This location designation is messed up and was one of several reasons why I got rid of my Kindles.
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Is there ANY reason to use iBooks over the Kindle App?
- Thread starter chriskzoo
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This location designation is messed up and was one of several reasons why I got rid of my Kindles.
iBooks is much easier on the eyes with better spacing between lines etc.
Kindle books look like a cheap scan. Lack of page numbers is infuriating on the kindle app.
But the amazon bookstore is infinitely better.
So what I do is search for what I want on both and if iBooks has it I order it there. If not I order on the kindle app. And for basic research on books the kindle store can't be beat but you can still choose to order on iBooks if they happen to have the title you want.
Kindle books look like a cheap scan. Lack of page numbers is infuriating on the kindle app.
But the amazon bookstore is infinitely better.
So what I do is search for what I want on both and if iBooks has it I order it there. If not I order on the kindle app. And for basic research on books the kindle store can't be beat but you can still choose to order on iBooks if they happen to have the title you want.
+1
I also like the fact that iBooks tells you how many pages are left in each chapter. It's hard to describe, but without this physical book structure, reading on the Kindle feels amorphous and subtly confusing.
I still will probably end up reading most things on Kindle app b/c of lack of selection so far for iBooks.
I use a Kindle, not a Kindle app, so what I say may or may not apply to the app. I don't have an iPad yet while waiting on 3g.
A paperback and hardcover copy of the same book will have different page numbers. A large-print edition will also be different. One reprint may be different from the last. Page numbers are already inconsistent between editions. And on the Kindle itself, what happens when you make text bigger or smaller? You basically end up with more, or fewer, pages.
The location concept makes sense. And while you're reading a book, you see the percentage of it you've read/have remaining, as well as what locations are currently on-screen. It takes a little getting used to, but it makes sense once you understand it. You don't see pages remaining in a chapter, but you do generally know how deep into the book you are at all times. Sometimes I'll skip ahead to see where a chapter ends and then skip back to where I was, it takes a little longer than with a paper book but not much longer.
A paperback and hardcover copy of the same book will have different page numbers. A large-print edition will also be different. One reprint may be different from the last. Page numbers are already inconsistent between editions. And on the Kindle itself, what happens when you make text bigger or smaller? You basically end up with more, or fewer, pages.
The location concept makes sense. And while you're reading a book, you see the percentage of it you've read/have remaining, as well as what locations are currently on-screen. It takes a little getting used to, but it makes sense once you understand it. You don't see pages remaining in a chapter, but you do generally know how deep into the book you are at all times. Sometimes I'll skip ahead to see where a chapter ends and then skip back to where I was, it takes a little longer than with a paper book but not much longer.
Educate us - how exactly is that clear?
In my mind, each has advantages over the other, both are very good readers. For me, price will determine which one gets my book purchase.
One thing I prefer about iBooks is that, for those books with pictures or illustrations - they are in color! I was looking at a couple of Italy travel books in the Kindle app. These books are mostly text but there are a few photos. As the Kindle is only monochrome so are the books,. It looked like someone had laid the book on the Xerox machine! Yuck.
One thing I do appreciate is that even in the Apple Store (posting from an iPad now) I was able to download a sample instantly and deleting it was just as easy. I know I'd sample way many more books with this app than Kindle or B&N.
WOW is there ever a lot of wrong information in this thread.
I have read dozens of free books on the Kindle (and the Kindle App on my iPhone). Perhaps not via the PG website - but anything there is also available in countless other places on the web and READABLE by Kindle.
As for color photos/images - I have several books I bought via Amazon for the Kindle. On the Kindle2 it displays in B/W/Grey. But on the Kindle App AND on my iPad - those pictures are in color
In other words - there's very little difference between the apps as far as content available and color/b&w
As for text to speech. How long do you think that will last for ALL books in the iBookstore. Amazon had all books turned on for text to speech and were forced by the publishers to give them back a choice. Either iBook will be the same down the road or Amazon's books will have it as well.
Plus - you can't compare by saying every book has text to speech. 1/2 of the library is public domain right now and then there are 30K books the iBookstore has vs over 400K Amazon has
I'm not bashing Apple or trying to praise amazon and the kindle. But people need to do a little research or perhaps preface their comments with "I think" or "What I have experienced" or something to indicate they are pulling facts out of the air.
