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Tag: Amazon

  • Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet launched with faster processor, USB-C charging

    Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet launched with faster processor, USB-C charging

    Amazon just announced the updated Fire HD 10 tablet starting at $149.99. The new tablet gets several upgrades over its predecessor such as a faster processor, a full HD 1080p display, longer battery life, Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, as well as a new USB-C port for faster charging.

    Key specs on the new Fire HD 10 tablet includes a 10.1-inch FHD screen, an upgraded octa-core processor bundled with 2GB of RAM. As for storage, the device is offered in a choice of 32GB and 64GB storage options which is further expandable via microSD slot.

    Elsewhere, Amazon also promises up to 12 hours of battery life with the new Fire HD tablet. And thanks to USB-C charging, the tablet can fully charge in just 4 hours. Not to mention, the new Fire HD 10 tablet also marks the first device from Amazon to come with a USB-C port for charging.

    In terms of software, the Amazon Fire 10 comes pre-loaded with Android P with features such as hands-free Alexa. Besides, Amazon has also added a new picture-in-picture feature that minimizes certain video apps so you can watch videos while using other applications such as calendar, notes app, and more. Currently, the feature only supports Amazon’s own Prime Video app and Netflix, however, more apps will support the feature in the near future.

    The new Amazon Fire HD tablet is compatible with all of Amazon’s services such as Amazon Music, Prime Video, Kindle, Amazon App Store, and more. The tablet is now available to pre-order while shipping begins on October 30. Not to mention, the tablet will be offered in three new color variants apart from the standard black. These include blue, plum, white, and twilight blue.

    Amazon has also announced a new Kindle for kids starting at $199. It comes with a new case that features a built-in adjustable stand for easily adjusting the tablet’s position. Elsewhere, it offers the same perks as its predecessors such as a two-year extended replacement program along with a free year of Amazon’s FreeTime service. It offers thousands of premium apps, books, and TV shows and movies for kids along with advanced parental controls for tracking and keeping a check on the time spent in front of a screen.

  • Amazon launches Alexa-powered Eero mesh router

    Amazon launches Alexa-powered Eero mesh router

    Amazon has unveiled its brand new Eero mesh router with Alexa controls, making it the first Eero product released since it acquired the maker of mesh home routers in February this year. Priced at $99, the new Eero router is available in the United States starting today, and will arrive in Europe later this year.

    Amazon boasts that its new Eero router offers hassle-free usage, allowing for setup of 10 mins or less. The router packs a dual-band radio system, as well as deeper integration with Alexa controls. With advanced Alexa integration, it allows users to control their network via voice commands. For instance, users can turn on or off guest Wi-Fi with voice commands, or pause Wi-Fi access to a specific device on the network (such as a video game console or any other device such as a tablet or a smartphone).

    Such advanced features are currently not available for third party devices, though Amazon announced its plans to make an API so that other companies can use these advanced features. Routers from the likes of TP-Link, Asus, Linksys, and Arris will get support for these features later this year.

    As already mentioned, the new Eero router will cost $99. However, it’ll also be offered in a pack of three which costs $249. According to Amazon, the three-pack can cover a house of up to 5000 square feet, and offer speeds of up to 350Mbps with dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz, and supports 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 LTE.

    To recall, Amazon announced its Eero acquisition, manufacturer of mesh home routers back in February this year. Amazon stated that acquiring Eero will allow them to help customers connect their smart devices better, with Alexa-powered devices which will be easier to set up and manage. The latest Eero router marks the first new product from the mesh networking company since Amazon acquired it earlier this year.

  • Amazon’s Alexa-powered wireless earbuds might feature fitness tracking

    Amazon’s Alexa-powered wireless earbuds might feature fitness tracking

    Reports emerged earlier this year indicating that Amazon is working Alexa-powered wireless earbuds, that’ll compete directly with Apple’s Airpods. Today, a new report from CNBC has shed more light on the matter. Besides, the report also suggests that Amazon plans to launch a new, better sounding Echo speaker

    To begin with, the report suggests that Amazon’s upcoming earbuds will not only feature Alexa but will also include multiple health and fitness features. They will reportedly come equipped with a built-in accelerometer that will be able to track calories burned, distance ran, and the wearer’s pace.

    However, the report also indicates that Amazon’s earbuds might not feature cellular connectivity. Now, this could make Alexa integration a bit of a hassle as they would need to pair with a smartphone to unlock Alexas’s full functionality.

    As far as pricing goes, the report suggests that Amazon’s earbuds will get a price tag of less than $100, which make them more affordable than Apple’s Airpods and other popular wireless earbuds. That said, it remains unclear whether Amazon’s upcoming earbuds will feature true wireless capabilities like Airpods. Today’s report from CNBC, however, states that the Alexa earbuds would be similar to Airpods.

    Elsewhere, the report also suggests that Amazon plans to launch a new Echo speaker with a built-in woofer, which is expected to improve the sound quality significantly, compared to the current Echo lineup, Apple’s HomePod, as well as Google Home. Amazon recently announced a lossless tier for its music streaming service that will offer songs with a bit depth of 16 bits and a sample rate of 44.1 kHz. And it would be a good idea if Amazon launches a new, improved Echo speaker that would allow subscribers to listen to music in high-definition with better sound quality.

