Two new Kindle models are expected to be available on Amazon.com in time for the holiday shipping season, with the first coming as early as October, an "insider" tells CrunchGear.
The first model will be an update of the current e-book reader, with the same screen size and an improved interface, according to the tipster. The source told CrunchGear that Amazon has "skipped three or four generations" with the update.
The second new model will be considerably larger, shaped like an 8.5-inch by 11-inch piece of paper, and is expected to be available next year.
Both models are expected to be available in multiple colors, but apparently, no clues were offered on pricing points for the new models.
The Kindle connects to the Web to download books--a feature that separates it from other e-readers that must sync to a PC to load a book. When the e-tailer, dabbling in electronics manufacturing for the first time, introduced the device in late 2007, it immediately sold out of Kindles. This led to speculation that the delays were caused by production problems or were planned deliberately to stoke more demand.