Just one week before the anticipated announcement of Apple’s new tablet device, Amazon has announced the release of an SDK (Software Development Kit) for its Kindle e-book reader. The Kindle SDK will allow application developers to create apps for the Kindle device. Amazon seems to be emulating Apple’s hugely successful iPhone SDK, which has led to the development of hundreds of thousands of free and for-sale applications that are available for download from the iTunes App Store.

The Apple table device (rumored to be called the iPad) will most likely have an e-book reader capability and will probably also be able to play music and video (like an iPod) and run apps (like an iPhone and iPod Touch).  It may give the Kindle a run for its money.