[thedrewser]

I've been using Kindle on my iPhone and iPad for some time now and really like it, especially the syncing between devises.

However, I've not used iBooks at all. Has anybody used both and which do they prefer, what are the differences? Apart from a slightly differenct look I can't see much else that is materially different.

[stephen122333]

A big and important difference is the fact if you use the Kindel app your books are/will on any Kindel device or kindel app you buy today or tomorrow, but with iBooks they are only on iOS devices.

[tdenson]

Originally Posted by stephen122333

A big and important difference is the fact if you use the Kindel app your books are/will on any Kindel device or kindel app you buy today or tomorrow, but with iBooks they are only on iOS devices.

Even though i am an Apple fan through and through, the Kindle app gets my vote every time. The big advantage as said above is that I can read Kindle books on my computer, phone, iPad and Kindle and switch from one to the other without losing my place via Whispersync. Also, IMO the Kindle app is much better to use than the iBooks one, Apple's version is all form over function - or "skeuomorphic" to use the modern idiom I.e. it tries to look too much like the real thing with no advantage in usability - their latest contacts app is a classic example.

[lettice]

Originally Posted by tdenson

The big advantage as said above is that I can read Kindle books on my computer, phone, iPad and Kindle and switch from one to the other without losing my place via Whispersync.

ibooks does do synching across devices also.

Ibooks faq here

I do not really have a preference, they are both really the same to be honest on ios devices.
Though I tend to use ibooks, as I mostly read pdfs and epub.
I rarely get a .mobi book, and find in my world that the epub are always available, cheaper and easier to share with others.
There is a great piece of software called calibre, that you may want to check out, that converts and manages amongst other things for ebooks, here

[tdenson]

Originally Posted by lettice

ibooks does do synching across devices also.
]

However, in my list of devices I did mention my Kindle, which also happens to be my preferred reading device although I do use IOS quite often as well. So for me, iBooks is a non-starter.

[thedrewser]

I doubt I'll ever get a Kindle device as I'm more than happy with the apps on my iOS devices, but, if there's hardly any difference between the Kindle app and iBooks, I may as well stick with what I'm using (plus Amazon is usually a bit cheaper than iBooks, sometime only by about 50p though).

[Alkar]

I primarily use the kindle app too. Though I also don't own a kindle, like thedrewser said, the books are usually slightly cheaper through Amazon and I find they have a much better range, especially for the books I usually use.

[thedrewser]

Ha Ha, as if by magic a whole item on a website appears answering my very question

http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile...articleContent

[Voynich]

Tablets are brilliant for magazines, reference books, manuals etc. I think the two apps are too close to pick a fav! But when sitting down with a plain old novel to read you can't beat the real e-ink Kindle I think! It's so easy on the eyes and only needs charged once every few weeks.

[thedrewser]

Originally Posted by Voynich

But when sitting down with a plain old novel to read you can't beat the real e-ink Kindle I think! It's so easy on the eyes and only needs charged once every few weeks.

I can't dispute what you say (having never owned an e-ink ereader) but, the idea of carrying around an extra device is the killer point for me. I may as well carry a book. With the iOS app, I always have my phone on me wherever I go so if the opportunity arises I can read a book. For example, I had to make an emergency call to Kwik Fit the other day. But was able to spend the 20 minutes it took reading my book because my phone was with me.

I'm not saying it's better or worse than a real book or dedicated ereader, just my personal preference. Also, with having a very young family, my days of really long reads are well and truly gone.

[zantarous]

The Kindle is better from the perspective that no matter what phone or tablet you have in future you will have access to books that you have paid for.

However the syncing on iBooks is far superior, Kindle syncs to the furthest point in a book across all devices while iBooks syncs the current page being read. So if you skip ahead to the index on a Kindle then all devices see that furthest page as the sync page and then it becomes a real pain to read across multiple devices.

[thedrewser]

Originally Posted by zantarous

The Kindle is better from the perspective that no matter what phone or tablet you have in future you will have access to books that you have paid for.

However the syncing on iBooks is far superior, Kindle syncs to the furthest point in a book across all devices while iBooks syncs the current page being read. So if you skip ahead to the index on a Kindle then all devices see that furthest page as the sync page and then it becomes a real pain to read across multiple devices.

That is one thing about Kindle that does annoy me. I often look ahead to see exactly how many pages there are to read and then it always syncs you there.

[paulj48]

Originally Posted by thedrewser

That is one thing about Kindle that does annoy me. I often look ahead to see exactly how many pages there are to read and then it always syncs you there.

Just add a 'book mark' these are synced across all devices

[Voynich]

Originally Posted by stephen122333

A big and important difference is the fact if you use the Kindel app your books are/will on any Kindel device or kindel app you buy today or tomorrow, but with iBooks they are only on iOS devices.

Originally Posted by zantarous

The Kindle is better from the perspective that no matter what phone or tablet you have in future you will have access to books that you have paid for.

However the syncing on iBooks is far superior, Kindle syncs to the furthest point in a book across all devices while iBooks syncs the current page being read. So if you skip ahead to the index on a Kindle then all devices see that furthest page as the sync page and then it becomes a real pain to read across multiple devices.

I forgot that! That is a big advantage. Amazon make the Kindle app across a whole range of devices including iOS. The iBooks app work only for iOS.