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Larger Kindle coming this week? Competition for Apple's Tablet? (Update: Wednesday)

According to the New York Times, Amazon is going to release a bigger version of the Kindle soon, possibly as early as this week.  The device will be aimed at newspapers and large format magazines who have been hit extremely hard by ad spending downturns.  Although the current Kindle has a 6" screen, users and companies are said to have been left wanting for more screen real estate…for content and ads.  The WSJ also reported on this earlier.

Also, keep in mind that Apple’s rumored netbook/tablet touch screen is 10 inches.  The Times expects there to be some overlap.

Update: It looks like Wednesday at Pace University in lower Manhattan.

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.

Normal sized Kindles retail for $359 at Amazon. It isn’t certain which price point the new larger models will come in at.

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