Comments on: Comparing Kindle 2 with Kindle's iPhone app

As an owner of both a Kindle 2 and an iPhone 3G, CNET's Nicole Lee sets out to compare and contrast Amazon's e-book reader and its application for Apple devices.

[jomolungma]

"Having to switch between two different applications like this is very annoying and is a serious downside to the Kindle iPhone app."

Seriously? I mean, this is for books, right? It takes a while to read them, right? This isn't instant gratification we're talking about. If it takes you an extra minute or two to open Safari to buy the book, is that going to completely ruin your several-hour reading experience? Sure, it would be nice to shop directly from the app, but I fail to see how this is a "serious downside." Serious downsides make you not want to use an app. Having to actually buy a book outside the Kindle app doesn't make me not want to use the app. It's a bother, but not a serious downside. Let's dispense with the hyperbole.

[Nicole Lee]

Perhaps my language was too strong, but yes I think instant gratification is a factor here. On the Kindle hardware, it's so easy to buy books that you could potentially go on a crazy book-buying binge with hardly any effort. With the iPhone Kindle app, you have to log-in to the Amazon account all over again on Safari, and pan through a couple pages before you can buy something. It's also a serious downside for me, because after my experience, I would never buy a book from Amazon on the iPhone Safari browser again.

But you're right; one person's bother is another person's serious downside. Point taken. :)

[bigmc6000]

I actually find it handier to do all the browsing on a real computer and tell amazon to send it to my device - I think that's easier than either the kindle or the iPhone. Speaking of the iPhone Amazon needs to enable landscape reading. Naturally portrait is most similar to the feel of a book but I find that landscape is closer to the width of a normal book and find that a more entertaining way to read on the iPhone.

I'm on my 3rd book btw - this is great! No way I'd pay 349 but I've already got an iPhone so there's 0 hardware cost to me.

[vhase]

Hmm... I'm not certain about Kindle for iPhone not handling periodicals - I think they're not talking about it (after all, I can get many of them for free at the app store) but looking up some periodicals at random, they all say 'Send wirelessly to your Kindle or Kindle for iPhone'

Unless they didn't think it through, and accidentally updated the basic purchase message on all Kindle items... But, considering I don't want any of them at the moment, I think this will be someone else's experiment. =)

[decjr]

for grins I went ahead an bought a book.the Kindle for iPhone app can't do landscape. In my book, The Last Stand of Fox Company (military history), there were a lot of images and maps.

you can't zoom an image with the pinch-out motion. on a map, it was almost worthless to view (can't read the map text). I can't imagine what a programming book, w/ a lot of code examples, would look on this. would these be omitted? if they are that would make the (programming) book worthless. other than that, it's functional for "plain" text. cheers

[bigmc6000]

I just started using the iPhone app and it's awesome. I know the Kindle is great for what it does but, at least to me, paying $349 for a bigger screen when I get all the functionality (save the periodicals, at least for now) on a piece of hardware I already own and can fit in my pocket the advantage goes to the iPhone app. And no, you can't buy it directly from the app but I'm sure that's coming. Personally I just use the web browser on my computer when I'm bored and look around for stuff - I find that much easier and quicker than even looking up stuff on the kindle itself (and certainly better than navigating around in Safari).

[MoKraak]

I'm waiting for an iPod Touch that is the same size as a Kindle! How sweet would that be?

[bigmc6000]

No fair putting cool images like that into my head!! :-P

[toomath]

I signed up for iPhone kindle this afternoon, and though my Amazon.com account shows my iPhone is registered, I am unable to purchase anything. It keeps telling me I'm not registered. Even though I am.

I can't be the only one with this problem. Hope they fix it quick. My main reason for signing up is for magazines like the New Yorker, which I hate to subscribe to dead-tree style because of the amount of paper I have to haul away. I agree it's not something I'd read a novel on.

Interesting

[ellentk]

I'm seeing the iphone version as a great way to check out possible books before actually buying - whether for the Kindle or in paper. will also be handy when sitting in a coffee house to read a bit before a friend shows up...

[TB8Ar82]

Hey if you guys really care about amazon.com's kindle for the iphone check out engadget.com's review. Trust me its a more comprehensive, more informative reviews to what is a huge deal to many-reading books on the iphone.

[bmoptimus]

Great article. In terms of reading comic books (including manga) on the iPhone, the best comic book reader application by far is ComicZeal ($0.99). The company that created the application, Bitolithic, supports it with a creator and synching program that allows users to convert their own electronic or scanned copies of comics into an iPhone friendly format.

The application itself allows zooming, page swiping, bookmarks, sorting, etc. Definitely check it out.

[scottcunning]

Has Amazon considered partnering with traditional publishers where you could get an e-book for an additional $1-$2 if you bought the hardcover or paperback. I like to have physical books for my library and I'm not going to pay an additional $10 for books I already own just to have them in a portable fashion, but I would consider paying a little more for a book if I could get the regular book and the e-book at a bundled price.

[Mweaver2k9]

The iPhone app desperately needs a zoom feature. I purchased Cisco ICND1 and the tables and figures are not readable at all. It's very disappointing in that manner. The app could also use the ability for wide screen.

[AListener]

Nicole, I just came across this well-written column and wanted to add a few things if you read comments this late after an article.

