Kindle 2.0 Coming in October?

Is Kindle 2.0 on its way?

An insider let slip that two new Amazon Kindle models will hit stores this holiday season, with the first coming as early as October.

The first is an updated version with the same sized screen, a smaller form factor, and an improved interface. The source told us that Amazon has “skipped three or four generations,” comparing the old Kindle to the 1st gen iPod and the new version to something like the sexy iPod Mini.

The second new model, which is shaped like an 8 1/2 x 11-inch piece of paper, is considerably bigger than the current model and should be available next year.

Both models should come in multiple colors and may be aimed at younger readers.

The original Kindle, which launched last November, has been widely regarded as a success, though Amazon has curiously refused to release any numbers related to its sales figures. In May, Citigroup Analyst Mark Mahaney estimated that Amazon may sell $750 Million in Kindles by 2010. The same report also guessed that Amazon has only sold between 10,000 and 30,000 Kindles to date, suggesting that it may display the same exponential growth seen by the iPod during its climb from 129,000 units sold in its first quarter to worldwide dominance, with over 100 million sold.

I've been seriously considering getting a Kindle and nearly ordered one a few days ago. Perhaps I should wait a few weeks to see if there is any more news on this? This sound promising on many fronts.

A few thoughts:

• If the larger screen version is true and able to read and legibly display PDF files natively, I am almost certain to buy one.
• Whenever Kindle 2.0 does finally come out, it will no doubt have a much better design and better controls. (The page turning buttons are probably the biggest complaint on the current model.)
  
• If this is aiming at younger readers, Amazon is almost certainly aiming at school markets which means electronic textbooks are on their way. This will undoubtedly reach into the college textbook market as well.
• If you already own a Kindle, any books you purchased from Amazon are linked to your account and will almost certainly be able to automatically be able to immediately download your existing library onto your new Kindle.
• This coincides almost simultaneously with both O'Reilley Publishing and many Christian publishers stating they will begin making may of their books available on the Kindle.

In other news, it looks like Fujitsu is about to start selling color eBook readers in Japan. I expect things in the eBook market to rapidly start changing for the better and can't wait to see what is coming out next.

(HT TeleRead)