Well looks like the rumours were true: Amazon.com has just announced the availability of a new, larger screen version of their wildly successful Kindle e-reader platform.

The new Kindle DX has a screen that is two and half times as large as the current Kindle 2, and can hold just over twice as much print material. It also boasts a rotating display that can render PDF documents in their native format.

Amazon is clearly positioning this new Kindle at two major markets: Those who want to read business documents in their original format and traditional newspaper subscribers.

If you live in Canada, sadly you'll be left out of the Kindle party (c'mon Amazon.ca – get the Kindle up here… please!!) but our American friends will be able to pre-order it starting today for $489 USD.

Update: Amazon isn't going to give newspapers who want to be on the Kindle an easy ride. According to at least one source, Amazon wants newspapers to pony up 70% of their revenue in exchange for distribution to the Kindle network. They naysayers are already chiming in. Is Jeff Bezos crazy or just very, very shrewd?