3 ms·

The problem is the rest of the amazon ecosystems integration is great. If I buy a Kindle eBook I get a discount on the audio-book from Audible and they complime

The problem is the rest of the amazon ecosystems integration is great. If I buy a Kindle eBook I get a discount on the audio-book from Audible and they compliment each-other with good integration. for example the Audiobook picks up where I stopped reading, or the kindle will open where I last listened and I can ask Alexa to play my book when I have to stop reading and do housework. its not lock in exactly as I can listen to/read my books on other devices android phone/tablet apple iP(one/ad/od) my tv etc... and while there is drm it is trivial to bypass (openaudible calibre), It is more there ecosystem acts as a value added such that while a kindle on its own merits is a inferior system together makes a better option then buying from someone else. this may constitute a classic abuse of horizontally integrated monopoly though.

jacurtis 6y ago
This is why I am on Kindle as well. I enjoy the "Whispersync" Audible/Kindle integration and multi-device support. For those that don't know, Whispersync is easily the Kindle's "killer feature". It syncs your location in the book across all devices (I use iPad, Kindle Paperwhite, and iPhone, Sonos, Alexa, etc). So if you read a chapter on your phone, and then go to your Kindle later that night, it will keep you in the right location. But even more impressive is that you can skip in and out of the audible versions at will as well, and stay in sync. So I can literally read a book on my Kindle one night. The next morning I can read a chapter on my iPad. Then I can jump into the car at work and listen via the Audible CarPlay app in my car. Then I can read more on my iPhone via the Kindle iOS app while I wait for a meeting to start, then I can listen to the Audio version on my Alexa in my office, come home and listen to the Audio version on my Sonos speakers while I cook dinner, and then go back to my Kindle as I settle down in bed for the night. Seamlessly staying in sync across all these devices. It is really awesome, and makes the Kindle worth it in my opinion. The new Kindle Paperwhites also support Audible on them via bluetooth headphones and you can listen while you read along. I literally just purchased a book about 10 minutes ago and added the audible narration. I don't maintain an audible subscription because I have found that I can often buy books + audible versions bundled together for the same price (and often less) than a month of Audible. So I prefer to just buy them ala-cart with the kindle book bundles. It is a better deal. I realize that I sound like a fanboy, and I am. I'm a huge fan of the kindle. It isn't perfect, but until another ecosystem can match the audible/kindle whispersync feature with apps on literally every device (including smart speakers, ai devices, etc) then I will stick with Kindle, even if the books are more expensive, because it is just easier.
- smegger001 6y ago
  pretty much where I am at. at this point pretty much the only thing to get me out of their ecosystem at this point would be either a government break up of amazon/a long series foot shooting measures by amazon, fallowed someone else making a low price color e-ink reader before amazon. But color e-readers like that wont be out a reasonable price for 10-20 years based on patents owned by e-Ink expiring around then. (eInk really doesn't seem to want anyone to use their technology for some reason.)
- Larrikin 6y ago
  There is no audio book syncing, but the Google play books does sync locations between my iPad and Android phone in ebooks.

jacurtis 6y ago

This is why I am on Kindle as well. I enjoy the "Whispersync" Audible/Kindle integration and multi-device support. For those that don't know, Whispersync is easily the Kindle's "killer feature". It syncs your location in the book across all devices (I use iPad, Kindle Paperwhite, and iPhone, Sonos, Alexa, etc). So if you read a chapter on your phone, and then go to your Kindle later that night, it will keep you in the right location. But even more impressive is that you can skip in and out of the audible versions at will as well, and stay in sync. So I can literally read a book on my Kindle one night. The next morning I can read a chapter on my iPad. Then I can jump into the car at work and listen via the Audible CarPlay app in my car. Then I can read more on my iPhone via the Kindle iOS app while I wait for a meeting to start, then I can listen to the Audio version on my Alexa in my office, come home and listen to the Audio version on my Sonos speakers while I cook dinner, and then go back to my Kindle as I settle down in bed for the night. Seamlessly staying in sync across all these devices. It is really awesome, and makes the Kindle worth it in my opinion. The new Kindle Paperwhites also support Audible on them via bluetooth headphones and you can listen while you read along. I literally just purchased a book about 10 minutes ago and added the audible narration. I don't maintain an audible subscription because I have found that I can often buy books + audible versions bundled together for the same price (and often less) than a month of Audible. So I prefer to just buy them ala-cart with the kindle book bundles. It is a better deal. I realize that I sound like a fanboy, and I am. I'm a huge fan of the kindle. It isn't perfect, but until another ecosystem can match the audible/kindle whispersync feature with apps on literally every device (including smart speakers, ai devices, etc) then I will stick with Kindle, even if the books are more expensive, because it is just easier.

smegger001 6y ago
pretty much where I am at. at this point pretty much the only thing to get me out of their ecosystem at this point would be either a government break up of amazon/a long series foot shooting measures by amazon, fallowed someone else making a low price color e-ink reader before amazon. But color e-readers like that wont be out a reasonable price for 10-20 years based on patents owned by e-Ink expiring around then. (eInk really doesn't seem to want anyone to use their technology for some reason.)
Larrikin 6y ago
There is no audio book syncing, but the Google play books does sync locations between my iPad and Android phone in ebooks.