When the Kindle was released last week, a lot of people, including Eli, our reviewer of the Kindle, made the inevitable comparison to the iPhone. I know it is not the same kind of product, but the question was asked by many; “Do I really need to spend all that money on a Kindle when I can just read on an iPhone”? Well, seems like Amazon was listening.
They just released a new Kindle app for the iPhone, and it is free. I personally believe (wasn’t that the first 3 words uttered by the South Carolina Miss Teen USA contestant? The funniest video of 2008, NO QUESTION! See the video below.) that Amazon did a very smart thing with the release of this app. Many people out there (“don’t have maps” see the video, you will understand :)) do not want to go and spend $350 on a new Kindle for the few books they are going to read. I am among those few people, and for the first time ever, I am now considering buying books on Amazon.com.
Do you think Amazon is digging a grave for the Kindle with the introduction of this app or will it only increase their revenue? Let me just say that Amazon has this whole thing set up that the Kindle syncs with the app, so as not to make them exclusive, you can use both seamlessly.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
-Hillel
well, i think the kindle is one great over priced product that will be affordable with in the next 2-3 years, getting people on board and using a kindle app for the iphone is brilliant.
you get the consumers using the format and the changes, you get them to buy books in this method and when the price of the kindle will get to 199$, and it will you have thousands of people just waiting in line.
i think that today any market penetration you want to do try it first with a “iphon” app.
I just downloaded the app. I’m not so impressed. I think if you a big reader you are going to get the Kindle or buy the book. It is a clever way to grab some of the iPhone market. Im sure they app didn’t cost so much to develop and they will cover there expenses in the first few months. This does not “wow” me but its a good call on Amazon’s side
I still would prefer a bigger screen for reading. Otherwise my finger would get tired quickly…
Lea, I hear that, it’s a good point, but a point worth spending $350 on? Not so sure. What do u think?
Who would choose to read a book on a little device like that?
Why?
I think it just changes the book from the leisure experience that it normally should be to a working experience.
I would not read a book on a small hand-held electronic device.
Unless i was totally sad and trying to look cool.!
This product ignores all social and physical aspects of reading such as the texture of a book – cover – collection … etc..
ps you expect looks and brains?
hey hillel,
well as a person who has used the original KINDLE, I would say that reading off the kindle and the iphone would be totally separate experiences. the great thing about the kindle is it doesn’t hurt your eyes, like most electronic screens do. they really have gotten down the “feel” of the book and i dont think the iphone could ever replace that. at the same time, the kindle is still not a perfect replacement for a book.
phil
Though I havn’t tried the kindle yet, and I understand that it’s somewhat less painful then reading a book online (such as through the wonderful guttenberg project), I still think it can’t be compared to the full experience of reading a book for leisure (also, consider the fact that I do most of my reading on Shabbat, an electric device will not be useful for me). I do think, though, that it would have a great use to me as an academic (instead of having to go to the University library and making tons of photocopies) and as a Torah scholar (imagine the Bar Ilan project on Kindle! wow!)
Apparently you need to watch that video again and again. SOUTH Carolina, not NORTH.
Anywhoooo…if I want a “real” book experience, as I read tons of books a year, I get the “real” book. You can’t simulate high-quality paper with cut edges with e-ink.