Rumor: next Kindle Fire to pack 1200x800 resolution display
updated 07:03 am EDT, Mon July 9, 2012
Next Kindle Fire to go head to head with Nexus 7
Amazon looks set to update its Kindle Fire 7-inch Android- based tablet with a much higher resolution displayin line with the Google Nexus 7, according to AllThingsD. The next-generation Kindle Fire would debut sometime in Q3 packing a 1200x800 IPS display, up from the current 1024x600 IPS display. This would give the new tablet a much higher pixel density of 216ppi, while also boosting the number of pixels in the device by 67 percent.
A previous rumor surfaced in early July suggesting that Amazon was working on three 7-inch variants of the Kindle Fire, with one offering the same resolution as the current model and no rear camera, another would have the new 1280x800 display and a camera, while the third would then also add a 4G connection to the equation. It is also possible that Amazon will deliver a larger form factor tablet with an 8.9-inch display with a 1920x800 display.
The 7-inch tablet sector has proven to be the one area where tablet makers hoping to cash in on the success that Apple has had in the tablet space with the 9.7-inch iPad. However, although Amazon made a spectacular debut with its cost subsidized and loss making Kindle Fire,sales have quickly fallen off as the compromizes made to achieve its aggressive price point seem to have worn off the novelty of its cheap pricing.
The recent debut of the well-received Google Nexus 7 manufactured by Asus has also put more pressure on the Kindle Fire as well. Although the Nexus 7 is pitched at a similar price point, it benefits from better overall hardware specifications. Further, it also runs an unskinned version of Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), Google's latest mobile OS whereas the Kindle Fire runs a heavily modified version of Android.
Adding to the 7-inch tablet mix is the rumored iPad mini which, should it be a real shipping product, would pose a significant threat to both Amazon and the Nexus 7.
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Joined: 09-17-99
Have these people not heard of Retina displays? The Kindle FIre is a "me too" device with "me too" specs. The only reason it will get a 1200x800 display is because there are going to be lots of 1200x800 7" displays available from OEMs at a cheap price. Given that a Kindle Fire is being sold as an eReader with tablet features, they should be pushing the envelope a bit more and get something with a 300+ ppi screen so books on it will be nicer to read than other 7" tablets.