Amazon's new Kindle Fire is already grabbing the headlines and a lot of attention after its official unveiling yesterday. Its low price and streamline media intergration, on the face of it, is a compelling alternative to the iPad 2. But you should be sure what you are actually buying and in this case what it can't do.
Essentially the Fire is running Android, but this doesn't make it an Android Tablet in the way we normally think of it. If you're expecting a fully-fledged tablet experience, you maybe disappointed
The Fire, available from November 15, runs a heavily re-worked version of Android - so re-worked you'd probably struggle to recognise at all. With the changes come the downside; what it can't do.
Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet does not have the same standard set of apps that you'd find on a Honeycomb tablet - in fact it has none. If you're expecting Gmail then you'll be disappointed.
If fact, the Fire doesn't include any access to the main Android Marketplace at all. Instead, you be expected to buy all of your apps from the Amazon app marketplace. The main problem with this is their store doesn't have the depth and breadth of its Android counterpart - sure it has Angry Birds and the like. But nowhere near what the proper marketplace has.
A quick search of the store turns up no results for any of Google Android services; no Google +, Voice, Docs, Maps or even Youtube. Also lost at sea are popular third-party app like Skype, CNN and Pandora. It maybe possible to side load app using the apk files - but we won't know for sure until its made available for closer inspection.
The Amazon store will serve as the only place to get content and download and install apps. A major drawback at the moment, but in time it might not be too much of a issue for your average tablet user.
Amazon is trying to keep the Fire focused, but there are some concerns: It has been reported that the Fire will not be running the tablet version of Android; Honeycomb. But rather the mobile version Gingerbread.
This could throw up further limitations with regards to app availability aswell. Apps specifically designed for tablets require Android 3.0 - not - Gingerbread.
Essentially Amazon has created its own platform, so you won't get customisable homescreens, widgets, live wallpapers, and many of the fancy Honeycomb features.
There might be a possibility that the software will be upgraded when Ice Cream comes, but Amazon isn’t talking about that at the moment. They look like there are trying to create their niche version of Android, a independent version of their own.
It might be possible, in time, for the Android community to come up with a work around for all these limitations, but we wouldn't bet on this happening straight away, if ever.
In terms of hardware, the Kindle Fire doesn't come with any camera or microphone - so video chat is out of the window - and it doesn't have 3G connectivity or GPS functionality.
Now, there's no doubt the Kindle could be a great device, but it's looking to change what we expect from a tablet - it's all about content.
It's a media player/tablet - but more a media player. Sure it will run apps, has a flash-enabled web browser - but it's a device that falls somewhere between an e-reader/media player - housed in a tablet’s shell.
The Kindle does have some cool party pieces, like Amazon's Whispersync bookmarking service for books and movies, seamless integration with all kinds of media, ranging from books and magazines to music, and TV Shows.
It even has Amazon's new "Silk" web browser, which used Amazon's EC3 cloud service to up page loading times. And it does have flash (something the iPad is still missing). It also boasts complete integration with Amazon's Cloud Drive, too.
From the looks of it, if you’re are looking for something simple, effective and intuitive to use – at a affordable price – the Kindle Fire might be worth considering.
But if you’re looking for something that can run rings around Honeycomb tabs or iPad’s then this is not the tablet for you. This is not a Android tablet – it’s a Amazon device in a similar way to the original Kindle. A new platform and eco-system.
Amazon’s own Jeff Bezos said it best: The Kindle Fire shouldn’t be thought of as a tablet, but rather as a “service.” and he’s rights as a service it has a lot to offer – just make sure you know the service is really what you want.
One thought on “Amazon Kindle Fire: We Look At What It Can’t Do”
Really good post, is it coming to the UK? Amazon would be able to compete with apples content but but not with the ipad. I think the price is the biggest reason most people will buy it