Amazon launches configurable widgets

Users can populate a widget with Amazon products

Online retail giant Amazon has launched seven configurable widgets that allow customers to show off their favourite Amazon products on blogs, websites and social networking pages.

Users can populate a widget with Amazon products, as well as add comments about those products and select from a set of colour and layout themes to suit their site.

Amazon Widgets are free to use and can be added to blogs, social networking sites and personal websites.

Users also have the option to make money from the widgets by signing up to the Amazon Associates programme.

If a visitor clicks through the user's widget to the applicable Amazon website and makes a purchase, the owner can earn up to 10 per cent of the sum in referral fees from Amazon.

"Bloggers and active online social networkers have asked us for a fun and interesting way to display Amazon products on their pages as a way to showcase their favourite things. With Amazon Widgets, they can now do this and make money at the same time," said Sean McMullan, manager of Amazon Associates.

Current widgets include a slideshow, allowing users to showcase a range of images from the Amazon catalogue.

A 'My Favourites' widget allows customers to recommend and comment on their favourite products available at Amazon, and a 'Wish List' applet lets users display what they want to friends and family.

US users can access the Amazon Unbox Video Previewer which will show previews of a range of movies and television shows available from the Amazon Unbox video download service.

However, some security firms have warned of hackers using security holes in widgets to gain control of a user's PC. Amazon was unavailable for comment regarding the security and testing of its new widgets.

With the exception of the Amazon Unbox Video Previewer, which is available only in the US, all Amazon Widgets are available for each Amazon site that offers the Amazon Associates programme.