Edible Apple

Taiwan-based component makers are relaying that Amazon is about to step into the tablet market and wil go head to head with Apple with new devices scheduled to launch as early as August/September. And in a testament to Amazon’s confidence, or perhaps seriousness, regarding their tablet foray, 2011 global shipments are expected to reach 4 million units.

The timing of launch is to meet the peak sales period prior to Thanksgiving in the US and the year-end holidays in the US and Europe, the sources pointed out.

Amazon adopts processors developed by Texas Instruments, with Taiwan-based Wintek to supply touch panels, ILI Technology to supply LCD driver ICs and Quanta Computer responsible for assembly, the sources indicated. Monthly shipments are expected to be 700,000-800,000 units.

The report also states that Amazon’s tablet will be able to stream movies, which of course makes sense given that Amazon is the only company aside from Apple with significant media content at the ready. Remember that one of the ongoing complaints often levied against smartphone and tablet manufacturers is that acquiring media content like music and movies can often be an arduous, cumbersome, and ultimately confusing process.

Amazon, however, might be able to skirt around this problem if it’s able to seamlessly integrate its Amazon store into the Android software that will reportedly power its tablet devices.

Time will tell.