Amazon has finally released a version of its Kindle ebook reading software for the Mac. The company previously released a Kindle app for the iPhone a year ago, and has plans for an iPad version of the software as well.
The free Kindle for Mac includes all of the features that you would expect: You can buy and read books from Amazon's Kindle Store, access your library of previously purchased Kindle books, synchronize your bookmarks and last page read with other Kindle apps or devices, and view notes and highlights. Amazon says that future updates will include full text search, and the ability to create and edit notes and highlights.
Given how much praise Amazon received for launching its iPhone Kindle app, it was only a matter of time before it brought the software to Macs. By bringing its Kindle software to other platforms, Amazon is making its ebook reader platform more ubiquitous and convenient for users.
It's also a bit of a trojan horse, since it's far easier to convince yourself that you need a Kindle after becoming hooked on Amazon's offerings on another platform. There's probably little chance of that happening with the PC and Mac versions of the software, but with the iPhone and upcoming iPad versions, it's definitely a possibility.
