Amazon to launch 'newspaper-sized' Kindle

By Nate Lanxon on 05 May 2009, 11:24am

Amazon is set to unveil a large-screen Kindle ebook reader this afternoon at a press conference in New York, sources have told The New York Times. And if you're familiar with how badly the printed newspaper industry is being beaten up by online, you'll know it's about time.

If you're not familiar, however, let us summarise: it ain't great. Orwell wrote, "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face -- forever." It's like that, only instead of a boot, it's the crushing power of a thousand imploding suns. And instead of a human face, it's a newspaper.

Amazon's new Kindle could bridge the gap, though, for people who don't want to carry around printed paper, but for whom the screen of a laptop is too cumbersome when it comes attached to the rest of a laptop (which most do).

Check back later today for an update after Amazon's press conference, where our overseas colleagues will be in attendance. Fingers crossed we'll be getting some Kindle loving here in the UK.