Comments on: Fallout from Kindle software for iPhone/Touch? $150 used Kindles soon—but NO Mobi app for iPhone/Touch? And less chance of ePub for Kindle?

By: Peter in Singapore

Peter in Singapore — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:16:44 +0000

iPhone Kindle is not available in the Singapore Apps Store. I imagine this is a function of territory restrictions on the licenses that publishers give Amazon for their Kindle editions. So if Kindle wants to go international it will require airtime deals *and* negotiating new rights from publishers for each territory. It’s likely to be very complicated.

I downloaded the Kindle app using my US iTunes account. When I try and download Kindle books however from my PC or iPhone Safari however, Amazon tells me that my Kindle book selections are not available in my country. Amazon knows where I live. Or at least its knows 1) where my IP maps to, or 2) where I pay my credit cards from.

Still, Amazon on my PC lets me download the free samples direct to my iPhone. Works a charm. The Amazon iPhone App just tells me the books are unavailable, and doesn’t give me the free sample option.

By: Karen in TN

Karen in TN — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:54:04 +0000

I’ve posted pictures of all three Kindle devices, open to the same book, comparing fonts and graphics between them:

http://booksontheknob.blogspot.com/2009/03/kindle-iphone-pictures.html

By: Chris Meadows

Chris Meadows — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:18:47 +0000

Rob: I posted some thoughts on that in my most recent TR post.

(By the way, I had to rescue your post from the spam bin. I suspect our spam filter may not like the “buck” in the name of your website. If you post a comment and it doesn’t show up, please let us know so we can check.)

By: Paula B.

Paula B. — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:35:19 +0000

I have to second your comment about the percentage Amazon takes, Paul. 65% is ridiculous. That is a huge ripoff for publishers and authors, as usual.

By: Roland Dobbins

Roland Dobbins — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:01:19 +0000

Never mind – they let you do everything *but* buy. The Amazon Mobile App must be updated to support purchases.

Sorry for the misinformation!

By: Marco

Marco — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:58:32 +0000

I don’t see the kindle app in the Canadian app store

By: Rob Preece, Publisher

Rob Preece, Publisher — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:59:01 +0000

First, good for Amazon. I’m sure there are mid-level Kindle product managers who were angry about possible canibalization. I think, though, that this’ll be good for both Amazon and, long term, Kindle.

I am mystified on why Amazon hasn’t involved its Mobipocket siblings more. As Paul points out, there are people with Mobi libraries they’d love to convert. If you’ve got a Mobi library, aren’t you the person Amazon would love to bring into the Kindle world? I can’t believe the revenue from selling repeat books justifies the annoyance.

I’ll keep you posted on whether I see a huge surge of BooksForABuck.com Kindle sales coincident with this new product. I hope so. I also hope Fictionwise and other competitors continue swinging.

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

By: David Rothman

David Rothman — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:14:57 +0000

Right on the money, Don–except I myself will first look for books elsewhere, because of the eBabel/DRM problem that won’t let me own Amazon e-books for real. My favorite format from Amazon? Used p-books. No DRM there! Of course maybe publishers and Amazon will someday sell p-books that you can’t read without special eyeglasses. David (who meant to answer your helful correspondence and apologizes for for being behind!).

By: Blue Tyson

Blue Tyson — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:56:44 +0000

Apple could try for a whole world approach, I suppose. Slow to e, overpriced UK publishers doing a bit of swearing today?

By: Don Smith

Don Smith — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:48:29 +0000

This is called one up for Bezos. Steve Jobs made comments last year that nobody reads anymore. And now Jeff has beat him to the market. I don’t think it makes too much difference that there are geographic or DRM issues involved. And that many ebook stores contribute to the eBabel that David fondly writes about. Maybe Jobs will fire back now with access through iTunes or a larger iPod Touch that many of us have advocated. The marketplace is controlled by access to the product one wishes to buy. I’ve spent thousands of dollars purchasing “stuff” from Amazon over the past few years. Now I have another reason to spend my money there.

Don Smith – retired librarian and Apple Distinguished Educator

By: Christo

Christo — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:23:06 +0000

The iPhone Kindle app is definitely not available on the UK iTunes App Store!

And all the Mac blogs are full of the same old tired arguments about not being able to read on such a tiny screen, blah, blah…

By: Paul Durrant

Paul Durrant — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:53:01 +0000

It does seem to be an extremely astute move from Amazon’s point of view. Tying people even more closely to the Kindle ebook store than the Kindle did itself, and the synchronisation via the on-line bookshelf is inspired.

I can certainly see lots of people with an iPhone/iPod Touch getting the application, buyinh some Kindle books, and then deciding that the Kindle itself would be a good buy. And never even considering other hardware options or ebook stores.

I wouldn’t be so concerned about Amazon’s obvious intent to become the dominant player in ebook retail if it wasn’t that they offered ebook publishers such bad terms. For paper books, Amazon will list and sell books given just 20% of the retail price (POD books through Lightning Source/Ingram). So demanding 65% of the retail price from ebook publishers doesn’t seem justifiable.

By: David Rothman

David Rothman — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:50:46 +0000

True, Christo. I hate geo restrictions since they make the e-book marketplace less of a meritocracy—ultimately hurting the business. I’m fine with local editions. But let ‘em sell on the basis on merit.

As for the the Kindle HARDWARE not being in the U.K., that’s in some ways a separate issue. Why can’t the Kindle app be available in the U.K. app store? Or IS it? My impression from others’ posts is, no. But I’d welcome absolute confirmation. Until then I’ll just say “apparently not.”

Thanks,
David

By: Christo

Christo — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:39:57 +0000

I think the non-appearance of Kindle in the UK has as much to do with the intransigence of the cellular operators with whom Amazon would have to negotiate their Whispernet agreements.

As for geographical restrictions on ebooks – they are absurd, and surely meaningless? Some publishers enforce them though.

By: David Rothman

David Rothman — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:25:26 +0000

Roland and Christo:

R. Great point about Stanza, etc., but then you need to mess with different apps and diff libraries. Still a hassle.

Christo: Amen! The international e-book community really needs to wise up about ePub if it doesn’t want such rude treatment. Amazon is too American centric. Let me add this all-important fact to the top of the post!

Thanks,
David