I’m in t-r-o-u-b-l-e
December 16, 2009
The Kindle for iPhone app is now available in Canada. That spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e for me.
I’ll be the first to admit that when Denise wrote that she was addicted to the Kindle for iPhone app I may have scoffed. When she claimed that she loved reading on her iPhone I may have said, “Piffle!”
I ate crow. It started with my Sony Reader. I love my Sony Reader. I don’t use it nearly enough as I should and I really need to start using it more (my sore wrists will thank me). I discovered I love reading on devices.
Then a few months after that I got my iPhone. I swear (pinky swear even!) that I never thought I’d like reading on it, even after I discovered I loved reading on my Sony. The screen, I declared, would be too small. I would not like it. HA! That lasted until I downloaded a few public domain books onto it using Stanza and started reading it while waiting for the bus in the afternoons. Then there were some Harlequin freebies (hey, I don’t say no to free books). The problem I discovered, wasn’t with the screen. It was with me. I didn’t want to stop reading the book when I got home.
Now, that’s not entirely new to me. I suck at putting down books. I like to read in big gulps and if I can finish it all in one go all the better. Plus the single-touch to turn a page? It’s like a video game. Flip! Flip! Flip!
But yesterday – yesterday was the nail in my coffin in terms of e-books. The Kindle app became available and it took be all of 3 seconds from when I found out about it to when I was downloading it. And then setting up my account for 1-click shopping (terrible, wonderful thing!) and then downloading a book.
We had dinner plans last night that necessitated me getting to the west end of town (thank you FIL for driving me so that I didn’t have to take transit) and waiting for the fake husband for an hour. I did something that made me feel vaguely guilty. I sat in the Starbucks of a Chapters and read a book on my Kindle app. (Am horrible Canadian.)
Now, since I don’t have a Kindle I don’t care about the syncing abilities. The bookmarking, changing text size, etc. I didn’t see a huge difference from Stanza. The one thing that I did see that I loved was the ability to lock the screen so that it didn’t switch to landscape when I jostle the phone – something that happens quite often when I’m getting on and off the bus or moving to let someone sit, etc.
And yes, the ability to buy books from anywhere with 1-click shopping? Very nice. Very convenient. Very dangerous. You see, I actually don’t buy most of my books. I get most of my physical books from the library. Most of the e-books I read are either from the library or are public domain. Only a very, very small percentage of the e-books I read are ones that I buy. But with the lure of buying them at any time, from anywhere? Dangerous.
I don’t think that the iPhone will ever replace my Sony (love it) though with the Kindle app it does have it beat for convenience. My Sony wins the cold weather war by allowing me to still turn the page when I’m wearing gloves. But still, that 1-click shopping and being able to buy e-books from everywhere with a cell phone signal? T-R-O-U-B-L-E
(Cross-posted at the BlogHer Book Club.)
December 16th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I can’t decide if I want a kindle or not…
Kailana´s last blog ..Two More Challenges!
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
December 21st, 2009 at 7:28 am
Honestly, I’m not sold on the Kindle unless you really want to buy most of the books that you read on it. The wireless downloading is sweet (really, I can’t pretend it’s not) but I want to be able to used e-books from other sources easily. I’m sticking with my Sony. Plus I can access Kindle books on my iPhone.
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December 17th, 2009 at 7:17 am
I recently discovered the joy of Kindle for iPhone too. I read Pride and Prejudice on it, while coaxing my new baby to sleep in her crib. I really like the interface, though so far I’ve only “bought” free books. I also like the black background and white text option.
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
December 21st, 2009 at 7:29 am
I did a lot of free books when I got my Sony. It actually came loaded with P&P. Who was I to argue with that? lol Free books are the gateway drug.
I usually read free e-books using the Stanza app. It does most of the things that the Kindle app does, except lock. (I think…)
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December 19th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
So, how does the app/phone compare to the Sony? I have a 505 and am LOVING it. I am finding I am even willing to pay for books because the free “illegal” versions are crap scan/ocr that make me want to kill myself the conversions are so bad.
I just don’t see myself enjoying reading on something the size of a phone.
D´s last blog ..My Sony 505- The Person of Quality’s Ebook Reader
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
December 21st, 2009 at 7:31 am
I like reading on the iPhone a lot more than I thought I would. I really like it for the convenience for than anything. I have the 700 though and I wouldn’t exchange it for must the iPhone. Among other things I can’t really use my iPhone when waiting for the bus anymore. It does not respond to mittens. sigh
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