Multiple news sources are reporting a Kindle for iOS update today. It sounds like they have added some welcome new features, including:
– The default syncing option is now to the most recent page read, not the latest-in-the-book page read. This means that people like me who use the index sometimes can go back to where we were reading and not have the cross-device sync be ruined. You can change it back to the other way if you’d like, via the preferences.
– On a related note, a new feature called Kindle Placeholders, allows you to preview other parts of the book without losing your place.
– The Smart Lookup feature lets you view a Wikipedia entry by tapping on a word. The Wikipedia info appears in an ‘info card’ on the bottom of the page.
– Notes export for certain titles, bug fixes, stability improvements and the usual stuff
Looks good! I’ll be updating when I plug my iPad in later.
Sounds good, but you might let us know how intuitive finding those features is.
On tablets (and particular smartphones) I find the UI falls apart above a certain level of complexity. Icons rather than text can be confusing. More that a couple of levels of options tends to lose me. And of course, too many levels can mean a feature is such a pain to get at, i’t not worth using.
Oh, and can you name placeholders? Without that, I’m likely to get lost.
Also, maybe the Kobo and Kindle teams spy on one another. Today too, Kobo’s app added some new features, including pop-up notes.
I’m hoping fiction authors will find ways to use those notes and not just leave them to scholars.