.Rumours have been circulating for the last two years that an Amazon tablet device (probably Kindle branded) is imminent. Obviously those rumours were a little off the mark, since as of today there is still no such thing as a tablet Kindle. Update 27th Sept saw the release of a Kindle 4, touch-screen Kindle and new Kindle Fire tablet.
But, that is not to say that such a device is not on the cards. There are many reasons to assume that an Android Kindle device is indeed on its way from online giant Amazon:
- 2009 Amazon purchase TouchCo and integrate them into Lab126, the division where Kindles are born.
- 2010 Apple release the iPad, and contrary to expectations the tablet revolution kicks off with a bang.
- 2010 the Nook Color proves a hit, as a budget priced mini tablet/e-reader. The competition with B&N hots up.
- 2011 Amazon open their own Android Apps store.
- 2011 Amazon are recruiting Android experts.
- 2011 Amazon introduce MP3 store and Cloud Player for Android.
- 2011 Amazon introduce their Cloud store for all your mobile computing back-ups
- 2011 Fforester blog that unless an Amazon tablet does appear, no one is going to be able to make a dent in Apple’s iPad sales.
- 2011 Cheaper Kindles arrive, with the sponsored ads wi-fi Kindle 3, and one day sales on the Kindle DX. Are they trying to get rid of stock?
- 2011 a deal with Samsung is rumoured, and an Android Kindle is expected by the summer.
- May 2011, yet more rumours – this time that a Korean manufacturer has been given an order for 800,000 Amazon tablets per month, starting in the second half of 2011.
- Sept 2011, amazon finally unveiled their new Kindle Fire. Deliveries begin in November but pre-orders are massive so expect some serious delays if you don’t order pretty quickly!
A lot of this is conjecture of course. Android experts might just be being recruited to help with the App store. But even the App store itself could make even more money if an Amazon branded tablet were being sold alongside it.
All the mobile content that Amazon are able to offer suits an Android computer more than any other gadget available today, so why not produce their own?
With Amazon’s ability to offer cut price devices that deliver, and convince us to part with even more cash for content, they could really be a force to be reckoned with if a tablet computer is released. Particularly this year, because try as everyone else might, no tablets to date have seemed to offer much to compete with Apple’s expensive iPad. Something from a retailer we trust, that we already have an account with, and know how to order from could open the tablet market up to a much wider audience.
Amazon Tablet Release Date
So when would we get to see an Amazon or Kindle tablet device? Well August 2011 sounds like a good time for something new to come from the brand. August last year was when the iconic 3rd generation reader was released, so an annual upgrade could just be in order.
The only snag? What on earth would they call it; an Amazon Tablet, a Kindle Color or simply the Kindle 4? Whatever it will certainly be new!
the rumor said one of Taiwan computer/tablet design/maker got the order to make amazon upcoming tablet reader, and it will be on the market at Q3 2011 !!