Seeing the coming iPad shockwave, Amazon was very, very savvy. The company wants to sell books, and developing a killer app for the Kindle Killer was a brilliant move. Could Kindle develop an app to compete with Apple’s iBook? The answer is YES! Amazon has done a spectacular job in creating Kindle for iPad.
Although the Apple iBook app is excellent, Kindle has done just as well, and in some respects, better. Launching the free Kindle app and signing in to my account, the software recognized me and asked if I’d like to download anything from my archive of books. Over two and half years, I’d downloaded more than 100 books! And there they were: not in a cumbersome list that I had to slowly navigate one page at a time (lots of pages) as they appear in my standalone Kindle, but organized by full-color book cover, quickly and easily navigable by simply sliding my finger through the collection’s bookshelves.
Every book was there: those I’d finished and deleted (putting them into the Amazon.com archive space) and my latest purchases. It was a pleasure to browse through all those books (some of which I’d forgotten I’d ever purchased). I selected several to download into my iPad Kindle, including the book I’m currently reading, Wolf Hall (a novel about Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s advisor).
Opening the settings, I was given the choice of reading backgrounds: white, sepia or black. I thought white was a bit too bright for me, and went with sepia, which more resembled a physical printed page. I couldn’t figure out why anyone would pick black background with white letters (but I’m sure someone will enlighten me). I adjusted the brightness down a bit, and the font size up a bit for a comfortable and easy-on-the-eyes reading experience. Page turning is effortless and instantaneous, much more satisfying than page turning with my Kindle standalone.
The iPad’s touch screen allows you to touch any word, phrase, or entire section for easy note-taking on the generous pop-up virtual keyboard. (Note to self: get one of these for my college student next year.) In the iBook app, when you highlight a word, you also have the option of looking it up in the dictionary—or searching the term on Google or in Wikipedia. Fantastic. (And score one for the iBook app.)
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
interesting review barbara. it's nice to see one from the perspective of a user of a product a opposed to the usual techie thing (which is probably why the anti-appple trolls haven't shown up here).
2 - David
Hi Barbara,
thanks for the great review. Could you also talk about whether you
can read magazine subscriptions on the ipad's kindle application?
Thanks
David
3 - Steve Geeps
I think the Kindle app is a must have on the iPad, the functionality and ease of use is outstanding.
But ironically it's the screen that will let it down an a Kindle killer. I've read my Kindle on the beach in blazing sun, with a flashlight camping, pretty much anywhere. The iPad's screen is just too reflective and not as easy to read as the e-ink unless you sitting in teh front room.
4 - barbara barnett
I found that if you tone down the brightness (I've always got mine on the sepia option anyway), the sunlight was OK with it. Not a problem for me. There's also a new protective screen I just saw on Amazon for the iPad with an antireflective glare filter. I appreciate that (My macbook pro has an non-reflective screen and I love it)
5 - Sports Picks
The IPad seems to have such vivid color I wonder how it is on the eyeys after reading for 30 minutes or more.
6 - Barbara barnett
I've just dimmed it. I also opted for the sepia background, which made it very easy on the eyes.
7 - barbara barnett
Battery life is good when the wifi is off. Not as long as a kindle with the wifi off, but still good. I think charging overnight is always a good idea--I use the iPad for much more than reading as I've gotten to know it. News (the NYT app is incredible). Games (best video scrabble game I've ever seen), even crosswords.
The calendar feature is phenomenal and the feel is like a Day Runner, pages and all. Syncs perfectly with gmail calendar. Mail as well sync perfectly with gmail.
iPad lets me listen to iPod tunes while reading, which is a big, big bonus.
8 - Anthony Schiavino
Not sure if anyone mentioned this already but the black background with white text is more so for reading at night. It actually helps reading in bed with somebody next to you. You won't need the light on and you won't squint either. I use it on my iPod Touch but don't own an iPad as of yet. So I can't tell you how well it reads or how it looks visually. It's just easier on the eyes at night and I'm guessing it uses less battery power.
9 - barbara barnett
Thanks Anthony, I'm going to try that out. It's very bright at night, so I'll give it a shot. i'm loving the iPad. Netflix on iPad. A library of movies streamed. Very cool.
10 - Kimberly Davis
Thanks, Barbara, for this great review!
11 - Jojo McCormick
Barbara - Thank you so much for this review. This is what I've been looking for in terms of the iPad... lost my Kindle and was about to repurchase but a friend showed me her iPad... and I wanted more information from a READER. Thank you! Very helpful and love the sepia page option!
12 - barbara barnett
Thanks for your note, Jojo! i'm completely loving my iPad a month later. I use it for so much, I can't even begin to say.
13 - Barbara Barnett
Glad you stopped by and that you appreciate our stuff!