Amazon has Kindle. What does BlackBerry have?
As a rather voracious reader and collector of esoteric horror novels, you would think that I am completely against the concept of the eBook. Oddly enough, I love the idea. The new Kindle DX is surprisingly easy to use, read, and navigate. However, it is an expensive piece of electronic hardware. But what if I could read eBooks on my BlackBerry? Granted, it wouldn't be as readable as a Kindle, but it's one less device I'd need to cart around, and, hey, if I can read articles on the internet, I can most certainly read some literary works. Or in my case, Splatterpunk.
Not surprisingly, I wasn't the first person to think of this. Fortunately, those who thought of this before me were programmers and they have come up with something that's not too bad. Mobipocket is a very decent eReader which even has an over-the-air (OTA) eBookstore. The application is not nearly close to Kindle's standards. But, it is free and is acceptable for BlackBerry (the BB Storm version is in beta, but seems to be fairly solid). No BlackBerry? No problem. This app is available for Windows Mobile, Symbian OS, Palm OS, and other eReader devices. Oh yes, also that wonderful device called a PC. You can read a book on your PC! Will wonders never cease. I was pleasantly surprised by the Mobipocket library. I was able to find Rex Miller, Nancy A. Collins and Joe R. Lansdale novels available for the price of a paperback.
Sadly, though, the selection pales in comparison to Kindle's. And, to make matters worse for BlackBerry users... and yet another reason to buy an iPhone...there is a iPhone Kindle eBook reader. Available for free through Amazon. So all you smug iPhone users can read Edward Lee as well as a better selection of Rex Miller and Joe R. Lansdale. When will this Kindle BlackBerry port be available? Well, that is the big question. No announcement has been made. Recently, Amazon released Amazon App for BlackBerry...so fingers are crossed.
Until then, I have to say that reading a novel on my BlackBerry isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Turning pages every paragraph can get tedious, and the battery life on your paperback will far outlast your BlackBerry's. But for convenience, portability and the "it is what it is" factor, Mobipocket is a very decent application and bookstore.
» posted by mulderjoe
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Kindle-type app for Blackberry
I have a Kindle and the Kindle app on my iTouch. It is so convenient to pick up reading on the iTouch where I left off on my Kindle if I'm waiting somewhere and need to kill some time. Don't have an iphone, though because we prefer to stick with Verizon for more dependable network coverage. I keep hoping Apple will wise up and offer the iPhone through other network providers besides AT&T. If not, my hubby and I will be switching our phones to a Blackberry this winter when it's time to update them. If that's the case, it would be great to see a Kindle app that worked with Blackberry.Update
Just finished reading "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman via MobiPocket Reader on my BB Storm. I found it to be truly excellent.Reading on Storm
I've been reading via mobipocket on my storm for months now and as far as phones go, the big screen is great for reading. Plus the backlight, which isn't found in kindle, is great for reading in bed. I haven't found any issue with battery drain being a problem.My kindle is on order and I hope it arrives within the next week. I would love to have a kindle bb app just for the syncing options it offers, but if I don't get one I'll be ok with mobipocket since the onboard search will be able to take me where I left off on the kindle.
As for book choices, there are plenty of other options besides amazon where books can be purchased in other formats, then converted in the mobipocket or calibre software and loaded onto kindle. This allows for having the book on both your BB and kindle at the same time. Buying kindle books on amazon does not provide this opportunity.
If you live near a city, most large libraries are really beefing up their ebook offerings. Some of the formats are not usable on kindle-but may be used on mobipocket. Also if you're into the torrent world-there are ebooks galore available all over the web.