The long awaited Kindle Amazon Fire has today been launched in the US. The device runs on the same hardware as the Blackberry Playbook, and the OS is a modified version of Android Eclair. You won't be able to access the android app store on it, but you will be able to get apps from the Amazon app store. Priced at $199 it's significanly cheaper than a playbook, but does not have as many features. There has been no official announcement of a UK release date or price yet, but it's expected that it will arrive in the UK in Q1 2012. The price of the current kindle ranges are 75% more expensive in the UK (based on the current exchange rate) so the likely cost of the device when it launches here should be around £225.