    Amazon is expected to announce these new products during its annual launch event in Seattle on Wednesday. We’ll bring you all the live updates from the event. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Amazon announces lossless streaming with Amazon Music HD

    Amazon announces lossless streaming with Amazon Music HD

    To better compete with the likes of Apple Music and Spotify, Amazon has rolled out a lossless streaming tier called Amazon Music HD. The company claims that this new tier added to its existing music service allows subscribers to listen to more than 50 million songs in high-definition.

    Amazon Music HD costs $12.99 a month for Amazon Prime members and $14.99 a month for non-Prime users. The new service will offer songs with a bit depth of 16 bits and a sample rate of 44.1 kHz. Besides, Amazon claims that customers will be able to stream around a ‘million songs’ in  Ultra HD, which offers a bit depth of 24 bits and a sample rate of up to 192 kHz.

    “We spoke with many artists while developing Amazon Music HD, who were excited about the potential for fans to be able to stream their favorite music and hear as it was originally recorded. From rock to hip-hop to classical and pop, we believe listening to music at this level of sound will make customers fall in love again with their favorite music and artists,” said Amazon Music vice president Steve Boom.

    Amazon recommends that users have a data speed of at least 1.5Mbps. Besides, the company also notes that sound quality and compatibility are hardware dependent. Amazon Music HD is compatible with a wide range of iOS and Android devices, including both desktop and mobile. The service is also available on some Echo devices, Fire TV, as well as Fire tablets. Amazon Music HD is now available in the US, UK, Germany, and Japan. The company is also offering a 90-day free trial for users to try out the new lossless streaming tier.

    For now, Spotify and Apple Music rule the roost when it comes to music streaming services. Spotify is a globally popular brand and Apple has partnered with several carriers in the US to boost the popularity of its music service. Amazon’s latest move can certainly attract more users to subscribe to its service. And if Amazon’s newly added lossless streaming tier turns out to be a success, we won’t be surprised if the likes of Spotify and Apple Music come up with something similar.

  • Amazon overtakes Microsoft and Apple to become the most valuable company

    Amazon overtakes Microsoft and Apple to become the most valuable company

    Amazon has now become the world’s most valuable company, as it manages to surpass Microsoft, who has enjoyed the top spot since November last year. According to a report by BBC, Amazon has become worth $810 billion, while Microsoft is now valued at $789 billion. The duo are followed by Google’s parent company Alphabet at $752 billion, while Apple is now valued at $702 billion.

    The report further notes that Microsoft overtook Apple in late 2018, while Amazon edged past the iPhone-maker in December to take the runner-up spot.

    Apple, the once most valued company in the world, keeps going down. Last year, the Cupertino giant became the world’s first trillion dollar company. However, the company has been on a steady decline over the past 6 months.

    Now, this is primarily because of low sales of its most popular product – the iPhone. Apple’s latest iPhone-lineup, which was supposed help the company get back at the top, is selling well below expectations. This led to a decline in the value of Apple’s shares. However, CEO Tim Cook asserts Apple is still well positioned in the market as a leader.

    “I’m never surprised by the market, to be honest with you, because I think the market is quite emotional in the short term. We sort of look through all of that. We think about the long term. And so when I look at the long-term health of the company, it has never been better. The product pipeline has never been better. The ecosystem has never been stronger. The services are on a tear,” Cook said in an interview with CNBC.

    Meanwhile, Amazon has enjoyed a constant growth since early 2017. The company’s Founder, Jeff Bezos, also became the richest person in the world last year at a net worth of $150 billion.

  • Amazon offering 12 month PlayStation Plus memberships at just $39.99

    Amazon offering 12 month PlayStation Plus memberships at just $39.99

    With Black Friday 2018 now upon us, there’ll be plethora of attractive deals on PlayStation 4 bundles, as well as on different PS4 games. Most retailers are offering a $100 discount across most PS4 bundles. That said, there’s one Black Friday deal PlayStation owners just cannot afford to miss.

    You can get a 12 month membership for PlayStation Plus at an all-time low of just $39.99, thanks to Amazon. Now, this happens to be much lower than its standard year-round price of $60.

    Put simply, it’s one heck of a deal and something to be taken advantage of during Black Friday 2018. After all, you’ll subscribe to PlayStation Plus anyways to have all the fun on your console, so why not do it now when you can save so much.

    Besides, you don’t worry about your remaining PlayStation Plus balance, as this is a digital code that adds 12 months to whatever remaining balance you already have. Subscribing to PlayStation Plus lets you have all the fun on your PS4 console as you get access to multiplayer and play games online with your friends.

    Not to mention, PlayStation Plus members also get popular PS4 games every month as free downloads. In addition, subscribers are also entitled to exclusive PlayStation store sales and discounts. Put simply, it’s a great Black Friday deal on Amazon that every PS4 and even PS3 owner should take advantage of. For more information, check out Amazon’s product page.

    In other related news, Sony also announced in a blog post that the new PS4 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 bundle will release on November 27 for $299.99. The bundle will include the standard Jet Black 1TB PlayStation 4 console and a physical retail disc of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.

    Besides, the Japanese giant also revealed in the same post that PlayStation 4 sales have crossed 86.1 million units since its debut back in 2013. This implies that the PS4 has surpassed its predecessor, the PS3, which sold nearly 83.8 million units.