Is there any future with downloading to a Kindle?
Paul
I love my Kindle, but I would think that at present it's not the best medium for Logos. Just too limited in how you can work with the information there. It's built for reading, and it's great for that. On the other hand, Kindle will certainly evolve, and there are a multitude of other e-readers coming out as we speak, many with color and more functionality. As Logos becomes more cloud-based in the future, I would expect us to be able to access it in many ways. The iPhone app is surely just the beginning, though I believe a big screen will always be best for really getting the Logos experience.
Apple's inevitable forthcoming much-rumored tablet will play a big role and possibly change e-readers much like the iPhone did for cell phones.
Here's an interesting concept:
http://www.cultofmac.com/how-would-apple-change-publishing-heres-one-theory/21225
The Kindle is a closed system. Amazon is unlikely to support reading books on it that they didn't sell you. Notice that the most common format for public domain ebooks is not supported by the Kindle (if my memory is correct)
That's actually not true at all. All you have to do to read on a kindle is have it in a format that is supported including word doc, rtf, epub, pdf. If Logos wanted to and could get publisher rights to (the bigger hurdle) have an export to feature and let you choose one of those. I create stuff to read on my kindle all the time. I have a nice black leather folder for mine so when I did a wedding I send my wedding outline to it and bumped up the type and it went great. I have some text documents that I have converted into epub and read them on the Kindle. This doable. The only hurdles are ...
1. Logos being willing to engineer their software for it.
2. Publishers being wlling to give them the rights to do it.
Number 1 is not a problem for the fine folks in Washington. I know they could do it. And since they are working on #2 for iPhone, why not go two for one with the Kindle?
That's actually not true at all. All you have to do to read on a kindle is have it in a format that is supported including word doc, rtf, epub, pdf. If Logos wanted to and could get publisher rights to (the bigger hurdle) have an export to feature and let you choose one of those. I create stuff to read on my kindle all the time. I have a nice black leather folder for mine so when I did a wedding I send my wedding outline to it and bumped up the type and it went great. I have some text documents that I have converted into epub and read them on the Kindle. This doable. The only hurdles are ... 1. Logos being willing to engineer their software for it. 2. Publishers being wlling to give them the rights to do it. Number 1 is not a problem for the fine folks in Washington. I know they could do it. And since they are working on #2 for iPhone, why not go two for one with the Kindle?
Not being a Kindle owner, I forgot about the other files it supports, my bad. [:$]
You've gotten the Kindle to read epub? Everything I've read says the Kindle doesn't support epub.
Either way, I apologize for speaking w/out fact-checking what were a set of incomplete impressions.
Just to add my vote. It would be fantastic to be able to export books from Logos to the Kindle to save the eyes. Logos 4 is fantastic for study, etc., but the Kindle is (obviously) more convenient and comfortable for leisurely reading... To import our notes from the Kindle into Logos would be peachy... but I would settle for just being able to export to the Kindle.
I am easily pleased.
I am lovin Logos 4 btw... Thank you team Logos!
Kindle? No
But I hope Logos seriously considers the Barnes & Noble Nook -- its a more open platform, and I'm guessing it will steal a very large segment of the ebook market away from the Kindle.
Kindle? No But I hope Logos seriously considers the Barnes & Noble Nook -- its a more open platform, and I'm guessing it will steal a very large segment of the ebook market away from the Kindle.
I would love to hear it explained why people think this. Maybe I'm missing something, but the Kindle is no more closed than the Nook. It reads a great many formats. I can make all my documents, whether Word .doc, html, rtf, txt, even pdf into Kindle books including making covers and workable tables of contents. I can also read my Kindle books on my iPhone and on my desktop. I checked out the Nook and its present advantage is color, which I think Kindle is adopting soon (it will be forced to, though it will use more battery power that way). Another possible advantage of the Nook is that it takes a data card, which could be good for, say, a Logos library if a massive version is ever available. But in terms of being a closed system, I don't get that. I have probably missed something.
Since I own a Kindle I don't have to guess about its capabilities. There are thousands of free books available for wireless download at the Kindle store. One example is Halley's Bible Handbook with the New International Version which is currently free (including the wireless download).
The Kindle can read mobi-format eBooks. There are several free programs that you can use to covert other eBook formats to mobi. One free program is Calibre.
I often want to read many of the books that I have purchased for my Logos library. It is much easier and comfortable to read them with my Kindle while I am sitting in my favorite chair. I can hold the Kindle like a book and its battery will last longer than I can stay awake before it needs to be recharged. Logos 4 excels at research and searching a vast library. The Kindle excels at reading eBooks.
I mentioned earlier that there were thousands of free books available for the Kindle. I thought I would post some links to document this claim.
