Kindle app (on Android) versus Kindle device - any differences?

burnafterreading · 01-01-2015, 08:05 PM

might be a dumb question, but is there any difference between the Kindle app for a tablet and an actual Kindle device, as far as buying / reading / accessing books? so far i've bought my books through Kobo and Google, but wondering if i ought to add Amazon/Kindle offerings. they'd be my last choice (of the 3), though...

Barbara1955 · 01-01-2015, 08:12 PM

Don't see any difference in the App & the fires on my cell phone Except I cant do TTS or sync with my Audibles.

crane3 · 01-01-2015, 10:28 PM

There may be a problem with ES File Explorer or even App Extractor between the Kindle & Google; BUT it is due to the resolution of the device & not the app.

e.g. I just tried ESFE to backup an app on the Nexus 7 & it worked (just got the ESFE update today to be the same as on my Tab Pro 8.4). Yesterday, the ESFE on the Tab Pro failed the backup, but the Nexus 7 backed up the app.

The problem is that the Nexus 7 resolution is at 1920x1080 while the Tab Pro is at 2560x1600. Most likely it is the same problem as the Aldiko reader where the bookshelf do show the cover page but the cover page is blank when opening the book & also a blank page when the page has an illustration.

So, sometimes an app may fail but not because it was from Google or Amazon. I even used an app extractor on the Tab Pro successfully but it wouldn't install on the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (2014).

burnafterreading · 01-02-2015, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crane3

There may be a problem with ES File Explorer or even App Extractor between the Kindle & Google; BUT it is due to the resolution of the device & not the app.

e.g. I just tried ESFE to backup an app on the Nexus 7 & it worked (just got the ESFE update today to be the same as on my Tab Pro 8.4). Yesterday, the ESFE on the Tab Pro failed the backup, but the Nexus 7 backed up the app.

The problem is that the Nexus 7 resolution is at 1920x1080 while the Tab Pro is at 2560x1600. Most likely it is the same problem as the Aldiko reader where the bookshelf do show the cover page but the cover page is blank when opening the book & also a blank page when the page has an illustration.

So, sometimes an app may fail but not because it was from Google or Amazon. I even used an app extractor on the Tab Pro successfully but it wouldn't install on the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (2014).

umm.... wha..?

i'm talking about reading kindle books on (kindle app on Andoird tablet) versus (kindle device). does the app have any limitations that the device itself doesn't?

or in other words - if i already have an Android tablet, does the app give me all the same functionality and capability as a dedicated stand-alone Kindle Paperwhite would (for when i buy a book via Amazon)? excluding the obvious aspect of screen technology.

Mike L · 01-02-2015, 10:35 AM

I've used the Android app on both a Nexus 7 and a Galaxy Tab. In both cases, the mechanics are quite different from my physical Kindle (a Kindle 3 with keyboard). I'm not saying if the app is better or worse than the Kindle; the each have their pros and cons.

In general, I prefer the physical Kindle for "relaxed" reading: when I just want to lose myself in a book without worrying about swiping or long presses or navigating menus. But I prefer the tablet app for technical books and some magazines, because it is much better for displaying diagrams, maps, tables, etc.

A few other points:

Searching is easier on the Android because you use a large touch-screen keyboard for entering your search terms rather than a tiny physical keyboard with minuscule keys. But the actual search itself is faster on the Kindle.
The Android app displays advertisements (or, rather, "recommendations") at the foot of the home screen, which you can't turn off (as far as I know). In fact, these are not particularly intrusive, and some people might welcome them.
The Android app has some minor glitches when working with periodicals. The "next article" and "previous article" menu at the bottom of the screen does not show the relevant article names. And if you go out of the app and come back in, it takes you back to the periodical's contents page rather than the last page read. These issues do not apply to the Kindle.
With the Android app, the Back button doesn't always work. More precisely, it sometimes takes you further back than you want to go. For example, if you follow a link to a footnote, and the click the back button, it takes you all the way back to the home screen rather than to the original page.
Installing purchased dictionaries is very much easier with the Kindle. It's not much more difficult than buying a book. With the Android app, you have to jump through hoops.

These are just a few points off the top of my head. No doubt others will add some more.

Mike

HarryT · 01-02-2015, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnafterreading

i'm talking about reading kindle books on (kindle app on Andoird tablet) versus (kindle device). does the app have any limitations that the device itself doesn't?

or in other words - if i already have an Android tablet, does the app give me all the same functionality and capability as a dedicated stand-alone Kindle Paperwhite would (for when i buy a book via Amazon)? excluding the obvious aspect of screen technology.

The app will give you essentially the same technology. The difference lies in the device itself: many people find an eInk screen to be more restful on the eyes than an LCD screen, plus of course you can read it in sunlight, and it has an enormously longer battery life.

copyrite · 01-02-2015, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

longer battery life.

This is why I still haven't given up on eInk and rarely read on my phone... the Kindle app on my S4 can drain the battery really quickly. It's not as bad though with the Nexus 7 tablet... I suspect it's the difference between WiFi and 3/4G.

Long grocery store waits are definitely hard on my phone battery!

susan_cassidy · 01-02-2015, 08:46 PM

Why would reading have anything to do with either 4G or wifi? Neither should be in use while reading a book.

copyrite · 01-03-2015, 08:28 AM

It's not the reading, it's the long sync that precedes the reading. When I open the Kindle app on my phone or tablet it always has to sync to my very large cloud library. It seems to use a lot of battery while doing it.

burnafterreading · 01-03-2015, 09:29 AM

thanks, all. sounds like i won't miss anything as far as reading the content is concerned. i tend to do my book buying using the PC anyways (kobo, google), so i don't care much how it works or looks from within the app.

eschwartz · 01-06-2015, 02:39 AM

You will need either the E-ink device or Kindle 4 PC if you want to strip the DRM from your purchases. The app won't cut it.

burnafterreading · 01-06-2015, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

You will need either the E-ink device or Kindle 4 PC if you want to strip the DRM from your purchases. The app won't cut it.

i doubt i'd worry about stripping DRM. i'd only use the app for books i buy from amazon, so as long as they show up on my tablets under my account, i'd be ok. i guess i see no reason to strip DRM from it. i've accepted the fact that my kobo glo is limited in what it has access to in comparison to a tablet, and i'm quite comfortable reading on my tablets as well so it's not like i'd desperately NEED to sideload onto the glo.

fratermus · 01-06-2015, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copyrite

This is why I still haven't given up on eInk and rarely read on my phone... the Kindle app on my S4 can drain the battery really quickly.

Have you tried the white-on-black Night mode? Should reduced the battery used by the display.

eschwartz · 01-06-2015, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnafterreading

i doubt i'd worry about stripping DRM. i'd only use the app for books i buy from amazon, so as long as they show up on my tablets under my account, i'd be ok. i guess i see no reason to strip DRM from it. i've accepted the fact that my kobo glo is limited in what it has access to in comparison to a tablet, and i'm quite comfortable reading on my tablets as well so it's not like i'd desperately NEED to sideload onto the glo.

As long as you do so knowingly.

HarryT · 01-06-2015, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fratermus

Have you tried the white-on-black Night mode? Should reduced the battery used by the display.

Is it an OLED display? That's the only display technology (that I'm aware of) that uses less power when displaying black compared to white. A normal LCD screen certainly doesn't.

01-01-2015, 08:05 PM	#1
burnafterreading Groupie Posts: 192 Karma: 1237440 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Ottawa, Canada Device: Kobo Glo, Arc7HD/10HD, smartphones	Kindle app (on Android) versus Kindle device - any differences? might be a dumb question, but is there any difference between the Kindle app for a tablet and an actual Kindle device, as far as buying / reading / accessing books? so far i've bought my books through Kobo and Google, but wondering if i ought to add Amazon/Kindle offerings. they'd be my last choice (of the 3), though...

