Kindle for Android now available

Move over, Kobo -- following the promise of a Summer launch, Amazon's Kindle app for Android is now live, bringing the usual array of features that existing Kindle users will hold near and dear: access to the Kindle store right from the app, adjustable font sizes, free book samples, and most importantly, wireless bookmark synchronization with your entire stable of Kindle-equipped devices (because we know you've all got an iPad, iPhone, and physical Kindle lying around somewhere). The app requires Android 1.6 to operate, which is going to leave a few people in the lurch -- but it's always good to have a compelling reason to upgrade hardware, is it not?

[Thanks, Neil]

[theonlysmr Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:34PM]

awesome

[The Truth Hurts Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:38PM]

@theonlysmr
wheres that guy that asked for it in the IPhone article?
@guy your welcome

[defunctgod Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:41PM]

@theonlysmr

Like you, I was so excited to read this. Kindle software just makes so much more sense, now that every single popular platform is supported. I can use on my Windows desktop, my Macbook, and my phone now. I'm a happy camper.

[HerbieDerb Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:46PM]

Ive already instructed people around me to beat me about the head and neck from behind if they ever catch me reading an E-book on my phone.

[theonlysmr Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:46PM]

@defunctgod
haha i dont where hes at or what his problem was lol
and ya man i have it on my mac and now my droid :) now i can read double the books so i can double my smarts :)

[theonlysmr Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:47PM]

@HerbieDerb
haha why?
get a droid with its high PPI it doesnt hurt your eyes :)

[The Truth Hurts Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:50PM]

@HerbieDerb
cause readings only for nerds?who have no social life's? and no friend's?
grow up.

[MagnetMan Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:50PM]

@theonlysmr

This is FANTASTIC news. Amazon's book store is seriously impressive, and now that android is supported, Phones and upcoming tablets will have access to this library!

This is a killer feature for android. If I was a handset manufacturer, I would seriously consider including this app with my new phone release.

[bravokiloromeo Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:57PM]

Now I can use my textbooks on my phone, iPad, MacBook and Windows Desktop!

[Bearitone Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:21PM]

@theonlysmr

After trying it I am extremely pleased. I would have to say that it may be a bit hard to read on a smaller screen but the Evo is just perfect for it. I will no longer watch tv reruns and browse BS on the internet while in bed, I have always just disliked holding a book in bed.

I do wish the book store was contained in the app with a nice UI, instead of opening the browser, but it's not a big deal. Overall I like it quite a bit.

[HerbieDerb Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:47PM]

@theonlysmr @The Truth Hurts

Just the thought of reading hundreds of pages on a phone's small screen is already causing my eyes to strain. I predict the increased need for eyeglasses and Lasik procedures if this trend gets popular.

[ebgolfin Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:53PM]

@HerbieDerb

Doubtful. Just because the screen is smaller, doesn't mean the text is any smaller than in a book. The "LCD making you go blind" issue is complete and utter crap. Any eyestrain is the result of a reduced blinking rate when looking at a backlit screen. Remember not to stare, and you'll be perfectly fine. I thought everyone got over that after the iPad came out.

This is good news for Android owners. I have really enjoyed having Kindle books on my iPhone. It allows you to catch up on your reading whenever and wherever.

[Wesscoast Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:39PM]

@HerbieDerb

...which would go up anyway if everyone started reading more.. which they won't

[HerbieDerb Posted Jun 28th 2010 9:38PM]

@ebgolfin
A lot of people, including me, got the IPad for web, productivity, Netflix and games. I wonder what percentage are using them as Ebook readers? Maybe Im just old school.

[Qdenning Posted Jun 28th 2010 11:12PM]

@defunctgod EVERY PLATFORM EXCEPT WEBOS. SERIOUSLY IS IT THAT HARD TO MAKE A WEBOS VERSION????

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 28th 2010 11:17PM]

@HerbieDerb
well if u really read book you would get this
obviously you dont read books very offten

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 28th 2010 11:17PM]

@HerbieDerb
well if u really read book you would get this
obviously you dont read books very offten

[barry99705 Posted Jun 28th 2010 11:49PM]

@Qdenning Probably didn't see the point for 5 users.

[Slygathor Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:36PM]

Cool beanz.

[ppmcdoodles Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:48PM]

@Slygathor looks like I picked a bad week to quit reading.

[zangetsu2 Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:52PM]

@ppmcdoodles
I hear the sniffing glue app is going to be approved this week, too.

[radio2 Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:37PM]

And us Android 1.5 owners are shafted yet again.

*Sigh*

[defunctgod Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:40PM]

@radio2

When did you purchase your phone? You can't expect the OS version to be perpetually supported. But, I do hear your pain. Kinda sucks.

[radio2 Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:41PM]

@defunctgod

There's no love for us Rogers HTC Magic owners. None whatsoever.

[benjih Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:41PM]

@radio2
Guessing you have a Hero? Dispair not -

http://www.htcheroblog.com/2010/06/28/android-2-1-update-for-htc-hero-finally-hits-europe/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+HtcHeroBlog+(HTC+Hero+Blog)&utm_content=Twitter

Eclair (2.1) is on its way...Finally!
(Shame Engadget havent notified us of this!)

