New Color Kindle ‘Fire’ to be Released

By Gilbert Falso :: 10:07 PM

Amazon’s new Kindle is coming tomorrow, and according to many published reports, it will be in color.

The new iteration of the world’s most popular e-book device will be called the “Kindle Fire,” and will feature a 7-inch color screen, compared to the 6-inch screen on current Kindles.

Other specs include touch-screen navigation, an LED screen instead of the current Kindle’s paper-style e-ink, and it will run on a custom version of Google’s Android operating system.

If you think that the new Kindle resembles something from BlackBerry’s tablet lineup, there’s a reason for that – both were designed and built by the same manufacturing company. In fact, it is rumored that Amazon based the Fire’s design largely on BlackBerry’s tablets.

Three major magazine publishers have signed on with Amazon to provide content to the new tablet. Hearst, Conde Nast and Meredith will offer digital versions of their magazines for sale on the Fire. Missing from the magazine lineup, however, is Time, who has apparently not inked a deal with Amazon yet, although sources claim both sides are working on one.

The details will come to light on Wednesday morning at Amazon’s press conference, scheduled for 10 AM eastern time.

Not to be left behind, it is expected that Amazon competitor Barnes & Noble will also have a color e-reader on store shelves in time for the holiday season.