After smartphones, Amazon's next trick could be slimmer Kindles

With anticipation running high for this week's rumored Amazon smartphone unveiling, interest in all things Amazon is at its peak, making this a perfect time to see what's coming next.

BloombergBusinessweek has offered a glimpse into the top-secret lair where Amazon does most of the R&D work for new hardware such as Fire TV, not to mention a smartphone expected to be announced at a media event on Wednesday.

Known as "Lab126," the facilities are home to more than 1,600 employees, many who have been working there since Amazon founder Jeff Bezos set up the division to create the first Kindle e-book reader back in 2004.

Amazon's hardware gurus will reportedly return to the Kindle well for a new "remarkably thin" version of the Kindle Paperwhite codenamed "Ice Wine," with insiders also dishing on a Square-style credit card reader Amazon may use to shore up its payment business.

Science projects

The report from "The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon" author Brad Stone doesn't offer details as to how Amazon plans to slim down the Kindle, instead offering a tantalizing peek into other devices spearheaded by the billionaire CEO.

According to loose-lipped employees, Amazon's rumored smartphone has been in gestation at Lab126 since 2009, along with other so-called "science projects" that include a device capable of projecting computer images onto any surface.

Said to be powered by a forked version of PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+QW5kcm9pZCA8L2E+similar to the company's Kindle Fire tablets, Amazon's smartphone will reportedly offer a 3D user interface that uses four infrared cameras to track the user's face and pupils as they're looking at the display.

Known internally as "Duke," the Amazon handset may wind up an AT&T exclusive at launch thanks to the carrier's Sponsored Data program, capable of offloading some or all mobile data expenses to a user's annual Amazon Prime subscription.

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iPad Air 2 release date, news and rumors

The iPad Air 2, the obvious follow up to the iPad Air, is set to be an iterative update to the current best PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+dGFibGV0IDwvYT5vbiB0aGUgbWFya2V0IHJpZ2h0IG5vdy48L3A+PHA+V2hpbGUgaXRzIG5hbWUgaXMgbGlrZWx5IHRvIGJlIGluIHRoZSBpUGFkIEFpciAyIHJlZ2lvbiwgdGhpcyB3aWxsIGFjdHVhbGx5IGJlIEFwcGxlJ3Mgc2l4dGggZ2VuZXJhdGlvbiBmdWxsIHNpemUgKDkuNy1pbmNoKSA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmhvc3RpbmdraXRhLmNvbQ0iIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIiByZWw9Im5vZm9sbG93Ij50YWJsZXQgPC9hPg==- and the Cupertino based firm will be looking to continue its domination at the top end of the market.

Many rival manufacturers have attempted to ape the iPad's success, but numerous PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+QW5kcm9pZCA8L2E+and PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+V2luZG93cyA8L2E+devices have tried and failed to match the premium build quality, consumer lust and ultimately the sales figures that 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 processor, as well as sporting an 8MP rear camera and inheriting Touch ID from the 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5S.

Kuo's theories are looking increasingly believable, as according to sources speaking to ETNews the iPad Air 2 will have an A8 chip, which is expected to improve efficiency and increase battery life, and its main camera will be boosted from 5 to 8MP, while the front-facing snapper will be increased to 1.5MP.

However they went on to say that the design is going to be similar to that of the original iPad Air and its screen will stick at a resolution of 2048 x 1536.

We've also caught a glimpse of what might be the iPad Air 2's front panel and it appears that the display is integrated into the panel, which would allow it to be slimmer than the iPad Air, which has a separate display and panel.

A more comprehensive leak claiming to show off a prototype iPad Air 2 in pretty much all its glory has also hit the web, revealing subtle design changes rather than a total overhaul.

(credit: nowhereelse)

Something worth noting in this series of images is the fact the TouchID button from the iPhone 5S appears to be on the iPad Air 2, backing up Kuo's claim that the biometric tech will land on the slate.

A new button design may be on the cards (credit: nowhereelse)

Will the camera get a boost? (credit: nowhereelse)

A slim profile is pretty much nailed on (credit: nowhereelse)

That's all we have so far, but given there's a while until the launch of the new device, it makes sense there's very little information around right now - we'd recommend keeping an eye on the current model if you're after a new tablet.

That said, while we loved the new model, there's always room for improvement. Head over to page two to see what we'd love to see on the iPad Air 2.