My 02
"As for color photos/images - I have several books I bought via Amazon for the Kindle. On the Kindle2 it displays in B/W/Grey. But on the Kindle App AND on my iPad - those pictures are in color
"
Well I retract what I said then about Kindle books being in monochrome. Maybe it's only the book samples that are in monochrome? I have looked at only a tiny sampling.
I too am not slamming Kindle or Amazon. Their selection is great and my sister whis a voracious reader loves her Kindle DX.
"
Well I retract what I said then about Kindle books being in monochrome. Maybe it's only the book samples that are in monochrome? I have looked at only a tiny sampling.
I too am not slamming Kindle or Amazon. Their selection is great and my sister whis a voracious reader loves her Kindle DX.
I have almost 100 public domain (free) books on my Kindle. You just download an app - MobiReader - and use it to search for and download them to the Kindle (via Whispernet). Amazon has a Kindle discussion area where people post all sorts of tips.
I'm going to get an ipad, but not primarily for the e-reader. The Kindle screen is much preferable to me; the ibook screen is way too bright (you can turn down the brightness, but then the page looks washed out). People who read a lot will be much happier with e-ink. I hope Amazon cuts the price of the Kindle, because there's a place for a dedicated e-reader and I think a lot of people would take the plunge if it cost $150.
I'm going to get an ipad, but not primarily for the e-reader. The Kindle screen is much preferable to me; the ibook screen is way too bright (you can turn down the brightness, but then the page looks washed out). People who read a lot will be much happier with e-ink. I hope Amazon cuts the price of the Kindle, because there's a place for a dedicated e-reader and I think a lot of people would take the plunge if it cost $150.
Speaking of the Kindle, their magazine issues are not the complete issue with some missing articles and pictures. Magazines like the iPad version of Time is complete, color pictures and all.
Setting a bookmark is not the same as highlighting. I'm thinking of reading scriptures here. Don't both allow bookmarks?
Sounds like platform wars
Now, now . . .everyone is entitled to their opinion. When I read that poster's snippet that's what I saw.
Now, now . . .everyone is entitled to their opinion. When I read that poster's snippet that's what I saw.
How good is this feature? It is really equivalent to listening to an audio book or is it like some computer voice doing a text to speech thing?
If it were really good, I just might ditch my Audible account.
It's all about content for me, and Amazon wins going away right now. Plus I have a lot of books in the Kindle, and they synched right up on the iPad. Plus they also gain color. Price-wise, Amazon seems to be better overall as well. The bottom line is competition is good, and will make both offerings better and hopefully hold the line on costs.
The main reason I am sticking with Kindle is that my family has 5 Kindles o. Our Amazon account. We buy a book once and everyone can read it. In the past we were always big book sharers. The inability to do that with an ereader was always our big hold up with them. As soon as we found out that Amazon allowed up to 8 Kindles on one account, we jumped right in and haven't looked back.
Right now with iBooks, I can read content in one place, and one place only - the iPad I buy it on. I can't even read it on my computer. Until Apple figures out reasonable content sharing they will not be getting my book money!
Right now with iBooks, I can read content in one place, and one place only - the iPad I buy it on. I can't even read it on my computer. Until Apple figures out reasonable content sharing they will not be getting my book money!
Kindle has been around for a few years and still looks like crap compared to 1st generation iBooks.
Kindle
iBooks
The one thing Kindle has is a several year head start with their library. But Apple has done a great job lining up publishers and I suspect they will close the gap pretty quickly. Throw in the ePub format and the availability of free library books plus the Gutenberg project and Apple looks to have the better long term solution.
Kindle
- Page turning = Blinks. Blinks! Yeah, just like a book.....not!
- Table Of Contents = some books don't have one and none of them have page numbers. Yeah, just like a book.....not!
- Page Numbers = instead of page numbers you get % complete. You are left to figure out what that means. Yeah, just like a book.....not!
- Dictionary = Sorry, no.
- Search = Sorry, no.
- Side By Side Pages = Sorry, no. Kindle gives you one page format.
- Bookmarks = Clunky
- Illustrations = Yeah right! Monochrome where they exist at all.
iBooks
- Page turning = smooth graphics that emulate the way a real book feels. Fast and smooth, not a gimmick to me.
- Table of Contents = Yep! With page numbers the way books are supposed to be.
- Page Numbers = Yep! iBooks tells you what page you're on and the total page count at the bottom of every page. Better than a hard copy book.
