Amazon on Wednesday released Kindle Cloud Reader, a browser-based application based on HTML5 that allows full access to the Kindle Store and enables online or offline reading of books in the user’s Kindle library. It runs in the Google Chrome and Safari web browsers, and it works on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and the iPad.
Amazon points to the iPad optimization on its Kindle Cloud Reader web page. This enables Amazon to bypass Apple’s iOS restrictions that had forced it to remove the link to the Kindle Store from the Kindle app for iOS. In the press release accompanying the announcement, Amazon even said: “Without even leaving the app, customers can start shopping in the Kindle Store and will find a unique and immersive shopping experience built specifically for iPad’s Safari browser.”
Kindle Cloud Reader does not work on iPhone or iPod touch. Amazon didn’t mention those devices in its press release, but it did say it was working on support for Internet Explorer, Firefox, the BlackBerry PlayBook browser, and other mobile browsers.