Following the successful launch of its first tablet last week, Amazon reportedly plans to launch a second model as soon as the second quarter next year. Fresh off an apparent miss — Asus went on record in denying an earlier report from the site on Friday — DigiTimes cites unnamed sources from within Amazon’s supply chain in claiming that the company’s next Kindle Fire tablet is scheduled to launch by the end of the second quarter 2012. The site reported earlier this month that Amazon’s 8...

Microsoft announced on Thursday that Quanta Computer will begin licensing its patent technology for Android and Chrome-based smartphones and tablets. Microsoft will receive royalties from Quanta, but the terms of the deal not disclosed by either company. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Quanta, and proud of the continued success of our Android licensing program in resolving IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome devices in the marketplace,” Microsoft’s corporate vice pre...

Foxconn will build Amazon’s rumored 10.1-inch tablet, DigiTimes reported on Thursday. The Android tablet is expected to ship in 2012 according to the report, but Amazon may want to get the device out the door a bit earlier in order to to have it on store shelves in time for the holiday season. A smaller 7-inch version that was built by Quanta computer is already on its way to Amazon and, while other reports suggested it is a 9-inch tablet, that is likely the model we have heard will launch in late Augus...

Looking to scoop up one of Apple’s ultra-light notebook offerings? You may want to hold on to your wallet for a few more weeks. According to the latest report, Apple is preparing to update the notebook line in the not-too-distant future. “The Taiwan-based supply chain for Apple products will begin shipments of new 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch MacBook Air models featuring Sandy Bridge platform and Thunderbolt interface in late May for launch in June or July,” reads a report filed by DigiTimes. T...

Rumors of possible delays may be further quashed on Friday as industry watcher DigiTimes reports that production of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is now in full swing. Quanta, the China-based manufacturer charged with building the BlackBerry tablets, is said to have ramped up production ahead of the device’s anticipated release in March. A pace of 150,000 to 200,000 units per month has reportedly been reached, and shipments could be ready as soon as next month. Quanta is said to be building PlayBook ta...

According to an unconfirmed report, Chinese manufacturer Quanta Computer will build and ship over 1 million BlackBerry PlayBook tablets for RIM in the first quarter of 2011. DigiTimes cites industry sources in reporting the numbers, and also states that Quanta will ship between 700,000 and 800,000 Motorola XOOM tablets in Q1. The report claims RIM will launch the Wi-Fi-only version of the PlayBook in March, with 3G and 4G versions to follow in the second quarter. The report also claims, however, that Motorola...

Details are scarce, and, as with most Apple grumblings, the rumor factor is sky high on the rumor Richter scale. The Chinese paper Commercial Times is reporting that Apple has signed a deal with Korean company Sintek Photronic to provide touch panels for a 22-inch, full touch screen iMac. The Times also cites a deal with long time partner Quanta for production of the new product, predicted to be released in 2010. Now, none of this has been substantiated, but we’re happy to report on an Apple rumor that ...

Just one short day after Nokia and Intel bestowed a great non-announcement upon us all, rumors are already flying. Bloomberg, citing the hit-or-miss Commercial Times as its sourceless source, suggests this morning that Nokia has placed orders with both Quanta Computer Inc. and Compal Electronics Inc. for netbooks/smartbooks.June 24 (Bloomberg) – Nokia Oyj ordered netbook computers from Quanta Computer Inc. and Compal Electronics Inc., the Commercial Times reported, without saying where it got the inform...

Dow Jones has added fuel to the fire by chiming in with its inside information on the rumored Apple netbook. Two sources “close to the situation” have told Dow Jones that Apple is considering a netbook with a display measuring 9.7 to 10-inches and that the final specifications on the netbook are currently under review. Awesome. Dow Jones’ report is rather nebulous at best, containing information that anyone could certainly concoct. The tablet / netbook rumors persist though, and it will be i...

According to The Commercial Times/DigiTimes, Apple has rounded up Taiwanese-based computer parts manufacturer Wintek to make displays for an upcoming touchscreen notebook. Rumors of a touchscreen Apple netbook are nothing new, but this one is quite specific in that it specifies that the displays will be passed along to Quanta who will be entrusted with the manufacturing of the netbook itself. Of course, details don’t mean a rumor has even the slightest bit of truth to it, but considering The Commercial ...