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Jabra Supreme Mono Bluetooth Headset Review

Jabra will soon be releasing their Jabra Supreme Mono Bluetooth Headset which features active noise cancellation. The nifty little folding headset features dual microphones, voice control and voice guidance, support for 2 bluetooth devices, A2DP streaming, and interchangable ear cushions.

The Jabra Supreme uses a lot of technology to help ensure that calls are crystal clear, and yet our favorite feature is probably its folding design. There’s no need to deal with on/off buttons, just fold out the microphone arm from the device’s body and it’s on. There’s a large answer/end button in the center of the device, volume up/down buttons on the side, and a voice control button on the arm. There’s a micro-USB charging connector with a rubber cover. there are also status LEDs on the side. By default the Supreme is ready to be worn on the right ear, but the earhook can be pulled off and aligned on the opposite side. The bottom part of the earhook can be twisted and optimized for comfort.

Pairing your device to the Jabra Supreme is a piece of cake. The Supreme will even walk you through the process with voice prompts. To pair a second device just tap the voice control button and say “pair new device”. for a list of all available voice commands say “what can I say?” other voice commands include: Redial, Call Back, Phone Commands (to access your phone’s voice commands), and Battery.

The Jabra Supreme has the ability to actively cancel out background noise — this means, in real time, it listens to the ambient noise and produces an anti-noise to cancel it out. The supreme even uses wind-noise reduction and something they call Noise Blackout 3.0 to further improve the calling quality and deliver “HD Voice”.

Conclusion:

I have tested out a lot of different headsets, bluetooth and wired, and have the same go-to friends to try my calls with. with all honesty, I’ve received the best feedback from my callers using the Jabra Supreme. Most were surprised with just how clear, crisp, and loud it was even outside. not only does the Jabra sound great on both ends, but it’s very comfortable and natural feeling. It sits on my ear very nicely except if I’m walking fast it may wobble. The only real issue we had with Jabra Supreme is that it does not get loud enough outside. In the car, it gets just loud enough to hear over the engine, but in the busy streets of new York it was tough to hear without pressing the headset against my ear. The answer/hangup button is very easy to press, the volume and voice command buttons are much smaller, but are easy to press once you get used to it. The headset had a great bluetooth range, it started to cut out after about 25 feet. Lastly, the battery is supposed to last for up to 6 hours of talk time and 15 days of standby time, these figures were right on par with our testing.

As mentioned, we love the “flip-boom” mic design. not only does unfolding the mic turn the Supreme on, but it turns it on very fast (it will even exclaim “connected” when it’s paired). This means if you’re receiving a phone call you can grab your Jabra Supreme, which is off, unflip the mic and in 2 seconds it’s ON, connected, and ready to answer the call.The Jabra Supreme comes with two sizes of ear hooks and two sizes of ear cushions. It’s comfortable and secure as long as you’re not moving around too much. It comes with a Micro-USB cable as well as a Micro-USB wall charger. Jabra Supreme will be released shortly and with an MSRP of $99.99. there will also be a Supreme App for both the Android and iPhone that will unlock additional features for the headset. This is not a cheap Bluetooth headset, but it’s a worthy purchase for the quality.

Good: Flip-Boom On/Off design, Voice Recognition, Voice Prompts, Phenominal Call Quality, Wind-Noise Reduction, Great Battery

Bad:Could Benefit from more Ear Clips/Hooks, needs to get Louder

What the iPhone 4S means for the carriers

Apple’s much-anticipated new iPhone was unveiled today at the company’s headquarters in California. and for the first time in iPhone history, three of the four major U.S. operators will be offering the latest version of the device.

AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and Verizon Wireless will each begin selling their version of the iPhone 4S on October 14. Apple and its carrier partners will begin taking preorders for the device on Friday. Even though the announcement of the new iPhone 4S may have disappointed some fans because it was not the hoped for redesign known as the iPhone 5, the new device is an improvement over the previous version of the iPhone.

It will sport a dual-core A5 processor, offering the device twice the processing power and seven times the graphics power of its predecessor, Apple said. and it also will have a new 8-megapixel camera with face detection. the upgraded camera will also be able to record video in full HD (1080p) at up to 30 frames per second.

If history is any indication, the new device is certain to be hot seller. Just how hot is yet to be seen. iPhone fans have waited more than a year for a new version of the device.

So what will the new iPhone 4 likely mean for each of the four major carriers? CNET breaks it down for you.

Sprint Nextel:There’s no question that Sprint is the biggest winner out of all the wireless operators when it comes to the iPhone 4S announcement. after more than four years of waiting in the wings, the No. 3 wireless operator in the U.S. will finally get its own version of the iconic smartphone. Like AT&T and Verizon Wireless before it, Sprint will now be able to partake in the iPhone frenzy.

