As expected, Amazon announced the next-generation Kindle ebook reader. It comes with the exclusive Stephen King novel UR. The new version will cost $359 and you’ll get a reader that’s thinner than an iPhone at just .36 inches. One of the most interesting new features is Read to Me, which can read any content on the device back to you in a computer voice.

The device also features seven times more storage, a 16-level e-ink display that turns pages 20 times faster, a battery that will give you 25 percent longer battery life, and a new five-way joystick for navigation. It also features Whispersync bookmarking, so if you start reading a book, you can pick up where you left off on any Kindle.

Mobileread has some official-looking Kindle 2 photos and info that it’s being released for $359 on February 24. It looks dramatically thinner than it’s predescessor and it may be smaller too, judging by that large hand.

Also the back is apparently made of metal and there are stereo speakers at the bottom. It seems pretty official and it has us convinced, but there’s no way to know for sure until we hear from Amazon. We’ll find out for sure on Monday.

Amazon just announced a press conference at New York’s Morgan Library & Museum for Monday, February 9th. Hmmm. What could they possibly be rolling out at a library? A replacement for the Kindle? One that puts books between two hard coverings, on paper? Oh wait, that’s the old way.

Apparently the newest Kindle will be less angular than it’s predecessor, thinner and just a tad longer. One possibility that is being talked about is a larger-screen version for students. The new version should do away with some of the bugs that the first possessed, like accidental page turns for instance.

Amazon is having some trouble. Maybe they didn’t count on Oprah selling so many units. Maybe they just are really bad at stock management. Whatever the case, shipping on the Kindle ebook reader is currently listed as 11 to 13 weeks time, completely overshooting Christmas and making deliveries at some point in Q1 2009. This will be the second year in a row that the retailer could not meet demand. Last year, with the device being new, Amazon could at least use the excuse that they were ramping up production.

It was back in October that Oprah Winfrey endorsed the Kindle. Amazon is also rumored to be preparing the Kindle’s replacement, which was once expected to be on the market this holiday season, but now it is expected to be delayed until Q1 2009.

Boy Genius has some pics of what is in all likelihood the Kindle 2. You’ll notice that this follow-up to the original reader is more rounded, more iPod-esqe, but still in boring white with the same screen. The LCD status bar is nowhere to be seen and a joystick replaces the clickwheel, and so you can avoid accidental page turns, it sports smaller buttons. The SD slot is gone too, since there’s 1.5 gigs on-board, along with grills on back that may mean stereo speakers.

Basically, it’s a lot less ugly. Current Kindle owners can probably skip the upgrade unless the ugliness of the original is really bugging you. No word on the availability yet. Hit the link for more pictures.