Link to the almost 20,000 books that you can download for free from the Kindle store using the built in wireless. http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?tag=kwab-20&node=154606011&p_36=0-0&redirect=true
Link to new non-public domain books that are available for free for the Kindle.http://www.amazon.com/s/?keywords=-domain&tag=kwab-20&rs=154606011&page=1&bbn=154606011&rh=n:133140011,n:!133141011,n:154606011,k:-domain,p_36:0-0&sort=-edition-sales-velocity
Link to free Project Gutenberg eBooks that you can download for free. (Kindle uses the Mobi format.)http://www.freekindlebooks.org/MagicCatalog/magiccatalog.html
Link explaining how to convert a million free Google books in ePub format so you can read them on the Kindle.http://kindleworld.blogspot.com/2009/08/million-free-google-books-in-epub-for.html
The Kindle is a closed system. Amazon is unlikely to support reading books on it that they didn't sell you. Notice that the most common format for public domain ebooks is not supported by the Kindle (if my memory is correct) That's actually not true at all. All you have to do to read on a kindle is have it in a format that is supported including word doc, rtf, epub, pdf. If Logos wanted to and could get publisher rights to (the bigger hurdle) have an export to feature and let you choose one of those. I create stuff to read on my kindle all the time. I have a nice black leather folder for mine so when I did a wedding I send my wedding outline to it and bumped up the type and it went great. I have some text documents that I have converted into epub and read them on the Kindle. This doable. The only hurdles are ... 1. Logos being willing to engineer their software for it. 2. Publishers being wlling to give them the rights to do it. Number 1 is not a problem for the fine folks in Washington. I know they could do it. And since they are working on #2 for iPhone, why not go two for one with the Kindle?
Kevin - I do not have a Kindle but am interested. Do you think itwould be a good tool for sermon notes? I mean preaching straight fromthe Kindle?
Jerry
There is a way of reading Logos books on Kindle, though it takes some work...
1) Copy your selection, chapter, or book.
2) Paste into Microsoft Word.
3) Download the free PrimoPDF software.
4) After installing PrimoPDF, you can print from Word to a PDF document.
5) Load the PDF onto your Kindle.
I haven't been able to try this, since I don't own a Kindle, but it should work. Let me know how it works for you, and if it is worth it. Money is tight now that I'm in seminary, but maybe when prices drop, I'll be able to try it out.
But if I do this, I loose all the functionalities of Logos, it's just reading a book and nothing else. I have no links to other books, or do I?
There is a way of reading Logos books on Kindle, though it takes some work... 1) Copy your selection, chapter, or book. 2) Paste into Microsoft Word. 3) Download the free PrimoPDF software. 4) After installing PrimoPDF, you can print from Word to a PDF document. 5) Load the PDF onto your Kindle. I haven't been able to try this, since I don't own a Kindle, but it should work. Let me know how it works for you, and if it is worth it. Money is tight now that I'm in seminary, but maybe when prices drop, I'll be able to try it out.
This is called format shifting and is illegal under U.S. copyright law.
Now that Amazon is planning a "Kindle App Store" (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10438661-36.html). Logos can theoritically make a Logos 4 App for Kindle. That would be really cool!
Then again, we have one Kindle in the house and my wife uses mine all the time, so I spend most of the time reading my Kindle (and Logos) books on my Iphone!
--Alex
Now that Amazon is planning a "Kindle App Store" (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10438661-36.html). Logos can theoritically make a Logos 4 App for Kindle. That would be really cool! Then again, we have one Kindle in the house and my wife uses mine all the time, so I spend most of the time reading my Kindle (and Logos) books on my Iphone! --Alex
It would be fantastic to have a full-blown Logos app on the Kindle, but I would settle for just being able to export my books legally and conveniently from Logos to the Kindle. I fear, however, that attention might be directed towards the iSlate (presuming it exists) come Wednesday...
Oh well, something else to add to my Birthday list! [;)]
Oh well, something else to add to my Birthday list!
My birthday is only three weeks away, so can they please hurry up. [^]I do hope there will be an app for the kindle, I think I prefer to have a kindle above the iPod, it's a bit bigger screen.
I agree completely. When I want to study, I will use logos on my computer. As a new owner of a kindle, the reason I bought was to read, and I have no doubt that if a logos app for the kindle would be created, I'd spend an inordinate amount of time reading books on the kindle that are in my logos library. I'm not as likely to do that on an iphone or itouch or ipad, as I think the e-ink lends itself to longer periods of reading. And I don't really want to do all that much highlighting, taking notes etc. I realize some might want to do that with their logos material if it was on a device like kindle, but I think if Bob and the Logos team could simply develop a kindle app with the new app store, which would access my logos books, I would read the hundreds of books I have in Logos format... man I can just imagine sitting down and reading through Luther's Works, or the Leadership Library, soaking it all in. I'm not as likely to do that in front of my computer, or with the i-line of hardware, as I do think Kindle or other eink e-readers are a great tool to do exactly that... read... Any thoughts Bob and Team Logos! BTW, looking forward to warmer weather so I can begin to wear my Logos Cycling jersey, which is totally off topic! [:D]
I'd also like to add my vote for the development of a Logos for Kindle (or any other e-reader which uses the digital ink). I think such an agreement might be an immensely helpful both to Logos and to the producer of whatever e-reader the agreement was reached with.I know that personally, if Logos announced a partnership with Kindle today, I'd buy a Kindle tomorrow. not only would this obviously increased Kindle sales, I think it make people more likely to purchase Logos books as well.I know I've heard many people complain that although it's great to have books and Logos. They really would want to buy anything other than reference material. I personally buy books, I know I'll just read and Logos format, but the eyestrain is definitely a drawback. Having the volumes available for reading in Kindle would definitely make the reading experience more enjoyable. Personally, I think such a move would be a huge step forward even if it didn't come with anything but the books themselves.