And according to the Wall Street Journal, the carrier is betting big on the iPhone. it has reportedly agreed to purchase $20 billion worth of iPhones to sell to its customers, each with a subsidy of at least $500. the newspaper reports that under the deal, Sprint will purchase at least 30.5 million iPhones through the next four years, which makes the upfront cost about $20 billion. This is a bold bet for a company that had about 27.4 million postpaid subscribers at the end of April.

But Sprint may be hoping that it can lure iPhone fans from AT&T and Verizon with its unlimited data plans. Out of the three major carriers that will offer the iPhone 4S, Sprint is the only one with an unlimited data plan for smartphone customers.

Related stories? Apple’s next iPhone makes its debut? How Apple co-opted the Internet? Apple iPhone 4S personal assistant: Siri ? ZDNet: iPhone 4S is swell, but pricing is the killer app ? Apple iPhone 4S unveiled (roundup)

AT&T:AT&T is the original wireless operator for the iPhone in the U.S. and it had the exclusive deal with Apple to sell the device here in the States for nearly four years, until Verizon started selling its own version of the smartphone in February. the added competition from Verizon did not slow AT&T’s iPhone sales.

In fact, AT&T grew iPhone sales this year after the launch of the Verizon iPhone 4. Part of AT&T’s continued success is attributable to the fact that the company is still selling the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone introduced in 2009, at a reduced price of $49.

Soon AT&T will be the only U.S. carrier selling three versions of the iPhone: the iPhone 4S starting at $199, the iPhone 4 starting at $99, and the iPhone 3GS, which will be free. (All these prices require a two-year AT&T contract.) the varying price points are likely to continue driving AT&T’s iPhone sales.

Another major differentiator for AT&T is the fact that it will be the only U.S. carrier to offer the iPhone on a faster wireless network. it will not be the 4G LTE network that AT&T and Verizon Wireless are each building out. but the new iPhone 4S will support HSPA+, a speedier 3G network that AT&T offers and Verizon and Sprint Nextel do not offer.

AT&T claims the HSPA+ capability will allow for downloads that are twice as fast as the same device operating on 3G networks, including its own. but as noted in Tuesday’s Ask Maggie column, the real-life benefits of AT&T’s HSPA+ network may not be felt equally by all AT&T subscribers. as a result, the HSPA+ functionality may not be the big differentiator that AT&T may think it will be.

Under ideal conditions, the AT&T HSPA+ network is faster than other 3G wireless networks, including AT&T’s current 3G network. but in the real world, conditions aren’t always ideal. the biggest problem for AT&T is that fact that the company hasn’t upgraded its backhaul throughout its network. Backhaul is the network that connects and transmits data from the cell towers to AT&T’s backbone network.

What this means is that even if the wireless network that connects your phone to the cell tower is super fast, data traffic could still hit a bottleneck at the backhaul network if it’s congested with traffic.

So in areas where the backhaul hasn’t been upgraded, the HSPA+ benefits won’t be felt.

AT&T says that it has deployed HSPA+ to nearly 100 percent of its mobile broadband network. but the company is still working to get these backhaul links upgraded. mark Siegel, an AT&T spokesman, said the company expects two-thirds of its mobile broadband traffic will be carried on enhanced backhaul by the end of this year.

Verizon Wireless:Like its competitors AT&T and Sprint, Verizon will sell lots and lots of the new iPhone 4S smartphones. there is little doubt about that. Verizon is the largest U.S. carrier, and it has become a significant channel for iPhone 4 sales. Even though many eager Apple fans are disappointed that the iPhone 4S won’t support Verizon’s fast 4G LTE network, there is still plenty to be happy about for Verizon iPhone customers.

The biggest improvement for Verizon iPhone customers is that the new iPhone 4S is a “world phone,” which means that Verizon wireless customers can roam onto other carrier networks when they’re traveling abroad. This is not possible with the current Verizon iPhone 4. and it’s likely why the Verizon version of the iPhone 4 has a lower resale value than the AT&T GSM version of the same phone.

Sprint, which is also a CDMA carrier, will get the dual-mode CDMA/GSM chips from Qualcomm that will also be in Verizon’s iPhone 4S. one thing that is still unclear, is whether Verizon and Sprint customers will be able to pop out their SIM cards while traveling abroad to slip in a SIM card from a local cell phone provider.

