Sure to shake the tablet landscape, Amazon on Wednesday is expected to debut the Kindle Fire. "Yes, this is the name Amazon has settled on, to help differentiate the product from the e-ink
Kindles," TechCrunch writes regarding the new tablet.
All Things D reports that Amazon has already struck deals with Conde
Nast, Hearst, and Meredith to sell their magazines on the Android-based tablet.
"Besides being viewed as the first tablet that could seriously compete with the iPad, the Amazon tablet
will likely be closely tied to Amazon's services, a big incentive for publishers who already offer their physical titles through the Amazon site," PCMag.com writes.
"Apple and its successful iPad tablet might soon have some extra
competition," as USAToday.com puts it.
"But the Fire, as described, will represent much bigger competition for Barnes & Noble's $250 NOOK Color, which also features books, magazines and apps," Econsultancy writes.
"The key here, of course, is price," CNet writes. "Amazon has already
seen Barnes & Noble's success with the Nook Color at $249, so the reality is that all it has to do is create a better, faster version of the Nook Color for the same price and it will have a
winner on its hands."
Bigger picture, "Amazon's potential entry arrives as sales of tablets are beginning to take off," USA Today notes. Indeed, a recent report from
Gartner suggested that global tablet sales will hit 63.6 million this year -- up 264% year-over-year.