Don't look for the next-generation Kindle under the Christmas tree this holiday season. TechCrunch reports that the release of the next version of Amazon.com's electronic book reader -- originally slated for October -- has been pushed back until early next year.

It's hardly news that device won't be coming out this holiday season, since Amazon's VP for Kindle, Ian Freed, told us that  in a Q&A 11 days ago.

What's new is that TechCrunch, citing unnamed sources, says the device will be unveiled in "early Q1."  If that's correct, won't some holiday shoppers hold off purchasing the original Kindle knowing that a new version is just around the corner?

Well, at least the original $359 device has the ringing endorsement from Oprah, who told viewers last month that "I've fallen in love with this little baby." Just imagine her reaction to the new one.

TechCrunch publisher Michael Arrington describes the new Kindle as a "longer device" that "fixes some of the button issues that plague users (like accidental page turns)." The report also notes that Jeff Bezos pushed the product release until after the holidays due to some software changes.

Eric Engleman attempted to nail down Freed on the timing of the next device in a TechFlash interview earlier this month. But as you can see below, Freed was keeping the relese date pretty close to the vest.

So when will the new version of Kindle come out? "In the future. What we’ve said is there will definitely not be one this year. Next year would be the earliest."

Any particular quarter? "Can’t say."

UPDATE: The Motley Fool points out that the Kindle won't ship for 11 to 13 weeks, meaning the device is already sold out for the holiday.

Rick Aristotle Munarriz writes that Amazon squandered an opportunity: "How stupid must Amazon be to create a great marketing push with Winfrey less than a month ago, for a product that it won't be able to market during the year's biggest selling season?