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News March 4, 2009
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Amazon Kindle for iPhone now available

Gear Diary Amazon Kindle for iPhone now available photo

The Amazon Kindle is now available for iPhone. No real advance notice in this one other than the slides that Amazon used during the Kindle 2 press conference indicating that the ebook reader would be available on other mobile devices. I set it up on my iPhone in under 30 seconds. Downloaded a book from my library (you cannot purchase books via iPhone) in another 30. Was reading away in under 1.5 minutes. So far as I can tell you are unable to download any subscription items (magazines, newspapers, blogs). There’s also no “pinch zoom” – if you need to re-size fonts you’ll have to select from one of several pre-set layouts. I find it a bit freakish to have to put in my whole Amazon.com account just to read books. Amazon needs a separate Kindle account user name and password. Other than that – the app is free. If you own an iPhone but held off on buying a Kindle due to the hardware price – this is a good way to experience eBook reading without the expense of buying a Kindle.

Kindle for iPhone (iTunes link)

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About Wayne Schulz

View all posts by Wayne Schulz
Wayne is a diehard Blackberry user and consultant specializing in Sage MAS90 Accounting Software. He lives in Glastonbury CT with his two children. When not helping them with their homework or pushing the latest school fundraiser off on his co-workers, he is active hiking, Scuba Diving and investigating all manner of technology.

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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Judie Judie Lipsett

    This is amazing, and so sudden! :-)

  • Philippe Radley

    I don't think you can download books unless you have first bought them for the Kindle, something you cannot do unless you own one, nor do I get the point of this, "I find it a bit freakish to have to put in my whole Amazon.com account just to read books.", since this step takes seconds. You are right that you cannot download subscription material which, for me, is without significance: the NYTimes which I read on the Kindle is available in a tailored and perfectly usable iphone application, as are many of the other Kindle subscription publications.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/mas90guru Wayne Schulz

    I haven't spent a lot of time with this since writing about it this morning. I agree that I dislike putting in my entire Amazon account number.

    I completely love the idea of flexibility and being able to start reading a book in one place and wind up on the same page on my Kindle.

    I haven't tried, but according to WSJ you can download direct to your Kindle for iPhone — though it must be done through Safari and not within K4I.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/cgavula cgavula

    1st – you definitely do NOT have to have a kindle.

    2nd – what do you mean it needed your whole account number? I used my normal amazon account login name/pw and it utilized my 1-click setting in the background but I never had to enter any number into the app.