Computer and Library Learning (Archived)

Amazon has announced two significant changes to the Kindle ecosystem. The first, and arguably more important of the two, is that Kindle users will be able to "lend" the books they have bought to other Kindle users. The announced lending scheme comes with quite a few caveats. Users will only be able to lend the book for fourteen days and will not be able to read the book themselves while it's on loan. Not all books will be loanable; this will be decided by the publisher. Perhaps the most important aspect of the scheme is that a Kindle device won't be required, loaned books will be able to be read using any one of the free Kindle apps. A similar feature has long been part of Barnes and Noble's e-reader the Nook.

I don't think that the inability to lend books has been a significant barrier to entry for many, as far as e-reading. I also don't think that the feature is likely to bring in many new customers by itself. However, I do think, and I have a feeling this is Amazon's thinking as well, the ability to lend books turns every Kindle user into a salesperson. It's also important to note that to be lent a book requires signing up for a free Amazon account. 

The second change Amazon announced, likely not to get as much press, is that periodicals will be available for reading through all Kindle apps. Long available to purchase and read on the actual Kindle device, magazines and newspapers couldn't be read through the Kindle apps on the PC or various mobile devices.  

When I first acquired a Kindle I immediately bought a subscription to a number of newspapers in the hopes I could get rid of my physical subscriptions. It didn't take me long to come to the conclusion that the Kindle device was not designed for the kind of reading one does with a newspaper. The Kindle is suited well for linear reading, one page after another. Unfortunately, it's all but impossible to effectively browse on a Kindle device. All this is not to mention the lack of photos or images of any kind.

Since then I have become an dedicated iPad user, on which I read quite a few newspapers and magazines. My experience so far has been good, however, fragmented and occasionally frustrating. I've had to download an assortment of apps, each from a different provider and each with a different interface. I'll reserve judgement until I see how the publications themselves look, but I'd be willing to give the Kindle another try with newspapers and magazines if it saves me some time and effort.

Unfortunately, no word on when either feature will be rolled out.