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Amazon Launches a Web-Based iPad Kindle Reader
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You can buy books on the App!
This was the way I got some books from Amazon.
FMPOV looks like those readers aren't flying out like the used to... three different strategies, Apps (SW), readers(HW), now Appless (SW). I bet they are feeling the squeeze.
For me, I sync all my kindle books on both my iPad and reader, I use the reader more just because the reading experience is better outdoor, but the App is just the ticket when traveling.
Fun to see how this all works out...
could just buy Amazon one of these days with ALL THAT CASH they have laying around.
iAmatune anyone?
This was the way I got some books from Amazon.
FMPOV looks like those readers aren't flying out like the used to... three different strategies, Apps (SW), readers(HW), now Appless (SW). I bet they are feeling the squeeze.
For me, I sync all my kindle books on both my iPad and reader, I use the reader more just because the reading experience is better outdoor, but the App is just the ticket when traveling.
Fun to see how this all works out...
could just buy Amazon one of these days with ALL THAT CASH they have laying around. iAmatune anyone?
Touche! Apple, Looks like Amazon has pulled a sneaky one over on you. Sounds like a great idea. Wondering how far it will go before apple makes a move to get a hold it. Not everyone is going to agree these demands. I'm sure more workarounds are in the works
Hardly sneaky.
Apple has good marketing. They made it "cool" to have an App - even if you really didn't NEED to create one.
Amazon reached the point (after Apple's new restrictions) where it just made more sense to go native.
I Love Amazon
If this works as well as the potential suggests it will be great for consumers and I applaud Amazon for both their cloud players. If you are not an Amazon Prime user, you should also take a look at that. I find I really get a lot of use, and now I get free movies.
While I support Apples need to charge for in-app purchases, I question the implementation and I am not sure they should be charging retailers like Amazon for selling books. To me this would be like charging Orbitz for every flight they sell, or ebay for every auction won. Amazon is not really a publisher like the NYT. Apple would do better to focus on improving selection and price at the iBook store, which is almost always more expensive than Kindle.
Apple should charge for in-app purchases otherwise everyone would probably give away free apps and charge an in-app shareware fee without Apple getting their cut for hosting. Personally, I would prefer that model because sometimes I end up paying for Apps that are not as useful as you would expect. So, a try-before-you-buy option would be nice for users, but perhaps not so much for developers.
Anyway, hats off to Amazon. I think this may be the start of an exodus from Apples flawed App Store subscription model to a Cloud-based system.
If this works as well as the potential suggests it will be great for consumers and I applaud Amazon for both their cloud players. If you are not an Amazon Prime user, you should also take a look at that. I find I really get a lot of use, and now I get free movies.
While I support Apples need to charge for in-app purchases, I question the implementation and I am not sure they should be charging retailers like Amazon for selling books. To me this would be like charging Orbitz for every flight they sell, or ebay for every auction won. Amazon is not really a publisher like the NYT. Apple would do better to focus on improving selection and price at the iBook store, which is almost always more expensive than Kindle.
Apple should charge for in-app purchases otherwise everyone would probably give away free apps and charge an in-app shareware fee without Apple getting their cut for hosting. Personally, I would prefer that model because sometimes I end up paying for Apps that are not as useful as you would expect. So, a try-before-you-buy option would be nice for users, but perhaps not so much for developers.
Anyway, hats off to Amazon. I think this may be the start of an exodus from Apples flawed App Store subscription model to a Cloud-based system.
I don't know why you were voted down. You are 100% correct. Look people, don't vote down TRUE STATEMENTS just because you DON'T LIKE THEM.
Fun to see how this all works out...
iAmatune anyone?
There needs to be a moratorium on these types of comments. Maybe they're said in partial jest. Maybe not. But it's rather silly.
3rd party apps
I wonder if Apple will now try to block 3rd party web apps...or will there be a list of "Apple approved" web apps, otherwise you can't save it to your home screen???
Is this even allowed?
I wonder if Apple will now try to block 3rd party web apps...or will there be a list of "Apple approved" web apps, otherwise you can't save it to your home screen???
Is this even allowed?
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Does it REALLY matter if you save a bookmark to the homescreen or it's an app icon? Personally - I don't care as long as it works.
Not me. I have an iPod Touch and iPad. I don't have 100% Internet connectivity, and I fly in planes a lot. And I want to be able to access my reading material.
I understand why Amazon did this, but I've never been a fan of "web-based" technologies when something already exists that is self-contained.
If company X doesn't want to pay the 30% to Apple any longer they may instead be able to make a deal with Amazon and piggy back on Amazon's web app. Amazon makes some percentage, Apple loses their 30%.
Amazon would want iOS users to start using their web app instead of the iOS app because you can buy books from the web app. If it's easier to buy books people will buy more, or at least that's one of Apple's selling points for paying the 30% AppleTax to let customers buy directly from the iOS app.
Bull. Apple NEVER HAD 30% of Amazon book sales... the app NEVER SUPPORTED in-app purchasing.
Sheesh.
Look, I don't use Kindle, so I can't comment on this app's specifics. But this isn't about how the app gets to your home screen. My experience is that web apps are inferior to native apps. Performance, features, stability, etc. If the Amazon Kindle looks, feels, and performs as well as the native iPad app, then this is a win-win. But I doubt that's the case.
Since it's HTML5, it's a bit like Amazon beat Apple at their own game with this.
And it really does serve Apple right for the terms they enacted. It's also a good move should Apple decide to become even more anti-competitive with their App Store terms.
i agree. Hopefully other publishers will follow suit.
Since it's HTML5, it's a bit like Amazon beat Apple at their own game with this.
And it really does serve Apple right for the terms they enacted. It's also a good move should Apple decide to become even more anti-competitive with their App Store terms.
Not really. Apple has always insisted that there are two ways to do apps for iOS. Native apps and web apps. Sure, native apps are getting all of the press, but web apps are supported just fine.
Also, Apple wasn't getting any revenue from the Kindle app to begin with since it's a free app. OK, they get the $100 developer fee that Amazon had to pay.
ft
amazon is not the only vendor taking this path.
VUDU is also doing the same for its movie rental servic.e
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/vudu-starts-streaming-movies-to-the-ipad-chooses-the-web-app-ro/
VUDU is also doing the same for its movie rental servic.e
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/vudu-starts-streaming-movies-to-the-ipad-chooses-the-web-app-ro/
Since it's HTML5, it's a bit like Amazon beat Apple at their own game with this.
And it really does serve Apple right for the terms they enacted. It's also a good move should Apple decide to become even more anti-competitive with their App Store terms.
a little competition never hurts innovation
Very cool.
While I do read on the iPad, I'm still partial to actual books. I know there will probably be fewer and fewer newer titles in book form - and I'm alright with that, but the classics will still be available from various sources in whatever editions.
There's just something about a beautiful book (hardcover especially) - the binding, the feel of the paper, the smell of it, the typeface and typography, all the little touches that also help the content come alive.
I welcome ebooks and PDFs, though. They're extremely convenient, especially when they can also be searched (almost like a concordance) - I can search for particular words and phrases in a PDF using Preview, for example, and I've got entire books in PDF format. Super useful.
Books will always have a special place in my life, though, and my bookshelves will always be lined with them.
Agreed. But whaddya gonna do. The rating system is pretty silly, but it is what it is, and it's the decision of the website owner(s).
I really don't see this as having any effect on Apple at all.
While I do read on the iPad, I'm still partial to actual books. I know there will probably be fewer and fewer newer titles in book form - and I'm alright with that, but the classics will still be available from various sources in whatever editions.
There's just something about a beautiful book (hardcover especially) - the binding, the feel of the paper, the smell of it, the typeface and typography, all the little touches that also help the content come alive.
I welcome ebooks and PDFs, though. They're extremely convenient, especially when they can also be searched (almost like a concordance) - I can search for particular words and phrases in a PDF using Preview, for example, and I've got entire books in PDF format. Super useful.
Books will always have a special place in my life, though, and my bookshelves will always be lined with them.
Agreed. But whaddya gonna do. The rating system is pretty silly, but it is what it is, and it's the decision of the website owner(s).
Since it's HTML5, it's a bit like Amazon beat Apple at their own game with this.
And it really does serve Apple right for the terms they enacted. It's also a good move should Apple decide to become even more anti-competitive with their App Store terms.
I really don't see this as having any effect on Apple at all.
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I was playing with this web app this morning before heading to work.
What I like: Built in kindle bookstore in the web app! It's not just a link either. Seems optimized to the iPad.
What I don't like: Actually reading the books. Not having the swipe animation and turning pages with swipe motion make it seem like something is off...
What I like: Built in kindle bookstore in the web app! It's not just a link either. Seems optimized to the iPad.
What I don't like: Actually reading the books. Not having the swipe animation and turning pages with swipe motion make it seem like something is off...