CNET Reviews section editor Kent German was at the Apple event on Tuesday. he asked an Apple representative to clarify whether the Sprint and Verizon handsets will come with a SIM card that will be locked to overseas roaming partners or if customers can use their own SIM card while they travel. This would essentially mean that the GSM portion of the phone would be unlcoked. Apple said that will depend on the carrier.

One other unanswered question for Verizon and Sprint subscribers of the iPhone 4S is whether the Qualcomm chips used in the Verizon and Sprint versions of the iPhone 4S also support SVDO, a technology that will finally allow for simultaneous voice and data sessions on phones operating on a CMDA network.

This is a big differentiator that AT&T has repeatedly pointed out between its version of the iPhone 4 and Verizon’s version of the iPhone 4. Phones operating on CDMA networks, such as Verizon’s and Sprint’s, have traditionally used separate channels for voice and data communications. and it has not been possible for subscribers to use the data service while they also talk on the phone.

But the LSVDO technology, which can be included in the chips on the phones, makes this functionality possible on a CDMA network that uses the 3G technology EV-DO. because the limitation is not baked into the CDMA network infrastructure, all it requires is a change in technology on the handsets.

At this point, it’s unclear whether the chips used in the new iPhone 4S include SVDO. Verizon declined to comment. and Apple did not respond to requests for this information. So stay tuned for more information on that.

T-Mobile USA:Along with rumors of a completely redesigned iPhone 5 and support for 4G LTE, one of the other rumors that never came to fruition for this new iPhone was that T-Mobile USA would get its own version of the iPhone. Now it’s the only major U.S. carrier still without the iPhone.

These hopes were dashed last week when Cole Brodman, the company’s chief marketing officer, posted a letter to customers on the company’s blog, saying that while he would love to carry the iPhone, the company is currently focusing on “the best that Android has to offer.”

But Brodman pointed out the significance and importance of the iPhone by noting in his letter that more than 1 million T-Mobile customers use an unlocked iPhone on the T-Mobile network. but these users are limited to slower 2G speeds because AT&T and T-Mobile don’t use the same spectrum frequencies to deliver 3G service.

Even though T-Mobile, which is a GSM carrier like AT&T and also supports HSPA+, its customers will still not be able to take advantage of the HSPA+ speed boost from the iPhone 4S. and the reason is simple. AT&T is using the same spectrum bands it used for its traditional 3G service to deploy the HSPA+ service. and T-Mobile is using different bands for its HSPA+ service.

T-Mobile HSPA+: 1700/2100MHz (“AWS” spectrum)
AT&T HSPA+: 850/1900MHz

What this means for T-Mobile is that the company will be forced to compete against AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon with Google Android devices. From a technical standpoint, some of these devices surpass the iPhone 4S in several ways. the company recently announced the availability of the HTC Amaze 4G and Samsung Galaxy II.

These devices operate on T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network, which is actually faster than AT&T’s version of the technology. not only has T-Mobile upgraded its network to the latest version of HSPA+, but the carrier is further along in its backhaul network upgrade. and it has a less congested network, which helps keep speeds for individual users high. What this means for wireless customers is that those using the HTC Amaze 4G and Samsung Galaxy II will likely experience faster speeds than iPhone 4S users on either AT&T’s, Sprint’s or Verizon’s networks.

Still, T-Mobile is fighting an uphill battle. the only saving grace for the carrier is that the iPhone 4S is not the iPhone 5, which was expected to have a completely new design. Some Apple fans may be disappointed by this fact, which could drive some tech-savvy smartphone users to look more closely at Google Android devices with sexier specs and bigger screens.

iPhone Accessories to Take Phone Photography to New Levels

Apple’s smartphone darling–the iPhone 4–is fast becoming one of the most popular cameras in the world. This is due in part to the image quality of its camera and to the photo software available for it (including Instagram, a photo filter app that simplifies sharing your photos).

Not surprisingly, the iPhone 4 recently ranked as the most popular camera on photo-sharing site Flickr: iPhone users upload almost 80,000 pictures a day there.

If you want to take your iPhone photography as far as it can go, here are four interesting camera accessories that can assist you in getting there.

Android users suffering from lens envy have a few options of their own. one is the three-pack of specialty lenses from Photojojo, which the retailer promises will work with any camera phone.

Here are some accessories that work only with the iPhone.

OWLE Bubo

Action Life Media’s OWLE Bubo is a solid aluminum iPhone camera mount and stabilizer featuring a two-handed grip, interchangeable 37mm wide-angle macro lens, four tripod mount points, microphone, and accessory mount. The Bubo is available for the iPhone 3G and 3GS ($160), and for the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4G ($170).

