Today the International Data Corporation raised its 2012 tablet forecast to 106.1 million units, up from its previous forecast of 87.7 million units thanks to a stronger-than-expected 2011 finish. According to IDC, tablet shipments rose 155%, leading to a full-year 2011 total of 68.7 million units shipped. The IDC credits Amazon for raising consumers’ awareness of the tablet category in 2011 thanks to their popular $199 Kindle Fire.

Amazon has announced a new licensing deal with Viacom that will allow Amazon Prime members to stream TV shows to over 300 devices, including the Kindle Fire. Members will have access to thousands of episodes from hit shows on MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Spike, VH1, BET, CMT and Logo. This just adds to the slew of content already available to Amazon Prime members, which from what I’m told is an excellent deal.

SlingPlayer is probably the single most expensive app I’ve ever purchased, but it’s also the best app I’ve ever purchased. It’s been available in the Android Market for quite some time, but unfortunately for those who own an Amazon Kindle Fire, they don’t have access to the Android Market and thus have not had access to the SlingPlayer app. That all changes tomorrow, when SlingPlayer will become available for the Kindle Fire via the Amazon App Store. The app is still the same $30 it was when I purchased it and still requires a Slingbox, but is completely worth it if you wish to have your TV with you everywhere you go.

New numbers show Android-based tablets are gaining on the reigning champ, Apple’s iPad. Although Android owns 39 percent of the tablet market, some question whether there’s a ringer: Amazon’s Kindle Fire. The device is the first non-Apple tablet to lay a hand on the iPad, but uses a highly-customized version of Google’s mobile operating system. How much of Android’s gains are due to its barely-recognizable distant cousin, twice removed?

The Amazon Kindle Fire has a new update available. Update 6.2.2 is going out over the air and can also be downloaded manually if needed. This latest update improves support for manually setting up e-mail providers in the Email app, offers a new full screen mode for viewing web pages, and also includes enhancements to performance.