Amazon releasing a Kindle iPhone app shortly after the introduction of the Kindle 2 was a brilliant move. It seemed to show that the emphasis was on the platform, not just one device. And that it was interested in making its customers happy. Unfortunately, to use the Kindle iPhone app, you still basically had to set your iPhone down and buy books on either your Kindle or the Amazon website. Sure, you could browse to it from the Safari browser on the iPhone, but the experience was laborious to say the least. Today, Amazon changed that a bit, and it may be an indication of where it’s going.
Now, when you click on the “Get Books” icon in the iPhone app, you’re taken to a page that has a very iPhone-friendly Kindle book browser. From here you can search the over 280,000 Kindle books or browse by things like category, New York Times Best Sellers or books recommended for you. Unfortunately, clicking on any of these items kicks you out of the iPhone app and into Safari, where you actually do your surfing/purchasing (again, in this new iPhone-friendly look). That simply appears to be a limitation of the Kindle iPhone app itself (which wasn’t updated, just the look of the Kindle iPhone website was), and it seems likely that Amazon will correct that soon so you can browse and buy right from within the app.
Such an update, along with the addition of the Stanza library of eBooks, would make the Kindle iPhone app a powerful one. It would also negate the desire of some people to actually go out and buy a Kindle, because the process would be just about as easy over an iPhone. Before everyone jumps on that, I realize the Kindle is a much better device for reading a book. I own a Kindle, it’s brilliant. But that doesn’t change two things: 1) It’s way too expensive (and the upcoming DX is even more ridiculously expensive) and 2) The Kindle itself is simply a hold-over device.
What I mean by that is that the Kindle as a product is not going to survive. It simply doesn’t make sense to carry around another piece of hardware that is used for basically one small thing (reading eBooks). Instead, it makes sense to carry around either a tablet computer that also has this functionality, or something like the iPhone. Given the success we’re seeing of eBooks on the iPhone platform, it should be clear that despite the smaller screen that can be hard on the eyes, people are very open to the idea of reading content on it. And the iPhone screen will get better for reading books, and tablet computers/netbook will come along with the functionality. The Kindle as a device is simply not a long term play as it stands right now. But the Kindle as a store, is.
And that’s what this seemingly small update to the Kindle web browsing interface on the iPhone is about. But there’s a very big twist coming down the road shortly. When the iPhone 3.0 software launches this summer, it will include the ability to do in-app purchases. You might think this would be a very obvious choice for Amazon to implement within the Kindle app to make purchasing even easier. But, with in-app purchases, Apple will be taking a 30% cut, just as it does for regular app purchases. You can bet that Amazon is not thrilled with that idea. I’d expect them to either try and cut some kind of better deal with Apple, or to stick with the web buying version. But would Apple be okay with that? And how does it’s rumored upcoming tablet device play into all this? Intrigue in the eBook world.
updates updates updates……
iTunes fail
http://www.epic.../load/8-1-0-296
when we have large screen iphone, why kindle?
I thought in-app purchases we’re not going to be available until 3.0? A workaround?
Very cool either way!
MG, you are an idiot. Your opinions only focus on tech people and completely ignore the normal people in this world. You know, the people that read books – in bed, on their couch, on the train, by the pool, etc.
“What I mean by that is that the Kindle as a product is not going to survive. It simply doesn’t make sense to carry around another piece of hardware that is used for basically one small thing (reading eBooks).”
That’s like saying it doesn’t make sense to carry a book or magazine around. God, you’re a moron.
Does it really make a lot of sense to argue that the Kindle is going to survive on the basis that I overlook normal people? Are “normal people” going to buy a $359 eBook reader? No.
Are normal people going to pay $100 **per month** for a phone that plays games that remind them of an Atari 2600?
Apparently.
$359 for someone who reads a lot of books is not a lot – especially with free wi-fi and the primitive browser.
kindle will evolve into a netbook. cost is the barrier at the moment, can’t have the screen and the performance at that price.
Marlo, I completely disagree with you, the average person doesn’t want to spend 359 dollars on a luxury device. It’s far easier and cheaper for the average individual to read an actual book “in bed, on their couch, on the train, by the pool, etc. ”
For someone like myself, I’ve found myself reading less specifically because I hate carrying around anything more then my cellphone. The Kindle for iPhone app is something I now use on a daily basis, and I love it. While I’d love to own the actual device for other times, I found the price way too high for justification, especially since its just ANOTHER piece of hardware I have to drag somewhere.
