Kindle iPhone app in Oz, one less reason to get Nooky
Posted on 15. Dec, 2009 by JD in News, blog, kindle
OK, so the attraction of Barnes and Noble’s dual screen Nook seems strong. I mean, Android, a colour touchscreen, web browsing and e-ink reading sounds like the business. I was keen, and I have a Kindle, which I’m really happy with (when I can prise it out of my wife’s hands). Yep, the Nook promised to take ereading to the next level. Until people actually got their hands on it.
Engadget and others have liked aspects of the device but havemade much of its sluggish performance and confusing UI. Apparently there’s time for a quick cuppa between initiating and completing actions via the touchscreen (where almost all functions are controlled), and the e-ink screen lags the touchscreen significantly. Bummer. I can’t attest to this first-hand because you can’t get them in Australia yet – US buyers have barely begun getting theirs.
So what would the frustration factor be of having a nice shiny colour-touchscreen device that you have to wait on? Probably significant – and maybe equivalent to something like driving a Ferrari on your P-plates. Would you rather have a dependable mono device that moves quickly (enough)? I know I would.
But the other major factor that had me salivating for some Nooky was the lending feature. Nook owners can lend a piece of content to someone else with a Nook or Nook app for 14 days. The book/periodical vanishes from your library for that period, then returns. Sound good? Yes, but here come the buts. But its been reported that only about half of titles support the LendMe feature, and, really, how many people are you going to know with Nooks or the app?
But, hey, the Kindle iPhone app is here to save us.
Yep, it’s here to download for nix onto your iPhone or iPod Touch, devices that many people already own, use and know.
And it brings sharing to Kindle. I downloaded the app, plugged in my logons and am instantly at my Amazon account/bookshelf. My wife is into the Stieg Larsson series of novels (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo etc) and I haven’t been able to get near the Kindle to read them, but in about 15 seconds the first book is downloaded to my iPhone for free. And she’s still got it on her/my Kindle. Yes, it’s pretty limited sharing, but it’s all a couple needs. I haven’t had a chance to check it out on a third device but a quick Google reveals that one title can be downloaded to up to six devices.
So the Kindle app (and the PC version) turns the Kindle into a relatively fast and seamless WiFi device with sharing for up to six devices. And a device that doesn’t make funionality promises it can’t live up to.
With the right address tweaking, you can even access the entire Amazon catalogue at US prices.
