Discounts may mean new Kindles are coming

Tech analysts say this week's deep discounting of the Amazon Kindle DX reader could be a sign the company will launch a new model as early as next week. Amazon knocked $110 off the price of the Kindle DX as its "Deal of the Day" along with other specials related to the device, which the Los Angeles Times said had the high-tech blogosphere speculating Amazon was clearing inventory in advance of a new Kindle launch. Another Kindle, the Touch 3G, was listed as unavailable Friday, a week after Amazon had offered a 40-percent discount for customers using the Amazon Visa credit card. The Times said the influential tech Web site Gizmodo said it suspected Amazon would be releasing new Kindle products in time for back-to-school shopping, including a 10-inch Kindle Fire that would compete with Apple's iPad. Apple, the newspaper said, is expected to unveil its new iPhone next month, which would give Amazon an incentive to get their new Kindles on the shelf as soon as possible.