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Amazon Brings Landscape Mode and Viewing Customizations to 'Kindle for iPhone'

Wednesday May 20, 2009 11:23 am PDT by Eric Slivka

Screenshot from TechCrunch
Amazon's Kindle for iPhone [App Store, Free] has been updated to Version 1.1, bringing several important new features to the popular eBook reader. Most notably, Amazon has added support for viewing in landscape orientation and the ability to customize text and background colors. The changes include:

* Read in portrait or landscape mode.
* Select alternate background and text colors to improve reading comfort in low light conditions.
* Tap on either side of the screen or flick to turn pages.
* Pinch to zoom images in books.

TechCrunch discusses the changes and includes several screenshots illustrating the text and background color customization options.

My favorite thing about the landscape/portrait mode is that while you rotate your iPhone to switch between the two, theres a lock icon in the lower right hand corner to easily disable this rotation. I wish every app on the iPhone had that, as I cannot stand when things rotate even though I didnt want them to. The background options of black or sepia along with the standard white is also a nice touch, as it can be hard to read on the white when the screen is fully illuminated.

[ 15 comments ]

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smarch
Posted: 39 months ago
pinch to zoom!
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Flowbee
Posted: 39 months ago
Very nice. I like the Sepia text/background much better than black on white.
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jessica.
Posted: 39 months ago
I downloaded this last night and used it and WOW. I love the lock feature in landscape mode as I generally read in bed so the angle that I hold my phone results in the screen rotating against my wishes. I love this thing.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
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Rojo
Posted: 39 months ago
I want the lock feature for everything now!
I HATE when the iPhone is constantly rotating orientations. I really hope Apple either adds a similar lock feature, or at least allows you to disable rotation.
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Randman
Posted: 39 months ago
I wrote about the new Kindle update this morning for Jacksonville.com.

Really like it. The app just needs two features now. The ability to flick up and down as well as left-right/right-left and Instapaper Pro's text scroll.
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spazzcat
Posted: 39 months ago

Very nice. I like the Sepia text/background much better than black on white.


I agree. I may be willing to read a book now on my iphone, but I still wish they would let us buy newspapers
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GTDaveMac
Posted: 39 months ago
I am glad the app has been updated for those that wanted new features, and in that, I am very glad that there is an option to lock the orientation. I won't ever use landscape mode, and I don't want my screen switching back and forth if I am laying down at a weird angle.

However, I have submitted feedback because this lock option is not persistent, and I would really like an option to turn off the new tap to turn pages option. It allows for accidental page turning, where as the flick is a bit more deliberate, and I like that.
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NinjaHERO
Posted: 39 months ago
The lock button is the best thing ever. I hate it when apps turn just because I want to lay on my side and view them. Great move Amazon.
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mkrishnan
Posted: 39 months ago
Excellent! Will have to update. I like that they're pushing the envelope with this app... I do still use it, even though I have a Kindle.
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kas23
Posted: 39 months ago
Excellent! Everything I was looking forward to. I'll have to re-download this and give it a shot (again).
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