Amazon Releases Free 'Kindle for iPhone' Application

[MacRumors]

Amazon has released a free application that delivers Kindle book-reading to the iPhone:

Kindle for iPhone allows Apple iPhone and iPod touch owners to read Kindle books using a simple, easy-to-use interface. You can shop for hundreds of thousands of books at www.amazon.com/kindlestore, and wirelessly transfer the books to your iPhone or iPod touch. Enjoy Amazon’s low prices on Kindle books, including New York Times Best Sellers and most new releases for $9.99, unless marked otherwise.

Features include:

- Buy a Kindle book from your Mac, PC, or iPhone using a Web browser and wirelessly transfer the books to your iPhone
- Read first chapters of any book for free before you buy
- Download the Kindle books you already own for free — they are automatically backed up on Amazon.com
- Adjust the text size, add bookmarks, and view the annotations you created on your Kindle device

The iPhone client will also allow you to seamlessly switch back and forth between your Kindle device and Kindle for iPhone while keeping bookmarks and reading location synced between the devices.

App Store Link: Kindle for iPhone, Free

Article Link: Amazon Releases Free 'Kindle for iPhone' Application

[zulhilmi]

I am donwloading it and hope that it can be used to buy ebooks from outside the US

[LloydBraun89]

just downloaded. kind of annoying that you have to go to the website to download stuff. wondering why it cant be built into the app. oh well.

[danielpi]

I love SJ, but am looking forward to seeing him eat his words. "Nobody reads anymore." What?! I think that's pretty good evidence that Steve needs to get himself some better and smarter friends.

As for the practicality of the app... it gives me a neckache just thinking about someone trying to read "War and Peace" on a 3.5 inch screen.

[BillyShears]

Originally Posted by danielpi

I love SJ, but am looking forward to seeing him eat his words. "Nobody reads anymore." What?! I think that's pretty good evidence that Steve needs to get himself some better and smarter friends.

I'm sure Jobs and his friends read. I bet most successful people do. His quote that "people don't read anymore" was based on a statistic that 40% of people in the U.S. read one book or less in 2007.

Here is the relevant passage from the New York Times:
"It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore," he said. "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole [Kindle] conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore."

[coolfactor]

Yah, what's with this being a US-only release? I never considered eBooks until hearing about this. I'm not buying a Kindle, but would read books on my iPhone. Come to Canada already! Apparently it will have a US trial run of 6 months?

[Michael CM1]

Originally Posted by BillyShears

I'm sure Jobs and his friends read. I bet most successful people do. His quote that "people don't read anymore" was based on a statistic that 40% of people in the U.S. read one book or less in 2007.

Here is the relevant passage from the New York Times:
"It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore," he said. "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole [Kindle] conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore."

Insert the word "books" between "read" and "anymore" and it doesn't sound so crazy. Many people obviously read, but a lot of them (ahem, me) do most of their reading on a computer screen. I work for a newspaper and hardly read the finished print copy. However, I'm ALWAYS reading AP news on my computers and iPhone, and I also use the NY Times and USA Today apps.

I do sorta agree with SJ. I think the Kindle is flawed because all it lets you do is read books, newspapers and magazines (right?). That's great if you're a bookworm, but it's just not enough to pry $359 away from a lot of people. Obviously there's a market for it, but I don't see "huge" success for it unless the price drops and the device evolves into more.

That being said, I'm very interested to try this app out. I think eBooks have a future, but there's a lot to work out -- namely people like JK Rowling objecting to them because she thinks we should all read the paper version. Well, I have a hard copy of each Harry Potter book. Maybe I want to carry a version around on my iPhone that is more portable than a big, thick book.

[Andrew K.]

Originally Posted by BillyShears

I'm sure Jobs and his friends read. I bet most successful people do. His quote that "people don't read anymore" was based on a statistic that 40% of people in the U.S. read one book or less in 2007.

Here is the relevant passage from the New York Times:
"It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore," he said. "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole [Kindle] conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore."

