All of Amazon's Kindle Fire Tablets Are Ad-supported
Amazon's new tablets are ad-supported with no option for ad-free.
Amazon yesterday enjoyed its moment in the spotlight, announcing an entire new line of Kindle products. These ranged from brand new products (what's up, Kindle Fire HD?) to revamps of old devices. However, one thing that you may not have gathered from deluge of Kindle coverage was that Amazon has decided to double down on its ad-supported Kindle model.
Previously, Amazon had offered the Kindle, the Kindle Touch, the Kindle Fire, and an ad-supported version of the base model for a discounted price. However, since yesterday's launch event it has emerged that all three models of Kindle Fire (the Kindle Fire, and both sizes of Kindle Fire HD) will be ad-supported. This means you'll see special offers or deals as a screensaver on your device.
The descriptions of the Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD both include the following:
"Includes special offers and sponsored screensavers." When you click 'Learn More,' Amazon explains that these offers will appear on the lock screen and lower left hand corner of the home screen but won't interrupt use of the device. A note at the end of this pop-up reveals that only U.S. customers will be subjected to ad-supported Kindle Fires. "Kindle with Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers is only available in the U.S.," it reads.
So, when the Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD launch in Europe on October 25, users won't have to put up with sponsored screensavers. Unfortunately, it looks like U.S. customers may have to buy their Kindle Fires overseas if they want to avoid sponsored screensavers.

Show me a nexus 7 at 8.9" with a full-HD screen and 64GB of internal storage, 4G (included 250MB/mo for $50 a year).
I'm not saying I'd prefer ads on my device, but if it results in more/better services and a lower overall pricetag for the hardware, then I'd happily bypass some ads as I swipe the unlock scree, or on the home screen before I do what I plan on doing with my tablet.
engadget saids otherwise
Do you spend a lot of time idling your tablet on the lock screen while you're actively using it? Because those are the only times the ads will be shown (or conversely you can choose to view the ads if you're on the home screen). If you're in an application, there will be no ads.
What was Amazon thinking when they decided this was a good idea. Anyone with a kindle fire can already tell you there pretty locked down as is. There is no access to Google play store with out rooting. Once rooted amazon video no longer functions.
Kindle's App store was terrible there is no other word for it. Most the programs where far out dated that where in the store. The only saving grace was the fact you could side load many Google play apps.
I could be wrong but I think for the majority of users its going to boil down to this. Nexus 7 8 gig is 199 its one of the fastest tablets out right now and can play just about anything. Its connected to Google play and has a high degree of customization. Does not have as much storage as a Kindle Fire thats true.
Thats the case and you need more storage then there is the option to go with the Galaxy Tab 2 7. At the 249.99 price point you get pretty nice specs with optional SD expansion for video's and movies. I have also found the battery life on my Galaxy Tab 2 is superb.
In either case the 2 above tablets offer more customization and better app's support then the kindle fire and they do it with out the add's.
Anyone saying what about the 4g Kindle Fire that's a really bad joke your getting 250mb's of access a month thought AT&T network. Whats the point of having super fast 4g connection when your basically only able to check your email a few times a month. Running a speed test on the device will eat a quarter of your allotted down just about it. Maybe you could download a few kindle books but forget about watching any video's on anything. Give it is dirt cheap but its also about worthless in today's modern world.
Because the ad-sponsored Kinde e-readers sold like hotcakes?
But I'm with you on the 4G but measely 250MB/mo base (for $50/year)--but that's leaps and bounds better than the "Standard" data pricing for AT&T of $15/mo for the same 250MB. Anyway, you can buy a larger data package--it's not like you're limited to 250MB in the first place.
Once rooted you no longer have access to Amazon Video Lets also not forget the fact it voids the warranty and its always possible to brick a device.
On Verizon you can get a Nexus 7 Tab 2 7inch for less then the Kindle Fire. That comes with 8gigs of 4g data a month for 50bucks on a much better network. The on board storage is really a big deal I have my Galaxy Tab 2 rocking a 64gig Class 10 SD card.
I don't want ads. I don't care if they are only on the unlock screen or whatever, I don't want them.
No Version Without Ads = No Sale.....imho.
The max internal storage you can get on the nexus 7 tablet is 16GB and it doesn't have a SD card slot for expandable storage--I wouldn't even consider the Fire HD and the Nexus 7 to be in the same class. But at least with the fire HD, despite Amazon's crappy skinned/cut-down version of android, you still get usable internal storage of 32GB or 64GB (along with the true-HD screen). And you can get whatever data plan you want--you're not limited to the base 250MB/$50/year plan.
I used to care about not having to use a boxed-up OS on my tablet, but that was before I realized that I really only ever stream video or check email/surf the web. Psychologically, I don't like the OS on the Fire. In actual usage, it does all it needs to, and Amazon is catering to that crowd.
if the new tablet "supports" ads like those, I have to at least ask that it wont make the thing be unuseable.
Show me a HD Kindle Fire at the price point of an N7 then
The 8.9" HD Kindle Fire is not even in the same price bracket as the N7. It's not meant to compete with Google's device, so comparing them is not very wise.
read into it--someone asked why anyone would buy the fire HD when you can get the nexus 7 for less with a more-open UI. I'm not disagreeing--I'm actually saying that they are in different classes, as showcased by the 8.9" true HD screen and significantly more internal storage. And that's why someone would buy the fire HD over the nexus 7--to have the higher-res screen and larger internal storage. Not to mention the various Amazon services that come included when you use a Kindle device.