Hot on the heels of releasing their Kindle 2, Amazon released a Kindle application for the iPhone. They've either realized that iPhone and iPod Touch users are less likely to want to carry around another device, or they want to increase their market share. The iTunes store wouldn't be such a success if it worked only with iPods, afterall. But is Kindle for iPhone a sorry excuse for an ebook reader, or does it get the job done?
First, let me start off by saying that the Kindle for iPhone is not the first ebook reader for the iPhone. Other applications such as Stanza offer free ebook content for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Obviously, an ebook reader for the iPhone is not a novel idea (that was an awful pun - but I promise it wasn't intentional).
But a free version of the ebook reader Amazon sells for $359 that is connected to a huge - and somewhat affordable - source of content? That's kind of new.
But at the end of the day, does Kindle of iPhone pale in comparison to the Kindle 2? Having had the opportunity to try out a Kindle 2 and an iPhone, I felt it was my duty to compare the two.
First, let's take a look at the advantages to using Kindle for iPhone.
- You don't have to deal with the painfully slow screen refresh rate that plagues the Kindle 2. You can actually push two buttons at once - accidentally or on purpose - without your screen going crazy on you.
- Infinitely better graphics. You can see the cover in color and in-text images are delightfully clear. Ok, the images on the Kindle 2 aren't really that bad, but the iPhone images are definitely better (see below).
- You don't have to deal with that annoying little joystick thanks to the touch screen sported by iPhones and iPod Touches. No scrolling through individual items to get to #56 - you just tap and go (see below).
- Convenience. You can read the latest NYT Bestseller and listen to Lily Allen's new album with the same device - at the same time.
- Even though you have to purchase the content, using Kindle for iPhone is loads more affordable than the Kindle 2. Odds are you already have one, or won't be buying it for this specific purpose.
But Kindle for iPhone isn't all that perfect. It does have quite a few downsides.
- It's an LCD screen. For some users (like me), this makes it difficult to read for prolonged periods of time. The Kindle 2 screens wins in the "easy on the eyes" category.
- The screen is wee small. Yes, you can adjust the font size. But if you have poor vision, the Kindle for iPhone application isn't going to do much for you except give you repetitive motion injury from the constant page turning. The Kindle 2 is champion here as well. Check out the differences between the smallest and largest fonts on the iPhone:
- You can't rotate your iPhone or iPod Touch and use the horizontal reading mode. Which, yes, I know you can't do on the Kindle. But this is a feature that should have been implemented to make it work better with Apple's technology. And! Other ebook readers can do it.
- Another feature that's missing: you can't purchase content directly within the application. I was expecting this feature because it seems to go hand-in-hand with the iPhone and iPod Touch, but it's not there. You either have to use Safari on your iPhone, or log on to Amazon on your computer.
- Unlike other ebook reader applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch, you're stuck with the color scheme provided for you. Fortunately, Amazon didn't leave us with a glaring white background, but it's still a few shades brighter than I'd like. Again, the Kindle 2 is restricted in this sense as well: you can't change the color of eink and epaper.
- You can't ANNOTATE. This made me cry. You can read annotations you
placed on the text using your Kindle, but you can't actually make them
with the iPhone application - you're stuck with boring old bookmarks
(see below). What's the damn point then?! I want my annotations!
- The iPhone's battery life isn't the greatest thing in the world, especially if you're using it to do everything. How many chapters of Fool will I be able to get away with reading in between texting, placing calls, checking email, and listening to music?
So what's the verdict?
In a pinch, I'd use my iPhone to read content from the Amazon Kindle store. But I don't think I'll shell out $9.99 for the full version of Fool - or any other book for that matter - on my iPhone on a regular basis. In many ways, the Kindle 2 wins out over the Kindle for iPhone application.
Although, the Kindle for iPhone app would have come in handy when I was stuck in Heathrow with an 11 hour delay and all of the shops were closed...
Either way, both the Kindle 2 and Kindle for iPhone application have very specific target audiences. The average user isn't going to want to spend loads of money to read books on their iPhone. The convenience of the iPhone and iPod Touch application may get Amazon some extra sales, but I don't think it's going to be a revolutionary application.
Some people will enjoy using their iPhone as a substitute Kindle, and I think it is excellent that Amazon is opening up its store to users with other devices.
But it's not perfect. What they need to focus on is opening up the Kindle so it's not restricted to Amazon's content only so it becomes a justifiable - and environmentally friendly - alternative to purchasing paper copies of books, printing out PDFs, and other documents.
(Side note: Fool is a very good book. If you have any interest in reading it, I'd recommend buying a copy, iPhone, Kindle, or paper.)
All images taken by Liz Abinante.