Existing models of the Amazon Kindle Fire tablet devices have sold out leading to speculation that the e-commerce giant is about to unleash a new generation of devices. The company is believed to be preparing a pair of 7-inch and 10-inch devices as well as a Kindle Touch with a new ‘paperwhite’ backlit E Ink display.
Pictures of a new device purporting to be a 7-inch model that also appears to be a custom design different to the OMAP4 reference design in the original file were published on gadget site The Verge last night.
The leaked image also shows a front-facing camera.
Amazon broke the mould on the hitherto expensive tablet market with its US$199 Kindle Fire device last year, taking a hit on the bill of materials with the gamble that such devices will result in sales of music, videos and e-books as well as other digital products.
In December sales of Kindle Fire devices were peaking in the US at a rate of 1m sold per week. In the fourth quarter of last year Amazon sold 4.7m Kindle Fire devices, according to IDC, beating Amazon’s own first quarter estimates.
