Amazon, Barnes & Noble Prepping iPad Killers
Amazon Announcement Expected This Week
Is the Apple iPad about to lose its tablet tiara? Well, Hewlett-Packard, Samsung, Research in Motion, and several other hardware manufacturers have all failed to dislodge the iPad from its lofty position, though that could change this fall and next spring, with the upcoming release of tablets from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Although there have been numerous contenders for the iPad's crown from legitimate PC makers, most experts believe that if anyone can produce a device worthy of bumping Apple off, it's Amazon. The company's Kindle reader is extremely popular, and with a massive library of digital media available on the Amazon website, a new tablet device would have the app support unavailable to competitors HP, Samsung, or RIM.
A report this summer revealed that, globally, about one in every five Internet users visited an Amazon site (be it Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, or the original Amazon.com). Such reports certainly suggest that there is a major opportunity for Amazon to capitalize on its online presence.
Right now, Amazon has the tech world in a flutter with a major unveiling set for this week. Journalists have received invitations from the company's PR department for a press conference in New York City on September 28. Nothing's known for certain, but it's rumored that Amazon will take this opportunity to unveil its new tablet.
The real question will be on price: can Amazon produce a tablet that not only rivals the iPad in looks and software support for less than the iPad's current $499 price tag?
So far, we've only heard rumors about Amazon's device. TechCrunch blogger MG Siegler has said that he's actually seen the device in action and afterwards wrote that it's "going to be a big deal," suggesting Amazon really does have a few tricks up their sleeve.
Then there's Barnes & Noble, the long-time book sellers who in recent years made tech splashes with their Nook readers. New versions of the Nook, including "Nook Color" will likely sell well, but it's a rumored $349 Barnes & Noble tablet device, rumored to be called the "Acclaim," that could really put the company on the map, tech-wise.
"According to my source, Barnes & Noble held a planning meeting last week. One of the topics discussed in the meeting was B&N;'s marketing plans for their ebook readers and how they would be promoted next quarter," reported Nate Hoffelder, a journalist for eWeek.
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