[radio2 Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:43PM]

@benjih

Google doesn't care about Canadian Android users.

[Dafrety Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:44PM]

@defunctgod
No, he can't expect it to be updated for ever. He should however expect an update that came out more than a year ago to be available for his phone.

[dforbes Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:46PM]

@radio2 - it isn't Google's issue. It's HTC. And they do promise Android 2.1 probably around August.

[radio2 Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:48PM]

@dforbes

I'll believe it when I see it.

On another note, Google has yet to contribute to the development of high-end Android devices like the Droid X, Incredible, Droid 2, or Evo 4G but for GSM carriers. The Desire pales in comparison to these "superphones".

[dforbes Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:50PM]

@radio2 - You mean like the Nexus One? My GSM Nexus One works great on Rogers. Google has nothing to do with whether the devices are CDMA or GSM.

[The Truth Hurts Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:52PM]

@radio2
yeah there is.its called rooting.

[Dafrety Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:52PM]

@radio2
You have an HTC Magic? Why not just root it? Your phone will become a million times better.
http://www.cyanogenmod.com/

[radio2 Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:56PM]

@Dafrety

I've rooted and used plenty of different ROMs. I'm just sick of the whole process.

And I'd prefer not to drop $500+ for a Nexus One.

[donatom3 Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:06PM]

@Dafrety No you shouldn't. You should expect your phone does what it was sold to you as doing. That is that. Unless they explicitly promised an update when you purchase the phone then you cannot expect anything beyond what you bought.

[radio2 Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:08PM]

@donatom3 What kind of logic is that?

Furthermore, what kind of service is Google/HTC/Rogers providing if they don't?

[Spaceshipped Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:13PM]

@donatom3

Well he's not going to sue or anything but it's a completely REASONABLE expectation that a once flagship Android device would get constant updates for at LEAST a year.

[HelghanSuperSniper Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:15PM]

@radio2 I don't get it. The Nexus one is the only Android phone running 2.2 at the moment. A Nexus One running 2.2 with Launcher Pro Beta, Flash 10.1, DolphinHD, Vignette and Swype is one of the best Android phones you can buy, bar none. It's snappy, stable, tethers at the "all you can eat" unlimited data buffet (on Tmobile at least) and will get updates before any other Android phone until the frag issues are sorted out.

What's not to like about the Nexus One? Even a stock N1 is a great phone

[radio2 Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:18PM]

@HelghanSuperSniper There's absolutely nothing wrong with the Nexus One. I think it's an absolutely fantastic device.

But at the time of my purchase, it didn't exist and right now I'm simply not going out of my way to pay $530 for it.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect at least SOME upgrade from Android 1.5. We're missing so many "standard" Android features it's rather ridiculous. If any of you Android 2.1 users ever went back to 1.5, you'd think I was living in the Stone Ages.

[PhaseDMA Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:37PM]

@benjih Hmmm... http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/unlocked-htc-hero-gets-android-2-1-update-no-for-real-this-t/

Maybe Engadget does read the comments.

[HelghanSuperSniper Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:08PM]

@radio2 on that score, it's a disgrace. Running 1.5 at this point is tragic. 1.6 is just barely acceptable. So yeah, I agree with you. It sucks that you guys aren't getting any support. You said you were running the HTC Magic? I would chime in and suggest rooting but you know what, I did that with my G1 this time last year and it was great for the time thanks to Cyanogenmod, but I just got sick of the process. Constantly jumping through hoops and praying you don't brick your device.

maybe you can get a N1 or a Legend for a good price somewhere on the interwebs?

[canuckkat Posted Jul 5th 2010 1:00AM]

@Dafrety

I have an HTC Dream from Rogers, which has the perfect SPL (since I bought it off someone and I found out after the fact that they updated the phone with the mandatory update that "perfected" it).

Anyways, either way, us people at Rogers are screwed lol.

[kstagg Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:39PM]

LOL - looks much better on my EVO than it ever did on my BB Curve.

[PhaseDMA Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:41PM]

Figures. I just bought my first e-book from B&N with the intent to buy a nook next week.

Might have to reconsider my decision for the 100th time.

[ceegee66 Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:48PM]

@PhaseDMA

There is also the rumor of a Kindle 3 maybe in august...

[ArhcAngel Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:41PM]

All right Moto...you have 2 1/2 days to make my Cliq go 2.1 or It's...

Duh Duh DUHH!!

Class Action Time!

[Psychosoldier Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:41PM]

YES!!!! I got an Evo a few days ago, and now I can read Sherlock Holmes wherever I go. This is great!

[esp Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:11PM]

@Psychosoldier You already could with Aldiko and feedbooks (which the application links to seamlessly). Aldiko cannot handle DRM books but can handle everything else and very slickly too.

[mbmanning Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:42PM]

I was waiting for Barnes and Noble to release an app for Android, but Amazon beat them to the punch. Looks like I'm a kindle customer now.

[barry99705 Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:49PM]

@mbmanning You'd think it would be a no brainer, since the Nook is an Android device.

[Dafrety Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:42PM]

Well this was quick. Just heard about it the other day and now it's here.