Kogeto Dot

Take 360-degree panoramic video with your iPhone 4 using Kogeto’s Dot snap-on accessory lens and Looker, a free companion application available in the iTunes App Store. Dot comes in black, green, pink, or red; it will start shipping in late September for $79.

Olloclip

The Olloclip three-in-one camera lens for iPhone 4 features fish-eye, wide-angle, and macro lenses in one small package. The lens system clips snugly onto the side of your handset and is not compatible with protective cases or screen protectors. Olloclip comes in black or red for $70.

SLR Mount

Online photo accessory store, Photojojo offers two mounts that you can use to attach Canon EOS or Nikon SLR lenses to your iPhone 4. Photojojo warns that you may have to make several small adjustments to get the iPhone and your lens in sync when focusing on your subject. The SLR mount is available for $250.

Time of reflection for Apple devotees

When Stefan Harris arrived at work in Westborough yesterday morning, he replaced the picture of his wife on his desk with a photo of Apple Inc. cofounder Steve Jobs.

Harris is a self-described Apple fanboy, one of the legions of hardcore devotees to the computer maker that Jobs helped elevate from a mere tech company to an object of worship. He has waited in line at 3 a.m. for an iPhone, owns at least 15 Apple products – everything from battery chargers to computers – and will argue against any PC naysayer to defend his beloved Mac.

“It’s not just a computer. It’s art,’’ said Harris, a 26-year-old Web developer at Chitika, an online advertising company. “And I think that’s a quote from Steve Jobs himself.’’

For Apple fanatics – those who camp out in front of stores to snatch up the first iPods, iPhones, or iPads – Jobs helped give birth to a string of products that transcend function.These loyalists have given Apple a fan base that has helped make it the second-biggest company in the world, valued at $350 billion. They were the ones who were in collective mourning following Jobs’s death on Wednesday night after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

“They generate interest and they mobilize and they vigorously defend the product,’’ said James McQuivey, principal analyst at Forrester Research .

These are the loyalists that Apple could rely on for most of its new product launches, he said. They were the ones who first bought the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. They championed the iMac and hailed the Powerbook.

“even early on, Jobs managed to stir passions for the benefit of technology, not just the rational belief in the benefits of technology,’’ said McQuivey.

Part of building that base of groupies has been Apple’s meticulous attention to how consumers feel about using their products, he said. When everyone else was selling MP3 players with black headphones, iPods came out with white earbuds. Apple wanted its customers to stand out and – as the ads said – “Think different.’’

“That kind of small touch is not only brilliant marketing but portrays a knowledge about the human need to be noticed,’’ he said. “That’s just a stroke of genius.’’

It was the iPhone that lured George Haranis, 26, to become an Apple fan in 2007. it was the device’s combination of a music player and phone that sold him. “it was a commute killer,’’ he said.

The brand’s legendary ease of use kept him returning. “They say the iPhone is the gateway drug to Apple,’’ he said.

Now Haranis, who works for a market research firm in Boston, and his wife have Apple TV, two iPhones, a Macbook Pro, and an iPad 2. When the iPhone 3G came out in 2008, he waited at the Apple Store on Boylston Street for three hours.

Will the iPhone4 Cases Give iPhone5 a Way? at Iphone Apps, Iphone Jailbreak, Iphone Unlock

The endless rumors on Apple and iPhone5 are never stopped, however, the production and light point of iphone4 has not changed or even a little bit lower.

Since iPhone4 has been released, more and more people are interested to own this smart phone. And because the demand has been growing, manufacturers of mobile phone cases did their best to develop cell phone cases for iPhone4. they have occupied a certain market share, and never have the corpuscle trend. therefore, the production of iphone4 cases also won’t stop.

Of course, how to choose the proper cases for iphone4 is equal hard to decide whether to believe the rumors or not. Here we will give you some practical suggestions. there are five options available for you to choose from when it comes to iPhone cases, and it’s for you to decide which of them will best suit your needs.

Silicone iPhone Cases

Silicone cases may be the first option that you may want to look into. if you think you are that clumsy when it comes to carrying your phone with you, or probably you most likely drop things even if you seem to be a lot careful with your stuff, one of the best options for you to protect your iPhone is through using a silicone case.

If you want to get access to a more classy type of iPhone cases, you may opt to make use of leather cases for iPhone4. These cases are known to be the most expensive of all options available in the market today. that is why it is essential for you to look for a genuine leather case to protect your phone. This is for the reason that authentic leather is capable of providing you the necessary protective function that will free your iPhone4 from getting damaged. Imitation cases may not be as functional as durable as genuine ones.

TPU case which is more known as silicone cases can protect your iPhone4 from possible damages when you are one of those individuals who engaged in too much activity indoors or outdoors. These cases will not only protect your screen from getting damaged but you will also be able to get good grip on your phone and prevent it from falling off your hand.

