Powered by a 1GHz processor, the 7-inch Kindle tablet will run a special custom version of Android and use Amazon’s own appstore
According to the famed technology site, which claims to have handled a prototype, the Amazon Kindle tablet looks very similar to RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook and runs a customized version of Google’s Android operating system.
TechCrunch‘s MG Siegler reports that Amazon’s first Android device, simply called the Amazon Kindle, will launch this coming November for $250. That’s half the cost of Apple’s entry-level iPad 2 for those counting.
While the exact OS version is unknown, MG Sielger describes it as its own thing and like nothing we’ve seen from Android manufacturers before. The UI is based off a carousel and very intuitive. He speculates that the Android version is probably before 2.2 or maybe even 2.3. Further he says that the Apps are all Amazon, which isn’t a surprise.
It also features tight integration with all the major Amazon services such as the Amazon Appstore and Amazon’s Cloud Player. Additionally, the tablet has Amazon Instant Video and Amazon Prime built right in.
Supposedly a 10-inch version is also in the works but won’t happen until early 2012. Certainly something we heard before, so again not really a suprise.
You can read more about what Siegler has over on TechCrunch right here. Definitely some interesting stuff. Now only if he got some pictures!