1. The wireless anytime/anywhere (that a Sprint phone can be used for the web) 24/7 access is important to me too. i saw that you mentioned it. I've used it outside mainly at stores to google reviews on products before making a decision if unsure. Product model # and the word 'review' is all it takes. And there's no need to look for a wi-fi spot that might be nearby and also free. The Kindle's access is always free.

Figure: for those who don't have iPhones because we don't like AT&T access, cellphone wireless data access is usually $30 on top of basic access. Multiply by 12 and you have $360. Interesting amount? So, yes, the constant access to a web browser anywhere I am is well worth paying for the good screen with the 24/7 wireless always available. Someone mentioned the Hitchhiker's Galaxy syndrome.

Mine seems to put me in 'Advanced (web) mode' most often (rather than 'default' mode, which gives normal Kindle fonts -- but the Advanced mode (even with javascript turned off) often gives me full page across for an article, which means I see tiniest possible print / fonts. I have pretty good near version so I can actually read it, because the fonts are so lean and sharp. BUT if my eyes are too tired, I switch to "Default" and then I get the normal larger font in smaller column mode.

2. Re ease of reading: In the forums we've discovered that you can press the combo of
shift+alt keys along with any number between 1-9 to change the distance between lines.
Default is '3' and '1' is the most crowded. '9' leaves lots of space between lines. I tend to be at levels 4or 5 most of the time (which are closer to the line intervals of the Kindle 1).

Most-readable web search results in normal fonts are by using the Kindle 2 Search -- Google (because it assumes mobile format) or by going to http://www.google.com/pda

3. For those who love receiving periodicals on their e-readers, many are available in RSS format and you should try http://kindlefeeder.com (I'm not affiliated with them but receive daily feeds on my Kindle from them, and maybe their azw format will work with iPhones also then. These are free, for the first 12 you chose to receive on a daily basis (all chosen feeds come in one file with a table of contents for the periodicals involved). Some are full feeds, and some are summaries with links to articles you can follow. Remember -- for the Kindle, wireless time is not charged.

Nevertheless, while I can get the RSS full feed for the New Yorker, I prefer this one in the official Kindle version for the super ease of use with the Kindle 2 navigation features for periodicals, for some excellent layout, and for the cartoons, which are included and are clear (and zoomable). However, full feeds for pubs like HuffPost (which I have no interest in a paying subscription to, are available on kindlefeeder and I get that one along with gizmodo and engadget.

[AListener]

Apologies for the lack of clarity. Someday I'll learn to close parentheses !

[docparkny]

I absolutely love the Kindle app. I read half a book with no eyestrain, in bed with my wife nicely asleep and not bothered by my staying up late. The app also has accomplished its goal which is getting me to buy Kindle 2.

http://golfism.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/review-of-iphone-kindle-app/

[lisabeth60]

I don't have the kindle2 but I do have kindle for iphone. I use it on my ipod touch. I am confused by one of the statements in this article. You say the iphone version can't sync sample chapters? Perhaps I am misreading , but I can easily download sample chapters from amazon to my ipod touch and read them before purchasing a book.....
I have been thinking about a kindle2 as the ipod touch/iphone screen really is pretty small for book reading although you can make the font bigger and it is very clear. Then I heard that Apple may be coming out with a larger iphone/ipod in the 7-9" range. This will do everything my ipod does now plus it is a great kindle replacement. I would not need both. So I am going to wait until the early fall to see if the rumors are true......

[iphoneapps]

The Toy Lounge of St. Paul MN - http://thetoylounge.com/ebooks - creates iPhone apps for eBooks as well as newspapers, magazines, radio stations and others. The new Kindle 2 is definitely and improvement and is excellent for reading eBooks if you don't have to carry it around.

It's true, the iPhone and iPod Touch don't work for old-school people who need a bigger screen, but you people can watch for the strongly rumored new iPod MediaPad that may have a 7 inch screen and yet still be smaller and lighter than the Kindle - and comes with HD video and phone capability over wifi maybe thru Verizon? Competition-wise, the Kindle is a one trick pony while the iPod MediaPad will be truly multifunctional. Interesting to see what actually happens later this year!

[miklaup]

The iPod/iPhone Kindle application is great for crowded subway commutes where it's not easy to pull out a book...or something Kindle-sized. Plus, it's one less thing to carry around. I have had no issues (comfort, eyestrain), and it's great being able to read and turn pages with one hand (leaving the other free to hold on to subway handrails).

[davidsanger]

"Having to switch between two different applications like this is very annoying and is a serious downside to the Kindle iPhone app."

Ys but if you choose a Kindle book on the Amazon website and have a sample sent to your iPhone, you can then buy the entire book with one click from within the iPhone Kindle app.

[wcpollak]

Obviously the perceived ease or difficulty of reading books on an iPhone varies among individuals. I have experienced no difficulty reading for extended periods through lengthy books and treasure the advantages that the iPhone confers: portability and continuous access, reading with one hand, and the ability to read in the dark, a significant advantage if sharing a bed. Sadly, Kindle on the iPhone lacks several features that are important for many: searchable text, bookmarks that can be deleted, and note-taking capability with the ability to copy selected text into notes. Those all are available with eReader software although the eReader's book selection is smaller. Kindle, though, is fine for those who like its size: In the longer, however, the matter of greater concern is the possibility that Amazon/Kindle will become the monopoly conduit for all in-copyright literature moving from publisher to reader. There is nothing the individual can do to guard against this dread possibility but one hopes the Department of Justice has its eye on it. I am certain Mr. Bezos has a different opinion on the same matter.