I realize some might want to do that with their logos material if it was on a device like kindle, but I think if Bob and the Logos team could simply develop a kindle app with the new app store, which would access my logos books, I would read the hundreds of books I have in Logos format... man I can just imagine sitting down and reading through Luther's Works, or the Leadership Library, soaking it all in.
Bob, I agree.
One thing that would be important to me though, is that I DO LIKE to highlight.
So being able to read a book, highlight it on L4, then go to the Kindle and have the highlights already done show up, would really be great.
Going to the doctor's office is a great place for me to pull out my iPhone and proceed reading, where I left off. Then go back home and my Kindle has the changes in location noted and I read from where I took off.
I suspect that within 5 years, there will be some big changes to how ebooks work. For one, there will be more flexibility in reading some file formats on other devices. Perhaps Amazon will not permit other devices to read theirs, but you can already read Kindle on iPhone and on the PC. If Amazon permitted copying a .mobi file, then there would be little to hold them back.
Of course, the color might be nice. What I did with my Olivetree stuff is set a beige background with dark brown letters. Quite easy on my eyes.
I received an email this morning from amazon.com evidently you can now install a Kindle app on your desktop. Is Logos going to create an app for Kindle?
It's built for reading, and it's great for that.
That is the point. That is why any book that you intend to read extensively, from cover to cover, will be better on a kindle than the "big screen." Now for Bible study, reference work, searching, etc. there is nothing like Logos on the computer. For reading, the Kindle is a thousand times better.
People are already reading their Logos resources on the Kindle. It is just awkward to do so now. The Kindle is such a popular format that I think Logos will eventually be more accommodating to it.
I would love to be able to read L4 resources on my Kindle 2. But does anyone seriously think this will ever be a possibility?
You currently can read many of your L4 resources on the Kindle by going in the browser to library.logos.com.
How well does that actually work? Would the $189 price be worth it?
I'm guessing no, but if you have a Kindle and think it'd be worth it, I'd love to be persuaded.
I will probably wait for the next model to see what is coming next, but who knows.
joel
Hello Michael, I own both a Kindle and an iPad. I agree with you 100%. The iPad is much better for Bible study, but the Kindle is "a thousand times better" when I just want to read a book. Bill It's built for reading, and it's great for that. That is the point. That is why any book that you intend to read extensively, from cover to cover, will be better on a kindle than the "big screen." Now for Bible study, reference work, searching, etc. there is nothing like Logos on the computer. For reading, the Kindle is a thousand times better. People are already reading their Logos resources on the Kindle. It is just awkward to do so now. The Kindle is such a popular format that I think Logos will eventually be more accommodating to it.
Hello Michael,
I own both a Kindle and an iPad. I agree with you 100%. The iPad is much better for Bible study, but the Kindle is "a thousand times better" when I just want to read a book.
Bill
Agreed. Its not a case of Librinox 'competing' with Amazon.
I have a Kindle. I have Logos (on mac). Its a 'no brainer' to want to be able to read Logos great resources on a portable device designed for reading. I just want to read, not markup or fiddle or search; just read. I then want to be able to use that knowledge I gained, in sermon preparation which I do back in Logos on the macbook.
At the moment, I have to either:
1) use the trapdoor (non-optimised) route of browsing for my logos resources on the Kindle, or
2) dump out my Logos resources to MS Word (bit by bit), then save as PDF (or use Calibre eBook management), then import to Kindle. Not a low-maintenance solution!
If Logos resources were all available in Kindle format (to Logos customers), then I'd purchase more resources through Logos, rather than deciding to wait for them to be kindle-ised (via amazon), or go the poor customer just wants the obvious but can't get it route above.
Librinox will lose out unless they go multi-format, and they will gain customer loyalty and more revenues if they open out to Kindle. The lock-in that Librinox has is the license cost of the resource and the software. I've paid for that, now I'm politely 'demanding' Kindle format Logos resources. Thanks.
Does anyone know, meanwhile, whether there is a 3rd party logos-to-kindle batch converter? (not to pdf, but to native kindle) I'd pay $25 for that, as long as it was kept up to date with format changes either end. If not, then where is the commercial restriction? Who is not opening up the formats via an SDK? I guess Amazon see loss of revenue if they let Librinox at it for free. So, what do Amazon charge for an SDK? This would be a small development and testing project for a professional software operation to undertake... Do Librinox want to sub it out? )
OK, I'm convinced, I'm going to buy a Kindle. Can you give me some advice. I live in Europe, Latvia. Is it possible for me to buy a Kindle from America? Or will I have problems with charging the batteries? Or other problems maybe?
This may help: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DZ1Y7M. You can select Latvia in the "Primary Country of Use." I have been extremely pleased with my Kindle.
