Kindle for iPhone and iPad update brings audio and video to readers
June 28, 2010 - By Justin E. Gehrke
Yesterday, Amazon released an update to its Kindle app for iPhone and iPad that adds support for embedded media. Ironically, the app will now allow readers on the non-Amazon device to hear and see audio and video content included as part of the book.
According to Amazon, the first books to include the new feature are Rick Steves’ London by Rick Steves and Together We Cannot Fail by Terry Golway. Of course an app update wouldn’t be complete without some iPhone 4 related changes.
According to the version release notes, the app has now been “optimized for the iPhone 4 retina display.” Additionally, the next update is scheduled to bring “Instant word lookup” from within the built-in dictionary, functionality to look up words in Google and Wikipedia, and in-book searching on the Apple iPad version.
As far as this update is concerned, the addition of support for embedded audio and video may not seem like a big deal at first, but the potential use isn’t limited to short videos of related content. The ability to add narration to tables, figures, etc. increases the attractiveness for readers who use education-related publications. While they would still be required to read the book, certain topics could include audio and video content that helps to solidify the point, for the reader.
The true value may take some time to become readily visible, but, with a little imagination, writers and publishers may be able to capitalize upon the idea to make their content more dynamic in its delivery. Of course, it could take a commercial turn and become just one more place that companies can sell advertising space. Imagine buying the eBook version of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness only to find an advertisement for African Safari Tours or advertisements for a bacon distributor in a historical eBook about John F. Kennedy and his role in the Bay of Pigs.
For now, let’s just hope Amazon sticks to adding embedded content with actual value to the reader, not the company. Those interested can explore more deeply into the new Amazon Kindle app funcionality, via the following links:
