Rumor has it that Amazon will hold a press conference on Wednesday morning to announce the new tablet, so this is still unofficial. As I hear it, the new tablet will be called the Kindle Fire. It will have a 7″ back-lit screen, run a customized version of Google’s Android operating system, be Wi-Fi enabled and cost about $250.

Amazon will continue selling the regular Kindle, which uses an e-ink screen. The new model isn’t intended as a replacement.

Video: a laptop that is completely powered off will boot to the desktop in about 8 seconds.

Yesterday, Microsoft gave 5,000 tablets running an alpha version of Windows 8 to developers at its annual conference. It has cool, multi-touch features and a completely redesigned Start menu. It’s aimed squarely at competing with the iPad. The earliest it will be available for purchase is the middle of next year.

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