True, I have only read one book a year, but I just bought the new kindle 2, my sister already has it and the e-ink screen ( though sounds like a step back ) Is something you have to experience in person before you shun it out all together. The Kindle 2 has re-ignited my interest in reading more. So even though Jobs thought it was a flawed product, amazon has proven to respark some interest in reading again in alot of people.

First and foremost it's an eBook Reader, so I wish people would stop complaining for things it doesn't have like a color screen, when's the last you read novel with pictures? I know it may be good for textbooks and some other pics for newspapers and blogs in the future, but right now I think it is packaged well for what it is aimed for. The design is excellent and 2gb for books and maybe some subscriptions is enough for me, plus I got mine for $300 so I couldn't beat that.

Also I bet if Apple eventually came out with one it would be called the iBook, haha

[Truffy]

Originally Posted by BillyShears

I'm sure Jobs and his friends read. I bet most successful people do. His quote that "people don't read anymore" was based on a statistic that 40% of people in the U.S. read one book or less in 2007.

Here is the relevant passage from the New York Times:
"It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore," he said. "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole [Kindle] conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore."

What people really need is an app that reads the book to them. At least that's what I'd need before any of this crap became of use to me. Even if it was available outside the US. And I had an iPhone. Neither of which is the case at the moment or for the forseeable future.

[ptsube]

Originally Posted by BillyShears

I'm sure Jobs and his friends read. I bet most successful people do. His quote that "people don't read anymore" was based on a statistic that 40% of people in the U.S. read one book or less in 2007.

Here is the relevant passage from the New York Times:
"It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore," he said. "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole [Kindle] conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore."

Well I'm trying to make up for the rest, I read about 100 books last year. Other than Blu-ray, Nascar and, American Idol, I don't even turn on my TV. Loving this app!

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by BillyShears

"It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore," he said. "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole [Kindle] conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore."

But you know what? 90% of the people in the US don't use Macintosh software. So what is the point of selling computers that run Mac Software because "nobody" uses it.

If I could sell a book a cheap $250 book reader even at a small 10% margin to even 1% of the world I'd be more than rich. I don't care if 40% don't read. I just need to sell to those few (one in a hundred) people who likely got straight "As" in school and still read.

Isn't that Apple's business model? Sell only to a very small and selected market, those who can and will buy a premium price for a premium product. Apple purposely ignores that largest segment of the computer market, the low end.

[nagromme]

Thanks for the screenshots.

I wish it had subpixel anti-aliasing, but I know that would have to be custom (the OS doesn't seem to do it) and orientation-dependent.

Originally Posted by BillyShears

I'm sure Jobs and his friends read. I bet most successful people do. His quote that "people don't read anymore" was based on a statistic that 40% of people in the U.S. read one book or less in 2007.

Here is the relevant passage from the New York Times:
"It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore," he said. "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole [Kindle] conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore."

In other words, 60% of people in the U.S. read two books or more last year, and some unknown number of the rest read one book? Sounds like a sizable "niche" market to me! Especially when electronic downloads have no manufacturing cost.

If Jobs meant that books don't have a big enough market to be worth going after in "e" form, I'd have to disagree. Even a small niche can make money, and/or pave the way for future profits. (Example: AppleTV!)

[Porchland]

Originally Posted by danielpi

As for the practicality of the app... it gives me a neckache just thinking about someone trying to read "War and Peace" on a 3.5 inch screen.

Originally Posted by Macmanus

don't they deliver free glasses ? How can one read on such a small screen and not go blind ?? Beats me.

Originally Posted by gcmexico

no way I can read a book of the iPhone screen...I'll stick with my Kindle 2

Exactly. Bring on the $399 7-inch iPod touch, and I'll be first in line.

[pjgeer]

Originally Posted by Porchland

Exactly. Bring on the $399 7-inch iPod touch, and I'll be first in line.

Diddo!

