The Amazon.com unit that developed the hardware for the Kindle e-reader has made some interesting new hires lately that may give a hint of its future technology plans.

The Seattle-based ecommerce giant this month hired Howard Look as vice president of software at its Lab126 unit, according to Look’s LinkedIn profile. Look was previously senior vice president of consumer applications at Linden Lab, developer of the 3D virtual world Second Life, and held executive-level positions at Pixar Animation Studios and TiVo Inc., his profile on LinkedIn indicates.

That background in video and animation could prove useful to Amazon as it explores new digital products and devices.

The company’s Lab126 unit, located in Cupertino, Calif., has been looking into building other devices to distribute digital books, music and video, according to a recent report in The New York Times.

Amazon has also been pitching a Netflix-like web video subscription service to big media companies, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Also this month, Amazon hired Jeff Chasen, a former RealNetworks vice president, as senior engineering manager, according to Chasen’s LinkedIn profile. At RealNetworks, Chasen was responsible for "video product strategy, product design, innovation and product development," his profile indicates.

Amazon also hired Keela Robison, a veteran of directory service WhitePages.com and RealNetworks, as director of product management, in July, according to Robison’s LinkedIn profile.

An Amazon spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is a personal investor in Linden Lab, Look’s former employer.

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