Signs emerge that Amazon’s next-generation Kindle may feature a replaceable battery…an effort to offset controversy over ending support for older models?

Amazon may be planning a next-gen Kindle with a user-replaceable battery, based on clues found in a firmware update.

The firmware also references a battery replacement kit and a diagnostics menu, hinting at easier repairability.

At the same time, Amazon has announced support will end for Kindles released before 2012.

The company also plans to discontinue ebook purchases, borrowing, and Send to Kindle features for those older devices, drawing backlash.