[Arran]

Originally Posted by Porchland

Exactly. Bring on the $399 7-inch iPod touch, and I'll be first in line.

I agree with QCassidy above. No one form factor will "win". It's like the iPod and Apple TV: They're complementary channels for different environments. Kindle-sized for hour-long sessions at home. Iphone-sized for a quick fix on the go.

Amazon likely realized they NEED different form factors to succeed in e-books. Rather than re-invent the wheel (and then convince folks to BUY it in a down economy. And then need to support various hardware platforms long term) they just jumped on the Apple bandwagon.

Nice move.

Here's a thought experiment: Imagine Apple invented and marketed the AppleTV before the iPod came into being. The iTunes store (content sales) would be no big deal (much like the Kindle), yes?

Next, after lackluster sales, imagine they invent the "AppleTV-to-go" (ie., the iPod/iPhone) with all the content and distribution infrastructure already in-place. How do you think sales will do then?

[Gasu E.]

Originally Posted by danielpi

I love SJ, but am looking forward to seeing him eat his words. "Nobody reads anymore." .

That struck me as a disengenous comment by The Steve to throw everyone off track. It was just a bit over the top. Even if 85% of the population rarely reads, the remaining 15% is both a big segment and a relatively affluent, discerning one.

I believe, based on The Steve's comment, that Apple has something up the corporate sleeve in this area, but like all new-caetgory products Apple intends it to be a game-changer.

[jhsfosho]

This sounds pretty cool, but I don't know if my eyes could take reading off my iPod's screen for extended periods of time. If its something quick I don't mind the iPod's screen but I can't use it for a long time like I would need to for reading a book.

[matperk]

Anyone else having trouble adding subscriptions? My iPhone shows up in my Amazon account as registered, but when I go to add a subscription, it says that I don't have a registered device.

[scirica]

Originally Posted by matperk

Anyone else having trouble adding subscriptions? My iPhone shows up in my Amazon account as registered, but when I go to add a subscription, it says that I don't have a registered device.

Didn't scroll through all 190 posts, but the word from Amazon is that subscriptions to newspapers and magazines are not available on the iPhone. I ran into the same message when trying to download the WSJ. I suggested to them that they need to return some message when an iPhone only user tries to buy a subscription instead of just making it look like they aren't registered.

[retroneo]

Originally Posted by LloydBraun89

just downloaded. kind of annoying that you have to go to the website to download stuff. wondering why it cant be built into the app. oh well.

i'm sure it's coming soon....

[macfan881]

Originally Posted by LloydBraun89

just downloaded. kind of annoying that you have to go to the website to download stuff. wondering why it cant be built into the app. oh well.

you can use amazons app to to make things a lil smother

[the vj]

Originally Posted by LloydBraun89

just downloaded. kind of annoying that you have to go to the website to download stuff. wondering why it cant be built into the app. oh well.

Oh God, you are the mother of laziness... all you have to do is to move your FINGER!!!

Or would you rather:
Take a shower
Dress up
leave your house
get in to your car (in the winter)
drive 10 minutes to the book stort (plus the traffic)
park your car (after looking for a parking spot)
get off your car
walk to the store (if is in a mall you would have to walk more)
enter the store (if is open)
ask for a book
search for it
get the book (if you find it)
pay for it
get back to your car

... you get the point

[regularg0nz0]

Excellent timing.

I was 1-click away from ordering a Kindle 2 yesterday afternoon after seeing the Cali's Geek-brief unboxing.

Glad I waited.

Still need to find about 30 more useful things to buy from Amazon to pay for Amazon Prime, tho. Maybe an Optimus Prime via Amazon Prime?

[Chundles]

Originally Posted by zulhilmi

I am donwloading it and hope that it can be used to buy ebooks from outside the US

Very much doubt it.

[knightlie]

Originally Posted by Chundles

Very much doubt it.

Yeah, I doubt it too, but if they did this outside the US I'd get an iPod Touch for this alone. Great news.