The Official Goodreads iPhone App!
Posted by Otis on March 06, 2010
I'm very pleased to be able to officially announce that Goodreads now has an iPhone app, which is available in the Apple app store.
And, very excitingly, Apple was kind enough to notice and feature it, causing it to shoot to the top of the free books category (for the moment anyways)!
We built the app because many of our members have asked for an iPhone app, and because we think it will be very useful for Goodreads members on the go.
Also, mobile statistics on the growth of the iPhone in the US alone show it to be one of the fastest growing adoptions of a new device ever, so we think even more people will be able to take advantage of our app in the years to come.
Here is a full list of features the app offers:
* Browse your shelves! Next time you are in the library or bookstore, your to-read list will be handy.
* Add status updates and reviews of books you are reading.
* See book reviews and updates from your friends, and comment on them.
* Explore your friends shelves
* Explore some of popular book lists
* View literary events near you
I've been using the app for the last month and have to say I think it's pretty slick. There are still a few features I've had to go to our mobile site for (like groups), and we hope to add those in the coming months.
You may notice that on the app some books appear without cover images or descriptions or other pieces of data that appear on the site. This is because, as some of you may remember, Goodreads uses Amazon book meta-data, and Amazon's terms of service doesn't allow iPhone apps. Thus we have built this app with a completely separate source of book meta-data. We are working on filling in these holes, and have already made great progress there.
If you have an iPhone or an iPod touch, please give the app a go - and don't forget to give it an (appropriately) high rating!
If you have any feedback or thoughts on the app, please post them in the comments or in the Feedback Group thread.
Update: Just for clarity as people have asked in the comments, we do have a decent mobile site that should work on any phone with a browser. And we plan to build an Android app next. If anyone knows a good Android developer let us know!
I'm very pleased to be able to officially announce that Goodreads now has an iPhone app, which is available in the Apple app store.
And, very excitingly, Apple was kind enough to notice and feature it, causing it to shoot to the top of the free books category (for the moment anyways)!
We built the app because many of our members have asked for an iPhone app, and because we think it will be very useful for Goodreads members on the go.
Also, mobile statistics on the growth of the iPhone in the US alone show it to be one of the fastest growing adoptions of a new device ever, so we think even more people will be able to take advantage of our app in the years to come.
Here is a full list of features the app offers:
* Browse your shelves! Next time you are in the library or bookstore, your to-read list will be handy.
* Add status updates and reviews of books you are reading.
* See book reviews and updates from your friends, and comment on them.
* Explore your friends shelves
* Explore some of popular book lists
* View literary events near you
I've been using the app for the last month and have to say I think it's pretty slick. There are still a few features I've had to go to our mobile site for (like groups), and we hope to add those in the coming months.
You may notice that on the app some books appear without cover images or descriptions or other pieces of data that appear on the site. This is because, as some of you may remember, Goodreads uses Amazon book meta-data, and Amazon's terms of service doesn't allow iPhone apps. Thus we have built this app with a completely separate source of book meta-data. We are working on filling in these holes, and have already made great progress there.
If you have an iPhone or an iPod touch, please give the app a go - and don't forget to give it an (appropriately) high rating!
If you have any feedback or thoughts on the app, please post them in the comments or in the Feedback Group thread.
Update: Just for clarity as people have asked in the comments, we do have a decent mobile site that should work on any phone with a browser. And we plan to build an Android app next. If anyone knows a good Android developer let us know!
Comments (showing 1-50 of 186) (186 new)
I got the app and like it but had some real trouble adding friends using the app -- it hung up in the 'sending' process (or at least it never told me it was done) and sent the e-mail anyway. However, it still shows me as having no friends.Also wondering, can it be used offline? I have an iPod touch, not an iPhone, so I have to rely on a wi-fi connection to get to the internet. I'm really looking forward to being able to use it when I'm in the bookstore looking for new stuff to get!
Cool! I'm probably picking up an Ipod Touch this weekend, and Goodreads will be one of the first apps I install now!
Yay! I got a GR App but it said it was not affiliated with the site...I can't wait to download this one. Now I'll really be on it all the time:)
It's a shame you went this route instead of a mobile web app that would function just as well on the iPhone, Android, and soon to be webkit Blackberry.
Great, I only wish they made one for LG phones. I know iTunes or the directer of Goodreads or whoever won't read this but, I am desperately begging here: PLEASE MAKE A GOODREADS APP FOR LG MOBILE PHONES. I am in serious need of book browsing when I am out and about.
Congrats on the successful iPhone launch!Do you have any plans in the near future for an app on Android?
All I can scream is AWESOME! My husband thinks I have lost my mind. Downloading now. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!!
Elroy wrote: "It's a shame you went this route instead of a mobile web app that would function just as well on the iPhone, Android, and soon to be webkit Blackberry."As a Blackberry user, I have to agree with Elroy here. Alas.
I just saw Goodreads on the featured list! I think the app is great. And it doesn't seem to me that there's anything shameful about a new addition to the Goodreads experience. There IS a mobile website, and now there's an iPhone app. Seems like more is more here.
I also would love an blackberry app. Why does Iphone get everything! But atleast you have upgraded your mobile site. I guess that is a plus.
I'm reading 5 books and it only shows 4 being currently read, does anybody have a fix for this? Is there a way to look at your groups with the new app?
I. wrote: "However, it still shows me as having no friends."It won't show them until they confirm you as a friend.
FYI, Goodreads already had a mobile site.
Sheila, maybe you did not shelve one of the five as currently-reading?
rivka wrote: "I. wrote: "However, it still shows me as having no friends."It won't show them until they confirm you as a friend."
Awesome! One of them just did, too, so all is well :D Thank you.
kelly wrote: "sweet! can u add a barcode scanner to scan books at the bookstore you want to add to your shelves?"The B & N app lets you take pictures of the cover of the book, find more info, etc and I think you can make a wish list... its free.
On the amazon mobile version of the website you can add to your wishlist.
I am a Goodreads addict and have been waiting for this app for a while. However I have a myTouch so PLEASE develop this for Android!!
kelly wrote: "sweet! can u add a barcode scanner to scan books at the bookstore you want to add to your shelves?"Otis said yesterday that they are looking into adding that functionality.
Goodreads Blog
Subscribe:
Goodreads is hiring!
Follow Goodreads on Twitter
Follow Goodreads on Facebook
Subscribe:
About Goodreads
Goodreads is the largest site for readers and book recommendations in the world. We have more than 8,900,000 members who have added more than 310,000,000 books to their shelves. Read more...
