Kindle sync with iPhone?

[JSWolf]

I'm hoping someone figures out how to get the PID from these cell phones so we can strip the DRM.

[curtw]

They really just need to sell "Kindle" content to anyone who brings a valid Mobipocket PID to the store. Desktop computers, mobile devices, phones, whatever. Treat ebook sales the same way Apple uses the iTunes store: as a sales pitch for the hardware. If people see what great content they can get at great prices, then they'll start thinking about the next step ("I really could use a better device on which to read this.")

[olandp]

I don't think porting kindle content to the iphone or any other phone would be really worth any investment. The mobile reading experience comes in 2 parts. software and hardware. If Kindle content is able to sync with Iphone then that would take care of the software part but the best part about the kindle in my opinion is the way the text is rendered on the screen. the digital ink technology is what makes it as easy on the eyes as a hard back book. Can't wait to get mine!

[radiationman]

The question is what is Amazon more interested in selling - eBooks or Kindles?

If Amazon is more interested in selling Kindles then why bother working on an iPhone reader app because that could very possibly cannibalize Kindle sales. There are quite a few folks iPhone owners who wouldn't bother to get a Kindle if there was a competing reader app for the iPhone. Heck, given the full color display on the iPhone/iPod touch I would bet that text could be displayed in a manner that mimicked the look of digital ink.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by radiationman

If Amazon is more interested in selling Kindles then why bother working on an iPhone reader app because that could very possibly cannibalize Kindle sales.

I would not be surprised at all if you could only read Kindle books using a cell phone only if you were a Kindle owner.

BOb

[MonaLS]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I would not be surprised at all if you could only read Kindle books using a cell phone only if you were a Kindle owner. BOb

I think that would be a sad decision for Amazon, they could draw so many people in to Amazon if they allowed purchases for all cell phone users. But I could see it.

[radiationman]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I would not be surprised at all if you could only read Kindle books using a cell phone only if you were a Kindle owner.

BOb

I hadn't thought of that possibilty...

But I have to wonder - what is Amazon's long term goal when it comes to e-books and Kindle?

Are they serious about expanding Kindle sales/use?

I can't help but think that one of the things that is potentially holding back sales of the Kindle is that people can't touch it before ordering it. Considering that Amazon already has a deal with Sprint regarding content delivery - why not expand on that deal with Sprint and work out a distribution deal where Kindles are at least on display if not sold in Sprint stores? Heck Sprint could use the device as a testimonial for their data coverage area...

At least with the Sony a few stories had working units on display and I got a chance to play with them - but I've only seen two Kindles in person ever.

Now to steer us back on topic again - should Aamazon's announcement that Smartphone support was coming soon include syncing content between a Kindle and smartphones I think it will make the Kindle a much stronger product than the Sony. Since I don't have my Kindle yet (it should arrive on the 26th) and haven't played with one I can't fathom how such synching could work - but I've got some swags about it..

[olandp]

The Kindle is based on an whole new technology called E-ink. It uses power to write the page to the screen, then it does not need power to keep the page drawn. (kind of like a really advanced etch-r-scetch). This is what makes it nearly identical and easy on the eyes as reading a regular page from a book. Its unlike any LCD or phone screen out there.

If cell phones were going to truly stand a chance against the kindle the manufacturers would have to build a phone using the E-ink technology. No app can simply do this.

Another note about E-ink is that it is not a good option for video. The screen does not flash on and off the way an iphone screen (or any lcd screen) does in order to watch videos in high quality resolution. E-ink does not even render a color display.

So even if the manufacturers made a kindle phone, this phone would not be color and not be able to display video. For these reasons I do not believe that the kindle has to worry about the phone industry at all.. Think about it... would you really read a whole book from your phone or even your computer screen for that matter?

I agree with radiationman that one of the biggest problem with sales would be that not everyone understands how revolutionary the e-ink technology is. If people could see the kindle for themselves I think sales would skyrocket.

[olandp]

Wow! I guess its time to move to the next thread?? This article pretty much sums it up.

http://i.gizmodo.com/5164031/amazon-...-an-iphone-app

[KristinDaBomb]

Yep, the app officially came out today!