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There is no particular reason for Amazon to release an Android tablet because it would have to compete in the $500 and up space (and some of the larger screen sizes with decent onboard memory approach $1000). Meanwhile, Amazon's Kindle audience has been trained to play in the sub $200 and even sub $150 market. They also expect very long battery life. As nice a device as the KDX is, the 9.7" is lovely but the $389 price point is a barrier. Amazon would sell it for $225 if they could make a profit on it but it can't.
Android tablets with decent specs are all far out of the price range of the KDX, let alone Kindle 3 audience. Amazon will not be releasing a 7" or 10" tablet for $249 just to compete with B&N's Nook Color. At best, Amazon will find some way to deliver a very good e-book reading experience, that adds colour to embrace magazines and text books, and possibly rudimentary video. It is unlikely to do this with current LCD screens; this is where Mirasol may come in. It may make sense to add fully mp3 player to deliver audible.com content, perhaps editions enhanced with still pictures which play during the audio. Who knows?
But the thought that Amazon will deliver an Amazon-branded Android tablet can be discarded. Amazon does not make toaster ovens, wide screen TVs or Internet radios. It is focussed on selling other's physical goods and its own library of entertainment content. The Kindle e-ink readers filled a void and directly impact Amazon's ability to thrive in the content space. An Android tablet simply does not meet the barre for a business case within the company. It would be MUCH cheaper to simply do deals to ensure its Amazon Kindle app is pre-installed on any existing Android hardware that to try to commission, sell and support its own "me too" devices.
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