The Kindle, Amazon’s Linux-powered electronic paper book will have at least one new version out for the 2008 holiday season.

The second generation Kindle is expected to have both an improved user-interface and a larger screen. While I don’t have any details on what will be running under the hood, it’s reasonable to assume that it will include an advance on the current edition’s Linux 2.6.10 kernel. While Amazon hasn’t released any technical details about the Kindle, I do know that it most likely runs the Access Linux Platform (http://alp.access-company.com/). That’s because Kindle’s browser interface is Access’ lightweight NetFront browser.

So, the next generation Kindle will probably be running the 2.6.14 kernel. In addition, it should include GTK+ graphical library. The Kindle could be re-engineered to make it a multimedia platform by the use of Gstreamer. However, Amazon, according to James, has zero interest in pursuing such a course. The next Kindle will continue to be the leading eBook device, not a potential rival to Apple’s iPod Touch.

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