A new data shows that the Amazon Kindle Fire is a popular device, can Apple stop the growth with the iPad 3?
The Amazon Kindle Fire is a popular tablet, and arguably the most popular Android tablet — and it looks like users are really the device to browse the web according to the latest data provided by online ad network Chitika.
Based on Chitika’s ad impressions from mid November to first week of December, online activity for the Amazon Kindle Fire is growing and massive growth came during the last week of November to first week of December. Apparently, the trend will continue if Kindle Fire users will use the tablet’s Silk Browser more, and second, if Amazon can sell more Kindle Fire tablets this month that will result to more Kindle Fire users that will access the web.
Kindle Fire is one of the cheapest tablets in the market right now, but it is also a powerful media device because Amazon’s own ecosystem is large and can accommodate all customers, from music lovers to mobile app buyers. However, analysts predict that Amazon is losing $3 to $10 per Kindle Fire, and one analyst said Amazon might be losing $50 which includes the shipping, labor, etc.
In return, Amazon will try to profit from Kindle Fire users by selling Amazon products like apps, music, cloud storage, e-books and more because the Kindle Fire is using a heavily customized Android Gingerbread version. Amazon’s new tablet strategy is obviously competing against Apple and its glorified iPad which also offers music, e-books, games and other media.
In related news, Apple is reportedly set to release the new iPad 3 in February of next year, the month of lovers (gift giving, the lovers edition). What’s with the February release? If you’re an avid reader of Apple news, you know that Apple loves April when it comes to the iPad. For example, the iPad 1 was released April 2010 and the iPad 2 was released in April 2011. So, iPad 3′s release date is in February?
If the new rumor is accurate, then it is highly possible that Apple is feeling the Kindle Fire’s heat and wants to protect its tablet market share. According to multiple data presented by research firms, Apple is still the most popular tablet PC vendor with nearly 75% of market share, while other tablets (Android, etc) folded and sharing the remaining market share.
And aside from the Kindle Fire, Apple is also facing retail-iation from Google Android courtesy of the new Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola and HTC are expected to use the new Android version next year to attract more tablet customers.