There are too much choice for your iPhones if you want to give enough protection to them, but I trust that you will make the wisest decision!

Retro Heaven: Gameboy iCovers4U iPhone 4 Case

Like most automobiles, the 944 uses break fluid to operate the hydraulic clutch system. in fact, the 944 brake and clutch fluid draw from the same source. Brake fluid is an obvious choice because of its unique properties and its parity with the braking system. Brake fluid is special because it is fairly dense, resists boiling at high temperatures, and is kind to the rubber seals used in these systems.

Eton’s slim solar charger for iPhone 4 (Green Gadget of the Week)

(This is the latest in a regular weekly series of spotlights on green technology that’s accessible to you and me. if you have a green technology or gadget to suggest for coverage, please send a note via my contact email.)

As big a fan I am of solar charging technologies, I have had one big gripe about the design of many solar chargers for mobile phones. but I really like the looks of the new Mobius rechargeable solar battery and case for Apple iPhone 4.

The product from Palo Alto, Calif.-based Eton has the solar charger on the back of the case, like many competing products. but the case itself is more like the slim-line ones that you can snap onto the phone. plus, it protects the top of the phone if it is dropped, which isn’t the case with many other products.

The case is 2.44 inches wide by 5.1 inches high by 0/875 inches deep and it weighs about 3.4 ounces.

Approximately one hour of charging time in the sun with Mobius’ monocrystal solar panel will add an additional 25 minutes of talk time to an iPhone 4. (Or 20 minutes of Internet time if that’s your preference.) When fully charged, the 1800 mAh battery provides up to five hours of talk time via a 3G wireless network. (The company makes that distinction, which makes me wonder if 4G phones will eat up battery life even quicker than 3G ones. Hmmm.)

Another great design feature: the gadget includes a solar charge and battery indicator. AND, you can switch it off using a standby feature to prevent power from dumping into your phone during charging. oh, and you CAN charge via a Micro-USB cable if you prefer.

Mobius can be bought from Amazon.com for a list price of $80.

Past Green Gadgets of the Week:

Introducing the All-New Kindle Family: Four New Kindles, Four Amazing Price Points

SEATTLE, Sep 28, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) —-New “Kindle Touch” with easy-to-use touch screen — only $99

–New “Kindle Touch 3G” with free 3G — the top of the line Kindle e-reader — only $149

–New “Kindle Fire” — the Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games, and web browsing with all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, Amazon’s new revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser, vibrant color touch screen, and powerful dual-core processor — all for only $199

/quotes/zigman/63011/quotes/nls/amzn AMZN +1.46% –Millions of people are already reading on Kindles and Kindle is the bestselling e-reader in the world for four years running. Today, Amazon is excited to introduce an all-new Kindle family: three all-new Kindle e-readers that are smaller, lighter, and more affordable than ever before, and Kindle Fire — a new class of Kindle that brings the same ease-of-use and deep integration of content that helped Kindle re-invent reading — to movies, TV shows, music, magazines, apps, books, games, and more.

“We’ve now reached the magical two-digit price point for Kindle — twice: the new Kindle and Kindle Touch are only $79 and $99. Kindle Touch 3G is the new top of the line e-reader with free 3G — no monthly fees or annual contracts — and is only $149,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. “Kindle Fire brings together all of the things we’ve been working on at Amazon for over 15 years into a single, fully-integrated service for customers. with Kindle Fire, you have instant access to all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, the convenience of Amazon Whispersync, our revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser, the speed and power of a state-of-the-art dual-core processor, a vibrant touch display with 16 million colors in high resolution, and a light 14.6 ounce design that’s easy to hold with one hand — all for only $199. We’re offering premium products, and we’re doing it at non-premium prices.”

New Latest Generation Kindle–Fits in Your Pocket–Only $79

the new latest generation Kindle is for readers who want the lightest, most compact Kindle at an incredible price. the latest generation Kindle features a new design that is 30 percent lighter at just 5.98 ounces, 18 percent smaller, and turns pages 10 percent faster. Kindle is now small and light enough to fit easily in your pocket and carry with you everywhere, yet it still features the same 6-inch, most advanced electronic ink display that reads like real paper, even in bright sunlight.

the new latest generation Kindle is only $79. Kindle is available starting today at amazon.com/kindle .

New Addition to the Kindle Family–“Kindle Touch”–Only $99

Kindle Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with an easy-to-use touch screen that makes it easier than ever to turn pages, search, shop, and take notes — still with all the benefits of the most advanced electronic ink display. Kindle Touch is also lighter, smaller, eliminates battery anxiety with extra-long battery life and holds thousands of books.

