Amazon reportedly plans to scale down the screen size of its next Kindle Fire tablet, producing an 8.9-inch device, rather than an originally expected 10.1-inch product for 2012. The report could be another indication that suppliers are busy filling orders for Apple’s iPad.
According to the report by Taiwan-based industry publication DigiTimes, “Amazon’s current 7-inch panel suppliers Chunghwa Picture Tubes and LG Display reportedly have begun to prepare production capacities for 8.9-inch displays.” However, sources within Amazon’s supply chain told the publication a 9.7-inch or 10.1-inch model could be ready for later in 2012.
Although no reason for the switch to an 8.9-inch Kindle Fire screen was provided, LG Display also provides the 9.7-inch panels for Apple’s iPad 2. Earlier, Amazon had to change to a different manufacturer for its tablet after Foxconn had its hands full building iPads.
Although the Kindle Fire won’t hit store shelves until Nov. 15, pre-orders have been brisk. In September, the Kindle maker announced it was having to build “millions more” of the $199 devices to keep up with demand. In October, the company warned that the Kindle Fire’s low margins could push it into the red during the fourth quarter.
Despite the belief the Fire could hurt iPad sales, Apple’s CEO and finance chief recently said the device would only further fragment the Android-based tablet market.
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
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Photo caption: Mommy… why are you too cheap to buy me a real tablet?