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Amazon to launch tablet "in second half of the year"

By Barry Collins

Posted on 3 May 2011 at 09:20

Amazon looks set to launch a tablet device later this year, according to industry sources.

The online retailer - which has enjoyed considerable success with its Kindle eBook readers - has placed an order for millions of touchscreens, according to a report on DigiTimes. The screens will reportedly use Fringe Field Switching (FFS) technology, which offers wide viewing angles and a broad colour gamut.

Amazon reportedly expects to ship up to 800,000 devices a month, according to the report.

Last month, sources within the publishing industry told PC Pro that Amazon was working on a colour version of the Kindle, based on Google's Android operating system. It's not clear whether this is the same device or a separate development altogether.

However, DigiTimes suggests that Amazon will position the tablet as a premium device, while making the Kindle even cheaper. "Amazon internally plans to reduce Kindle's market price to attract consumer demand from the education and consumer market, while will push [sic] the tablet PC using its advantage in software and content resources to challenge the iPad 2," the report claims.

Amazon was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

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User comments

Go Amazon!

The Kindle is a brilliant piece of kit (my favourite and only gadget apart from my laptop) and I hope Amazon can produce an equally good tablet.

By longn on 3 May 2011

Almost...

If they can get the Kindle to the £50 mark, it becomes almost a no-brainer to own one.

By The_Scrote on 3 May 2011

It's not that surprising, they already have Nook Color to keep up with and to some extend, iPad as well. Fingers crossed, I'd happily go with Amazon and a reader rather than full blown tablet, but I'd love to be able to enjoy graphic novels on it in colour.

By Josefov on 3 May 2011

Torn...

Having had my kindle replaces by Amazons customer service i can say it's second to none. Love my kindle and everything ican do with it.

On the other hand would this development reduce or even halt and future software updates for my beloved Kindle??? Will Experimental forever be just that?
Interested to see what they come up with though

By wes_cov on 3 May 2011

But will I be able to get PC Pro on it?

By Webby on 3 May 2011

Could be a real winner

As long as it's still a 7in form factor, and lighter than the Galaxy Tab...

By the_bunker on 4 May 2011

Great but...

If Amazon's tablet is a good 'un, then the best two tablets will be from companies who tie you into their proprietary software. With the price of new ebooks still so high, this isn't the way I want to go...

By russweb on 5 May 2011

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