To digital media aficionados, a group that includes yours truly, one of the most anticipated events is the upcoming launch of Amazon’s tablets.
Let’s make it the supposed launch since Amazon has yet to officially announce its tablet strategy.
But the rumors are flying fast and furious.
Amazon will launch three tablets. No, there will be just one. It will be a Nook-competitor and not a full-fledged tablet. It’ll be a low-priced tablet. It will be a 9-inch tablet. And so on go the rumors.
While there’s little agreement on the details, almost all writers are unanimous that Amazon’s tablet, in whatever form factor or features it may come with, will be based on the Android OS and debut in the not too distant future.
Perhaps, as early as the current quarter.
But will yet another Android tablet make any difference to the platform’s flagging status in the tablet marketplace?
It’s no secret that the Android-based tablets have so far been laggards and not made much of an impact in the tablet arena dominated by the Apple iPad, which is now in its second generation.
Major Android tablet vendors including Acer, Asus, Motorola and Samsung just don’t seem to have the wind behind their back.
Even as overall tablet sales are surging, Android vendors have failed to gain traction. Not surprisingly, their prices are falling and we’re starting to see $100 discounts (like from Staples recently).
All the iPad competitors (Android-based, Blackberry or webOS) are not selling in large numbers because for the most part they’re found wanting when pitted against the iPad (despite its lack of Flash support). Continue reading »
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