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Jeremy81

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 17, 2007
354
22
Oklahoma
The iPhone Amazon Kindle app is available now. I just tried it out. I downloaded the book I'm currently reading on my Kindle 2 and it syncs to the last page I read. I don't know that I would want to read on the iPhone screen all the time but it will be great to read a few pages when I get a chance.
 

macfan881

macrumors 68020
Feb 22, 2006
2,345
0
im shocked that they did this wont this kinda kill the sales i mean if you can get a ipod for 200 bucks and a free download for the reader your basicly saving over 160 bucks anyway its great amazon is doing this for the iphone i may actaully try it out.:)
 

Jeremy81

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 17, 2007
354
22
Oklahoma
im shoked that tthey did this wont this kinda kill the sales i mean if you can get a ipod for 200 bucks and a free download for the reader your basicly saving over 160 bucks anyway its great amazon is doing this for the iphone i may actaully try it out.:)

Honestly, after reading on the Kindle itself it seems kind of painful on the iPhone. The e-ink display is a pleasure to read on.
 

DreamPod

macrumors 65816
Mar 15, 2008
1,265
188
im shocked that they did this wont this kinda kill the sales i mean if you can get a ipod for 200 bucks and a free download for the reader your basicly saving over 160 bucks anyway its great amazon is doing this for the iphone i may actaully try it out.:)

As Jeremy81 stated, reading on the harsh, tiny low-res iPod/iPhone screen with horrible battery life is quite far from the experience of reading on the large, high-res Kindle e-Ink screen with amazing battery life. And I think this'll sell more Kindles, because people will collect Kindle books, and after they've gotten a bunch will want the real experience.
 

alphaod

macrumors Core
Feb 9, 2008
22,183
1,245
NYC
im shocked that they did this wont this kinda kill the sales i mean if you can get a ipod for 200 bucks and a free download for the reader your basicly saving over 160 bucks anyway its great amazon is doing this for the iphone i may actaully try it out.:)

This means Amazon has sold you a book at almost no cost to them.

More business for Amazon!
 

LinMac

macrumors 65816
Oct 28, 2007
1,270
43
How does it work for content such as converted PDFs?

I'm reading Bram Stoker's Dracula right now from a converted PDF and I don't seem to be able to do anything with it or see it on my iPhone.
 

Errk!

macrumors 6502
Mar 6, 2006
321
6
im shocked that they did this wont this kinda kill the sales i mean if you can get a ipod for 200 bucks and a free download for the reader your basicly saving over 160 bucks anyway its great amazon is doing this for the iphone i may actaully try it out.:)

I would think that they probably don't make a ton of money per Kindle device - all of the money is likely made on the books.
 

bigbarr

macrumors member
Oct 21, 2003
65
0
Tampa
convert pdfs to kinde iphone

I am very interested in using the convert a pdf service for kindle on the iphone. I can't find a way to do this.
 

steve knight

macrumors 68030
Jan 28, 2009
2,735
7,180
As Jeremy81 stated, reading on the harsh, tiny low-res iPod/iPhone screen with horrible battery life is quite far from the experience of reading on the large, high-res Kindle e-Ink screen with amazing battery life. And I think this'll sell more Kindles, because people will collect Kindle books, and after they've gotten a bunch will want the real experience.

I like reading on my iphone. been reading books on my pda for years. you get used to it. the screen in the iphone is very nice. I haven o complaints about it. it also works in the dark and I don't have to carry a book sized book around with me.
my only complaint is the screen does nto really dim quite enough with the brightness tuned all the way down.
I do miss the button to turn pages though over having to touch the screen.
I have far more freedom on my book sources and cost too.
 

steve knight

macrumors 68030
Jan 28, 2009
2,735
7,180
using stanza to convert it then read it works I think. I just opened a pdf with it. though I don't have any book pdfs to really test it.
 

Lara F

macrumors 6502a
May 5, 2005
853
10
Montreal, Quebec
I can't believe Amazon really did this - since I've been fortunate not to have problems reading on the iPhone (and prefer the smaller size - I doubt I'd end up toting around the Kindle) this is awesome and perfect.

My only wishes for future updates are 1) to purchase within the app and 2) to be able to change the font itself (so far I've only been able to change the size). Fairly minor complaints considering - it'll be so easy to bookmark the Amazon kindle site and 1-click purchase on a book while having breakfast...and presto, it's on my phone. Awesome. :D
 

redman042

macrumors 68040
Jun 13, 2008
3,063
1,657
Some have pointed out that, if you want to do a lot of e-book reading, get a Kindle. But also having the iPhone app is a nice compliment to the Kindle, because if you're out and about, stop somewhere for a cup of coffee, and don't have your Kindle with you, you can still whip out the iPhone and get a few chapters in. Apparently the Kindle and iPhone will sync across the cloud, even storing which page you left off at.
 

steve knight

macrumors 68030
Jan 28, 2009
2,735
7,180
I have ready thousands of books on my pda and hope to read as many or mroe on my iphone. it is always with me and handy and works in the dark. reading hardly has any impact on battery life either.
the kindle is expensive and clunky to me. far harder to carry around.
 

