If Oprah nearly lost it over v. 1 of the Kindle, it’s hard to imagine what she’ll do when she holds v. 2 in her hands. Though Amazon has thrown cold water on rumors, they just don’t go away. TechCrunch.com quotes “Our sources” to confirm that the long awaited, long debated second version of the Kindle will be released early in the coming year.

“Our sources” is not exactly the kind of collateral you can take to the bank to borrow against your mortgage. But it actually does make sense. We’ve reported on serious development and actual announcements of competitors, especially in the area of tablet-sized handhelds suitable for students. Jeff Bezos may be hearing those footsteps

So, for what it’s worth, TechCrunch.com’s somewhat ethereal sources say Kindle 2 is tentatively scheduled to go on sale in “early next quarter.”

RC