Most spanking new android OS feature tablets are going to be getting niche features no one cares about at the time of release because no one supports them. Not an issue for Fire owners. Amazon won’t be dealing with fragmentation, other hardware makers will be compared to them unfavorably when Amazon’s stuff “just works” and Motorola/Samsung’s “OS beta tester” tablets are buggy and gimpy with features that aren’t enabled or just don’t work.

Fragmentation is just a part of life when it comes to Android stuff… :(

There could be few out there.. One I heard is promo dot ntroduction dot com

iTunes = monopoly.
KF will still work with all APK minus google apps, just because you can’t get it from android market doesn’t mean it won’t run it.

If you think you actually have the right to judge my “competency” as an observer or a “commenter,” you can do so at your leisure, but you need to remember your Apple business history and watch how the market unfolds in the next year or two. It should be very interesting…

Pretty much they designed the KF with a high end IPS, just like the Nook Color or RIM Playbook, and dual core 1GHz processor that is likely the TI OMAP 4.  Along with the public demonstrations this seems to indicate it will perform well and will be easily readable.

We just have to wait and see for more in dept reviews to see how it compares to other tablets.

Lack of a G-Sensor, no GPS, no bluetooth, no volume buttons, no ports except the mini USB, etc. may make it even more niche than the iPad though.  Since you can at least get accessories for expanding the iPad’s limited feature set. 

Though I suppose Amazon could possible use features like MHL, etc to make more use of the Mini USB port, like Apple does for its dock port.

But that’s pretty much meaningless for the Kindle Fire because as stated it’s just a device for consuming Amazon services.  They’re not really selling a Android device experience with the KF and they have the resources to provide apps specifically for their product that doesn’t rely on the rest of the Android market.

While Android apps that don’t require features like GPS, Bluetooth, etc will still work on the KF.

Besides, ICS will be dealing with fragmentation for Android devices.  So aside from niche specialized products like the KF, we’ll be seeing less and less fragmentation in the Android market.

While the increased market share the KF will induce means more developers will be available to work on Android as a side benefit, even if the KF remains a niche product design in future releases it’ll still be easy for them to port their apps to other Android platforms.

So even if Apple has nothing to worry about from the KF directly, it is still likely that it will help accelerate the growth of the Android market and that is something Apple should worry about.

While the Kindle Fire will eventually get a version with 3G, just like their other Kindle models.  They just have to establish a deal with a Carrier but that’s harder for the Fire because of the greater bandwidth requirement than their ereaders needed and Amazon wanting to keep control.  They also were waiting to see if the KF was a success but that’s pretty clear now that it will be.  So only a matter of time before the 3G model comes out.

“but even though there wasn’t a facebook app for 18 months for my ipad running ios even though there was a facebook app for the iphone running ios, I could use safari to access facebook, so that’s not really fragmentation” – Apple Acolyte answer.

“Fragmentation is a marketing ploy devised by Apple to scare people away from using Android” – an answer from someone who doesn’t buy into the apple hype machine, and is therefore an android fanboi.

BMW isn’t trying to outsell Toyota, either – but guess which one is consistently the most valuable luxury car brand worldwide? 

This is when currently sold, in production models have varying OS versions, features, and capabilities. This makes it more difficult to provide constant app quality across the OS user base.

The fire has severe limitations, the biggest, for us, is missing a mic. This is purposeful considering its a few pennies to include.

Ios isn’t fragmented per se, but, there is a dividing line between OpenGL capable devices. IPhone, iphone 3g, ipod touch, ipod touch second gen fall under the line so newer apps MAY not work. The app store indicates this when you attempt to purchase. There is some confusion with ipod touch, remember that 3rd gen devices were akin to 3gs, an in-between, and was only released as a 32 or 64gb.

IKaossilator won’t work on second gen touch, but rhythm studio will. Both are recent apps.

Now, the people who purchase the Fire aren’t doing so because it runs Android.  They’ll want it because they believe it will provide a portal to the products and services that they want.  To them, Android is incidental and not at all the star of the show…

Wasn’t it the facebook app that took 18 months to reach the ipad even though there was a facebook app for the iphone? THAT is some bad fragmentation!

It did knock up my wife and burn my house down though.

Apple Acolytes do seem to lap it up though. Eventhough they couldn’t use the facebook app on their ipad for over 18 months. that’s not fragmentation though.

If the potential pool of buyers is 100 today and apple sells to 80% they sold 80 units. If.tomorrow the potential market is 200 and apple sells 75% they sold 150. Their market share decreased, but they are still selling more than ever before.

They would be foolish not to take threats seriously, but I don’t see fire sales taking too many iPad sales. In fact, it may open the door more iPad sales by growing to total potential tablet market. Today’s fire buyer is tomorrow’s iPad buyer.

Stupid Analysts: Mr. Cook, what do you have to say about your obvious competitor in the content consumption tablet battle? 
Tim Cook: SELL YOUR APPLE STOCK! WE’RE F–KED! FEETS, DON’T FAIL ME NOW! *Dives out window*

They are treating this device primarily as s media and product consumption device, not an effective piece of utilitarian hardware.  That’s why there are no usable ports, no cameras and no extra hardware accessories.  They are going a couple of steps further than the original iPad and delivering it at a price that the masses can afford.  I think that I’d think twice before I would bet against this product–especially due to any perception that “fragmentation” will be its downfall.  Speaking plainly, that would likely be foolish.

More like they’ll be watching “wild-eyed” as their market share really starts to erode even more.  And (for those perpetual deniers out there with rose coloured glasses on), yes, those really guys do care about market share.  Please stop pretending that they don’t.