My first impression of the adapted app? Still a little clunky.
I’d seen the original Kindle here and there, and actually got a personal tour of the Kindle 2 this past weekend (courtesy @AdamAinbinder). Whenever I have a new toy in hand, it’s like being a kid in a candy store. The Kindle is no different.
Since I wasn’t completely convinced of the Kindle 2 yet, it was a pleasant surprise to read today that Amazon had released Kindle for the iPhone. Why? Because 1) no need to spend $359, and 2) wi-fi access!
Like any gadget geek, I downloaded the free installation from the App Store immediately (or as quick as the App Store would allow me since other brilliant minds had the same thought.) This is where my excitement stopped, and this blog post began:
Peeve #1 – I went to download a couple sample chapters to test it out, and to my chagrin, I can’t download or purchase books directly from the Kindle App.
Peeve #2 – The app reroutes me to the Kindle Store on Amazon’s Web site and suggests I can do so on the iPhone Safari App. But there is no mobile version of the Kindle Store, meaning there is no easy way to navigate it from the iPhone.
Peeve #3 – The Kindle Store is not integrating my Amazon Wishlist which has both books and periodicals. Instead it’s suggesting, I might be interested in Danielle Steele. (Uh, no thanks!)
Getting past these issues, I do like the fact that in the Kindle Store, I’m able to purchase – or better yet, preview – chapters of a book directly to my iPhone. Which, then lead me to the next issues with the Kindle App (and I stand to be corrected on these points since I’ve only tried sample chapters of a book):
Peeve #4 – I can’t search terms, phrases in Wikipedia like you can on the Kindle 2.
Peeve #5 – I can’t search definitions for words in a built-in dictionary like you can on the Kindle 2.
Obviously the screen is much smaller on an iPhone and the readability of the screen is not akin to the Kindle’s screen. But the idea that I don’t have to carry one more electronic gadget on my travels is nice. (I already can’t leave home without my AmEx, laptop, SLR, Coolpix, and iPhone!)
Put another way, my ideal e-book reader would:
I’m living in an ideal world. But if just the other day I’d wished for a Kindle App for the iPhone and it’s come true… I’m guessing the list above isn’t too far away from reality or fruition.
From a business perspective, I’m glad Amazon has released their e-books to the iPhone. It’s a huge opportunity and marketshare that Amazon can access easily. It also – maybe – provides Apple an incentive to beef-up their next version of the iPhone so that readablity is improved!
Read moreI often get the comment from my Facebook friends that I must be updating my status all day long. In fact:
Twitter integrates really well with Facebook. Let your Facebook friends know what you’re up to or what you find interesting by updating your Tweets (hopefully through a third-party Twitter app). If you’re not already integrating the two, here’s a simple look at how.
To see the Twitter App setting after setting up your Twitter feed to Facebook, simply click on “Edit” in your “Applications” window at the upper right of your “Home” page:
The Twitter App will default to the following setting, which I recommend:
That’s it! If you have any questions, feel free to message me in Twitter @sherrymain or in Facebook.
Read moreSometime back Richard MacManus of Read Write Web (@rww) asked readers what their top mobile Web apps were on his blog. I submitted the following response via Twitter, which subsequently was posted:
Sherry Main: for iphone: facebook, twitterific, wordpress, scribeshare, google maps
I’ve changed my mind, and in closing 2008, I deem the following as my favorite mobile apps of the year: