Travel Technology - Amazon releases free Kindle for iPhone app (and for iPod touch also)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10187752-93.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/technology/04kindle.html

Played around with the app. Looks good and has lots of potential. I wish the settings give me more control than what's available now.

Not available in the UK Store unfortunately.

Cheers,
Rick

I saw a thread on this on the Howard Forums site and downloaded it. VERY happy with it in early testing. It doesnt let you do a huge amount directly from the iPhone, but enough. I can pull down whatever book from my Kindle Archive that I want from the phone. Or on the Amazon web page I can send a new or archived book to my iPhone. That is enough to make it very useful for me. Im quite happy about it.

If you don't own a Kindle...will you still be able to use the app on your iphone?

If you don't own a Kindle...will you still be able to use the app on your iphone?

"No Kindle required" (http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_83811991_2?ie=UTF8&docId=1000301301&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=right-1&pf_rd_r=0Z7WJMJQBHJRF7ZW2HFB&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=471118251&pf_rd_i=133141011)

And the iPhone app is free from the iPhone app store.

For those wondering, I have been reading on some other Web sites that the reason, perhaps, that Amazon did not include a "store" to but books straight on the iPhone is a limitation imposed by Apple on letting App developers generate more income from withing their App.

For those wondering, I have been reading on some other Web sites that the reason, perhaps, that Amazon did not include a "store" to but books straight on the iPhone is a limitation imposed by Apple on letting App developers generate more income from withing their App.

I dont view that as a big concern. You can order Kindle books using the Safari on the iPhone and have them sent directly to your phone so I dont see it as a big deal at all. I suspect it was more to do with the cost of building the browsing and stuff into the Kindle app. Why should Amazon do that when it really isnt needed. I think people are always looking for conspiracies, but I dont think this was anything other than expediency and cost considerations at work.

I'm wondering whether there is IP filtering or whether this app will work outside the US over wifi.

I'm wondering whether there is IP filtering or whether this app will work outside the US over wifi.

Going to London/Cambridge tomorrow night. I will try to check and post back.

So why shell out the $360 for the Kindle device if you don't need it...

So why shell out the $360 for the Kindle device if you don't need it...

Much nicer display I think but Im pretty happy about the convergence aspect of it. And apart from the having the single device, the iPhone is a lot smaller.

I have the program stanza for my ipod touch and have to say that i absolutely love the program.

i have 100s of classics (free of charge) and can find newer books elsewhere.. and copy books in a variety of formats to the ipod (pdf, lit, etc)

program is available through app store.. free of charge. here is a link to view it: http://www.lexcycle.com/stanzamovie

So why shell out the $360 for the Kindle device if you don't need it...

It's a dedicated ebook reader with a far, far superior display on a larger screen. It's simply better for reading. You can also read a Kindle screen in sunlight, something I've never been able to do comfortably with any kind of LCD.

You can also add your own personal content with the Kindle, which I understand you can't do with the iPhone app.

It's a dedicated ebook reader with a far, far superior display on a larger screen. It's simply better for reading. You can also read a Kindle screen in sunlight, something I've never been able to do comfortably with any kind of LCD.

You can also add your own personal content with the Kindle, which I understand you can't do with the iPhone app.

And probably most importantly, the battery on the iphone is not its strong suit. But yes, I think the screen is quite a bit better for reading on the Kindle.

It's a dedicated ebook reader with a far, far superior display on a larger screen. It's simply better for reading. You can also read a Kindle screen in sunlight, something I've never been able to do comfortably with any kind of LCD.

You can also add your own personal content with the Kindle, which I understand you can't do with the iPhone app.

it probably is better for reading.. i have to say one thing i like about the kindle is that it is so star trekish..

but what do you mean about personal content?

stanza is clearly the best ebook reader for the ipod/iphone..

I have been really happy with the Kindle app. It is a great compliment to the Kindle that I own. Syncing the last read page between the two is fantastic.

but what do you mean about personal content?

Using free software like Mobipocket Creator, you can convert nearly any personal document into something readable on the Kindle, using a USB cable to transfer from your computer. You can also convert free books from a variety of sources to work on Kindle, or download free, public domain stuff from sources like feedbooks.com. I don't think you can use any of those with the iPhone app.

(Amazon also offers a conversion service, but I prefer to do it myself.)

Something I didn't see anyone mention is the iPhone battery life with the Kindle application. I've on a bunch of long international trips with it (the iPhone Kindle) and when in flight mode, you can read for hours and hours and hardly move the battery bar. Love it.

I'm using it on a first-gen non-3g iPhone and you can still download books via the regular Edge connection and it seems to come down pretty quickly.

I didn't think I'd like reading on the small screen, but with the font set to the smallest and just using my thumb to flip pages, it's great, and I'm more likely to have the smaller footprint iPhone with me than the Kindle.

I have the Sony Reader, which was Really Cool for about a month, then I never used it again. I almost bought the Kindle a few months back, but this little iPhone app is perfectly fine for my use, and I take the iPhone with me anyway to use as a SIP phone for hotspots.

Can't think of the last time I ever used it for a phone call, maybe 6+ months ago. I use a Blackberry for all the phone and email stuff.

Something I didn't see anyone mention is the iPhone battery life with the Kindle application. I've on a bunch of long international trips with it (the iPhone Kindle) and when in flight mode, you can read for hours and hours and hardly move the battery bar. Love it.
...
Can't think of the last time I ever used it for a phone call, maybe 6+ months ago. I use a Blackberry for all the phone and email stuff.

Er, maybe you should have purchased the iPod Touch? No contract, no monthlies.

Er, maybe you should have purchased the iPod Touch? No contract, no monthlies.

No 3G data download either...would have to rely on WiFi being available.

Er, maybe you should have purchased the iPod Touch? No contract, no monthlies.

I should have clarified that better - I don't use it for voice calls, but I have several data applications including some trading tools that I use all the time that well justify the monthly spend.