In the past, the word "scribe" has been used to describe devices that use styluses rather than fingers for navigation and writing. For example, the HTC Flyer, a 7-inch Android tablet , lets you draw and write on the slate with a stylus called the Magic Pen and an app called Scribe.

Ever since and the introduced e-readers with E-Ink Pearl touchscreens, there's been speculation that Amazon might follow suit, or at least find a way to get rid of navigational buttons for the Kindle. A stylus could be part of this departure package. It would certainly make it easier to write notes in the margins of a Kindle book.

Wait Won't Be Long

The wait to find out what Amazon intends to do with kindlescribe.com may not be long. Another bread crumb is the price drop to clear inventory before a new model of a device is released. Earlier this month Amazon cut the prices of refurbished third-generation Kindle models to $99 (Wi-Fi version) and $129.99 (3G version). Even more telling: Kindle 2 accessory refurbs have also seen price cuts.

"The last time Amazon had such a refurb fire-sale was in the month just prior to the Kindle 3 launch, which could well indicate a similar situation is happening now," SlashGear's Chris Davies dated August 5.