Amazon.com has updated its Kindle e-book software to support embedded audio and video for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Among the first Kindle titles to offer audio and video clips are Rick Steves’s London and Together We Cannot Fail by Terry Golway.
Amazon continues to hedge its bets on the future of the Kindle format—originally limited to the b&w e-ink Kindle device—making the proprietary e-book software available on a wide variety of devices and now offering multi-media support for the iPad and iPhone/iPod Touch. Indeed there is speculation in the industry that Amazon may introduce its own multimedia device.
Dorothy Nicholls, director, Amazon Kindle, said we can expect to see more multimedia content in Kindle titles. "Readers will already find some Kindle Editions with audio/video clips in the Kindle Store today--from Rose's Heavenly Cakes with video tips on preparing the perfect cake to Bird Songs with audio clips that relate the songs and calls to the birds' appearances. This is just the beginning--we look forward to seeing what authors and publishers create for Kindle customers using the new functionality of the Kindle apps."
