Amazon to challenge iPad with Android tablets in Q3?

By Molly McHugh July 11, 2011

About a month ago, we heard that Amazon tablets codenamed Android ‘Hollywood’ and ‘Coyote’ would hit shelves sometime this year, and now DigiTimes says shipment numbers indicate Amazon could be launching the product sometime in the third quarter.

According to the paper, Amazon is ordering mass quantities of touch panels for this August – as many as 1.2 million of them. These types of tablet component orders for the third quarter would put it behind only Apple (which will far out do all competition by ordering 14 to 15 million iPads). While all that Amazon has said is “stay tuned,” the shipment details certainly make it look as if it has a tablet on the way. And predictions for such a device have been downright bullish: It’s been called the best possibility to challenge the grip of the iOS ecosystem, and one financial firm forecast it could sell 3.5 million units in 2011. The same firm suggested it would fall behind only the iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab, arguably the most popular non-Apple tablet on the market as it stands.

The main reason for all the positivity surrounding the launch is that Amazon has one of the most established cloud-based content stores available, which has held back a variety of iPad competitors. If there is any truth behind some of the hardware rumors, it could actually be a pretty powerful machine and pack a quad-core processor. While DigiTimes’ reports can be hit or miss, there have been plenty of accurate assessments from the site, and in this case it would mean Amazon is pretty confident it’s got a viable iPad challenger.

If a third-quarter launch is correct, the Amazon Android tablet (tablets?) will be around in time for the holiday shopping season, a boon for sales. But if Apple launches the iPad 3, iPad HD or whatever iPad-related product it’s bringing to the table next, it could seriously impact any of its challengers’ sales. Not to mention steal a load of buzz from any other product launch.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…

Mobile

The new iPad Pro just surprised everyone

The iPad Pro (2024) during JerryRigEverything's bend test.

When a new iPad is released, it is common for organizations to conduct bend durability tests. Recently, JerryRigEverything, AppleTrack, and MobileReviewEh were the first to perform these tests on both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro (2024). The results were positive, which is especially surprising given how thin both tablets are.

The two new iPad Pro models, introduced earlier this month, are the thinnest yet. The new 11-inch model has a depth of just 0.21 inches, compared to 0.23 inches for the 2022 model. Meanwhile, the 13-inch version is just 0.20 inches in depth, compared to 0.25 inches for the sixth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Mobile

Apple’s new iPad Air isn’t even out yet and it’s already discounted

An official photo of the 2024 iPad Air.

We love iPad deals at any time, but how about an iPad deal on a recently announced model? That’s what’s going on right now at Amazon with the Apple iPad Air 11-inch M2 -- reduced by $29 when it hasn’t even been launched yet. Normally priced at $599, you can buy it -- or should we say, pre-order it -- for $570 today. That’s how new it is. If you’re keen to buy a new iPad for less, read on while we take you through what to expect.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad Air 11-inch M2
Only recently announced, the Apple iPad Air 11-inch M2 is sure to be something special. We’ve compared the iPad Air (2024) with the iPad Air (2022) to see why it’s so great. Effectively, the killer feature here is that it has the Apple M2 chip we’ve seen in more recent MacBooks compared to the older M1 chipset. That makes it a great option for power users who want all the power possible from one of the best tablets.

Mobile

You’ll soon be able to control your iPhone and iPad with your eyes

The iPad Air 4 in hand.

Apple has announced a bunch of new accessibility features that will arrive later this year for iPhone and iPad owners. Notable among them is the ability to interact with iOS and iPadOS interfaces using eye movement, which is something that's seen in a similar system on Mac hardware.

The company calls it Eye Tracking, and it's a system built on the Dwell Control foundations. So far, Dwell Control has been available as part of the Accessibility Keyboard on macOS, allowing users to execute mouse actions using eye and head gestures.