Amazon who are in fights with publishers over eBook pricing have evidently purchased touchscreen manufacturer, Touchco. It is anyone's guess why, but I reckon it ain't for a netbook or tablet computer. Amazon's next Kindle could be fitted like Sony's ereading device to accept touch input! Woohoo!

Of course, it will still be a Kindle, but that's all good.

Exciting year, that is for sure. How do you think this will affect the iPad? eInk is already easier on the eyes than ANY LCD, but with touch integration and Amazon's penetration, this could be a very real, very tangible strike back at Apple for its entry into eBook sales via iTunes and iBooks.

more at the NYTimes