Anticipation continues to build around the Kindle Fire 2, which Amazon may be released as early as this month. The upgrade to the popular tablet, which was released last November, will likely feature a new design, including the addition of a camera. The Kindle Fire 2 is also expected to come in a number of size options at different prices.
Little is known about the Kindle Fire 2's camera, which will likely only be available on some of the new tablet models. However, an allegedly leaked image of Amazon's new device may have provided the first images of the new tablet design and it's new camera. Two photos, posted by Kindle Fire 2 News, a blog dedicated to the upcoming device, depict what may be an early test model of the Kindle Fire 2. The photo, which shows what appears to be a camera on the back of the tablet, apparently comes from a "person from Asia who, for obvious reasons, wishes to stay anonymous."
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According to an inside source, the Kindle Fire 2 will be thinner and light than its predecessor, with improved display and a built-in camera, according to news-site AllThingsD. The website claims that "developers familiar with the device" have beet told to design new apps for a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, a step up from the current 1024 x 600 display features on the original Kindle Fire.
The new display suggests a total redesign for the Kindle Fire 2. Not only will the new tablet feature a sharper and more vibrant display, it will also have entirely new physical dimensions. The Kindle Fire 2 will likely feature a squarish shape.
"The really interesting thing here is that the screen shape is changing slightly: From an aspect ratio of 1.71 (tall and narrow in its standard Portrait mode) to an aspect ratio of 1.60," DisplayMate President Raymond Soneira told AllThingsD.
The new resolution puts the Kindle Fire 2 in the same realm as Google's Nexus 7, the Toshiba Thrive and the Acer Iconia tablets, which all feature 1280 x 800 display ratios.
For Amazon, the screen redesign means a 67 percent increase in the number of pixels, meaning that the tablet will feature a crisper display than before.
The Kindle Fire 2 redesign is also expected to include a durable metal body to replace the previous plastic model.
Amazon is expected to release several new Kindle Fire models at the same time, offering a range of different sized tablets to remain competitive in an increasingly crowded market.
According to the China Times, these different models include:
7-inch Kindle Fire 2 with 1024 x 600 display and no camera.
7-inch Kindle Fire 2 with 1280 x 800 display and no camera.
7-inch Kindle Fire 2 with 1280 x 800 display, built-in camera and 4G network.
8.9-inch Kindle Fire 2 with 1920 x 1200 display.
Amazon has yet to comment on rumors surrounding the Kindle Fire 2.
