Expect a new version of the Amazon Kindle e-book reader in August this year. Citing people familiar with Amazon's plans, a report on Bloomberg noted that the new device will be thinner and come with an even sharper display. In addition, it was confirmed that the new Kindle will not come with a touch screen or color, which gels with the assertion from Jeff Bezos last week that color displays based on the e-ink technology is still under development.

Amazon is facing increasing pressure from the sudden surge of interest in tablet devices, spearheaded by the Apple iPad. With their book-like form factor, many of these new tablets are supported by various e-book applications. Unlike a dedicated e-reader (such as the Kindle) though, these competing hardware are more attractive to the average user due to their multi-functional capabilities. While single-function devices will work too, these will need to be better and cheaper to stand a chance.

Even without color or touch capabilities, my take is that a thinner Kindle with a sharper display will probably be able to hold the fort for now--assuming that Amazon can bring down the price to $199 or lower.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at Bloomberg
- check out this article at New York Times
- check out this article at CNET News