Since its release, I’ve tried to avoid the Kindle. I go through a book or two a week, and over the years have grown to love my paper babies. What would happen if I found out that an electronic reader was even cooler? A month ago I found out, and now I really, really want a Kindle. If I’m so inclined, I can get a start on building my Kindle library now, reading the books on my BlackBerry. Amazon has introduced the application, which allows BlackBerry users to access the vast Kindle book selection, over 420,000 total.
The app works just as you’d expect. You can browse through Amazon’s Kindle library, allowing you to search by author, title, or keyword. It also offers a pseudo-bookstore experience, allowing you to read the first chapter before you buy. That’s why I try to consolidate my bookstore trips. I always end up reading a ton of passages from various books, and it kills time like few other activities. You can access the books you buy on your BlackBerry, your computer, or a Kindle device.
Once you have the application and a book, the application works just like the Kindle. You can create annotations, one of my favorite features, and the device will remember what page you last viewed. Everything you do to the books on your BlackBerry you can sync to your Kindle and computer.
The biggest downside is that magazine, newspaper, and blog subscriptions are not available on the BlackBerry app. To download the free app, head to http://www.amazon.com/blackberry to send a link to your Berry, or go to http://www.amazon.com/blackberry from your BlackBerry browser. The application is available for the Bolds 9000 and 9700, Curves 8520 and 8900, Storms 9530 and 9550, and the Tour 9630.
