Every now and then, Amazon takes a cue from Apple. Starting with the second-generation Kindle e-reader, Amazon began a tradition of unveiling flagship gadgets at marquee events, with a product launch shortly thereafter. It happened for the second-generation Kindle and its heftier cousin, the Kindle DX.
Now comes another Amazon event, widely expected to be the official unveiling of the long-rumored tablet. Shortly after 10 a.m. Eastern Time (7 a.m. Pacific), Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos will likely unveil the device to the world. PCMag is live on the scene, and you can read our up-to-the-second live coverage in the window below.
While Amazon has the bragging rights to being the first company to launch a successful mass-market e-reader, the company sat idly by as Barnes & Noble last fall unveiled the Nook Color, a 7-inch tablet running customized Android that serves as both an e-reader and a media device.
Now, if rumors are to believed, Amazon is finally poised to unveil its own 7-inch tablet running customized Android that serves as both an e-reader and a media device. The difference, and probably the reason why Amazon is responding about a year after the Nook Color arrived, is in the services. Amazon has spent the last year beefing up the online media it offers, debuting a cloud drive and music player, launching an Android Appstore, and expanding its video catalog.
Amazon didn't do all that to simply extend its reach on third-party devices, and it sure as hell didn't do it for the E Ink-based Kindle. The logical focus point of all these moves has been a tablet device tied to Amazon's ecosystem. That could make it not only a competitor to the Nook Color, but also a worthy choice for those looking for a less expensive alternative to the Apple iPad.
But what exactly will it be? That's up to Bezos and co. Be sure to keep your browsers here to get all the answers as they happen, and feel free to join the discussion anytime.