Olympus announces the E-PL1s and a new Kit lens!

Surprise! Olympus announced the E-PL1s! It is a slightly tweaked version of the existing [shoplink 14832]E-PL1[/shoplink] (it now shoots at 6.400 ISO and it also comes in red). It uses the new BLS-5 battery instead of the BLS-1 (To meet the new safety standards for lithium-ion rechargeable Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law). But the most interesting news is the new version of the current [shoplink 14816]14-42mm kit lens[/shoplink]…the M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm II 1:3.5-5.6 kit lens! It has MSC (Movie and Stills Compatible) designation and it is smaller and lighter (112g= 25$ lighter) than the current version. The new kit should be released in Japan by December the 4th. The price of the lens only is 36,750 yen (US$440). There is no info about the possible release date in Europe and US/Canada. I was told the new lens will be available worldwide very soon. But there is no plan to release the E-PL1s in non-japanese countries.

More info:
Dpreview
Akhabaranews
DC.watch.impress
Olympus Japan
E-PL1.net forum