After this morning’s news that the Kindle Fire is now sold out, The Verge received a leaked photo of what is purported to be the next Kindle Fire. Two models are supposed to be released, a 7-inch variant that will replace the existing device and a new 10-inch device that would put it in competition with Apple and the iPad. The Verge’s report lines up nicely with previous rumors that circulated before Amazon told its employees to stop talking to tech blogs.
The first generation Kindle Fire bore a striking resemblance to the BlackBerry Playbook since it was based on the same reference design, but if this image is actually legitimate, Amazon has clearly gone in a different direction.
This newly leaked image reveals the existence of a front-facing camera, as well as a rather cluttered-looking navigation bar running vertically along the display’s right edge. Still, Even though the keyboard and the touches of orange are reminiscent of Amazon’s user interface, it remains to be seen whether it is the actual device. Amazon will hold a press conference on September 6 where new e-reader Kindles alongside new Fire models are expected.
According to Amazon, the Kindle Fire captured 22 percent of the market share in the U.S. and its new version could be one of a series of highly-anticipated tablet models expected to be unveiled in September. Rumors of an iPad Mini introduction in the coming weeks are persistent and Apple would therefore commercialize another competitor for the 7-inch Kindle Fire model.