01-02-2015, 10:35 AM	#5
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	I've used the Android app on both a Nexus 7 and a Galaxy Tab. In both cases, the mechanics are quite different from my physical Kindle (a Kindle 3 with keyboard). I'm not saying if the app is better or worse than the Kindle; the each have their pros and cons. In general, I prefer the physical Kindle for "relaxed" reading: when I just want to lose myself in a book without worrying about swiping or long presses or navigating menus. But I prefer the tablet app for technical books and some magazines, because it is much better for displaying diagrams, maps, tables, etc. A few other points: Searching is easier on the Android because you use a large touch-screen keyboard for entering your search terms rather than a tiny physical keyboard with minuscule keys. But the actual search itself is faster on the Kindle. The Android app displays advertisements (or, rather, "recommendations") at the foot of the home screen, which you can't turn off (as far as I know). In fact, these are not particularly intrusive, and some people might welcome them. The Android app has some minor glitches when working with periodicals. The "next article" and "previous article" menu at the bottom of the screen does not show the relevant article names. And if you go out of the app and come back in, it takes you back to the periodical's contents page rather than the last page read. These issues do not apply to the Kindle. With the Android app, the Back button doesn't always work. More precisely, it sometimes takes you further back than you want to go. For example, if you follow a link to a footnote, and the click the back button, it takes you all the way back to the home screen rather than to the original page. Installing purchased dictionaries is very much easier with the Kindle. It's not much more difficult than buying a book. With the Android app, you have to jump through hoops. These are just a few points off the top of my head. No doubt others will add some more. Mike

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01-01-2015, 08:12 PM	#2
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Don't see any difference in the App & the fires on my cell phone Except I cant do TTS or sync with my Audibles.

01-01-2015, 10:28 PM	#3
crane3 Guru Posts: 608 Karma: 5007204 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Calif Device: Fire hdx 8.9, Tab S2, Tab S5e, Aura ONE	There may be a problem with ES File Explorer or even App Extractor between the Kindle & Google; BUT it is due to the resolution of the device & not the app. e.g. I just tried ESFE to backup an app on the Nexus 7 & it worked (just got the ESFE update today to be the same as on my Tab Pro 8.4). Yesterday, the ESFE on the Tab Pro failed the backup, but the Nexus 7 backed up the app. The problem is that the Nexus 7 resolution is at 1920x1080 while the Tab Pro is at 2560x1600. Most likely it is the same problem as the Aldiko reader where the bookshelf do show the cover page but the cover page is blank when opening the book & also a blank page when the page has an illustration. So, sometimes an app may fail but not because it was from Google or Amazon. I even used an app extractor on the Tab Pro successfully but it wouldn't install on the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (2014).

01-02-2015, 08:46 PM	#8
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Why would reading have anything to do with either 4G or wifi? Neither should be in use while reading a book.

01-03-2015, 08:28 AM	#9
copyrite Wizard Posts: 1,821 Karma: 4985051 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Device: ...lots! ;) mostly reading on a Kindle Voyage	It's not the reading, it's the long sync that precedes the reading. When I open the Kindle app on my phone or tablet it always has to sync to my very large cloud library. It seems to use a lot of battery while doing it.

01-03-2015, 09:29 AM	#10
burnafterreading Groupie Posts: 192 Karma: 1237440 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Ottawa, Canada Device: Kobo Glo, Arc7HD/10HD, smartphones	thanks, all. sounds like i won't miss anything as far as reading the content is concerned. i tend to do my book buying using the PC anyways (kobo, google), so i don't care much how it works or looks from within the app.

01-06-2015, 02:39 AM	#11
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	You will need either the E-ink device or Kindle 4 PC if you want to strip the DRM from your purchases. The app won't cut it.

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