Amazon's Kindle Comes to the iPhone
Amazon just released a free application for the iPhone and iPod touch (iTunes link) that allows users to download and read any eBook from Amazon's Kindle store on Apple's popular mobile devices. This move comes just a few days after Amazon's Kindle 2 eBook reader arrived in users' hands, but according to Ian Freed, an Amazon vice president, Amazon does not expect that this app will cannibalize Kindle sales as users will probably only use their phones to read for short periods.
Freed also argues that the Kindle has nothing to fear from the iPhone because of its superior screen and battery life.
All the Features You Expect, But No Built-In Store
After you have installed the app, a new option to send books (or free sample chapters) to your iPhone will appear in the Kindle store. Sadly, you can't browse the Kindle store through the iPhone app itself, which is really a shame, but we wouldn't be surprised if Amazon made this an option in a later version. For now, you have to use Amazon's website to buy books and that, of course, only works if you are in the U.S.
The actual app features most of the options you would expect from an eBook reader. You can change the font size, bookmark pages, and jump directly to different chapters. One major feature that is missing from this app, however, is the ability to add notes to your books.
If you own a Kindle 1 or 2, then the app will also sync your bookmarks and notes between your Kindle and iPhone/iPod touch.
The Authors Guild, by the way, has nothing to fear from the Kindle iPhone app, as Amazon did not add any text-to-speech functionality to the program.
There is nothing revolutionary about the application itself, but overall, it works well and, maybe most importantly, the text is highly legible. Of course, a lot of iPhone eBook applications already exist - and some of them, like Bookworm, Readdle, or Stanza are very good (and, unlike Amazon's app support open standards), but none of these can match the selection of texts available in Amazon's Kindle store - and this is where Amazon's app really shines.
In the past, we wondered if the iPhone might just turn out to be the ultimate eBook reader (even though Steve Jobs famously proclaimed that Apple isn't interested in the eBook market because nobody reads anymore). While Amazon is adamant that this app is only a complement to the Kindle, we can't help but think that Amazon is hedging its bets with this app. After all, it's still very early in the development cycle of both eBook readers and smartphones, and for now, it is anything but clear which devices users will prefer in the end.
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In comparing Kindle on the iPhone to other ebook readers for the iPhone i can't help but feel that Amazon made this to be a hook to sell you a Kindle.
The reading experience is just not as good as Stanza.
The place it does shine though is i can easily read a sample of a book on the go. I can also easily pick up a book no matter where i am, which will make me want to get back to my Kindle even more.
With already existing ebook readers on the iphone that Amazon could have learned from i feel that the Amazon effort is lackluster.
It is Wonderful if you already have a Kindle, but is in no way a good attempt at a standalone ebook reader.
Just like with Kindle. You are better off waiting for version 2 before investing in lots of books for you iphone
Cameron - good point - its a solid app, but not great. But it's Amazons huge selection of books that will probably make Kindle for iPhone a huge hit - even if it ignores open standards like epub and isn't the best reader around.
Cameron largely misses the point here, and Frederic reiterates what is plainly obvious. The app could be the most basic, crash every so often, and people will definitely still use it because of content.
Content for an eBook reader is king, and Stanza will end up being the Betamax of the eBook Readers.
Question - is there a way to link to an iphone friendly page to buy a book from the Amazon Store? For example, a website has an "add book to your iPhone Kindle" button - directs the user to that books page for addition to their library?
I was thrilled to see Amazon bring Kindle content to the iPhone. But I was disappointed to see that this is really cr*ppy reader software.
Very limited selection of font size.
No options for typeface.
No inverted screen (white text on black).
Text is full-justified (!) - Horrible choice for readability.
Terrible choices. I hope they fix this.
PS- Add to the above complaints:
You have to swipe the screen to move from page to page. Why can't they make this a tap for advancing through pages, like Stanza? Swiping is going to get very old, very fast.
I'm almost wondering if they don't want to make the iPhone app *too* good -- and thus put a damper on Kindle sales. I know Amazon is smart enough to make a better reader than this...
I think it's only a short time before Amazon abandons DRM for digital books, and also makes a Kindle with a colored screen. Personally, I have no problem reading books on an iPhone, as I don't want to lug around a Kindle, but true, a large page size is much easier to read.
Check out my blog post on this issue and how it related to Digital Rights Management and fee free to leave a comment:
http://robpaterson.wordpress.com/
BTW: I agree with Andrew up there that if Kindle for iPhone improves, Stanza will probably go the way of Betamax, unless Stanza can offer something better or truly unique.
