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]

[toddjy Posted Jun 29th 2010 5:48PM]

@Dafrety

Except they should have had an Android reader at least a year ago.

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

This is AWESOME.

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

Haha works great on my Rooted Telus Hero.

Thank god I stopped waiting for the 2.1 update.

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

Now someone needs to port this over to the Nook, since it's running Android. Though it's still on version 1.5..... Maybe that's why it's the Kindle app requires 1.6 or higher?

[Joshs Red Pants Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:50PM]

This would be great news if Dell would get off their ass and release (or at least announce the release of) the Dell Streak in the US.

[Patriot Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:19PM]

@Joshs Red Pants - I think you'll find Dell is waiting for Android 2.2 to be released as it coincides closely with the announced Streak release in the US. AT&T better get some more Android phones because I'm about to jump carriers if they don't.

[brian515 Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:50PM]

I want this now. Moto, where's eclair for blur phones?

[DPSci Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:53PM]

To everyone saying that this is dumb to have on a phone: you're right! However there are going to be a large number of tablet computers coming out this christmas that will run android and this will be a killer app for them.

[donatom3 Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:17PM]

@DPSci Not to dumb on my 4.3" Android phone. Looks quite nice actually, and weighs less than my iPad. Seriously Google, and Amazon two of my favorite companies out there. Now if only they could integrate with Costco somehow my life would be complete.

[inspiron41 Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:56PM]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i love kindle and amazon!! GREAT ADDITION TO ANDROID

[numina Posted Jun 28th 2010 4:59PM]

I do have a kindle, iphone, and ipad. Whispersync is perfect, because I read constantly on all of these devices.

Android users, you will love this app. Have your spouse log in using the same account -- you can share your whole library.

[inspiron41 Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:00PM]

Indeed very smart business move!!!!

[Dr Yusuf AlKindi Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:01PM]

I have a Kindle 1. It was fun for awhile, until I realized how much I like real books, and how much Kindle books cost. Then I discovered gutenberg.org and began reading free classics. I want an Evo, but all these devices are just designed to drain your credit cards by selling content.

[ebgolfin Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:54PM]

@Dr Yusuf AlKindi

Free classics are all I read on the Kindle.

[gadgetfann Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:02PM]

Nice. I just downloaded and clicked "Kindle Store" in the app to search for a book, but got a 404 error. Easy enough to find the store myself in the browser, but it would be nice if the app link worked instead of sending me to a page that doesn't exist.

[siguy Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:04PM]

This makes my Droid closer to the perfect single device. Now if Google would just come up with a great desktop sync client for all my music and video! (Doubletwist and others like it are sorely lacking)

[mjkxxl Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:24PM]

@siguy

Google Music coming this fall LOL! My guess is Google is working at a feverish pace to try to get something like this out there. My thing is they will probably want to integrate something like what Subsonic does into their music platform.....that might make it take longer to get out.........but it is clear Google wants to go after a similar type of ecosystem found on Apple products.

[defunctgod Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:46PM]

@siguy

Can't help with video, as I just drop files onto the phone when i want them. But for music, i recommend subsonic, if you have box that you leave running at home. It let's you listen to your entire library online without having to "sync" up.

[siguy Posted Jun 29th 2010 9:39AM]

@mjkxxl - you are right, hopefully they design something as easy as iTunes but that isn't a hog.

@defunctgod - thanks, i'll give subsonic a try, but it would be nice to have music and podcasts locally for when reception isn't great.

[aaroninde Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:10PM]

wait, people pay for ebooks ??

[Min Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:12PM]

Step 1: Put it on the Evo
Step 2: Connect HDMI cable to your big screen tv
Step 3: Invite friends over for a book reading party
Step 4: ????
Step 5: Profit

[Dale P Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:54PM]

@Min This may have been intended for epic LULZ, but that's actually a good idea for a book club.

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

Cool. Unfortunately the application is not exactly aesthetic or easy to use.

