Facing increasing pressure from Apple's red-hot iPad, Amazon intends to fight back with a thinner, sharper and more responsive Kindle that will be introduced later this year.
According to Bloomberg, Amazon will introduce a new version of its popular e-reader in August. It will boast a thinner build, sharper contrast and faster page-turning. However, it will not be a touchscreen device, nor will it boast color.
Apple is gunning directly for Amazon's e-book business with its iBookstore, which publishers have embraced as an alternative to Amazon's long-standing dominance in the e-book space.
The iPad's multitude of uses and starting price point of $499 are a threat to the Kindle, although the iPad's LED screen isn't as well suited as the Kindle for extended reading. The Kindle utilizes black-and-white eInk technology to make reading on the device less strenuous on the eyes.
While the upgrade should help the Kindle stay relevant, we're likely to see color and a touchscreen on Amazon's e-reader device at some point. In February, the company acquired Touchco, a startup specializing in color touchscreen technology. It's going to be some time until Amazon is satisfied with a touchscreen interface that is also easy on the eyes, however.