Kindle iOS vs iBooks 3: New Features Compared - iPad

iPad Mini as an E-Reader: Updates to Kindle and iBooks

Despite any critiques directed towards the newest iPad mini, a significant number of users, including myself, find it to be an ideal primary device for electronic reading and accessing ebooks.

Two prominent iOS e-reader applications – Kindle for iPad and iBooks 3 – have recently introduced enhancements that avid readers utilizing the iPad should be aware of.

Similarities and Differences Between Kindle and iBooks

While both e-readers share common ground, they also exhibit substantial differences catering to diverse reader preferences and ebook formats.

Given their compatibility with the same device, it is advantageous to leverage the strengths of both applications as you expand your ebook collection.

Yaara Lancet of MakeUseOf previously detailed the fundamental functionalities of these e-reader apps over a year ago.

Key Updates: Sharing, Annotation, and Syncing

This article will focus on outlining the significant updates implemented in the areas of social network sharing, annotation tools, and the synchronization of purchased ebooks across multiple devices.

These improvements enhance the overall reading experience and provide greater flexibility for users.

• Social Sharing: Easily share highlights and thoughts with friends.
• Annotation Tools: Improved methods for marking and noting important passages.
• Cross-Device Syncing: Seamlessly continue reading where you left off on any device.

Understanding these updates will allow you to maximize the potential of your iPad as a dedicated e-reading platform.

Synchronizing eBooks Across Multiple Devices

The process of downloading eBooks to platforms like Kindle and iBooks is generally uncomplicated. However, many users of iOS devices own and utilize several devices for reading or accessing their digital books.

Both reading platforms employ a technology known as Whispersync, which automatically synchronizes your reading progress. This ensures that the last page read on one device is reflected across all your other iOS devices.

Utilizing Whispersync and Cloud Storage

For instance, while an iPad might be the primary device for eBook consumption, reading can seamlessly continue on an iPhone during commutes or waiting periods.

Furthermore, both Kindle and iBooks now offer cloud storage capabilities. This means all purchased eBooks will be accessible within their respective applications on all of your iOS devices.

To free up storage space on a particular device, books can be archived to your Kindle or iBooks account and re-downloaded as needed.

Platform Availability and Annotation Access

These e-readers are compatible with all iOS devices. Currently, however, Amazon is the only provider offering a dedicated Kindle e-reader application for both Mac and PC.

Although reading on a computer isn't always common, the Kindle app provides valuable access to your annotations, a feature we will explore in more detail later.

Annotation Capabilities

Both e-reader platforms offer annotation tools beneficial for non-fiction enthusiasts and students alike. Highlighting, bookmarking, and note-taking functionalities are included on each device. A recent Kindle update streamlined highlighting; now, a simple press and drag of the index finger initiates and extends a highlight across the desired text.

The same highlighting method applies within iBooks. Importantly, annotations created on either platform synchronize across multiple devices for consistent access.

Highlighting and Note-Taking Differences

While both support highlighting, iBooks provides greater customization, allowing users to select colors beyond the standard yellow. Furthermore, an underlining tool is available in iBooks, a feature currently lacking in the Kindle reader.

Bookmarking pages is straightforward on both e-readers, achieved by tapping the upper-right corner of the page. However, iBooks’ note-taking feature is more robust.

The larger text box within iBooks accommodates longer notes and facilitates the inclusion of copied text.

Accessing Annotations

A key distinction lies in how annotations are accessed. The Kindle app presents notes and highlights within a compact window.

In contrast, iBooks dedicates an entire page to annotations, with distinct sections for Bookmarks and Notes, enhancing review efficiency. Notes are visually differentiated through color-coding.

For intensive research, the Kindle for Mac application offers expanded annotation access and review capabilities. Passages can be copied and pasted into other applications, alongside the addition of further highlights and notes.

Copying and Pasting Text

Highlighted passages can be directly copied within iBooks books. This functionality is not available in the Kindle iOS app. When pasting from iBooks, source information is automatically included.

While useful in some contexts, this inclusion may require manual deletion if not needed.

Kindle notes and highlights are also accessible through a web browser via your Kindle Amazon account, enabling text copying from that interface. This feature is not offered for iBooks books.

It’s worth noting that publishers may impose limitations on the amount of highlighted text accessible through your Kindle account.

Sharing Book Passages on Social Networks

Both the Kindle and iBooks applications now enable users to share specific excerpts from the books they are currently reading. When utilizing the Kindle app, passages selected for sharing are incorporated into posts on platforms like Twitter or Facebook.

These links direct readers to the user’s Kindle page, allowing them to view the complete highlighted text and contribute their own comments to the shared passage.

Kindle's Social Features

The Kindle page also provides a connection to the book's initial chapter, alongside links to posts and highlights from other individuals who have read the same title. This functionality is particularly beneficial for dedicated readers and those participating in book clubs.

It is noteworthy that Amazon could increase awareness of these valuable features through more proactive promotion.

iBooks Sharing Capabilities

In iBooks, passage sharing is facilitated through email, Messages, Twitter, and Facebook. When sharing via email, the complete passage is directly copied and pasted into the message.

However, when shared on social media networks, the passages are often shortened, with readers being directed to either the iTunes Preview webpage or the iTunes Book Store to access the full book.

Important Note: The sharing functionality within iBooks requires iOS 6 or later; therefore, it is unavailable on older devices such as the original iPad.

Additional Capabilities

Similar to their predecessors, both the Kindle and iBooks applications offer functionalities for searching within texts and accessing dictionary definitions. A text-to-speech capability was present in earlier iterations of iBooks, but it appears to have been discontinued with the release of iBooks 3.

Both reading platforms also support the import of PDF documents, and users retain the ability to customize font styles within each application.