Amazon Kindle Store optimized for Safari on iPhone or iPod touch

Jay B. Siegel

Amazon continues its domination of e-book reading simplicity with the introduction today of an iPhone/iPod touch optimized Kindle store.

A little over a month ago when Amazon introduced the Kindle Reader application for iPhone/iPod touch the critics were complaining that there was no easy way to use the Kindle store on those devices. Today that changes. I have to say this comes as a very pleasant surprise and I believe it will be well received. While I do most of my Kindle reading on my Kindle 2, from time to time I use my iPod touch. I would never have even attempted to download samples or purchase a book from my iPod touch before today.

Jay B. Siegel

How does it work? Simply and almost seamlessly.

Here it is step by step:

• From the home screen in the Kindle for iPhone application on the upper right side of the screen is a "Get Books" button.
• Pressing that takes you to the "How to Get Books" page you see in the top picture.
• Entering something in the "Search the Kindle Store" box or selecting one of the categories automatically launches Safari into the now optimized Kindle store.
• Browse as usual.
• You can order a sample or purchase a book.
• You can designate which Kindle device to send the sample or purchase to.

Jay B. Siegel

It's simple to use and quite intuitive. While I'm not a huge proponent of long reading sessions on the iPhone (that's what a real Kindle is for), short reading sessions are fine. It's nice to have the flexibility of browsing, sampling and buying from the iPhone now.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Purchases can be read on your Kindle device regardless of which device you own purchases them.
• Kindle newspapers, magazines and blogs are not currently available on the iPhone or iPod touch.
• Extended use of the iPhone for reading may give you eyestrain, get a Kindle 2 or Kindle DX.

I have a feeling many people who don't own Kindle devices will try an e-book using the Kindle iPhone application (it's free!) and the new optimized Kindle store. The ease of use and seamless nature will encourage those who have been curious and possibly afraid to take the plunge.

This is another small step in making the Kindle the de facto standard platform for e-book reading. Ease of use improvements like these, along with the sheer volume of available content, will continue to advance the ubiquity of the Kindle in the marketplace. As a very happy Kindle user, I'm glad to see the platform mature and grow. If you aren't a Kindle user there's no better time to give it a try than now.