New report says Kindle Fire ads won’t be removable
In a report that directly conflicts earlier news that users could opt out of display ads on the new line of Kindle Fire tablets, CNET has received word from an Amazon spokesperson clarifying that this will not be the case. After it was initially reported that the upgraded version of the Kindle Fire as well as the Kindle Fire HD would display “special offers” throughout the operating system, a system introduced by Amazon with previous Kindle models as a means of subsidizing costs to offer the e-reader at a lower price point, word came by way of Amazon’s support team that buyers would be given the option to unsubscribe from the ads, perhaps by paying a fee.
For now the waters remain murky on the subject, but it would be a bad move for Amazon to offer no way for buyers to remove the ads from the device. It seems simple enough for Amazon to enable users to opt-out and agree to pay a bit more for the tablet up front (or even after the fact). Many would-be buyers might be turned off by the idea of ads creeping into the user experience. Further clarification is likely coming down the pike. For now get used to the idea of “special offers,” because they don’t seem to be going anywhere quick.
[via CNET]