When Amazon announced their first Android tablet, the Kindle Fire, back in September, we were told it would come with a dual-core processor, although we weren’t given any information on the actual processor that would be used inside their tablet.
The guys over at iFixit have taken apart the new Amazon Kindle Fire, and now we know that it comes with a dual-core TI OMAP 4430 processor, plus 8GB of Samsung flash storage and 512MB of DDR2 RAM.
You can find out full details of what was found inside the Kindle Fire, and also check out lots more teardown photos over at iFixit.
Technical Specifications and Performance
The Kindle Fire’s TI OMAP 4430 processor is a dual-core chip that operates at a clock speed of 1 GHz. This processor was quite advanced for its time, providing a good balance between performance and power consumption. The 8GB of Samsung flash storage, while not extensive, was sufficient for storing a modest collection of eBooks, apps, and media files. The 512MB of DDR2 RAM, although modest by today’s standards, was adequate for the device’s intended use, which primarily included reading, browsing the web, and streaming media.
The Kindle Fire also featured a 7-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. This provided a decent viewing experience for reading and media consumption. The device ran on a customized version of Android, known as Fire OS, which was tailored to integrate seamlessly with Amazon’s ecosystem of services, including the Kindle Store, Amazon Prime Video, and Amazon Music.
Impact on the Tablet Market
The release of the Kindle Fire had a significant impact on the tablet market. Priced at just $199, it was one of the most affordable tablets available at the time, making it accessible to a wide range of consumers. This aggressive pricing strategy forced other manufacturers to reconsider their pricing models, leading to more competitive pricing across the industry.
Amazon’s strategy with the Kindle Fire was not just to sell hardware but to create a gateway to its vast array of digital content. By offering a low-cost tablet, Amazon aimed to drive sales of eBooks, movies, music, and other digital products. This approach proved to be successful, as the Kindle Fire quickly became one of the best-selling tablets in the market.
The Kindle Fire also paved the way for future Amazon devices, including the Kindle Fire HD and the Fire HDX series. These subsequent models featured improved hardware, higher resolution displays, and more powerful processors, further solidifying Amazon’s presence in the tablet market.
In addition to its hardware, the Kindle Fire’s integration with Amazon’s cloud services was a key selling point. Users could store their content in the cloud and access it from any device, providing a seamless and convenient user experience. This cloud integration also allowed Amazon to offer features like Whispersync, which synchronized reading progress across devices, and X-Ray, which provided additional information about books and movies.
Overall, the Kindle Fire was a game-changer in the tablet market, offering a compelling combination of affordability, performance, and access to a rich ecosystem of digital content. Its success demonstrated the potential of low-cost tablets and set the stage for future innovations in the industry.
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