Early analyst reaction to Amazon’s just-unveiled Kindle Fire tablet is underwhelming. The price is the key feature and as for pressuring Apple, the device may boomerang, coming back to haunt already stressed-out Android tablets.

Photo by (( κiκe )) - https://flic.kr/p/9EUocr

There’s intriguing news from the world of technology patents. Samsung has just agreed to pay royalties to Microsoft, just the latest Android phone and tablet maker to seek shelter as Google evolves into a potential hardware rival. Samsung joins HTC and other manufacturers in what one patent watcher Wednesday called “the most important Android-related intellectual property deal in its own right.”

Three publishers will likely take part in Amazon’s expected tablet launch Wednesday. Although the titles are tailored for the smaller 7-inch screen, publishers reportedly are drawn to Amazon’s marketing muscle and the potential for an Android-based iPad alternative.

More than 75 percent of the handsets T-Mobile sells are smartphones, the carrier told a gathering at this week’s Mobilize 2011 forum held in San Francisco. What’s more, 90 percent of those smartphones are powered by the Android operating system.

Photo by (( κiκe )) - https://flic.kr/p/9EUocr

Although much of the tech news bandwidth has been consumed with chatter about the Apple iPhone 5, Samsung has shipped 10 million Android-powered Galaxy S IIs smartphones — before touching foot on U.S. soil. Many expect the Samsung v. Apple battle to be the cage fight of cellular titans.