Amazon is a Seattle-based online retail giant that is best known across the world as the "everything store" where you can buy practically anything you want and have it shipped to you in short order. Aside from its retail business, Amazon is well-known for its digital goods marketplace, where it started by selling books, followed by music, movies, TV shows and eventually Android apps through the Amazon Appstore. Amazon offers a lot of this content for free or reduced prices via its Amazon Prime service, which costs $99 per year but has several benefits including free media and free two-day shipping on most items it sells.
In order to support its digital content business, Amazon has used a dual-prong strategy of launching apps for various platforms that can work with its content library, and selling its own first-party hardware that only offers content from its stores. The first hardware effort is the now-famous Kindle line to read books on, followed by the like-named Kindle Fire lineup that replicated a full-powered tablet experience that many had become familiar with via the iPad and other Android tablets. The Kindle Fires run a modified version of Android called Fire OS, have access to the Amazon Appstore rather than Google Play and are generally considered to be popular choices for specific kinds of users.
Branching out further, Amazon launched the Fire TV, which is a media-focused set top box that's essentially a Kindle Fire without a screen. It is a small, yet powerful, box that streams content from Amazon, Netflix, Hulu and dozens of other providers, while also offering access to Android game titles with an optional Bluetooth controller. In the summer of 2014, Amazon also announced the Fire Phone, which completes its Fire OS expansion to all modern platforms — set top boxes, tablets and phones.
Latest about Amazon
Amazon's big Fire TV redesign is rolling out, and the new interface looks great
A new look Amazon's redesigned Fire TV UI brings a modern look, faster performance, and improved navigation.
Just in time for Presidents' Day, the Pixel Watch 4 has crashed back to its Black Friday price
Time to Upgrade The Google Pixel Watch 4 offers some major improvements over previous generations.
This Garmin watch is a battery life BEAST, and it just scored a record 40% discount for Presidents' Day
Trust your Instinct The spacious and rugged Garmin Instinct 2X Solar just crashed to a record low price for Presidents' Day.
Grab a four-pack of the Motorola Moto Tag for 30% OFF while this Amazon Presidents' Day deal lasts
Hello Moto If you have a Motorola Razr or any premium Motorola phone, you will benefit greatly from the Moto Tag. Buy the four-pack now for 30% off!
Ring and Nest remind us why the camera brand you choose matters
Prying eyes Ring came under fire for its Flock Safety partnership. Nest drew eyeballs when it surfaced footage thought to be deleted. How concerned should you be?
I really should be saving money, but these $59 noise-cancelling earbuds are simply too good to miss this Presidents' Day
Listen to this Head to Amazon during its Presidents' Day sale and you'll score a straight 46% off the Nothing Ear (a) earbuds.
This tablet bundle comes with a Galaxy Tab S10 FE AND a 128GB SD card, and now it's 26% off for Presidents' Day
Tablet Bundle Vibes This Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE comes with 128GB of storage, plus a 128GB SD card.
At this record low price I expect Oakley Meta HSTN to be sold out before President's Day even officially begins
HSTN DEAL The first big Oakley Meta HSTN sale is on, and this $60 off price is now available through President's Day.
Some of my favorite Android phones are on sale for Presidents' Day — here are the TOP 5 deals you need to see
Smartphone savings The Presidents' Day sales are here, and some of the best Android phones we've ever used are getting HUGE discounts.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus vs. Amazon Fire HD 10: Only one way to go
Versus The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus and Amazon Fire HD 10 look virtually identical, and indeed, they pretty much are, but for a few small but potentially significant differences.
This controller completely changed how I view mobile gaming, and now it's a ridiculous 40% OFF for President's Day
Game on! Just in time for the President's Day sales, Amazon is slashing a straight 40% off the last-gen Razer Kishi Ultra controller.
The CMF Buds Pro 2 are hands down the best budget earbuds, and you can get them for 32% off at Amazon right now
Budget buds The CMF Buds Pro 2 are cheap enough as it is, but this spectacular Amazon deal strikes 32% off the price to deliver a bang for your buck.
The redesigned Galaxy Watch 8 is one of the best Android smartwatches that I've ever used, and now it's 26% OFF at Amazon
Wearable savings For a limited time, Amazon is carving a straight 26% off Android Central's favorite Android smartwatch.
The sleek and versatile Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 just scored a $140 discount at Amazon, and yes, it still comes with an S Pen stylus
Stylus Tablet Deals The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 comes with the S Pen, and specs capable enough to handle most tasks.
Today is your last chance to get the Xreal One Pro at its pre-tariff price before it rises again on Feb 1st!
One pro deal Xreal One Pro is back to its pre-tariff pricing for a VERY short time. Grab them now before prices rise again on Feb 1!
Amazon's newest Fire TV is already a record-smashing 40% OFF, just in time for Super Bowl LX
Fire savings The Big Game is swiftly approaching, which means Amazon is dropping some incredible discounts on its Fire 4-Series smart TVs.
Ends tonight! These cheap Nothing earbuds just scored another 46% OFF for the next few hours
Nothing to see here The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds come with ANC, a charging case, audio customization, and more.
Another grueling wave of layoffs hits Amazon, as the company drops 16,000
Another chunk... gone Amazon announced a second huge wave of layoffs, impacting thousands.
