Crafty: Amazon Opens Up A New Cloud Kindle eBook Reader On iPad

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Chris


Amazon has, in a rather clever move, unveiled a new website termed the ‘Kindle Cloud Reader’ which is essentially a portal to cloud based Kindle books, optimized for the iPad (via TechCrunch).  This allows users to navigate to the site (http://read.amazon.com) using Safari on their iPad and read books that they have purchased in the Kindle format.

The new site essentially circumvents the subscription terms and conditions that were set by Apple which meant that the Kindle app on the iPad could no longer link to the Kindle Store as any purchases made in-app had to go via Apple’s own app retail system, entitling Apple to 30% of the cut. Amazon had previously changed the Kindle app to remove this functionality, but with the launch of this new cloud based web app, are once again taking on Apple’s iBookstore (whilst not breaking any rules).

The new site allows users to read any of the books that they purchased on Kindle and even purchase more material from within the site.  It is described as being optimized for iPad, and certainly looks and feels like it is actually an app from the iOS app store rather than a site.  One awesome feature is the local storage of books so that you don’t require a constant online connection to read which is a fantastic idea.

Give it a try now over at http://read.amazon.com.

Get Around It…

Also on AppleBitch.com:

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  • Anonymous

    About the only thing that Kindle loses here is “App Store promotion.”

    One of the benefits of the App Store is that’s where people go if they want to do something different with their iOS device.  They don’t usually search the web.  So if there’s no Kindle app, they’ll figure they can’t read their books.

    Amazon should definitely have an “Add to Home Screen” button…

  • Kankrej

    Apple has even said itself that companies should intact do this if they don’t like the app store rules.  Nothing new here.  Others will follow.

  • Anonymous

    I never understood why Amazon, B&N, etc. didn’t do this in the first place. Apple was not going to let them set up a free storefront without collecting their 30%.

    BTW, before you get all self-righteous about Apple’s evil rules, remember that Amazon was collecting 70% from publishers before Apple came along with iBooks and set the 30% collection fee.

  • Konrad

    HTML 5 is a great work around for the tone deaf Apple rules.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PB24LUM2B6YXF4DNSBV4KQ4VQQ DarenW

    Good for Amazon. Apple’s in-app purchase rules are draconian, and I think a bit short-sighted. It creates an environment where Android is a more attractive platform for developers than it should be.