Kindle for iPhone App Available on App Store

[FearlessFreep]

After using this for a while, I have to say there are some definite UI issues that make reading in this app tough.

First, you can't read in Landscape mode. I'm not sure who made this decision as it's really an easy feature to implement, but it makes it much harder on the eyes when you have to constantly go back to the beginning because the lines are so short.

Second, the only way to change pages is to swipe. There's no other visible way to change pages. Even a transparent arrow or something onscreen would be great. Because the pages on this device are so short, you constantly have to change pages. Swiping is great - when you don't have to do it constantly. Not having an alternate method is a big hindrance towards reading on the iPhone.

In all, it looks like a first-gen app that was rushed to market without much consideration for the device itself. Note to Amazon: Reading on the iPhone is a different experience than reading on the Kindle, thus you have to tailor the application differently.

 

[slapppy]

After using this for a while, I have to say there are some definite UI issues that make reading in this app tough.

First, you can't read in Landscape mode. I'm not sure who made this decision as it's really an easy feature to implement, but it makes it much harder on the eyes when you have to constantly go back to the beginning because the lines are so short.

Second, the only way to change pages is to swipe. There's no other visible way to change pages. Even a transparent arrow or something onscreen would be great. Because the pages on this device are so short, you constantly have to change pages. Swiping is great - when you don't have to do it constantly. Not having an alternate method is a big hindrance towards reading on the iPhone.

In all, it looks like a first-gen app that was rushed to market without much consideration for the device itself. Note to Amazon: Reading on the iPhone is a different experience than reading on the Kindle, thus you have to tailor the application differently.

Did you provide feedback on iTunes? We all should. This is the first version, and as a revision one app, its pretty darn good. Next revs will only make it better. Book or eBooks are cheaper on Amazon also. Nice.

 

[Galley]

There are free titles available, but they are the usual public domain stuff. Sort by Price: Lowest to Highest to find them.

 

[pagansoul]

Yes it appears so.

No. The app is set to read books only. I does not work on newspaper or magazines. The layout is too simple for that. I believe there is a note on the site about it being for books only.

 

[pagansoul]

Second, the only way to change pages is to swipe. There's no other visible way to change pages. Even a transparent arrow or something onscreen would be great. Because the pages on this device are so short, you constantly have to change pages. Swiping is great - when you don't have to do it constantly. Not having an alternate method is a big hindrance towards reading on the iPhone.

If you tap your page you get a location bar. It's not very specific but can go to the beginning, end, midway and list page numbers. Its great for a short story but not good for something that has a lot of pages.

 

[FearlessFreep]

If you tap your page you get a location bar. It's not very specific but can go to the beginning, end, midway and list page numbers. Its great for a short story but not good for something that has a lot of pages.

Right - I am aware of that, but I'm referring to the method of simply turning the page. On a dedicated e-reader itself it's an arrow button or wheel meaning you don't move your hand from that spot. On the iPhone you must make a swipe. Yes I understand you have to turn the page if you're reading a 'traditional' book, but the book holds many more words per page and reading electronically is a different experience anyhow - it's not a book. Again, a simple transparent on-screen forward and back arrow would suffice. Hopefully that will make its way into an update.

 

[divabimbers]

While I agree with many others that there is a lot of room for improvement with this app, I have to say it's sparked my interest in reading again as has Stanza. A large part of this is due to preferring to carry my iPhone around instead of a few books especially when riding the bus. Plus I love gadgets and the idea of e-books is thrilling considering I can store more on a handheld device. I think Amazon has the start of something special here, and I look forward to seeing whatever updates this app will have in the future. Kudos to them for choosing to open up Kindle instead of just keeping it to their device.

 

[odelay]

Use Kindle for iPhone app outside the US!!! It works!!!

Anyone outside the US who wants to use Kindle for iPhone, now you can! I setup a US iTunes store account to get the app. Just google "US iTunes account". Note, I didn't need to find and apply a voucher code to do this like some sites suggest you need.

For getting Kindle to work, I just found this blog post and tried it out and it works! Check it out:

http://www.treotoday.net/2009/03/05/buy-kindle-books-iphone/

I'm pretty impressed with it so far, very simple and easy to use.

 

[icedmocha]

Text to speech?

 

[LostLogik]

Anyone outside the US who wants to use Kindle for iPhone, now you can!

Yep, just tried it. (Compulsive buyer, that's my problem). Had to give it a go to see what all the fuss was about. So, after getting an Amazon.com account, making the mistake of buying my first giftcard in the UK store (not redeemable in US store, doh!), getting a US store giftcard and buying a book, it all worked rather easily, with the book sent to my iPhone really very quickly. Impressed.

I agree that the constant swiping gets a bit annoying but it's hardly earth shattering. In portrait mode my thumb is in prime location for a quick swipe. I'm not sure I'd want to read in landscape, as I find it counter intuitive to hold the iPhone that way. I just picked the smallest font to get the most words on the page.

The Bookmark function needs a bit of improvement. Although it is easy enough to create and go to bookmarks, the inability to give them any meaningful description, other than the set "Location xxxx", which isn't even a page number, does make them a little confusing/less than useful.

However, all in all, for a first release, I'm impressed. It saves me having to spend the $300 odd to buy a Kindle anyway (though I'm not sure what sort of hit my battery is now going to take). Here's looking forward to future improvement releases.

 

[SFC Archer]

U Can Purchase eBooks in the App

I posted this in the other Kindle thread as well. Some only use this forum so though I would post here as well.

There was an App review done by Jeremy Harowitz
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/rev...le-for-iphone/
that reviewed the Kindle App. In the review he stated that you had to purchase your ebooks through Safari. This is not entirely true. You can purchase ebooks through the Kindle App.