And MSO, what are you talking about? Have you even played any iPhone games? Some of the graphics surpass the PSP.
MG I think you hit the nail on the head with this article.
you’ve never actually played an iphone game have you
It’s all depend in the definition of ‘normal’, no?
Last time I was on an airplane I saw plenty of people with a kindle.
The kindle seems to be doing just fine surviving.
The kindle will do fine. $359 may be a bit pricey, especially given the current state of the economy, but there are always people out there looking for new innovative technology.
All I want is a decent free pdf reader.. on the iphone. Stanza has been dissapointing and kindle doesn’t even support it.
DX will, but that’ll cost ya over $500 and you’ll have to carry around a giant Kindle.
I owned the first Kindle and bought the second a couple weeks ago. I would generally agree with your idea about the store being larger than the device, but the implication the Kindle device will not survive at all is a bit far-fetched.
I have an iPhone and when I want to read, but don’t want to carry my Kindle with me (in a restaurant, etc.), I use the Kindle app. But the “easier-on-the-eyes”/larger screen on the Kindle will always be first choice over my iPhone when I’m laying in bed, on a long plane ride, etc.
Who wants to read a book on that piddly little iPhone screen?
And isn’t the iPhone really for fun yet mindless apps, like “Fart Bomb”?
A lot of people, apparently. As judged from the app sales charts.
As I’ve stated in reply to someone else below, I’ve read several books on that “piddly little screen” and it works great.
And since when is the iPhone “really for mindless apps”? There’s a shit ton of awesome stuff on the app store and this is not canceled out by the fact that fart apps exist. You might as well say that all restaurants suck just because McDonald’s exists.
I read all my news on the iPhone, TechCrunch, digg, drudgereport, NYT app…constantly.
Reading a book on the iPhone is not much of a stretch. It would be great if they came out with a tablet or Newton sized version of the iPhone.
I wonder how many people have ever read an ebook on their iphone, and I mean actually read the book. I have a couple ebook readers on my iphone and have downloaded a number of books and read none of them other than to play around with the app.
Anyone out there ever read a book “cover to cover” on their iphone?
for bored bloggers, the iphone as kindle-killer is a tempting story to try and create action where there is none.
Will the iphone kill the kindle before the google phone kills the iphone? Will any of that happen before facebook and twitter kill myspace? can google kill facebook before twitter or will twitter kill facebook only to be killed by google?
I use the Kindle iPhone app all the time, and it works great for me. I’ve actually read through several fairly long books on it and it’s saved me money on buying the actual physical books themselves.
It’s awesome having access to all of these e-books wherever I go, since my phone is obviously always with me. I love it.
Yes, I agree it is awesome to have the ebooks on the iphone. That is why amazon is offering the kindle app.
It is fantastic to be able to have your kindle wherever you normally read books (mine sits by the chair I typically sit when reading) and then have the iphone as the pocket kindle. Stuck waiting somewhere – pull up the kindle iphone app and it remembers what page you are on from your kindle.
One could think that Amazon might hedge and try to have both the kindle and be the de facto ebook reader for the iphone. But I think they know that people will not read much, and that power readers and newspaper readers won’t settle for a phone experience other than as a pocket backup.
The iphone for amazon is just another selling feature of the kindle. I got a kindle 2 and the presence of the app added to the decision.
Should amazon allow someone to buy a kindle book and not have a kindle, just an iphone? In the very short-term they might sell a few more $9.99 ebooks but I think it would confuse consumers into hesitation and it leads to a dead-end. People will not use the phone as their primary reading medium – and by reading I mean hundreds of pages not 140 characters.
I’ve actually read cover to cover 3 books on the iPhone, in fact, its the one app I’m constantly using.
I believe the iPhone Kindle app is currently US-only. I was pretty excited when I learned about it, but found it wasn’t available here in Canada.
Until they find a way to make it more broadly available, this whole “emphasis on the platform” is a giant FAIL to me.
I would rather use TC’s tablet. When is it coming out?