New “X-Ray” Feature

Amazon invented X-Ray, a new feature that lets customers explore the “bones of the book.” with a single tap, readers can see all the passages across a book that mention ideas, fictional characters, historical figures, places or topics that interest them, as well as more detailed descriptions from Wikipedia and Shelfari, Amazon’s community-powered encyclopedia for book lovers. Amazon built X-Ray using its expertise in language processing and machine learning, access to significant storage and computing resources with Amazon S3 and EC2, and a deep library of book and character information. the vision is to have every important phrase in every book.

the new Kindle Touch is only $99. Kindle Touch is available to customers in the U.S. for pre-order starting today at amazon.com/kindletouch and ships November 21.

New top of the Line Kindle e-reader–“Kindle Touch 3G” –Only $149

Kindle Touch 3G is a new addition to the Kindle family for readers who want the top of the line e-reader. Kindle Touch 3G offers the same new design and features of Kindle Touch — small and light, easy-to-use touch screen, storage for thousands of books, and extra-long battery life — with the unparalleled added convenience of free 3G. Kindle’s free 3G connection means you never have to hunt for or pay for a Wi-Fi hotspot — you simply download and read books anytime, anywhere in over 100 countries around the world. Amazon pays for the 3G connection so there’s no monthly fee or annual contract.

the new top of the line Kindle Touch 3G is only $149. Kindle Touch 3G is available to customers in the U.S. for pre-order starting today at amazon.com/kindletouch3G and ships November 21.

All Kindles have instant access to the Kindle Store with the largest selection of the most popular books people want to read. Millions of free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books are also available to read on Kindle devices, and Kindle customers can now borrow Kindle books from their public library. Kindle books are “Buy once, Read Everywhere” — on Kindle, Kindle Touch, Kindle Touch 3G, Kindle Fire, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, PCs, Mac, Android phones and tablets, BlackBerry, Windows phones, and web browsers with Kindle Cloud Reader.

All three new Kindle e-readers also come with special offers and sponsored screensavers that appear when you’re not reading. Customers enjoy special money-saving offers delivered wirelessly sponsored by AT&T, the Dove beauty brand and Amazon.com Rewards Visa Card by Chase. Kindle e-reader customers will also receive special offers in their own backyards from AmazonLocal, Amazon’s local deals marketplace with discounts on local services, products, and experiences. Customers can also choose to purchase a Kindle without special offers and sponsored screensavers.

New Class of Kindle–“Kindle Fire”–Only $199

All the Content–Over 18 Million Movies, TV Shows, Songs, Apps, Games, Books, and Magazines

Kindle Fire puts Amazon’s incredible selection of digital content at your fingertips:

— over 100,000 movies and TV shows from Amazon Instant Video, including thousands of new releases and popular TV shows, available to stream or download, purchase or rent — all just one tap away. Amazon Prime Members enjoy instant, unlimited, commercial-free streaming of over 11,000 movies and TV shows at no additional cost. Kindle Fire comes with one free month of Amazon Prime.

— over 17,000,000 songs from Amazon MP3, including new and bestselling albums from just $7.99 and individual songs from $0.69.

— over 1,000,000 Kindle books, including thousands of bestsellers, children’s books, comic books and cookbooks in rich color.

— 100 exclusive graphic novels, including Watchmen, the bestselling — and considered by many to be the greatest — graphic novel of all time, which has never before been available in digital format, as well as Batman: Arkham City, Superman: Earth OneGreen Lantern: Secret Origin and 96 others from DC Entertainment.

— Hundreds of magazines and newspapers — including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Wired, Elle, the New Yorker, Cosmopolitan and Martha Stewart Living — with full-color layouts, photographs, illustrations, built-in video, audio and other interactive features are available from the new Kindle Fire “Newsstand.” Kindle Fire customers will enjoy an exclusive free three-month trial to 17 Conde Nast magazines, including Vanity fair, GQ and Glamour.

— All the most popular Android apps and games, such as Angry Birds, Plants vs. Zombies, cut the Rope and more. All apps are Amazon-tested on Kindle Fire to ensure quality and Amazon offers a new free paid app every day.

Cloud-Accelerated Web Browser — “Amazon Silk”

the Kindle Fire web browser Amazon Silk introduces a radical new paradigm — a “split browser” architecture that accelerates the power of the mobile device hardware by using the computing speed and power of the Amazon Web Services Cloud. the Silk browser software resides both on Kindle Fire and on the massive server fleet that comprises the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2). with each page request, Silk dynamically determines a division of labor between the mobile hardware and Amazon EC2 (i.e. which browser sub-components run where) that takes into consideration factors like network conditions, page complexity, and cached content. the result is a faster web browsing experience, and it’s available exclusively on Kindle Fire. Additional technical details are available in the Amazon Silk press release, released today at amazon.com/pr . To see a video about Amazon Silk go to amazon.com/silk .

