Tounoma

There are some definite signals that the Amazon Kindle 4 ebook reader may hit the market at some point during the next few weeks. Amazon, in what many feel may be an inventory cutting exercise, has reduced the price of refurbished Kindle 3 readers.

It’s not out of the question that it could be coincidence. As a rule, low inventory levels are good business practice. However, the last time that Amazon cut the price of refurbished Kindles was just four weeks before the launch of the Kindle 3, so it’s more likely to be an indicator that the Kindle 4 is about to be released.

The Kindle 3 is now 12 months old and, in comparison with some of the most recently released readers, might just be starting to show its age. Twelve months is a fair old time in the world of personal electronic devices where annual upgrades are considered the norm these days.

As well as the normal product lifespan factors, Amazon will keenly aware that the very recent release of two brand new competing readers, within a couple of weeks of each other, have possibly made the Kindle 3 look just a little outdated in some respects. The all new Nook reader, complete with touch screen controls, from Barnes and Noble, looks capable of offering the Kindle some much sterner competition in future. iRiver also released their Story HD reader. It’s the result of a partnership between iRiver and Google and is the first ebook reader to be fully integrated with the Google eBookstore. It looks more than capable of competing with both the Kindle and the Nook.