Amazon Fire tablet unveils Blue Shade mode for nighttime reading

PanARMENIAN.Net - Amazon rolled out Wednesday, December 3, a new "Blue Shade" feature that turns down blue light on its Fire tablets' screens, making them more comfortable to read at night, Engadget reports.

Scientists have been saying for some time that the blue light emitted by our devices' screens wreaks havoc on our sleep habits (some are calling for similar night modes for phones). Amazon says you'll be able to tweak Blue Shade's color settings as you see fit, and it also lets you read at an "ultra-low" brightness level.

Comfortable night reading is one big advantage Amazon's Kindle e-reader still have over its tablets. While they sport lighting now, the effect is pretty subtle, and it doesn't emit blue light at all. But given that most people won't end up buying both an e-reader and a tablet, it makes sense for Amazon to try and offer a solution for Fire tablet users.

Additionally, Amazon is also bringing a kid-friendly browser to Fire tablets, and it's also giving parents more tools for controlling how their children use their slates. This holiday season, many kids will likely end up with a cheap $50 Fire tablet, or one of the more durable "Kids Edition" Fire slates, so Amazon's updates come just in time.