom]

Yes it is.

It is a good value, I agree, and I especially think it's great for high def video with the screen.

But with the latest google play update, I tried out the app "pocket" and it is terrible on the device. Terribly.

iOS and vanilla ICS are better. I don't know how they managed to make the OS slower, but they did.

Do you mean the app "Pocket" in the Play store that saves webpages,etc, for later ? I tried it out just now with a few webpages and Youtube videos and it wasn't slow at all for me. Its exactly the same on the HD+ and the new Nexus 7.

Was there a specific page or item you put in there that made it slow ? Or could it be a bad wifi connection ?

 

[Zaap]

Heh, wifi. The way some are always going on about how everything they use is so slow, It wouldn't surprise me if they're using dial up.

 

[corkyg]

Even Wi-Fi varies with what it is connected to. Mine is faster than 3G but slower than my hardwired PC.

 

[Rudee]

The Kindle OS is laughable.

 

[lothar]

]It is poorly regulated. The app quality is way below that of the Google Play store, with all kinds of apps causing wakelock/crashing issues.[/B] Plus, most of the harmful apps make their best debut on the amazon appstore.

I agree with all those reasons, not to mention the fact that the apps are months late behind the Play Store versions and the Amazon app store is almost like a virus with it's persistent notifications that I stopped using it all together for over a year now.
However, none of those things make the Amazon app store "extremely shady"

Examples? Link?
If you can provide, then that could prove your "extremely shady" statement.

 

[rh71]

about to jump on a KFHD 7" for the parents - they basically want Netflix and Youtube that is HDMI out-table to their tv, as well as have a small device that can do it. I can get it for $159 right now. I know Nook HD can also do it, but it requires that $30 adapter.

Anyway, question is do you think the 7" replacement as mentioned in the OP will be the same $199 price when it comes out? Should I absolutely wait to the fall release?

 

[Red Storm]

about to jump on a KFHD 7" for the parents - they basically want Netflix and Youtube that is HDMI out-table to their tv, as well as have a small device that can do it. I can get it for $159 right now. I know Nook HD can also do it, but it requires that $30 adapter.

Anyway, question is do you think the 7" replacement as mentioned in the OP will be the same $199 price when it comes out? Should I absolutely wait to the fall release?

Wouldn't it make more sense to get a first gen Nexus 7 with Chromecast? No wires! Who wants to walk over to their TV every time a video ends?

 

[Chiropteran]

I agree with the general sentiment. Nice hardware specs, but the Kindle OS is garbage.

I have a kindle fire hd, and my wife has one, but I don't think I'll be buying into next generation. I like amazon video, which is just about the only thing I use my kindle fire for, but I don't see any big advantage for that on the next gen devices.

 

[Face2Face]

I have had a chance to use the current 8.9" HD model for about a day and I can say I am that not impressed with it's speed. Granted it's faster than my Ipad 1, but is much slower than my Ipad 2 and Nexus 7. I played a new Batman game on it and it was a horribly slow experience and web browsing wasn't very good. The screen is very nice and I like the build quality a lot - Just needs faster internals and it would be a nice alternative to android and iOS. I myself am looking forward to a Windows X86 Tablet @ $500

 

[rh71]

Wouldn't it make more sense to get a first gen Nexus 7 with Chromecast? No wires! Who wants to walk over to their TV every time a video ends?

wasn't aware of chromecast. The nexus 7 is too pricey for them (+$70). I see chromecast doesn't work with Kindle - too bad.

 

[Red Storm]

wasn't aware of chromecast. The nexus 7 is too pricey for them (+$70). I see chromecast doesn't work with Kindle - too bad.

Well not the new Nexus 7, I mean the first gen one.

 

[rh71]

Well not the new Nexus 7, I mean the first gen one.

says discontinued and it's $199 isn't it? Can't seem to find it anywhere else.
https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_7_2012_16GB?id=nexus_7_16gb&hl=en

 

[Red Storm]

says discontinued and it's $199 isn't it? Can't seem to find it anywhere else.
https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_7_2012_16GB?id=nexus_7_16gb&hl=en

Swappa, eBay, Craigslist, etc. all have it for much cheaper than $199.

 

[Dumac]

This just makes me more excited for the Nexus 10 refresh. The new Nexus 7 looks nice and all, but that 7" form is too small for a tablet IMO.

 

[desura]

Do you mean the app "Pocket" in the Play store that saves webpages,etc, for later ? I tried it out just now with a few webpages and Youtube videos and it wasn't slow at all for me. Its exactly the same on the HD+ and the new Nexus 7.

Was there a specific page or item you put in there that made it slow ? Or could it be a bad wifi connection ?

No, it's because of the device's slow speed.

Pocket is better on iOS devices by quite a bit. It's tolerable on my samsung tablet, but was terribly laggy on the nook hd+. Distractingly so.

 

[Zaap]

Okay just opened pocket on my Nook HD+. There's literally nothing slow about it. Not in how fast it opens (pretty much instantly) not in how it scrolls, not in how it displays pages I've saved. Not a single thing about using it is slow on my Nook.

Maybe your HD+ isn't set up right or you have some glacially slow internet connection or who knows what else, but it seems to be your issue not an issue with the Nook HD+.

 

[Geekbabe]

I got a slick deal, a Kindle Fire HD, leather cover & $25 Amazon gift card for $150 shipped. Since this tablet is a place holder that I will use till New iPad is released I have decided to just side load select apps. The ability to use Chrome makes the device quite a bit more palatable. I also like watching Prime videos & being able to borrow a free book every month. The special offers are nice too. For the price I won't complain.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I only needed to change one setting (no rooting needed) to allow side-loading on my original Kindle Fire. Did Amazon remove this feature from the HD models?

 

[Geekbabe]

I only needed to change one setting (no rooting needed) to allow side-loading on my original Kindle Fire. Did Amazon remove this feature from the HD models?

Not as far as I can see. Just received my Fire HD, went into setting > device and allowed downloading from unknown sources and side loaded my little heart out