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Amazon will up the ante with a tablet that will be more of a match for the iPad than its current Kindle (both pictured) AP Photo

Amazon to do battle with iPad with tablet of its own

It will reportedly run Google’s Android operating system.

ONLINE RETAIL GIANT Amazon is preparing to release its own tablet computer in the autumn as it steps up its rivalry with Apple’s iPad.

Already competing in the areas of digital books, music and mobile applications, Amazon’s first full-colour tablet will be released by October according to the Wall Street Journal. The tablet will have a roughly nine-inch screen and will run on Google’s Android platform. It won’t have a camera and pricing and distribution is so far unclear.

It will face a tough task in trying it eclipse the sales of Apple’s iPad, now on its second edition and having sold a total of 19.5 million devices up to March,  making it far and away the leader in the tablet field, eclipsing efforts from Samsung and Blackberry’s Playbook. Amazon’s current bestselling device is its Kindle e-book reader.

Read more from Stu Woo and Yukari Iwatani Kane in the WSJ >

Read more on the ‘Tablet Wars’ >

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6 Comments
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    Mute Unitedpeople Ireland
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    Jul 14th 2011, 12:32 PM

    Anything that does similar, does not impose the right constrictions that all Apples products do in regard to DRM – and allow further direct input of own material via a side port, will be a good thing to see.

    Even better if they under cut Apples mad rip-off prices – as I’m sure Amazon will do …and good to see!

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    Mute Alex simon
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    Jul 14th 2011, 7:22 PM

    Apple = unriveled quality. Quality comes with a price.

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    Mute Unitedpeople Ireland
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    Jul 14th 2011, 10:15 PM

    …And what a rip-off price!

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    Mute Alex simon
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    Jul 14th 2011, 10:42 PM

    I bought an LG Renoir back when it came out, it was supposed to be a great touch screen phone with 12mpixel camera. The thing was slow and awful. Apple is total opposite amazing quality and reliable. Rip off? Not if the technology works and lasts.. Apple has built up a very trusted brand. People will pay if they know they are getting a good device. Look at where nokia landed up…. I was skeptical about apple for a long time, until I was given an iPhone, now I am 100% apple.

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    Mute Cork
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    Jul 14th 2011, 7:39 PM

    Totally agree alex, I’ve had all generations of iPhone and an iPad. My phones are all still in use bar the first one which i left in a taxi, probably still in use. The iPad has been tested to the extreme by 2 experts in the field of product testing (my 19month old and my 4 year old). It’s still functioning the same as it did day 1. This quality I have never experienced in any other electronic device ever..people love to hate apple but they sure can make a robust, well built and extremely slick product. All the rest are just trying to imitate…

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    Mute Unitedpeople Ireland
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    Jul 14th 2011, 10:12 PM

    All the rest are just trying to imitate…

    Aye, till someone comes along and betters them eventually.
    And Apple know this has been done to them alone before – via the worlds biggest selling operating system maker, a simple example!

    Apple make good items. Only a fool would deny it.
    A company is only as good as its last product – and sooner or later someone else brings an alternative to equal or best it.
    If its cheaper, does more and is of same quality components – good to see.

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