We’ve heard plenty of rumors stating that Amazon will release a followup to last year’s Kindle Fire sometime this summer, but the speculation has come with few details of how the online retailer will improve on the previous model. It has long been assumed that the device would receive an upgraded display with a higher screen resolution, and now a source “familiar with Amazon’s plans” is confirming as much. The so-called Amazon Kindle Fire 2 is said to feature a 7-inch display with a 1280 x 800 resolution, the same as that of Google’s upcoming Nexus 7.
Aside from the higher resolution, a new aspect ratio is mentioned. The tablet is also said to be both lighter and thinner than its predecessor. The source also mentions a Q3 launch, which covers any of a number of rumored launch dates. Early rumors claimed Amazon would launch the device on July 31st, while newer reports say an August date is more likely. We could get both, with Amazon unveiling the device in July and shipping to customers the following month.
[via AllThingsD]