Being forced to sit through streaming ads when reading a book or watching a movie is probably not going to make very many Kindle users happy.
Indeed, when Amazon announced the new lineup of Kindle Fire HD tablets the online retailer also confirmed the device would be ad supported.
The good news? Amazon recently confirmed that it will allow customers to opt out of their “special offers” program for an extra $15.
Initially, however, there was a significant backlash from a number consumers upset over the fact that Amazon had yet to offer an opt-out mode.
“We know from our Kindle reader line that customers love our special offers and very few people choose to opt out,” Amazon said in a statement released over the weekend. “We’re happy to offer customers the choice.”
It should be noted that Amazon had previously sold ad-supported Kindle eReaders at a discount to support a significantly ower price. On those devices, users could pay an additional fee to remove the ads, and the same option will apparently be offered for the Fire HD line.
Then again, the special offers may prove to be something many consumers can actually tolerate, as the Seattle-based corporation is now saying the ads will be limited to the Fire’s lock screen and on some screensavers.
The new Kindle Fire HD line has three versions, including a seven-inch version for $199, an 8.9-inch version for $299, and an 8.9-inch version featuring 4G LTE connectivity for $499. All the above-mentioned prices do not include the extra $15 fee to remove ads.
