The rumor goes that Amazon will launch two new Kindle models, with the first coming as early as October 2008.

The first is an updated version of the current Kindle featuring a 6-inch display but with a smaller form factor, and an improved interface. The second model, expected to be available early next year will be considerable bigger and is shaped like an 8 1/2 x 11-inch piece or paper. Probably featuring a 9.7-inch display.

If you think about it, a redesign of the Kindle makes a lot of sense. I am sure you all remember the first pictures of the Kindle which leaked from the FCC website in late 2006. Following this leak and later on after the release, there was a lot of negative feedback on the design of the Kindle. Robert Scoble even said on his blog: “Whoever designed this should be fired and the team should start over.” I guess they did Robert.

But the interesting part of the rumor is that they are working on a larger e-reader with probably a 9.7-inch display. I guess that with this larger model they want to expand their current business model which is focused primarily on e-books and add newspapers and magazines, for which a larger reader would make sense. It certainly sounds interesting. What do you think about a bigger reader? and what would you use it for?

Source: crunchgear.com

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) have published today a study in which they have examined the outlook for consumers magazine publishers and media buyers, as they adept to the digital revolution. You can download it here.

According to the study the publishers are facing a dilemma.

With the current ‘cash cow’-strategy, they are getting as much profit as possible from print, but in the long run this strategy is not feasible, as more and more consumers turn to the internet to search for information and entertainment and are less willing to pay for a digital version of a magazine.

This means that publishers are at a crucial point in their existents to actually take advantage of the new digital media, however the majority still have conservative idea’s about how to make money with digital content. To enter the digital era with success, the time is now to acquire knowledge and invest in technology, to be able to adept and survive in the digital environment of tomorrow.