Simple and Easy-To-Use

Amazon designed the Kindle Fire user interface from the ground up to make it easier than ever to purchase, manage, and enjoy your digital content. just like with Kindle e-readers, Kindle Fire comes automatically pre-registered to your Amazon.com account so you can immediately start enjoying your digital content purchased from Amazon or shop for new content. All of your digital content is instantly available to enjoy and manage with a simple, consistent experience across all content types.

just like Kindle e-readers, Kindle Fire offers free storage for all your Amazon digital content in the Amazon Cloud. Amazon digital content is automatically backed up for free in the Amazon Cloud’s Worry-Free Archive where it’s available for re-downloading anytime.

Amazon Whispersync now for Movies & TV Too

just like Kindle e-readers, Kindle Fire uses Amazon’s popular Whispersync technology to automatically synchronize your Kindle library, last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across the widest range of devices and platforms. with the introduction of Kindle Fire, Amazon is expanding this technology to include video. Start streaming a movie on your Kindle Fire, and when you get home, you can resume streaming right where you left off on your TV — avoid the frustration of needing to find your spot.

Easy to Hold in one Hand

just like Kindle e-readers, Kindle Fire was designed to disappear so you can lose yourself in the content. Weighing in at just 14.6 ounces, Kindle Fire is small and light enough to hold in just one hand and carry everywhere you go. the lightweight, compact design makes Kindle Fire perfect for web browsing, playing games, reading and shopping on-the-go.

Brilliant Color Touchscreen

Content comes alive in rich color on a 7-inch full color LCD touchscreen that delivers 16 million colors in high resolution and 169 pixels per inch. Kindle Fire uses IPS (in-plane switching) technology — similar technology as used on the iPad, for an extra-wide viewing angle — perfect for sharing your screen with others. in addition, the Kindle Fire display is chemically strengthened to be 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic, which means it is incredibly durable and will stand up to accidental bumps and scrapes.

Fast, Powerful Dual-Core Processor

Kindle Fire features a state-of-the-art dual-core processor for fast, powerful performance. Stream music while browsing the web or read books while downloading videos.

Free Month of Amazon Prime

right out of the box, Kindle Fire users will experience the benefits that millions of Amazon Prime members already enjoy — unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of over 11,000 movies and TV shows with Prime Instant Video and the convenience of Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items from Amazon.com.

the all-new Kindle Fire — with all the content, Amazon’s revolutionary cloud-accelerated browser, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, 14.6 ounce design that’s easy to hold with one hand, brilliant color touchscreen, and a fast and powerful dual core processor — is only $199. Customers in the U.S. can pre-order Kindle Fire starting today at amazon.com/kindlefire and it ships November 15.

For high resolution images and video of the all-new Kindle family, visit amazon.com/pr/kindle .

about Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. /quotes/zigman/63011/quotes/nls/amzn AMZN +1.46% , a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. the new latest generation Kindle is the lightest, most compact Kindle ever and features the same 6-inch, most advanced electronic ink display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight. Kindle Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with an easy-to-use touch screen that makes it easier than ever to turn pages, search, shop, and take notes — still with all the benefits of the most advanced electronic ink display. Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the line e-reader and offers the same new design and features of Kindle Touch, with the unparalleled added convenience of free 3G. Kindle Fire is the Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and web browsing with all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon’s new revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch screen, and powerful dual-core processor.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including amazon.com , amazon.co.uk , amazon.de , amazon.co.jp , amazon.fr , amazon.ca , amazon.cn , amazon.it , and amazon.es . as used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management’s expectations. these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. more information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com’s financial results is included in Amazon.com’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

SOURCE: Amazon.com, Inc.

Amazon.com, Inc. Media Hotline, 206-266-7180

Mac News: AAPL Financial: A Tale of Two Launches

Eager iPhone users got one step closer to laying hands on the latest generation of the smartphone as invites to an Oct. 4 press event went out on Tuesday.

Graphics on the invitations show four typical iPhone icons — a calendar date showing Tuesday the fourth, a clock displaying 10:00, a map that points to the Cupertino campus, and an alert for one phone call. underneath, the phrase “Let’s talk iPhone” are displayed. It’s perhaps a little meatier and more direct invite than the ones associated with previous events.

