Big-screen Kindle coming from Amazon “as early as this week”

But it is Amazon, maker of the Kindle, that appears to be first in line to try throwing an electronic life preserver to old-media companies. As early as this week, according to people briefed on the online retailer’s plans, Amazon will introduce a larger version of its Kindle wireless device tailored for displaying newspapers, magazines and perhaps textbooks.

An Amazon spokesman would not comment, but some news organizations, including The New York Times, are expected to be involved in the introduction of the device, according to people briefed on the plans. A spokeswoman for The Times, Catherine J. Mathis, said she could not comment on the company’s relationship with Amazon. – from NYTimes

People familiar with the matter have said Apple Inc. is readying a device that may make it easier to read digital books and periodicals, a prospect some publishers are eagerly awaiting. News Corp., which owns The Wall Street Journal, also is exploring a possible investment in a Kindle competitor. – from WSJ

Go ahead and grab the salt shaker, ’cause this one’s nowhere near carved in stone… or is it? A breaking report from The New York Times has it that Amazon will introduce a larger version of its Kindle e-reader “as early as this week,” one that’s tailored for “displaying newspapers, magazines and perhaps textbooks.” If you’ll recall, magazine publisher Hearst made its intentions public to produce such a device earlier this year, noting that a larger panel would be more conducive to traditional print media layouts, and thus, additional revenue from ads. The article also notes that Hearst has indeed linked up with Plastic Logic in order to “start making digital newspaper readers by the end of the year.” – from Engadget

We’d like to invite you to an Amazon.com press conference scheduled for Wednesday, May 6 at 10:30 am ET. The press conference is scheduled to take place at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University, located at 3 Spruce Street, New York City. Doors will open for registration at 9:30 am ET. – from Gizmodo

P.S. As noted by Peter Kafka over at All Things Digital, the location of the Amazon event — Pace University — is the historic, 19th century HQ to the New York Times who is said to be partnering with Amazon on the larger Kindle. That makes for a perfect symbolic bridge from old to new media. We’ll have to wait and see if newspaper subscribers can be lured across. – from Engadget

The news over Amazon’s upcoming Kindle announcement broke late last night and this morning a gaggle of reporters and journalist types, including myself, received invites via e-mail to confirm the news. – from Crunchpad