Personal Technology: Kindle Fire HDX - Vedomosti

WSJ columnist Walter Mossberg tested the tablet from Amazon

I would like you to have a mobile device you could instantly call technical support – so that all the necessary instructions with illustrations are displayed directly on the screen? October 18 this is possible: in the new tablet Kindle Fire HDX from the Amazon provides remote technical support, calling button Mayday. Perhaps the most conspicuous innovation tablet – the other functions have undergone only a minor evolution as compared to the previous model Kindle Fire HD.

worked with Fire HDX, I can say that this is a very Solid plate. The unit cost of $ 229 ( in the USA) is equipped with a 7-inch color screen ( there is an option HDX with screens 8.9 inches). Like other devices Amazon, the novelty is primarily designed to work with the content of this company.

Alas, as the older model, Fire HDX functionality gives major competitors like Apple iPad Mini or Google Nexus 7. In particular, the range of applications from independent developers rather poor – there is no such popular programs like Instagram, Dropbox, Google Maps, YouTube. In addition, a seven-inch model HDX not have a camera on the back and voice control, similar to Apple Siri and Google Now. Battery HDX showed an average result – 7.5 hours ( the Nexus 7 – six hours at the iPad Mini – 10:00 27 minutes).

What are the advantages of the new model? First, let me note a magnificent display with a resolution of 323 dots per inch and a faster processor. The new operating system Fire OS 3.0 (-based operating system Android) has a number of interesting features. The main screen still displays the most recently used applications and media files, but you can hide them, leaving the default icons of favorite applications. To quickly switch between applications, you can use a retractable side panel of the screen. I liked the player X-Ray for Music, synchronous playback of songs showing their text. In general, the HDX – a good tool to work with content, and access to the resources of Amazon.

WSJ, 8.10.2013, Alexander Silonov