- Dictionary = Yes, just double tap any word.
- Search =Yes, double tap any word.
- Side By Side Pages = Yes, like Burger King you can have it your way with two page formats.
- Bookmarks = Elegant and easy to use.
- Illustrations = Full color illustrations and photos that take advantage of the excellent iPad screen.
The one thing Kindle has is a several year head start with their library. But Apple has done a great job lining up publishers and I suspect they will close the gap pretty quickly. Throw in the ePub format and the availability of free library books plus the Gutenberg project and Apple looks to have the better long term solution.
Let's say you had five ipads. Couldn't you share a purchased book with all five? Either multiple ipads are synced to the iTunes library/computer that purchased the book, in which case there should be no problem syncing the book to each of those ipads, or, worst case, each iPad is synced to a separate computer. Since you can authorize up to five computers with your iTunes account, you could authorize their computers with your iTunes account and then transfer the DRM'd iBook to their computers and they'd be able to play your iBook on their iPad. It works for apps so I'm not sure why it wouldn't work for books.
You might call the page turning a gimmick, but I find the little details like that what makes the iBooks app remarkable. It's by far my favorite ebook reader (and I've owned more than I care to remember). But I guess that's just one person's opinion...
The comparison was good -- but Kindle does do page-curl animation, you need to go to Settings and turn it on. (I turned it on on my iPad, and its very similar to the animation in iBooks).
The Illustrations are in color in the Kindle as well. (on iPad, and Mac.)
One thing Kindle does that iBooks doesn't is allow for annotations. So if you are using it for text books, you can jot notes that get stored with the passage, and sync'd across your devices.
Until iPad gets multitasking to let you switch out to take notes easily, this is a pretty big difference.
Page Curl Animation for Kindle: HOW TO
Okay -- Amazon turns off those animations on purpose, as people who read a lot of e-books gave feedback that the animations were cute, but end up being distracting after the 4th or 5th book..
Kindle on iPad DOES support them.
To turn on animations in Kindle for iPad, do the following:
Now you have page curl, and all the other animations.
I have books in both Kindle and Amazon.
My wife, Wen Spencer, is a Sci Fi author with 7 books out. iBooks only has 4 of her books so far, but Kindle has all 7. (So if you want to test it, download one of her books! LOL)
It seems iBooks is still adding publishers.
I like both of the apps. I was leaning towards Kindle, because I could read on my iPhone -- but now with OS 4 coming out, I'm up in the air again.
Okay -- Amazon turns off those animations on purpose, as people who read a lot of e-books gave feedback that the animations were cute, but end up being distracting after the 4th or 5th book..
Kindle on iPad DOES support them.
To turn on animations in Kindle for iPad, do the following:
- Start the Kindle App
- From the main screen, click the (i) button on the bottom right
- Turn "Basic Reading Mode" OFF
Now you have page curl, and all the other animations.
I have books in both Kindle and Amazon.
My wife, Wen Spencer, is a Sci Fi author with 7 books out. iBooks only has 4 of her books so far, but Kindle has all 7. (So if you want to test it, download one of her books! LOL)
It seems iBooks is still adding publishers.
I like both of the apps. I was leaning towards Kindle, because I could read on my iPhone -- but now with OS 4 coming out, I'm up in the air again.
I've been disappointed with both honestly.
The iBooks app is amazing. Very easy on the eyes and I much prefer the two page view. But the book selection and prices are awful.
On the amazon side of the fence their selection is better but they are still missing a lot of books. Most of Arthur C. Clarke's earlier books as an example. The kindle app on iPad isn't the greatest either. No dictionary, no two page view, no in app store. Whispersync I suppose is great if you already own several devices though.
Does anyone know of a good eBooks news site to follow updates on this stuff? Has there been any news on increasing the amount of books on apples store or improving the Kindle app?
The iBooks app is amazing. Very easy on the eyes and I much prefer the two page view. But the book selection and prices are awful.
On the amazon side of the fence their selection is better but they are still missing a lot of books. Most of Arthur C. Clarke's earlier books as an example. The kindle app on iPad isn't the greatest either. No dictionary, no two page view, no in app store. Whispersync I suppose is great if you already own several devices though.
Does anyone know of a good eBooks news site to follow updates on this stuff? Has there been any news on increasing the amount of books on apples store or improving the Kindle app?