DreamPod

macrumors 65816
Mar 15, 2008
1,265
188
Doesn't matter if reading has "hardly any impact" on battery life, just having the thing on means it's going to die in a number of hours, as opposed to the Kindle's two weeks.

And do you really prefer reading on PDA's over reading an actual book? I just can't get that. I tried it, I read the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy series and Stephen King's Dark Tower series on a PDA with roughly the same size/resolution screen as the iPhone (Tapwave Zodiac), and while it was doable and nice and portable, I was happy to go back to real books. And reading on the Kindle is just like reading a real book, in terms of how the print looks and the size.
 

unclefudgly

macrumors newbie
May 26, 2007
28
0
Yorkshire
good luck trying to get this on the UK app store... as we're treated like second class f*ckwits just crawling around licking the a8se of Steve Jobs while he treats us like sh*te

So fffing tteed off with Apple for discriminating against me!!!!
 

SwingOnThis

macrumors regular
Apr 23, 2008
120
7
Are there any free Kindle books available online??

I just downloaded the Kindle app and in the description it said you can access free material, like the first chapters from selected books, etc. But after installing the app, i can't figure out how to access the free material. Can someone help?
 

DigitalDorf

macrumors newbie
Jan 30, 2009
9
0
I just downloaded the Kindle app and in the description it said you can access free material, like the first chapters from selected books, etc. But after installing the app, i can't figure out how to access the free material. Can someone help?


Go to the amazon store find a book you like and on the right click the Send Sample now button. you will get a chapter or whatever sent for free.

Open up your Kindle App and its will transfer.

I thought I would hate it, but so far im loving it.. Just got To Fat To Fish from Artie Lang...
 

SwingOnThis

macrumors regular
Apr 23, 2008
120
7
Go to the amazon store find a book you like and on the right click the Send Sample now button. you will get a chapter or whatever sent for free.

Open up your Kindle App and its will transfer.

I thought I would hate it, but so far im loving it.. Just got To Fat To Fish from Artie Lang...

Excellent, thanks. Too Fat to Fish, funny book. Does it show you the photos in the book?
 

Jeremy1026

macrumors 68020
Nov 3, 2007
2,215
1,029
good luck trying to get this on the UK app store... as we're treated like second class f*ckwits just crawling around licking the a8se of Steve Jobs while he treats us like sh*te

So fffing tteed off with Apple for discriminating against me!!!!

Way to make yourself look like an idiot. Apple doesn't set what apps get released where, the developers do.

So you should edit your post to replace 'Steve Jobs' with 'Jeff Bezos.'
 

SFC Archer

macrumors 68000
Nov 9, 2007
1,742
0
Troy, MT
Have also downloaded and purchased my first e-book. People of the Thunder. So far I am really impressed and find that it is readable. I have moved through the first 3 chapters with no change in battery status or strain on the eyes.

I did increase the font size by one level and lowered my brightness settings to just above half. My only complaints so far is:

1) Cannot view in landscape mode which would be more comfortable holding and swipe pages in an upward motion.

2) Having to go to safari to purchase books instead of through the app itself. Its easier just to shop for your books on the computer and then download to the iPhone.

Set up is very painless...just enter your previous amazon account info or build a new account.

I usually listen to audio books but it is still limited so will use this method as well. If it would play my audio books, it would be a complete book reader but using the iPod is fine as well.

Great app and highly recommend for book readers of all ages...even to let your kids read a book while in a waiting status...great educational tool.
 

steve knight

macrumors 68030
Jan 28, 2009
2,735
7,180
Doesn't matter if reading has "hardly any impact" on battery life, just having the thing on means it's going to die in a number of hours, as opposed to the Kindle's two weeks.

And do you really prefer reading on PDA's over reading an actual book? I just can't get that. I tried it, I read the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy series and Stephen King's Dark Tower series on a PDA with roughly the same size/resolution screen as the iPhone (Tapwave Zodiac), and while it was doable and nice and portable, I was happy to go back to real books. And reading on the Kindle is just like reading a real book, in terms of how the print looks and the size.

took some getting used too but once I was going it was good. no more loosing your place lugging around several books easy to read in the dark and I always have it with me. but it took awhile to get the hang of it. having something light and versatile and fast page turning is good. not having to carry a book reading device around as a separate thing is very nice.
 
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