[donatom3 Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:19PM]

@VanityPhairs Looks just as aesthetic as the version on my iPad.

[teky Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:16PM]

Very cool. Just downloaded it. Very easy to read my books on the EVO...that big screen comes in handy.

[hodedofome Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:17PM]

Just need some good android tablets to come out. No need for Kindles/Nooks anymore, just a good android tablet/ipad and some software like this. No need to pay for 3g service on tablets, just use the wifi hotspot on your Evo!

[sixtool Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:32PM]

that's amazing
what about my nokia ??
do i have to buy ipad :(

[Dale P Posted Jun 28th 2010 5:53PM]

Very good news. Everyone deserves wirelessly synchronised ebooks.

[MsCG1 Posted Jun 28th 2010 6:14PM]

This is very exciting for Kindle users, but I need a Nook app now!

[JONNNathannn Posted Jun 28th 2010 7:07PM]

I like the Kobo app. It may be a rush port of the iPhone app but it performs well and I already bought books on it :/

[GuardianAli Posted Jun 28th 2010 7:12PM]

Who cares...the Ipad i can see ..the EVO ..maaaaaaybe. But reading..on a 3.7 inch LCD screen?? Um..no thanks. Ill wait patiently for the first decent android tablet that isnt vaporware and then well talk.

[Carld Posted Jun 28th 2010 7:26PM]

Can I haz WinMo version?

[darthgault Posted Jun 28th 2010 7:41PM]

This really angers me now ... i have been a great defender of my beloved Moto Cliq until this announcement. Sitting here with 1.5 on my device and Motorola and T-Mobile don't appear to be updating this phone ever.

And before someone shows me the "motorola update map" that was leaked months ago don't waste your time ... t-mobile rep told me they aren't updating the Cliq ...

i dont know if i can wait for the Dell Streak to finally show it's face ... and who knows if it will really have T-mobile 3G anyways.

i despise cell carriers at this point ... t-mobile is the lesser of the evils but there is no kindle app for me :(

[bufbarnaby Posted Jun 28th 2010 8:08PM]

Yay !

[UptownDonkey Posted Jun 28th 2010 8:35PM]

So uhh... Why does this app need to read my phone history and SMS history via Phone State? What does that have to do with reading books?

[MowDownJoe Posted Jun 28th 2010 9:32PM]

@UptownDonkey Where do you see that? I'm looking at its permissions page in the market right now. I see "Modify/Delete SD card contents" for storing ebooks, "full internet access" for downloading ebooks, and "read phone state and identify", which I guess is to pause any ebook OTA downloads when you get a phone call. Nothing about reading SMS or recent phone calls.

[eabonney Posted Jun 28th 2010 9:48PM]

I have to say I am very excited about this. I already installed this and started looking at books. I have been using eReader for years and I was very disappointed when earlier this month something happened and they are no longer carrying most of the titles that I had in my wish list. Looking at the kindle library I found most of them again, so I am good to go yet again.

[ereaderben Posted Jun 28th 2010 10:54PM]

From the reviews I’ve seen, the Android version is missing a few features, most glaringly the audio/video is missing. Just comes as odd seeing as how they released a new iPhone/iPad Kindle yesterady and that’s all everyone could talk about.

Android users might not be too happy with that. Nobody enjoys being treated like a second class citizen. Keeping it short. More of my thoughts at my blog post about this: http://ebookreader-ben.com/android-fail-kindle-app-not-as-cool-as-iphones/

[powerbird101 Posted Jun 29th 2010 2:48AM]

Aldiko FTW!!!!

[toddjy Posted Jun 29th 2010 5:50PM]

I went to install it, and noticed it had access to information about my phone calls. What?

[ryonavin Posted Jun 30th 2010 12:06PM]

Is there a a screen reading app built into it? I don't have time to actually read anymore but audio I can plug into my car stero and listen to a book on the way to and from work.