\Many critics believe that the Kindle Fire HD has nothing on upcoming Apple's iPad Mini. But now, price and release date is critical if Apple wants to dominate the market again.
According to Pop Herald, Amazon's press release said that the Kindle Fire HD has 7-inch IPS LCD display with the best hardware, more affordable than other products, and the device is "backed by the world's best content ecosystem, best cross-platform interoperability and best customer service." In short, it is not targeting the Google Nexus 7, but the Apple iPad.
The newest iPad sells for $499 with Retina Display and 4G LTE. The iPad 3 sells for $399. Many rumors say that the iPad Mini might sell for around $250-$300, and may or may not have Retina Display.
Reports say that the iPad Mini will feature a 7.85 inch IGZO display with 330 pixels/inch. It will be more affordable and come with a powerful processor. It is also assumed that the new tablet will feature Apple's upcoming operating system, iO6, which includes a new, Google-free Maps app, and Passbook, and promises better Facebook integration, better maps, and better video conferences that use cellular data, according to Entrepreneur.com. It is also said to have a smaller dock connector and thinner bezel. It will have FaceTime.
Pricing may be an issue for the little Apple tablet. The Kindle Fire HD with 16GB costs $199 while the 16GB Nexus 7 costs $249 with all the Android content. According to Pop Herald, "If Apple will sell the iPad Mini with a $249.99 price tag, then it will be safe to assume that Apple can sell "millions." But what if the iPad Mini will sit within the $300 to $399 mark? Can it still lure customers?"
According to one analyst, Apple might launch the iPad Mini at a $250-$300 price point, cheap enough to convince customers that the iPad Mini is a Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire alternative.
Another concern is the release date. Rumors first said that Apple will announce the iPad Mini at a special event on Sept. 12, which is when the iPhone 5 is supposed to be announced. However, now more reports are saying that Apple will unveil the iPad Mini in October. Google's Nexus 7 is already on the market. The Kindle Fire HD is taking pre-orders and will be available Sept. 14, just about a month ahead of the iPad Mini release date.
"Rumors are circulating in the IT market that Apple will launch its 7.85-inch iPad in October with a thinner screen frame to allow the device to feature a bigger display area than other competing products and will also feature a resolution similar to that of iPad 2," reported DigiTimes, citing sources from Apple's "upstream supply chain," according to Enstarz.
This might not be a problem for customers who are dying to get the next Apple device.
According to Latinos Post, a new survey from Pricegabber.com revealed that they want the iPad Mini and iPhone 5 to launch in the same month, September.
As for the reasons that consumers want the new gadgets, 61 percent stated that they would buy an iPad mini because they want a smaller iPad.
Critics still say that Apple will beat Amazon.
"While there were some interesting new features and upgrades from the original version that could provide increased competition for non-Apple tablets, we walked away from this announcement with even greater confidence that the iPad will continue to dominate the tablet market at the mid-to-high end," said Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets, in a note to clients, according to ComputerWorld.
"While Amazon's new products look impressive, we believe Apple remains the dominant vendor/platform of choice for smartphones/tablets," said Brian Marshall of the ISI Group.
Amazon might also be running into a little bit of problems too.
According to Gather Technology, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch 4G LTE tablet has a holdup because it lacks FCC approval.
It will not ship out until Nov. 20. Amazon has the wording, "Pre-order now and reserve your place in line."
Part of the holdup may be due to a lack of approval from the Federal Communications Commission. All wireless communication products require the FCC's blessing for safe operation standards, and to make sure they aren't going to interfere with other signals out there.
Amazon sent pre-order emails with the following in them:
"We will send you an email asking you to confirm your pre-order of Kindle Fire when it is approved for sale by the Federal Communications Commission."
What do you think? Does Apple have anything to worry about? Sound off below!