1) To do this a reader needs to go shopping for free using your computer (yes you use computer at this stage or you can use iPhone's Safari if you want to burden yourself). Go to Amazon and the Kindle Book Store and start looking for ALL the titles that interest you or you want to check out.

2) For each book that peeks your interest, select the book and an option to download a free sample will show on the right side of the screen. Continue to select all the FREE samples you want.

3) Now open your iPhone Kindle App and it will sync ALL of your samples to your iPhone. Review your samples when ever you want, if you like what you see and you decide to purchase the book either scroll to the last page or double tap and select veiw last page.

4) On the last page will be the option to purchase the book. By selecting purchase, it will charge your account (must have it established in Amazon) and sync the remainder of the book to your iPhone without leaving the app.

This is actually a better option in my opinion because it allows people to review samples before purchasing off the cuff. This will actually save you money by reviewing the sample instead of purchasing in a store option within the app or even at Amazon web site. You do not end up purchasing or wasting precious dollars on a poor purchase or something that you reviewed and it did not meet expectations.

This is great for reviewing kids books also. Some books will download and show color pictures which the Kindle Reader can not do. The iPhone will show colored pictures if the publisher allowed it.

Hope this is helpful to all!
Good Luck and Read a Book a Week

 

[Junk DNA]

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!!!!

I'm in the UK and I have the Kindle app on my iPhone.
First open a US iTunes account (google for ways to do it without a CC)
Second open a US Amazon account.

I've got the Kindle app from itunes and I've down load a couple of free books from Amazon

sweet

 

[LostLogik]

... This is not entirely true. You can purchase ebooks through the Kindle App.

1) To do this a reader needs to go shopping for free using your computer...

So, you still have to use your computer then.

An interesting way to buy but what would be better would be a way of looking at the store in the app, without the need of a computer.

 

[SFC Archer]

So, you still have to use your computer then.

An interesting way to buy but what would be better would be a way of looking at the store in the app, without the need of a computer.

I edited my app to put my disclaimer in BOLD so that you could see it.

Please read the entire post...it is there to help not be nit picked and torn apart.

YES...you have to use your computer as a convenience to get the samples or you can fight with Safari on the iPhone and pinch and adjust and wait...my god man, its a simple suggestion.

It also gives you the ability to review the samples and make a good purchase instead of wasting money on something that might not have been what you thought. Too many users waste money by purchasing on the fly...look at App Store and iTunes purchases...instead of reviewing before purchase. If you have a store in the App then you will end up wasting money on something you thought was...wasn't...Just a simple little money saving idea in a economic struggling world. If this doesnt benefit you then don't use!

Do you guys have a life or do you just sit there to rip apart posts? Take it for what it is and use it for its advantage or just disregard and leave people alone.

 

[kas23]

Right - I am aware of that, but I'm referring to the method of simply turning the page. On a dedicated e-reader itself it's an arrow button or wheel meaning you don't move your hand from that spot. On the iPhone you must make a swipe. Yes I understand you have to turn the page if you're reading a 'traditional' book, but the book holds many more words per page and reading electronically is a different experience anyhow - it's not a book. Again, a simple transparent on-screen forward and back arrow would suffice. Hopefully that will make its way into an update.

I agree with you completely. I wish you could just tap on the right side of the page to turn the page (like you do in Stanza). It is very hard to read and swipe with one hand - it's much easier to tap one-handed. Additionally, it needs an invert colors option (white print on background). I'm going to leave feedback now. Good start though.

 

[LostLogik]

I edited my app to put my disclaimer in BOLD so that you could see it...

Do you guys have a life or do you just sit there to rip apart posts? Take it for what it is and use it for its advantage or just disregard and leave people alone.

I inserted a smiley so that you could see my comment was meant to be humourous. Talk about "get a life". I even put in my post the fact that it was an interesting method but it needed to be improved upon. Like you say, read the entire post.

 

[jaseone]

I agree with you completely. I wish you could just tap on the right side of the page to turn the page (like you do in Stanza). It is very hard to read and swipe with one hand - it's much easier to tap one-handed. Additionally, it needs an invert colors option (white print on background). I'm going to leave feedback now. Good start though.

I thought the same thing about the swiping as well but after using it for an extended period it really isn't that much of a hassle and I may even prefer it over tapping the screen now.

 

[MaxPower49]

Can you upload your own pdfs to be converted by amazon and read on the ipod if you don't own a kindle?

 

[boston04and07]

I'm new to the whole ebooks thing so I have a quick question - is it possible to buy an ebook on Amazon (on the computer), and store it within Stanza's desktop app? And then read it in Stanza on the iPhone?

 

[kas23]

I'm new to the whole ebooks thing so I have a quick question - is it possible to buy an ebook on Amazon (on the computer), and store it within Stanza's desktop app? And then read it in Stanza on the iPhone?

No. I believe the actual kindle file is stored somewhere in Amazon's "cloud" and the Kindle app is just a tool that allows us to access and read the file. In other words, it is heavy drm'd and you really don't "own" the file, in the traditional sense. I wish would could read them on Stanza as Stanza's UI is awesome.

 

[boston04and07]

No. I believe the actual kindle file is stored somewhere in Amazon's "cloud" and the Kindle app is just a tool that allows us to access and read the file. In other words, it is heavy drm'd and you really don't "own" the file, in the traditional sense. I wish would could read them on Stanza as Stanza's UI is awesome.

Ugh, that's lame. I like the Stanza UI too and that's really the only way I'd use ebooks. Can anyone recommend any other sites that sell Stanza-compatible ebooks?