Comments on: iPhone siphoning off Kindle buyers, says Fictionwise: One K-owner even dumped his just-bought reader

By: noumena12

noumena12 — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:05:12 +0000

Interesting…because I went the other way. I bought my Kindle in February. I had been reading on my iPod Touch since October using eReader. While I like reading on the Touch, I went to the Kindle because eReader/Fictionwise did not have the selection of books that I was looking for. Plus, the Kindle goes longer without needing to be charged. And I can plug my Touch into my stereo and read from my Kindle at the same time.

Now, I move back and forth between the 2 devices. Sometimes I don’t want to turn on a light so I use my Touch using the Kindle app. It is synched with where I left off on the Kindle device.

By: Robert MacEwan

Robert MacEwan — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:29:06 +0000

Update: Kindle reader software is now available for the iPod Touch.

By: Chris Meadows

Chris Meadows — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:32:03 +0000

Yeah, that's right, you can't read secure Mobi on iPhone/iTouch yet (unless you crack the DRM—then you can use Bookshelf to read the cracked copy). But I am given to understand that MobiPocket is working on an iPhone version of its reader application, which should let you read encrypted Mobi when it comes out. They hope to have it out "by the end of the year."

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:08:52 +0000

I just started using eReader on my iPod Touch. I had been looking at a Kindle but didn’t want to lug around ANOTHER device. I like reading on my Touch. The only down side that I’m experiencing is the lack of content availability in the correct format. Fictionwise might have a book I want but it tends not to be available in the eReader format. As as far as I can tell, I can’t read a MobiPocket Secure book on eReader.

If I’m missing something, please let me know.

By: The Elements of a Perfect eReading Device | Dear Author: Romance Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Commentary

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:00:26 +0000

[...] I think, is putting a lot of money into the idea that readers would prefer a multi-function device. It has ported the eReading application to iPhones and since the iPhone 2.0 [...]

By: Decoding the Kindle » Pendergrast and Fictionwise Don’t Like Kindle. Surprise!

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:20:28 +0000

[...] obvious that Steve Pendergrast of Fictionwise doesn’t like the Kindle. In his latest comment against the device over on TeleRead, he claims that the iPhone is such a superior device for [...]

By: Liviu

Liviu — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:07:40 +0000

The problem with the Kindle is price. You buy the iPhone or iTouch for other reasons, book reading is an extra.

I had a Sony reader 50$ cc promotion as mentioned and I gave it away overseas despite that I liked its screen – slow and no backlight, I used it once every two months while I read on my 770 daily and print books too

The e-ink just was less useful – not pocketable so if I took it in a bag, I could take a print book with me instead for a bit more weight, but less breakage worry, while at home I still needed light for it as for a print book.

Kindle is faster so I may buy one but not for more than 100$ since I would not buy Amazon drm books anyway so instant delivery is useless – I want a mainstream e, I’d rather pay 3-4$ more and buy a lit or a prc that I can read anywhere. Were a surefire way to read Kindle books anywhere found, the usefulness of the Kindle would increase by a lot to me…

By: A comprehensive review of iPhone e-book options | TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:35:43 +0000

[...] though Steve Pendergrast of Fictionwise has reported that iPhones seem to be siphoning off Kindle users, after looking at all of the major clients it seems to me that the overall state of iPhone e-book [...]

By: Miki

Miki — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:51:41 +0000

I’ve been a fan of the eReader format – if I have to be stuck with DRM – for a long time. This story sounds encouraging, but I can’t help but notice that every week I am finding more books I want to buy being released in Mobipocket format only.

I’m afraid that if Fictionwise/eReader doesn’t get with it and convince those publishers to offer more formats, pretty soon it’s going to be the very ugly Kindle by default.

It’s great they’re spent all this time on the iPhone/iTouch, but they need to make sure there’s enough of the desired content in their format to make the choice worthwhile!

By: Paul Biba

Paul Biba — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:13:35 +0000

Yes, Rob has it right – the machines are complementary. Yesterday it rained for much of the day so I read on the Kindle. There is no way that my iPhone will last for four or five hours of reading.

On the other hand, when I go to the coffee shop for lunch I read on on the iPhone, since I have it with me anyway.

More power to Fictionwise! It’s always great to see the “little guy” doing well.

By: Rob Preece

Rob Preece — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:55:29 +0000

I read on two devices–a Palm for portability, and an eBookWise when I’m sitting down for sustained reading. I don’t really see these as competitive but complementary. In the medium term, I’d think that getting people reading on their iPhones will help sell more Kindles–assuming that they buy Fictionwise Multiformat books, at least, as these books can freely be moved between the different formats.

Great news that Fictionwise/eReader is having success with their iPhone eReader. I hope that Amazon continues to have success with the Kindle as well–from the persepective of readers, authors and publishers, choice is a very good thing.

Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com

By: David Rothman

David Rothman — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:59:15 +0000

Heck, Binko, as I said, it depends on the person. If you are doing lots of reading outside, then E Ink might be the way to go. But then again, if you’re comfortable with a small screen and there’s a shady spot on the beach, then an iPhone might still do the trick. Thanks. David

By: Binko

Binko — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:53:09 +0000

E-ink is very easy on the eyes. It doesn’t have the slight flicker effect that all LED based screens have.

The Kindle is for people who love to read, people who cram pocket books in their handbag or back pocket when they go out on errands. It’s easy on the eyes, you can read it in bright sunlight and a battery charge lasts for 10 hours or more if you turn off the whispernet.

I can’t imagine that a person who loves to sit out on the porch or on the grass or on the beach for hours reading a book is going to be happy with a tiny iPhone screen that becomes virtually unreadable in sunlight. But that person will love a kindle or a sony reader.