The Amazon Kindle – for iPhone – has just appeared in the Apple iTunes App Store. This eBook reader is meant to be either an introduction to the Kindle (for those without one) or a compliment to it for those who already own the Kindle.
When the Kindle 2 was released, Amazon gave notice that they intended to expand the number of platforms supported by the Kindle (think mobile phone). What wasn’t known at the time was exactly how fast this expansion would happen.
Looks like it all happened sooner rather than later. This morning without much fanfare or prior announcement the Kindle for iPhone suddenly appeared in the iTunes store.
Integration to your Kindle Library
All the books you’ve previously purchased on your Kindle can be accessed on your iPhone – for no additional charge. The only limitation appears to be subscription items such as newspapers, magazines and blogs. So far as I’ve been able to test these items are not synchronized down to your iPhone.
The cost for the Kindle for iPhone is free – and all you need is an Amazon account. You won’t be able to buy books from within the application – however those books you buy via Amazon will readily (and easily) synchronize to your iPhone.
Is the reading experience on the iPhone as good as the Kindle? Nope.
But in a pinch you’ll be glad to sacrifice the bigger screen of the Kindle for a little reading material to keep you occupied while you await a flight in the airport.
The question is, how is the experience on the iphone vs. the Kindle. Mostly due to the form factor?
The question is, how is the experience on the iphone vs. the Kindle. Mostly due to the form factor?
It's a convenience issue. The Kindle for iPhone is free as is the integration to Kindle content you already own.
So if I'm stuck at my daughter's baseball game and want to read a book – assuming I have a signal – I can download the books I already own.
There's no pinch zoom and admittedly there aren't as many features (you can't buy books from within Kindle for iPhone) — but I still think it's a great add on for those of us who own Kindle's.
It's a convenience issue. The Kindle for iPhone is free as is the integration to Kindle content you already own.
So if I'm stuck at my daughter's baseball game and want to read a book – assuming I have a signal – I can download the books I already own.
There's no pinch zoom and admittedly there aren't as many features (you can't buy books from within Kindle for iPhone) — but I still think it's a great add on for those of us who own Kindle's.