New CEO Tim Cook will lead the presentation, and the announcement has thrown a bucketful of gas on the many burning rumors surrounding the phone’s launch.

Some Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) watchers speculated this week that Apple wouldn’t just be launching a next-generation iPhone, but would also have an enhanced iPhone 4 product, something like an “iPhone 4 plus,” available for consumers.

“The best insight we can go on is to look at the strategy they’ve applied in the past, and that is to take the previous generation product, alter it a little, and offer it at a lower price point,” Alex Spektor, analyst at Strategy Analytics, told MacNewsWorld.

It’s possible the company considered making changes to the iPhone 4, such as taking out some of the memory to cover a reduction in price, or altering the antenna design that caused service problems and negative publicity when the device first launched. that phone would presumably be sold at a lower price, and the next-generation product would be the premium priced, all-new model.

“The biggest challenge for them in continuing to implement that strategy would be to make sure that the new phone is different enough. if you compare the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4, they have the same screen size but the 4 has a much higher resolution and the case is dramatically different. Because of that they didn’t risk cannibalizing sales of the expensive phone,” said Spektor.

The rumor mill has produced an abundance of speculation regarding what those changes could be. The company might announce a thinner design, keeping in line with industry trends, or it could present a change in the size of the screen.

“The size has been unchanged since 2007. The rest of the industry has gotten much bigger as far as display. About a year ago a four-inch screen seemed gargantuan, now we have 4.7 inch displays coming later this year. for Apple, a 3.5 inch display is probably starting to look a little behind the time,” said Spektor.

Apple didn’t comment on any of the possible changes. Invites did confirm a different rumor, though — that it will take place on the Cupertino campus instead of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, the spot where former CEO Steve Jobs famously introduced new gadgets in a black mock turtleneck and New Balance shoes in the past.

The switch in venue coincides with Jobs’ departure as CEO, but it’s unlikely the move has anything to do with that. The campus would be more intimate and localized, and the Oct. 4 announcement date coincides with Oracle’s (Nasdaq: ORCL) OpenWorld conference, which will be held from October 2-6 in San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

It’s also being reported that Facebook will make an appearance at the event, showcasing its official iPad app and an updated app for the iPhone. The app has apparently been ready since may, but tension between the companies led to delays.

While Apple may be hot in the mobile space as the next iPhone launch creeps closer, its iPad division may be sweating over expectations that Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) will on Wednesday release an affordable Android tablet.

Apple supposedly reduced fourth quarter orders by as much as 25 percent from its Taiwanese manufacturers as the rumored Amazon tablet, supposedly launching as the Kindle Fire on Wednesday, comes closer to its debut.

Rumors, leaks and testimonials from sources who claim to have used prototypes have surrounded Amazon’s foray into the tablet market, yet the company has yet to officially confirm anything. That’s expected to change Wednesday morning.

Since its debut last year, the iPad has stood as a formidable, almost unconquerable opponent to anyone else entering the relatively new tablet marketplace. though expert reviews say competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, other Android tablets and HP’s (NYSE: HPQ) short-lived TouchPad match or even beat the iPad in certain hardware specs and functions, Apple’s sleek design, expert marketing and loyal user base have been too much for its adversaries to overcome.

That could change with Amazon’s alleged tablet. most tablet users now are early technology adopters who bought one of the first tablets from a brand they know and trust. as the category becomes more mainstream, though, tablet users will include consumers eager to purchase what they might view as an updated Kindle.

“Amazon is already a trusted digital media name. People are downloading books at an increasing rate, and a tablet is kind of the next logical step where people can add and download video and audio content,” R.J. Hottovy, analyst for Morningstar, told MacNewsWorld.

The other factor Amazon could have going for it is price. While some companies have launched tablets under the belief they could market a little-publicized product at the same price as an iPad, Amazon’s tablet will reportedly be sold for US$250 — half the price of a base-model iPad 2.

“With its scale, Amazon can practically give away these tablets, which is certainly a selling point,” said Hottovy.

Unlike some other tech giants who’ve ventured into the tablet space early, Amazon could also have the advantage of learning from others’ mistakes.

“Amazon is a smart enough company. They know that to compete it has to be a breakthrough product, and this one sounds like it’s going to be pretty revolutionary once we know some more of the details. They bided their time a little to observe customer preferences and found ways to optimize their digital content,” said Hottovy.

The optimism surrounding the product doesn’t mean Amazon’s doesn’t have a tough road ahead, however.

“I think Amazon’s tablet could be a viable number two in the tablet space. But I don’t think you’re going to supplant Apple overnight — that’s unrealistic. Apple’s got a wide following and sales have been strong as well,” said Hottovy.