What's Going ON? Episode #4

Since the last episode of What's Going ON? technology has seemingly increased its already giddy speed of development! We've seen a new tablet from Amazon, a mini-explosion in affordable prepaid smartphones and some tempting upcoming Black Friday deals.

Hands-on with Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet

Let's get one thing straight, the Kindle Fire is not an iPad competitor. It is a tablet, but that's where the similarities end. Designed to help owners access as many Amazon services as possible, the Kindle Fire is a 7 inch tablet based upon the smartphone version of Android. Plenty of apps will be available for the Kindle Fire and it can stream movies from Amazon Prime and Netflix.

In the hand, the Kindle Fire definitely feels like it was built to a price point. This is a distinctly no-frills device with an all plastic case, no cameras or GPS, and a slower-than-average processor. However the slick software allows unparalleled access to Amazon's services from one portal, which is why Amazon is willing to sell the Kindle Fire for just $199. There's also a web browser on board.

One point to note for readers is that the screen on the Kindle Fire reflects a lot of light and would not be ideal for a sunny day at the beach. Stick with the Kindle or Kindle Touch if you like to read outdoors. Overall the Kindle Fire is less flexible than an iPad, but the price point is attractive.

Affordable prepaid smartphones

This holiday season the prepaid cellphone market is going to see an explosion of affordable smartphones. These make great gifts and are perfect for those who want a smartphone on a limited budget with no contract commitment. Now there's really no excuse to be hiding in the corner with that old phone, while your friends show off their fancy new smartphones. Just for you, I've reviewed a selection to help remove the confusion, click here to read more...

Smartphone growth highest amongst 55-64 year-olds

Having dominated the young-uns, smartphone usage is now growing rapidly within older age groups too. This past quarter showed a sharp uptick in smartphone adoption in those over 45 years of age, with those aged 25-44 now more likely to own a smartphone than an older style cellphone. Click here for a pretty chart and some further info.

Black Friday fast approaching

Doorbusters, mass hysteria and such. Here are some recently leaked deals from Walmart & Target's Black Friday leaflets:

Walmart

• Emerson 40" HDTV: $248
• Compaq low end Windows laptop: $198
• LG Blu-ray disc player: $49

Target

• LG Optimus V Virgin Mobile smartphone: $49
• XBox 360 4GD games console: $139
• Dance Central 2 for XBox 360: $27

 Happy shopping!