Look out Amazon, Google apparently has its sights set on the Kindle Fire. Despite that tablet's use of Google's Android OS (with a heavy makeover), the search giant is apparently working with Asus on a rival slate with the same 7-inch form factor, according to Digitimes. The co-branded tablet could be available as soon as May for $199-$249.
Google has been searching for a hardware co-partner for a tablet, much as it has released Google-branded Nexus phones with Samsung. Digitimes says that HTC wanted too much development control and wasn't interested in a lower-priced offering, while Acer didn't have the in-house development capability to satisfy Google. It decided on Asus because of its product quality and manufacturing capacity, with Asus apparently keen to make a splash in the U.S. tablet market.
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