New Gadget 2011

Hopefully Amazon's tablet will lose the stupid little keyboard. Photo illustration Charlie Sorrel

An Amazon tablet is pretty much inevitable but now, according to the Wall Street Journal, we have a launch date. Citing the ever-present �people familiar with the matter,� the WSJ reports that the Amazon tablet will launch by October. It is also planning to introduce a touch-screen Kindle alongside another regular Kindle.

Amazon's tablet will have a �roughly nine-inch screen� and run Google's Android OS. This is no surprise, given that Amazon's App Store already sells Android apps. In fact, Amazon also sells movies, music and Kindle books, all of which put it in a great position to take on iOS and Apple's App Store Juggernaut.

Interestingly, the first Amazon tablet won't have a camera. This also makes sense. With the Kindle, Amazon got a basic but good product on the market and then iterated year by year, just like Apple does with the iPod iPhone and iPad. Keeping it simple will also mean that Amazon can keep prices competitive with the iPad.

Apparently, Amazon is still confused about how to market tablet, according to �a person familiar with Amazon's thinking� (I know, right?). The company wonders if it can seel both a Kindle and a tablet to the same customers. I'd say just take a look at all of the people who already have both an iPad and a Kindle (like me � the iPad is hopeless on the beach) for the answer.

This is great news. Amazon, with its huge content library already hooked up to a single sign-in (and to your credit card details) is in a unique position to put the heat on Apple. And that's good for everyone.

Amazon to Battle Apple iPad With Tablet [WSJ]
source: Gadget Lab