So the next gen iPhone will be sort of tablet?
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http://my-iphon...zz.blogspot.com
iphone +
macbook
=
phonebook?
iPhonebook
Dear Amazon
We like your services here in the UK and also enjoy reading books…
I love the idea of reading my Kindle books (and even purchase them) on my iPhone. But the only thing the article didn’t mention is the battery time of iPhone. It can’t compare with the real Kindle that used the e-ink. I bet the battery will drain fast before you finish reading a book. Any comments? Thanks!
Good point on the battery life.
What I don’t get about it is this – in the original version of the Kindle app – you can purchase it right inside the app… sort of.
If you go to Amazon first and download the “Sample” of the book, at the end of the book is a link that “buys the book” – right there.
If they can manage that, it would seem like they could go the rest of the way (technically speaking, of course – business issues aside).
-M
MG
If someone creates a better, cheaper version of the Kindle, then you are right that the Kindle will be replaced.
I think though that most people miss that the kindle is replacing the bookshelf, not the book. Now that Kindle is here, the paper book is what is going to be left behind.
I expect many versions in this product line. But, I do not expect to carry a 1+ pound tablet to bed to read, or the breakfast table. Kindle is an awesome format right now. If you travel and carry a book or multiples, the Kindle saves weight on traveling. If I had an iphone, I might not buy the Kindle also (at least before 45 when your eyesight goes).
Also the Kindle when looked at against the total cost to buy and store books makes great economic sense. It is only when you compare it to other products that it looks expensive. By buying new hardbacks on Kindle, the app more than pays for itself.
So, I agree that Kindle will be replaced eventually, but I expect it to be replaced by a better Kindle or a bigger iphone.
You did get everyone talking.
It would be unwise to use the app (vs. Safari) to do the actual purchasing… otherwise the revenue sharing arrangement with Apple kicks in, no?
I have been absolutely surprised at how much I don’t mind reading on the iPhone. And, when it comes down to us “normal” people having to choose between one of the two, I’d definitely choose the one that can do other things as well. Sure I may be paying monthly for that device, but I’m also getting my phone, on-the-go internet service, music, movies, games, AND a ton of books.
When money is an issue, the Kindle just can’t compete.
The very same day I was planning on ordering the Kindle, I read that the iphone app was released, after trying it, it became pointless to spend a few hundred dollars on an ebook reader.
But it’s too early to say that the Kindle as a product won’t survive, there are millions of book readers out there, there are endless of opportunities for the Kindle to grow beyond just book readers as well.
And if the Kindle stays just as an ebook reader, that may just be enough target market for Amazon.
Just because you and I think it’s stupid to carry around 2 devices that serves the same purpose doesn’t mean it’s a failure.
PS Since the search seems to be braindead, I might as well use this completely disjointed moment to guess…
Parislemon-Paris THEMMON
Mike Teevee in the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (starring Gene Wilder).
Don’t offer any silly alternatives to the name of the blog.
I learned it watching GAME SHOW CLIPS on You Tube!
about the iphone 30% cut on micropayments, it suks
basically u cant really sell actual stuff using it. it will be used only for virtual goods and application upgrades
Too bad you can’t buy book in Canada (or anywhere else I’m guessing) using the iPhone app. You can download the application (if you set up a US iTunes account), but you can’t buy books due to “geographic restrictions”. Lame.
It becomes increasingly apparent that borders are a hindrance to getting anything done.
I’m sort of surprised the TC crew seems to repeatedly state that as a device, the Kindle itself doesn’t have any staying power. It’s a great device and I don’t think tablets or netbooks will supplant it, because the use is entirely different. I always carried a book or three along with my laptop; back in the day I used to actually carry two laptops believe it or not.
The Kindle, with ease of the Amazon model, has reduced this load and substantially enhanced the info I can carry and access on the go in any situation. Laptops are inappropriate for a variety of setttings; the Kindle doesn’t have this issue.
I agree a greater variety of e-readers may come out, and that Amazon will probably release more and better Kindles frustratingly quickly (well, I thought the same of Sony, and they totally blew their latest device), but that’s always the case with any technology, at least in the first runs.
Does the iPhone kindle app use Wi-Fi or the cell phone network to download content?