Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024) review: A cheap tablet hampered by outdated software

The latest Amazon Fire HD 8, updated last month and starting at $100, is a modest refresh, offering more RAM, a nominally upgraded camera and some new AI features. The general sales pitch, however, remains the same: You get a just-competent tablet for the essentials at a dirt-cheap (and often-discounted) price, and in exchange, Amazon gets to plant another appliance for its own apps and services in your home. Nothing about this update drastically changes that agreement, but after using the tablet for the past month (and after using older Fire tablets for years prior), it may be time to demand more from Amazon’s end of the bargain. It’s definitely a cheap tablet Physically, the new Fire HD 8 is nearly identical to the last one. It is, without a doubt, A Budget Tablet — it’s nowhere near premium, but it doesn’t feel distractingly cheap either. At just under eight inches tall and 0.37 inches thick, it’s small enough for most kids to operate without much struggle and most adults to carry with one hand. If you care more about your tablet’s travel-friendliness than its virtues as a miniature TV, this size should be fine. The whole thing is lightweight at 0.74 pounds, so it’s not an anchor in your bag. Its textured plastic frame is somewhat slippery but altogether sturdy, with no creaking or flexing. Its gently rounded edges dig comfortably into your palms. There are fairly thick bezels around the display, but I’ve never minded those on a tablet — they give your thumbs a... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2024-11-15 14:19:25 UTC ]

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PineNote E-ink tablet runs Manjaro Linux

Reading devices with E-ink displays are an absolute must for hardcore readers. Can you read books using a traditional Android tablet or Apple iPad? Sure, but the screen can cause eyestrain. An E-ink reader, such as Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, makes reading digital books much more enjoyable --... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2021-08-16 21:49:10 UTC ]
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How To Use the Kindle App on PC

From set-up to major pros and cons, this is what you need to know about how to use the Kindle App on PC. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-06-07 10:39:00 UTC ]
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A Closer Look at Kindle Unlimited Manga

Save some money with this selection of Kindle Unlimited manga, including Shaman King by Hiroyuki Takei. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-04-26 10:32:00 UTC ]
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Canada’s Wattpad Has First Film Project With Netflix

A day after Amazon announces its Kindle Vella serialization platform, the 90-million-user Wattpad arrives with its first serial-based film deal with Netflix. The post Canada’s Wattpad Has First Film Project With Netflix appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-15 14:06:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Announces Its Wattpad-Style ‘Kindle Vella’ Platform

Opening a new route to self-publishing, Amazon's Kindle Vella capitalizes on the popularity of online serialized storytelling. The post Amazon Announces Its Wattpad-Style ‘Kindle Vella’ Platform appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-14 17:25:03 UTC ]
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Tough times need indie spirit

When I left the publishing industry at the end of 2007, the first Kindle had gone on sale just a month earlier, Apple had not yet launched the iPad and few people in publishing knew what an app was. It was a very different world. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-05 11:09:47 UTC ]
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Amazon loses its head of Fire TV, Kindle and Luna to Unity

After a five-year stint, Marc Whitten — the man in charge of Fire TV, the Kindle and more — has stepped down as Amazon's VP of entertainment devices and services. News of Whitten's departure was spotted yesterday by consultant Matthew Ball o... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-02-25 17:27:36 UTC ]
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25 of the Best Kindle Unlimited Romance Books in 2021 You Can Read Right Now

Check out Book Riot favorites for the best Kindle Unlimited romance books 2021. Find free romance books to download right now. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-02-12 11:34:00 UTC ]
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Bookstat chart: Wyer leads Kindle Unlimited crew

The Bookstat e-book chart saw nine new entries for the week ending 6th February.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-10 16:07:30 UTC ]
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The Best Free Kindle Books of 2021

It's time for free books! This is where to find the best free Kindle Books, 2021 edition. Get reading with these options. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-02-10 11:34:00 UTC ]
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50 of the Best Kindle Unlimited Books You Can Read in 2021

New year, new books! It's time to check out the Best Kindle Unlimited Books you can read in 2021. More books for a cheaper price! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-02-05 11:34:00 UTC ]
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How to Cancel Kindle Unlimited

Do you need to cancel your Kindle Unlimited but haven't been able to do so? Here's tips (with screenshots!) on how to cancel Kindle Unlimited. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-02-01 11:37:00 UTC ]
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How (and Why) to Spring Clean Your Digital Book Clutter

Take the time to spring clean your digital book clutter by tidying up your Kindle cloud, Goodreads shelves, and TBR with these tips. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-12-24 11:32:00 UTC ]
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Amazon discounts the Kindle Paperwhite to $85 for Black Friday

If the pandemic has helped you rediscover the joy of reading, Amazon’s latest Kindle deal may be exactly what you’re looking for. For Black Friday, the retailer has discounted the base 8GB Paperwhite with ads by $45 to $85. That’s the same price the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2020-11-26 05:01:14 UTC ]
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Amazon adds X-Ray features to its music service

Amazon is bringing over a popular feature from Kindle and Prime Video to its Music service. The company announced today the Music X-Ray experience is now available for tens of millions of songs in its catalog. According to the company, this will “off... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2020-11-20 16:45:39 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle drops to $60 again in Black Friday sale

You can now start shopping for Black Friday deals on Amazon devices, and one of the first models you can get at a discount is the company’s Kindle e-reader. The latest version of the company’s basic e-reader is now on sale for $60, down $30 from its... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2020-11-20 11:45:42 UTC ]
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HarperCollins takes two from Kindle star Bloom

HarperCollins has picked up two books from “utterly hilarious” self-published star Tracy Bloom. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-26 04:59:19 UTC ]
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Amazon Charts: Wenger shoots and scores

Arsène Wenger's My Life in Red and White (W&N) blazed into the Amazon Charts' Most-Sold: Non-Fiction top spot, with the audiobook earning more listeners than the Kindle edition in its first week on sale. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-20 23:02:25 UTC ]
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Anna McNuff wins £20K Kindle Storyteller Award

Anna McNuff has won this year's Kindle Storyteller Award for her account of a 5,500-mile cycling odyssey through South America. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-20 06:44:21 UTC ]
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Amazon donates $100,000 for diversity and robotics programming at UMd.

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) is again putting more money toward computer science education in the region, this time with a $100,000 donation to the University of Maryland's engineering school for diversity initiatives and robotics programming. Specifically, Amazon Lab126, the... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2020-10-14 11:53:45 UTC ]
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