Comments on: Pixel fiction

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:12:19 +0000

I love the conflation of low- and high-tech here (reading old pulp-noir novels on an iPhone–brilliant)… but, while I love technology and I especially love my iPhone (a little too much), I can’t imagine reading a novel on that thing. Or that Kindle. I wonder if, someday, textbooks will all come that way; I’ll be the last teacher still ordering regular books for my students, and they’ll all groan because they want the e-version.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:14:17 +0000

And Amazon sells Kindle books for $10 each, right? I’m sure they’re happy to take money from iPhone users.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:33:15 +0000

In a bizarre bit of timing, Amazon announced today that they are releasing a Kindle app for the iPhone. Clearly they've decided to hedge their bets, in case Kindle 2 doesn't take off, and/or they're trying to lure iPhone users into getting a Kindle.

By: lane

lane — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:46:23 +0000

i recently heard the netscape guy on charlie rose. they were talking about the 7 inch screen. i’d be wary of the kindle. let’s see what apple does with that. i’m sure they will continue to amaze.

(and let’s all remember steve jobs and his weight loss condition in out prayers.)

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:39:49 +0000

I haven’t really seen a Kindle in action, other than videos on the web, but I’ve read mixed reviews. Some people have found it difficult to navigate; others love it. Eventually we’ll all probably be forced to purchase some sort of dedicated e-reader, but for now I’m enjoying the liberty of having a multi-function electronic device. I listen to music on my iPhone at the same time I’m reading, can check my email inside of ten seconds, receive calls, etc.

I’m wary of sinking that kind of money into a device that may end up being the 8-track of books and performs no functions truly independent of reading e-books (though you can download directly to the Kindle, follow links in texts, do a little bit of web navigation (in black and white), and check email (on a Kindle account)). The rumored large-format iPod Touch might just take over the market, but if its weight is proportional to that of the iPhone, it will be too heavy.

The cover art does come with the downloads, though it’s not transferable from there and you can’t study it for long (it appears for a few seconds when you open a book). I took the images here from Munseys’ website.

Jane, it’s not too late . . .