Product Review - Kindle Kid's Edition
What do you do when your children want a real Tablet, but you do not really want to
spend the money on buying one of the more expensive tablets?
Amazon now has an answer!
Amazon have released a Tablet .... Just for Kids!
It's called the "Fire HD Kids Edition". Priced at $149 (6-inch display) or $189 (7-inch display), it has been described
as the first tablet built from the ground up on the premise that kids want a real tablet - not a toy.
Essentially, the Kids Edition tablet is the 2013 model of the Fire HD. But the Kids Edition is more robust and feature
rich for children.
Ok, so let's talk features and what you get for $149 - $189.....
1 Year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited (see below to learn what this means)
A Kid-Proof Case (Durable lightweight case)
2 Year worry-free guarantee (If they break it, return it to Amazon's and they will replace it)
Great Parental Controls - You can create individual profiles for each of your children.
Front and Rear Cameras - A 2Megapixel rear-facing camera that allows for photos and 1080p HD video.
What is 'Amazon FreeTime Unlimited' ?
Unlimited access to 5,000 books, movies, TV Shows, educational apps and games.
This normally costs $2.99 per month.
FreeTime blocks Store and In-app payments - so no more worrying about additional expenses and nasty surprises on your credit card statement.
What we love ...
Obviously the Kid-proof case (i won't admit to how many devices we have sitting dormant in our 'gadgets cupboard' simply because we trusted slippery fingers - some of those mind you are not from the children's slippery fingers)
The guarantee - no further explanation needed.
There are three (3) colors available; Blue, Lime Green and Pink.
What we love the most...
The parental controls - creating of separate profiles.
Furthermore, you can set limits on reading time with your little ones, in order to have them read before playing the time-waster types of apps and games.
Our verdict:
For those who do not want to spend too much money on a tablet (and that means most of us) this is a really fantastic solution. The tablet (including kid-proof case) is a fraction of the cost of what a more expensive tablet would cost you. The case is solid and at least protective, and the worry-proof guarantee is very generous. The parental controls will have you relieved in terms of what your children are viewing, and just as importantly what they are controlling (payments and costs involved in purchases made from an internet connected tablet). A great buy with a good price. Great for a Christmas gift for the kids!
How to Buy?
You can order a Kids Edition Fire HD through Amazons for $149(6-inch display) or $189 (7-inch display).
Here are Amazon's Technical Specifications:
Display
6" (252 ppi) or 7" (216 ppi) high definition touchscreen; 1280x800 resolution,
video playback up to 720p, with IPS (in-plane switching) technology and
advanced polarizing filter
Size
Fire HD 6 with Kid-Proof Case - 7.6" x 5.0" x 1.1" (192 mm x 126 mm x 26.4 mm)
Fire HD 7 with Kid-Proof Case - 8.4" x 6.0" x 1.1" (214 mm x 151mm x 26.4 mm)
Weight
Fire HD 6 with Kid-Proof Case - 12.6 ounces (360 grams)
Fire HD 7 with Kid-Proof Case - 15.0 ounces (425 grams)
Actual size and weight may vary by configuration and manufacturing process
CPU & RAM
Quad-Core: 2 @ 1.5 Ghz + 2 @ 1.2 GHz , with 1 GB of RAM
Storage
8 GB (4.5 GB available to user) of internal storage
Battery Life
Up to 8 hours of reading, surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, and listening to
music. Battery life will vary based on device settings, usage, and other factors such
as web browsing and downloading content. Actual results may vary
Charge Time
Fully charges in under 6 hours using the micro-USB power adapter included in the box, or slightly longer with other micro-USB power adapters that you may already have
Wi-Fi Connectivity
Single-antenna Wi-Fi. Supports public and private Wi-Fi networks or hotspots that use the 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n standard with support for WEP, WPA, and WPA2 security using password authentication; does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks
Ports
SlimPort enabled USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) port to connect to an HDTV or VGA monitor with an adapter or to a PC/Macintosh computer, or to charge your device with the included power adapter
Audio
3.5 mm stereo jack and integrated speaker with Dolby Digital Plus
Content Formats Supported
Kindle (AZW), KF8, TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively, Audible Enhanced format (AAX), DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3), non-DRM AAC, MP3, MIDI, PCM/WAVE, OGG, WAV, M4V, MP4, AAC LC/LTP, HE-AACv1, HE-AACv2, MKV, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, HTML5, CSS3, 3GP, VP8 (WEBM)
Sensors
Accelerometer, gyroscope
Camera Specs
VGA Front-facing Camera. 2.0 MP rear-facing HD camera
Location Services
Location-based services via Wi-Fi
Additional Features
External volume controls, built-in Bluetooth with support for A2DP compatible stereo headphones, speakers, microphone, and LE accessories support
Accessibility Features
Screen Reader, Explore by Touch, and Screen Magnifier, enabling access to the vast majority of Fire tablet features. Screen Reader features IVONA's award-winning natural language text-to-speech voice. Also includes adjustable font sizes/color, and built-in Oxford dictionary. Learn more
System Requirements
Fire HD Kids Edition is ready to use right out of the box—no setup, no software to install, no computer required to download content
Warranty and Service
2-year worry-free guarantee. Coverage for anything that happens to your Fire HD including electrical and mechanical breakdowns. See details. Use of Fire tablet is subject to the terms found here
Included in the Box
Fire HD 6 or Fire HD 7 tablet, Amazon Kid-Proof Case, 5W power adapter, USB 2.0 cable and Quick Start Guide
Age Range
Ages 3 and up
