Coming up on its 17th birthday, the 1st generation Kindle began a transformation for readers around the world. Back in 2007, you could only read Kindle books on that 1st gen device with its odd angular design and strange scroll wheel. Now, there are multiple ways you can enjoy Kindle books, either on a PC or on the go, without physically having a Kindle device. Here is how you can enjoy Kindle’s extensive selection with the technology you probably have in front of you right now
Kindle App for iPhones and iPads
The experience that best describes Kindle for iOS is “highly inconvenient.” With Kindle for iOS you can only read books. Want to buy a Kindle book from the app? You will have to leave the app, open your browser, log in to Amazon, make your purchase, deliver the books to your iOS app, then go back to the app. Why is it like this? Apple demands a 30% cut of all digital books and music sales from apps on its devices. Amazon decided from the beginning not to give Apple a cut of Kindle books, and so you have a Kindle app that is half-functional. And yet, the Kindle app for iPhone has 350,000 ratings and a 4.8 star ranking.
Kindle App for Android Phones and Tablets
If you’re like the 50% of the US population who have an Android, and love to read on the go but don’t have an eReader, you’re in luck…sort of! With the Android Kindle App you can read books that you purchased on Amazon.com. That’s right, you can’t buy books from the Kindle app…you can only read them on the Kindle app for Android. Otherwise, this is a solid full-featured app. See more about its features below. The Kindle app for Android has over 800,000 ratings with a 4-star ranking.
Special Features of the Kindle App
A key feature of the Kindle App for both Android and iOS is that the app automatically synchronizes the last page you read and any annotations you make between devices. Through the Whispersync technology, you can read the same book across multiple devices and it will automatically sync where you left off on one device and pick right back up on another.
Along with being customizable in letting you choose your preferred font size, screen brightness, and background color (black for night reading, white for daytime reading), the Kindle app also has a built-in dictionary. You’re able to look up words instantly while you’re reading eBooks by simply tapping and holding down the word to view its definition.
Kindle for PC and MAC
Sometimes you want to read a book in the comfort of your own home and prefer a larger screen. Whether you’re a PC person or a faithful Macbook user, there’s an app for you. Simply download the Mac app or PC app and you’ll enjoy all your Kindle books on your home computer or laptop. Just like the iPhone and iPad app reviewed below, the Kindle for Mac app suffers from less functionality than the PC or Android app. To download the Kindle for PC app, follow the instructions here. The Kindle for Mac app only has 1,200 reviews with a 3.8 star ranking.
To use the Kindle for PC app, simply sign into your Amazon account and make sure that all your Kindle books are synced to all of your devices with the Kindle app. The app allows users to search a book for just about anything they might be looking for, from a certain character to a specific topic. You can also highlight any passage you wish and take notes, just as you would from your Kindle. Finally, you can make your reading experience solely your own by selecting the font size and color that suits your needs.
Note that the Kindle for Windows 8 is no longer available. If you have that app, you will have to upgrade to Kindle for PC.
Kindle Cloud Reader
Don’t want to fill your computer with additional apps and downloads? Consider using Kindle Cloud Reader. This feature is compatible with Chrome 20, Firefox 10, Safari 5, and Internet Explorer 10, or more recent versions of each. All you must do is sign into the Cloud Reader site and open your favorite book online. You’ll need an internet connection, but otherwise it can be more convenient than an app.
To use the Kindle Cloud Reader, simply follow this link and log in with your Amazon account. You can locate all your books under the Cloud tab. You do not need to sign into any app to use the Kindle Cloud Reader; you just need a reliable browser.
Kindle Cloud Reader Chrome Extension
For Chrome users, there is a Chrome Extension for Kindle Cloud Reader. This handy app combines the best of the online Cloud Reader, with a Kindle for PC app. You will be able to utilize the same features offered by the Kindle for PC and MAC app, including customization of font size and background, searching ability, and highlighting function. You can use it both online and offline, and it has over 3 million users. The Kindle Cloud Reader Chrome Extension has 3,300 ratings with a 4-star ranking.
Benefits of Going Mobile
One major benefit of downloading the Amazon Kindle app is that it’s free! While you still have to pay for most eBooks, the app itself doesn’t cost a dime. Downloading the app on your phone or tablet saves you the purchase price of a new device, and the hassle of having something else with batteries that needs to be charged. Once you have your favorite reads downloaded, you’ll be able to highlight, annotate and bookmark anywhere you and your phone go.
Lastly, you can find thousands of free and bargain Kindle books, head to the free books section of JustKindleBooks.com.
