Amazon is determined to make their Kindle reading experience for iPhone a serious contender as evidenced by the second update to the application in less than two weeks. While the last update focused on making purchasing book titles through the app more iPhone-friendly, this epic new update turns a keen eye towards the users reading experience.
In Kindle for iPhone version 1.1, the Amazonians have engaged landscape reading mode with the addition of a "lock feature" allowing users to maintain either portrait or landscape reading at all times. I prefer to read text in landscape mode on iPhone. I find that portrait mode hurts my brain and the constant screen shifting would only make it worse. This upgrade alone is worth the price of admission. But wait! There's more!
The app now contains options to change the background colors and text to improve reading comfort in low light situations or just because you're all about white text over black.
Another simple but useful feature is the added ability to tap the screen right or left for turning page rather than just flicking. I noticed tapping turns the pages much quicker than flick, giving me a rebate of 6.5 seconds of time by the end of a chapter. The ability to "multi-touch pinch" in order to zoom in on images is also a welcomed addition in this Kindle update.
Since Amazon's purchase of Lexcycle, the company behind the wildly popular Stanza e-book reading application, cult of iPhone fanatics are quickly gaining the benefits of Stanza's fluid functionality. It's exciting to see this app evolving to become more iPhone-like in navigation rather than simply performing like a poor man's Kindle.
Will this strategy of improved iPhone functionality ultimately hurt Kindle sales for Amazon? I'm not sure how much that really matters since the company is all about selling books. No need to read between the lines on that story. With the impending release of Apple's third generation iPhone, the future for Amazon's Kindle e-books looks bright ahead. Even in low light conditions.
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