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Kindle application now on iPhone
Kindle device, the Kindle iPhone application gives you access to digital books sold on Amazon. I’ve been a big fan of Stanza, so I was interested in seeing how the Kindle application compares.
Immediately, I noticed that there were a few advantages to the Kindle app:
- With a library of more than 240,000 books, all organized in one central location, the shopping experience is vastly superior with the Kindle app.
- If you have a Kindle, you can access a book you purchased for it on your iPhone, and vice versa. The program will even tell you what page you were on in the other system. This feature is called “Whispersync.
- One advantage it has over an actual Kindle is that you can see a book’s cover in full color, instead of 13 shades of gray.
- You don’t have to carry two electronic devices with you when you go somewhere — put your iPhone in your pocket and leave your Kindle device at home.
Noting these benefits, I think I should also note some of its weaknesses.
- To buy a book, you have to go out of the Kindle app and into Safari. Once your book is purchased, you then log out of Amazon on Safari, and log back into the Kindle app. Most other programs don’t require that you leave the application.
- The screen is much brighter than other reading applications and may eat away at battery life more quickly (tried to do a timing, but my service kept changing between Edge and 3G, so I’m not certain the power issue was fully the fault of the application). To read many chapters in a book will definitely require turning your iPhone into Airplane Mode to conserve power.
- The application wipes out the clock at the top of the screen, which some might think is good, but I found to be annoying. You have to tap the screen to see what time it is.
- There isn’t a landscape mode. You have to read the text vertically.
Almost all of the other features in the Kindle app are identical to features in Stanza (font size adjustment, scroll through pages, the application itself is free, etc.). I will definitely use the Kindle app for reading newly released texts and books not yet in the public domain. For classics, though, I’m sticking with Stanza.
And, don’t forget the benefits of audio books and how you can buy them from Audible or even download them for free from your public library. Have you tried the new Kindle app for the iPhone? What are your thoughts?
20 comments posted
Posted by Felicia - 03/05/2009
What is ‘Airplane Mode’ on the iPhone?
Posted by Erin Doland - 03/05/2009
@Felicia — Airplane Mode shuts off all wireless communication services to the phone. It makes it safe to use on a commercial airplane. There is a button in settings labeled “Airplane Mode” that you can toggle off or on.
Posted by Steve - 03/05/2009
I’d love to have a look at this, but it hasn’t yet shown up in the Australian iTunes store.
Posted by Jennifer - 03/05/2009
The only reason I see myself using it is that Amazon ebooks are cheaper in many cases than those from fictionwise; otherwise, if comparing featuresets, eReader and Stanza beat it hands down.
Posted by Felicia - 03/05/2009
Thanks, Erin. I saw the setting, but didn’t know what it was used for.
Posted by Sam - 03/05/2009
I like the kindle app and I think it’s a great idea, but I was very disappointing to see I can’t subscribe to newspapers or magazines with it. I also have a hard time reading on such a small screen. If I had the money, I would get a proper kindle 2.
Posted by Bianca - 03/05/2009
I have both the Kindle and Kindle App on my iPod Touch. I prefer the Kindle because of the larger screen size and, for doing long stretches of reading, the eInk is easier on my eyes. I like the iPod Touch because it is backlit, so I can read with the lights dimmed or off. I also like it for those situations where I may not have the Kindle with me and I would still like to read.
Posted by Karen in TN - 03/05/2009
Another limitation is that it doesn’t get newspapers, magazines or blog subscriptions (it’s not just that you can’t share, but it cannot receive these at all). Also, no personal documents can be loaded or emailed to it. It is, however, very convenient for those who already carry an iPhone or iPod Touch.
Posted by CJ - 03/05/2009
I own both the Kindle 1 and 2 and just purchased the iPhone App. I run a Kindle news site and just did a review on the App (which you can check out here: http://www.kindlenewsandreview.....pp-review/). Overall, it’s a great little app if you already own a Kindle. I think the screen is too small and too bright to do any lengthy reading, but for killing time waiting in line or when you’ve left your Kindle at home, it will do. The best part is that it syncs to your Kindle books, so the book will open at the part you left off on your Kindle. Oh, and of course, it’s great that it’s free.
Posted by infmom - 03/05/2009
If you get the Mobipocket Reader from mobipocket.com you can have e-book software on just about any platform (including other smartphones). You can also get newspaper and magazine subscriptions (create your own newspaper, too) via RSS feeds.
I’ve heard that the Kindle software is based on Mobipocket but I have not confirmed that. The Mobipocket site has tons of e-books for purchase and a big section of free classics.
Posted by Kimberly - 03/05/2009
I like the App. I can’t afford a Kindle just now. I’m dyslexic and when I tried a Kindle 1, I found the text did cartwheels off the screen floating mid air.
I don’t have that problem with the app on the Touch.
Posted by Catherine Cantieri, Sorted - 03/05/2009
I just put Kindle on my iPod touch last night, then downloaded 4 mysteries. I’m thrilled! I didn’t notice any major battery drain for half an hour of reading — certainly much less than a comparable time spent playing Puzzle Quest. And I actually like the fact that the screen is so tiny. It keeps me from checking ahead; in a regular book, my brain automatically spots the action words (dead, shot, blood, etc.) on every two-page spread. This way, I have to take the story in the way the author decided to dole it out. It’s like a yoga practice for my anemic sense of patience.
Posted by RW - 03/05/2009
Has anyone tried the Notes feature in the iPhone Kindle app? How well does it work?
Posted by Adam - 03/06/2009
Just thought I’d mention that (though I haven’t tried the Kindle app yet) brightness is throttled in the Settings screen, and it’s unlikely that any application would attempt to override and modify that value – even less likely that Apple would permit a 3rd party app to do it. If it’s just that the brightness seems augmented by the stark black-on-white, I’d recommend turning off auto-brightness, and/or lowering the overall brightness level before starting Kindle. If I’m using my iTouch in bed, I need to have it at the lowest setting, or it’s way too bright when the lights are off.
Posted by VrstyFemme - 03/07/2009
I read a lot of journal articles in pdf. Do any of these products or apps allow you to read pdfs and maybe even make comments or notes? I have resisted getting a Kindle since I was informed that you cannot download pdfs of articles. I will be getting an iPhone soon and would love to know if any of the apps mentioned above could read them. I have been amazed to see many of my science and technical texts are beginning to be available through Kindle on Amazon.com but I still read numerous pdf journal articles.
Posted by Eileen/Nana - 03/09/2009
I guess I am really out of the loop or just old fashioned! I love getting books as well as sharing or gifting books. I can see shere a reader would be good for travelers or communters (less space) but I enjoy my long flights with my usual two magazines and a good book. It is my gift to me! I realized lately that I have many books that I haven’t read and don’t want so I am going to donate them to the library or Goodwill or my friends. I may even start a book trading club. Yes,I can see a use for Kindles, but I would miss the touch of a books binding etc. Am I weird? I don’t think so. However, if my grown kids want to give me one for Christmas I will accept one and move into the newest craze…
Posted by Useful Things » Blog Archive » Useful Things Weekly Link Round-Up - 03/12/2009
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Posted by Reggie Roberts - 02/13/2010
The Stanza app lets you modify the brightness of the iphone (while the app is running) with a quick multi-touch
of the screen. I wish the Kindle app would do this.
Posted by cherri - 03/07/2010
You can read in landscape but you have to unlock the screen on the bottom right. I love this app!!!
Posted by Jill - 03/08/2010
@Catherine: I’ve never read on a Kindle (or any other e reader for that matter) but I tend to do the same as you…skip a sentence or two or reread the same thing over again! *grr* lol.
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