Julia Slaughter » apps for book lovers

iPhone Apps: IndieBound

Julia — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:59:17 +0000

IndieBound is a great app for independent bookstores and books. Quite honestly one of the first things I noticed when I downloaded this app is that I’ve lived in Mobile for five years and I had no idea there was an independent bookstore in Mobile, AL but after this downloading this app – I do now! I also found a really neat graphic novel that I want to buy my Dad for Christmas this year. It breaks down the new books that are notable and worth checking out, indie bestsellers, and even breaks down books by age range and category. You can create a login for IndieBound.org that allows you to make lists of things you want to buy or investigate further later. (I haven’t created my login yet but I imagine I’ll get there.) Of course the big names in publishing are not represented there, as they shouldn’t be. (It is an app for “independent” companies after all.)

If you are always on the look out for the next big thing or you want to support local bookstores instead of the big chains – this is the app for you!

iPhone Apps: the Amazon Kindle

Julia — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:24:29 +0000

I don’t think that I will jump on the eReader bandwagon. I like the way books feel in my hand, I like the way they smell. I like tucking one into my purse or my pocket and knowing that if it disappears or gets damaged I’m out no more than about $20.00. I like the way fonts can set the tone for a book. Besides, I look at a computer screen all day, I just like books. However, I like the Amazon Kindle app for one reason – the preview. Sometimes the blurb on the back of the book just isn’t really enough, sometimes you thumb a few pages in and poke around, and this app gives you the opportunity to do that.

I thought I read somewhere that the Kindle gives you the first chapter but I think it’s based on a page limit, since the first time I used it was when I was checking out Cherie Priests’ Boneshaker and the early chapters are kind of short. I read the whole sample on the Kindle app and then I knew that I had to have it so I ordered it.

It’s straightforward and easy to use and for some people I imagine it will be like a gateway drug, giving them a taste that will leave them wanting to make the leap to eReader. Of course not me, not yet, I still prefer the feel of a book in my hands.

iPhone Apps for Book Lovers

Julia — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:09:15 +0000

At the end of December, I got an iPhone (the 3GS if you’re into that kind of thing) – I was really hesitant to join the ranks of the iPhone users, frankly at first I felt like I had willingly given myself over to the Borg. However, I am now a proud convert – listening to the AppSlappy Podcast, browsing through the app libraries looking for new and interesting apps, so far my iPhone is a nice mix of camera, cooking, and game apps with some apps for book lovers thrown in. However, I’ve been having a hard time finding apps for book lovers, so I thought I would share my gems here for you, just in case you are a book lover too! I’ll categorize and tag all the apps to try to make theme easier to find so that if a search engine brought you here you don’t have to sort through ALL the nonsense just to find them.