Amazon unveils revamped Kindle Fire HD tablets and e-readers

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has unveiled a raft of devices including multiple successors to its Kindle Fire tablet and e-readers.

Kindle Fire HD tablets

The Kindle Fire HD will come in two sizes 7ins and 8.9ins. Although the UK will receive only the small version.

The UK specific 7in Kindle Fire HD will include:

Display - A 1280 x 800, IPS Gorilla Glass display (up to 720p)

Processor - A TI OMAP 4470 1.2GHz dual-core processor.

Software The re-skinned Android OS will come with specially designed Facebook and Skype apps and an improved email client. An X-Ray feature, which is powered by IMDB will allow you to tap on any actor's face during a movie or television show and will bring up information such as filmography. Amazon's Whispersync technology has also been improved - it now syncs between ebooks and audio books. As well as remembering which chapter you've reached in a book, the device will also allow you to continue playing games from where you left off.

Storage - 16GB or 32GB internal + cloud storage.

Connectivity - Dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi chip with two antennae.

Cameras - HD front-facing camera.

Battery life - up to 11 hours with the wireless off.

Price 16GB model will be 159 and 32GB edition will be 199.

Release date - October 25th , with pre-orders getting priority.

E-readers

The Kindle Paperwhite was debuted and will satisfy users who primarily want to consume books on the move.

Specifications of the 213g device include a backlit capacitive touch display (212ppi) and a contrast ratio 25 per cent higher than the previous model. Amazon claims the device will last up to eight weeks on a single charge.

The Paperwhite is available for order today for $119, and the Paperwhite 3G is on offer for $179. Both will begin shipping on 1 October.

For those on a budget, Amazon will also be offering a basic Kindle for $69 for the 14 September.

Khidr Suleman is the Technical Editor at IT Pro, a role he has fulfilled since March 2012. He is responsible for the reviews section on the site  - so get in touch if you have a product you think might be of interest to the business world. He also covers the hardware and operating systems beats. Prior to joining IT Pro, Khidr worked as a reporter at Incisive Media. He studied law at the University of Reading and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism and Online Writing at PMA Training.