Amazon has just released an update of their Kindle app for iOS.
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The version 6.11 is a minor one, as the improvements are limited to the Discover section – but it could be a helpful tool for anyone who considers getting one of Amazon’s digital subscriptions: either Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime with Prime Reading.
When you open the updated app, head to Discover tab (second from the right). You will see a list of topics to discover. Both Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading were included here before, but now these two sections are much more extended.
The best thing is that you can browse titles included in both subscriptions even if you are not subscribed. It makes the Kindle app the easiest possible way to check out if these subscriptions are worth trying. And when you decide to sign up for a free trial, you’ll have to do it on a computer, because there is no option to buy any content or service in the Kindle iOS app.
The Discover section pulls the new content from Amazon every time you are connected to the internet. It’s worth checking out what’s in the Amazon Prime Reading section, as the list of titles is rotating the same way as on Netflix – some books come in, some go out.
Some titles stay in Prime Reading since the service was introduced two years ago. The catalog includes some 1,000 items: ebooks, ebooks with Audible narration, or newspapers and magazines.
To check out what’s new, swipe the first section “New and Noteworthy.” It’s where most interesting newly added titles will appear. Checking back a few times will give you an idea of how many of the new books you’d want to read.
The app is also a good way to test which service suits you more. Some titles appear in both sections. What’s more, almost all books in Prime Reading – and this becomes clear in the Kindle for iOS – are also included in Kindle Unlimited. There are labels at the top of each book that say whether it’s included in Kindle Unlimited or not.
The new update of the Kindle app is aimed at pushing Amazon’s subscriptions harder. It is a response to a new Apple Books app (formerly known as iBooks) that was introduced together with iOS 12.
Apple’s new take on book reading may convince some iPad and iPhone users, especially new ones, to try the app. Once they do it, they will most probably stay with it, as it’s effortless to browse Apple’s ebookstore and buy books and audiobooks within the app.
An in-app purchase is what Amazon doesn’t offer. That’s why it’s much easier to convince readers to buy a subscription on the web. The purchase happens once, and then the user is free to discover and download books using the Kindle app for iOS.
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