Amazon Fire 2 and new Kindle e-reader rumors heat up ahead of today’s event – The Verge

Amazon shows new Kindle Fire and backlit ‘Paperwhite’ Kindle readers in TV ad

2012-09-05T23:17:40-04:00

kindle paperwhite large ad

We're expecting quite a few things out of tomorrow's Amazon event, and the company just helped heighten expectations a little bit more with a new commercial. The brief spot aired during tonight's Giants and Cowboys game, and it clearly features a backlit E Ink Kindle reader - matching the "Paperwhite" leaks we've seen - and ends on a shot of a woman watching video on what appears to be a large-screen tablet. That would match up with the Kindle Fire leaks we've seen, which seem to indicate two updated tablets in both 7- and 10-inch sizes. We'll find out more tomorrow, but it seems clear Amazon intends to put some heavy marketing muscle behind …

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Exclusive: Amazon phone confirmed, could be announced tomorrow

2012-09-05T19:04:33-04:00

Amazon Appstore Android (STOCK)

Amazon's updated Kindle Fire and new backlit "Paperwhite" Kindle e-reader have already leaked out ahead of the company's event tomorrow, but there may be one more surprise in store: a mobile phone. Multiple sources have confirmed to The Verge that Amazon is working on a smartphone that runs a variant of the Kindle Fire's Android-based operating system, and we're now hearing that the device will be shown to the press tomorrow.

The phone itself is said to be currently unfinished, so if Amazon does announce it we wouldn't expect too many details. But at this point we would expect it to run a forked version of Android 4.0 as the leaked Kindle F …

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CNET: Amazon prepping two 7-inch Kindle Fire models for next week’s event

2012-08-31T16:52:19-04:00

Kindle Fire leak

Yesterday, we caught a few glimpses at what is expected to be the new Kindle Fire, and today CNET is reporting that Amazon actually has two Kindle Fire tablets in the works. We've heard this before - in fact it's been rumored for months that Amazon is planning to launch more than one Kindle Fire - but CNET claims that both of the new devices will in fact be the same size. Earlier, it was thought that Amazon would release at least a 10-inch model alongside a new 7-inch Kindle Fire, in an effort to take on Apple's current iPad.

CNET goes on to elaborate that one of the tablets will be an all-new design, complete with a faster processor, a cam …

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Amazon reportedly taps Nokia for maps on upcoming Kindle Fire

2012-08-30T23:17:02-04:00

Kindle Fire leak

We have a much better idea of what the hardware for at least one new Kindle Fire will look like today, and now Reuters is reporting a bit of information about the software. Apparently Amazon will follow Apple in eschewing Google Maps in favor of a different mapping solution, but Amazon will reportedly use Nokia's mapping technology. Nokia is already providing much of the power behind Bing maps.

The next Kindle Fire will have location services

Our source confirms that the next Kindle Fire will have location services, though it's not yet clear whether that means it will include a proper GPS receiver or just use Wi-Fi location. It's also unclea …

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Amazon’s new Kindle Fire: the evidence grows

2012-08-30T20:56:04-04:00

New Kindle Fire Skype

Today has been a boon for Kindle leaks: we saw some sort of new Kindle Fire earlier followed by a Kindle Touch refresh with "Paperwhite" technology. Now we've been sent a large collection of additional images of a new Fire - from the same source as the Paperwhite model - that corroborate the last image of the Fire that we'd posted.

Though these images bear a hard-to-ignore resemblance to the Fire that's currently on the market, there's a very important difference: this device has a prominent notch along one of the long edges which may be a front-facing mic for video calling. You can also see a front-facing camera in several of the images, a …

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Exclusive: meet the Amazon Kindle with ‘Paperwhite’ backlit display

2012-08-30T18:43:29-04:00

Gallery Photo: Kindle Paperwhite images

Along with one or more new Kindle Fires, we're expecting refreshed E Ink models in Amazon's e-reader line at the company's Los Angeles event next week as well. One of those appears to be a refreshed Kindle Touch - the button below the display is gone, and the bezel has changed from light to very dark gray. The overall shape of the product and the location of the USB port and power switch appear to be essentially unchanged. From the images we have, it looks like Amazon will be touting the unit with "higher contrast, high resolution, integrated lighting, and eight weeks of battery life," even when using the light. The retail name for this unit …

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This is the new Amazon Kindle Fire

2012-08-30T13:33:45-04:00

Kindle Fire leak

The Verge has obtained images of what appears to be the next version of the Kindle Fire, Amazon's Android-based tablet that's expected to be announced next week, following news that the current model is "sold out." We're being told that a "pair" of Fires is likely - a 7- and a 10-incher - though it remains unclear whether both models will be introduced at the same time. We're not sure which model we're looking at here, but the scale of the keyboard suggests that seven inches is more likely.

We've seen additional images of the new model, some of which we have been asked not to publish, showing a streamlined user interface with less "chrome." …

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Amazon holding press event on September 6th: new Kindles on the way?

2012-08-23T14:21:26-04:00

kindle fire

Amazon has just sent out press invites to a media event being held in California on September 6th. While there is precious little detail to go on, the new Kindle Fire has been heavily rumored to be launching in Q3 of this year. According to an AllThingsD source from July, the new Kindle Fire will have WXGA (1280 x 800) display, just like the Nexus 7, and will be thinner and lighter than the current model as well. Other than that, well, we'll just have to wait until the 6th.

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All signs point to new Kindles as Amazon discounts and discontinues older models

2012-08-12T17:41:02-04:00

Kindle Keyboard

Amazon's collection of E Ink Kindles is getting thinned out in what looks quite clearly to be preparation for new models. If you take a look at the retailer's Kindle page today, one model - the Kindle Keyboard Wi-FI - is missing and appears to be discontinued, with no notice that it's out of stock. Instead, prospective purchasers are only left with the option to go to third-party sellers that are offering the device in used condition. Additionally, the Kindle Touch 3G is "currently unavailable," while the Wi-Fi Kindle Touch is facing a three to five day shipping delay. That model isn't available at all from Amazon if you wish to avoid the com …

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Kindle Fire successor rumored to have 1280 x 800 display, set for Q3 launch

2012-07-08T17:22:01-04:00

Kindle Fire Graphic Novel Watchmen

The 7-inch tablet space is suddenly looking very crowded with Google's Nexus 7 set to launch in the coming weeks and rumors of an "iPad mini" heating up, and it sounds like Amazon is moving to keep its own tablet competitive. AllThingsD reports today that the retailer is prepping the Kindle Fire's successor for a Q3 launch, citing "sources familiar with Amazon's plans." Few rumored specifications are available, but the new tablet is said to have an improved screen that comes in at 1280 x 800 (WXGA) - the same as the Nexus 7. Other than the resolution bump from the Fire's current 1024 x 600 display, the screen ditches the old model's aspect ra …

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