Rob
Not available yet in Canadian App Store :( I wonder if they have any plans on that.
I've posted a quick overview of the limitations and one added feature of the Kindle Iphone App on my blog:
http://booksontheknob.blogspot.com/2009/03/kindle-marries-iphone.html
Along with pictures of all three Kindle devices, open to the same book, comparing fonts and graphics between them:
http://booksontheknob.blogspot.com/2009/03/kindle-iphone-pictures.html
Has anyone even thought of comparing the iPhone Kindle app to the WindowsMobile, Palm. Symbian, or BlackBerry MobiPocket app that the Kindle app is probably a port of?
http://techtalk.cyberbrats.net/blog/geekbrat/2009/03/04/mobipocket-for-iphone/
GeekBrat
I'll be contented with my iPhone for now and wait for the enhanced version to read e-books.
I just pre-ordered the KindleDX for my son's 10th Bday and looking at getting myself the Kindle 2. I saw that this free app is avalible for the iPhone and wonder if anyone knows....if I purchase Kindle books now before we get the Kindle DX will I have to repurchase to download to the Kindle or do I have a order library on Amazon? I know we can send our Kndle downloaded books to the iPhone but do not see the reverse as an option spoken of. Should you instead order but download to iTunes on your MAC or PC... I just got lost myself somebody help! LOL
Now here is a real question if we took "green company" money (And the billions to AIG back) couldn't we provide children in schools with a Kindle, hire the masses of unemployed to convert books that are not high on publishing houses list of priorities to digitize(multiple platforms of course) have the rights to the books that are digitzed with Tax payer funds be free use to school boards (this is not counting all public domain books that of course would then be free avalible via the LOC). So we got people jobs that are building computer skills increased literacy and made it so that children van actually bring their school books home!!!! With notes from thier teachers, cut coping and library costs to allow for those things called teachers to actually be in the classroom at ratios that allow learning not just babysitting. Kids can down load books at their reading level !!! This is a huge one for me having a 4th grader that has read all the Xanath novels by Piers Anthony in 2 months, is currently reading Orson Scott Card's Ender and Bean sagas and pretty much has only brain vacation level books avalible in his school. With a free open to all students download option for students there could be a lexal menu for the children's access at or slightly above level books are offered in the "order", the dictionary as you read section could be expanded so that the literacy levels and the Pleasure in reading could truely make the next generation a generation of Readers which leads to Writers :)
Question - is there a way to link to an iphone friendly page to buy a book from the Amazon Store? For example, a website has an "add book to your iPhone Kindle" button - directs the user to that books page for addition to their library?
I think it's only a short time before Amazon abandons DRM for digital books, and also makes a Kindle with a colored screen. Personally, I have no problem reading books on an iPhone, as I don't want to lug around a Kindle, but true, a large page size is much easier to read.
Check out my blog post on this issue and how it related to Digital Rights Management and fee free to leave a comment:
I wonder what the Kindle may do to libraries and our concept of the book. Will our children have a completely different understanding of the word “text.” I found a good discussion on the matter at pandalous. It’s here: http://www.pandalous.com/topic/is_the_world_ready_for
"One major feature that is missing from this app, however, is the ability to add notes to your books."
For a traditional reader like me this will be a big problem, I like underlining some important point of the articles.
previously thought and won thanx.
I saw an article today that hopes these types of devices or applications may be the saviour for the newspapers. I still have my doubts because you don't need a kindle to get your news, it's still free online.
I read this somewhere else too, lookign forward for these devices.
Although the "Get Books" function does fire up a browser, the mobile Kindle store is REALLY well integrated with this app. Just click "Get Books" to go to the Kindle store, browse for books using a site that's designed specifically for the iPhone, buy the book (it integrated seamlessly with my existing Amazon account and 1-Click settings), and it will automatically deliver it to your iPhone. Really fast and easy. All in all, this is an amazing app and great addition to the iPhone.
Mysteriously absent from Kindle for iPhone is text-to-speech... I think this is a deliberate omission to make the app available sooner, rather than a result of the rights issue surrounding the technology. Updating this app to use text-to-speech is a no-brainer; people have been trained for years to use iPods (and derivatives) for audio.
I still don't understand how someone could read an entire book on a screen. It just doesn't feel write to me.
-Phil
I read this somewhere else too, lookign forward for these devices. no sorry.