If you ca n’t gravel the rule , go around ‘ em . That seems to be the idea behind Amazon ’s young vane - basedKindle Cloud Reader , a transparent attempt to give iPad readers direct access to both their Kindle book and the Amazon bookstore without cutting Apple a 30 - pct slice of the pie .
Amazon ’s launch of the iPad - optimized vane military service is the recent C in a battle that has been brewing since February , whenApple announced it would take a 30 percent swing of salesmade through in - app purchases of books , periodical , music , and movies — and that sellers could n’t use their websites to declare oneself well deals than available through the apps . Cupertino laterrelaxed its necessary a bit , but still mandated that Amazon and other ebook app vendors scour their apps of direct links to their online stores . And theFinancial Times record a fresh manner forwardin June by offer one of the first subscription - based iPad - optimized website .
Amazon is abide by the Financial Times model with the Kindle Cloud Reader ; while its newread.amazon.comsite is also compatible with the Chrome and Safari desktop internet browser , the website is clearly aimed at iPad Safari users . ( An iPhone version is n’t useable yet . ) When you lumber into your Amazon account from within the app for the first time , you ’re show your entire library of ebooks — and motivate to add the varlet to your iPad ’s menage cover . The Web app take 50 megabyte of storage space on your iPad , which in turn give you the ability to stash away swarm - based book for offline version .
The Web app comes with a identification number of downsides ; it just does n’t tender as tempt a recitation experience as the prescribed iPad app . For one thing , there ’s no access to periodical : If you recently start take to newspapers or clip through Amazon , you ’ll need to gravel with the iPad app . The same conk for the ability to share volume quotes via Facebook and Twitter . And there ’s no highlighting or note - pickings enabled — though you may see the highlights and note you ’ve made using Amazon ’s other Kindle apps ( or actual ironware Kindles ) . Even the page - turn is little turn wretched : referee only intercept to alter screens or else of “ swiping ” back - and - away . If anything , the experience is penny-pinching to the desktop Kindle app than the iPad app .
The only clear advantage to the Web app , in fact , seems to be the easy admission to Amazon ’s store . The iPad - optimized memory is attractively designed , with a narrow - but - total focus on Kindle publication alternatively of the immense grab - travelling bag of products and table service available at Amazon.com . Unless or until Amazon can match the elegance of its young iPad - well-disposed ebook computer memory with its cloud - based reading experience , though , the Web app wo n’t become a true Thomas Nelson Page - turner .
Amazon does promise improvements are coming . “ We ’ll carry on to expand the feature of speech set — stay tuned for more , ” Kinley Campbell , an Amazon spokesperson , toldMacworldvia email .
