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Amazon begins shipping Kindle Fire HDX ahead of Apple iPad event

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Amazon.com said it is now shipping the latest version of its Kindle Fire tablet, just a few days before Apple holds an event where it is expected to announce a new lineup of its iPad tablets.

The Seattle-based online retailer announced Friday that the 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX is now shipping to customers, after its announcement in September.

The $229 Kindle Fire HDX features a redesigned, more angular look, a higher resolution screen than its predecessor and a new customer service feature called Mayday.

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Amazon improved the Kindle Fire HDX with a full 1080p HD screen with a 323-pixel density. By comparison, 2012’s Kindle Fire HD featured a 720p HD screen with a 216-pixel density.

Meanwhile, the Mayday feature allows users to press a button and launch a video call with an Amazon representative who can help users fix an issue on their tablet or figure out how to do specific tasks.

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The Kindle Fire HDX has been available for pre-order since last month. Customers who want to purchase the device on Friday will likely have to wait a few days. Most versions of the tablet say they won’t be in stock until next Friday.

The $244 16-GB version of the tablet with no ads is listed as in stock by Monday while the $309 64-GB Kindle Fire HDX is the only version listed as being available for purchase now.

However, customers might want to hold off on buying the Amazon tablet a few days and see what Apple has to offer.

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At a press event in San Francisco on Tuesday, Apple is expected to announce a redesigned version of its full-size iPad, now with a new look that is expected to be similar to that of the iPad mini. The company is also expected to announce a new version of the iPad mini, and many believe that Apple could introduce it with its high-resolution Retina display technology.

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