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kindle for iphone

Amazon Releases a Kindle iPhone App, But Why?

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It was only a few days ago when the whole tech land was disturbed by the release of Amazon’s second generation e-book reader – the Kindle 2. Some of us may still be getting over the buzz created by the Kindle 2 and here comes Amazon again announcing the new Kindle for iPhone application.

The Kindle for the iPhone application tries to mimic what the Kindle does. By installing the application on your iPhone, you can practically purchase kindle electronic files (books, magazines, and newspapers) from the Amazon Kindle Store and have it directly sent to your iPhone. But that is not without any limitation. The process works only if you are within the coverage area of the Kindle’s Whispernet.

Now, that may be appalling for some especially since the iPhone unlike the Kindle is available worldwide. But of course, there is always a walk around. Like if you own a Kindle but you’re outside the Whispernet coverage area, you can always purchase Kindle materials from Amazon and have it downloaded to your PC. This issue is true only for those outside the Whispernet area. But for those within the coverage area, the beauty of the Kindle for the iPhone application is the fact that if you subscribe to a blogs or newspapers, updates and new contents can be automatically push to your iPhone. I don’t know about you, but for me that is absolutely awesome, right?

But the reason for the question in this post’s title has nothing to do with the coverage area but rather on a larger perspective. Is there really a need for a Kindle application for the iPhone? Have Amazon thought about this? What would be the implication of the Kindle iPhone application to the sales of the Amazon Kindle? What is Amazon really promoting, it’s catalog of paid electronic publications or the Kindle.

Certainly, those who are contemplating about getting a Kindle to use it for reading e-books might be having second thoughts now. I mean, what’s the use of getting a Kindle if you can read Kindle books, magazines and other materials on your iPhone?

Originally posted on March 4, 2009 @ 2:07 pm

Great! Kindle for iPhone Goes International, Now Give Us Kindle for Mac

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kindleforiphoneIn case you haven’t figured out yet how to download Kindle for iPhone even though it was only available at the U.S. iTunes Store, well don’t bother doing the trick anymore. Kindle for iPhone is now available internationally.

Meaning, no matter where you are, for as long as you are covered by the 60 countries as mentioned bv the official  announcement,  you can now download the free app on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

Kindle for iPhone features Amazon’s Whispersync which allows you to save and synchronize your bookmarks across all your Kindle devices – Kindle ereader, Kindle for PC or Kindle for iPhone and iPod Touch.  I’m telling you, this is one reason alone to download this app. The synchonization features is definitely one of the high end of this iPhone app.

Of course, Amazon is promoting this iPhone app as a companion to  its Kindle and Kindle DX ereaders. But many who don’t own the Kindle yet can do away with it and use Kindle for iPhone as a primary ebook reader.

Features of the app include:

  • Purchase, download and read hundreds of thousands of books available in the Kindle Store.
  • Read the beginning of books for free before they buy.
  • Add and automatically synchronize bookmarks and last page read.
  • Access their library of previously purchased Kindle books stored on Amazon’s servers for free.
  • Choose from six different font sizes and adjust words per line.
  • Add and view notes and highlights marked on Kindle and Kindle DX.
  • Read books in full color including children’s books, cookbooks, travel books, textbooks and graphic novels.

Ok now Amazon, please give us Kindle for Mac, next.

Ready to download the app? Here’s the iTunes Link.

Via Business Wire