e-reader mystery
Amazon has sold out of its popular Kindle 6 inch e-reader adding to rumours a new version could be unveiled in August.
The reader is listed as ‘out of stock' on Amazon's website and lacks an expected in-stock date. The website simply said: "Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information."
Although the rush could have been caused by the $70 price drop to keep pace with the Nook's price cut, rumours are mounting the next-generation Kindle is expected to start shipping in August. It is predicted the new model will be slimmer with Wi-Fi to better compete with tablets such as the iPad which include e-reader functionality.
According to Computer World, the company that makes the Kindle's screens, Eink Holidings, plans to boost capacity to meet demand, although the firm also supplies other companies.
Last week, Amazon said it had "reached a tipping point with the new price of Kindle" as sales have tripled since the price cut.
In other Kindle news, Stieg Larsson, author of the Millennium Trilogy has become the first author to sell over 1m Kindle e-books.
He is also consequently the first author to join the ‘Kindle Million Club' which recognises authors whose entire body of work has notched up over a million sales from the Kindle Store.
All three of his books, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest are in the top ten bestselling Kindle books of all time.
