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Introducing Goodreads on the New Kindle Fires
Today is the culmination of a lot of hours of hard work and invention. We're burning with excitement to announce that Goodreads is now officially available for the new Kindle Fire! When we joined the Amazon family of companies six months ago, we were most psyched about continuing the mission we most care about—helping readers find and share books they love—but in addition, we also had the opportunity to really think about what the reading experience could be for Kindle readers.
We want to make the reading experience better. We want to make it easy to find great books, and then to have engaging, amazing conversations about them. It starts now—with a deep integration of Goodreads into the reading experience on the new Kindle Fires. Our team has been working incredibly hard over these past months, and we are very proud and excited about what we've begun to build. So, for this update, we thought it might be more fun to hear from some members of the team about what they've created.
Goodreads on Kindle Fire is different from the Goodreads mobile app because it's actually part of the Kindle reading experience. "What's most exciting to me is that it's the first time ever that Goodreads has been inside the book," said Brian Rosenblat, director of product. "There's no need to switch between the book you are reading and Goodreads. Goodreads on the Kindle is the first big step towards making it all one experience."
Robert LaThanh, developer, loves how the goal is to add to the enjoyment of reading books. "At Goodreads, we're all book lovers and big believers in the joy of losing ourselves inside a great book. We never want to interrupt that. What we're doing is making it easier than ever to share your reading with your friends when you want to."
So what you can do with Goodreads on the new Kindle Fire? It's a mix of familiar and new features. Let's take a look:
Goodreads will be available on the new Kindle Fires as part of a free, over-the-air software update that will be automatically delivered in the coming weeks in the US, Canada and Australia. Of course, if you can't wait that long, you can go here to make it happen immediately! (Please note that this is only available right now for the new Kindle Fires. We don't have information yet about all the other Kindle devices but will provide updates as we have them.) There will be more features on the way as well. And for you non-Kindle Fire readers, don't worry! We're going to continue to work hard to improve Goodreads on all devices: web, tablet, and mobile! Onward!
Looking forward to hearing what you think of the new Goodreads on Kindle Fire!
The Goodreads on Kindle Fire Team
We want to make the reading experience better. We want to make it easy to find great books, and then to have engaging, amazing conversations about them. It starts now—with a deep integration of Goodreads into the reading experience on the new Kindle Fires. Our team has been working incredibly hard over these past months, and we are very proud and excited about what we've begun to build. So, for this update, we thought it might be more fun to hear from some members of the team about what they've created.
Goodreads on Kindle Fire is different from the Goodreads mobile app because it's actually part of the Kindle reading experience. "What's most exciting to me is that it's the first time ever that Goodreads has been inside the book," said Brian Rosenblat, director of product. "There's no need to switch between the book you are reading and Goodreads. Goodreads on the Kindle is the first big step towards making it all one experience."
Robert LaThanh, developer, loves how the goal is to add to the enjoyment of reading books. "At Goodreads, we're all book lovers and big believers in the joy of losing ourselves inside a great book. We never want to interrupt that. What we're doing is making it easier than ever to share your reading with your friends when you want to."
So what you can do with Goodreads on the new Kindle Fire? It's a mix of familiar and new features. Let's take a look:
Share a quote
"We're making it effortless to capture and share the thoughts and feelings that are important to you. When you come across a quote that is meaningful or funny, you can now share it with Goodreads friends directly from within the book instead of forgetting about it later."
—Ettore Pasquini, senior developer
—Ettore Pasquini, senior developer
See what your friends are reading
"Being able to see what my friends are reading, dive with one touch into an interesting book and then add it to my want-to-read shelf has always been my favorite way for finding new books. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten sucked into reading people's reviews as I've checked out the updates feed."
—Mike Williams, software engineer
—Mike Williams, software engineer
Rate and review books
"I love how you can rate and review a book you've just finished and immediately share it with your Goodreads friends. It's fun to get their reactions instantaneously and start discussing the book right away."
—Virgilio Pigliucci, senior software engineer
—Virgilio Pigliucci, senior software engineer
Track what you want to read, are currently reading,
and have already read
"I'm proud of how easy we've made it for members to track and catalog their books on Kindle Fire. The entire experience of using Goodreads on Kindle has been designed from the ground up with simplicity in mind. For example, our members have long asked us for an effortless way to import all their Amazon-purchased books—print and e-books—into their Goodreads accounts, and now they can do so at the tap of a finger. Our ultimate goal in designing this product was to get out of the way and let the books take center stage."
—Seth Goldstein, director,
user experience
—Seth Goldstein, director,
user experience
Goodreads will be available on the new Kindle Fires as part of a free, over-the-air software update that will be automatically delivered in the coming weeks in the US, Canada and Australia. Of course, if you can't wait that long, you can go here to make it happen immediately! (Please note that this is only available right now for the new Kindle Fires. We don't have information yet about all the other Kindle devices but will provide updates as we have them.) There will be more features on the way as well. And for you non-Kindle Fire readers, don't worry! We're going to continue to work hard to improve Goodreads on all devices: web, tablet, and mobile! Onward!
Looking forward to hearing what you think of the new Goodreads on Kindle Fire!
The Goodreads on Kindle Fire Team
Comments Showing 51-100 of 117 (117 new)
Not unexpected. I figured it was just a matter of time before the two were merged to the point that they functioned as one. Amazon's in it to make a buck like any other company. They still aren't as creepy and Dark Overlord-ish as Google and Facebook. (I probably shouldn't say that lest they think it's an insult instead of a compliment that they aren't being equally arrogant in their growth.) Ok, so for those of us who use the Kindle app but are just never going to buy yet another device to duplicate what we can already do on our perfectly good tablets, any bones to throw our way? I mean, the GR iPhone app works great, but if you're integrating GR and Kindle, it's just a matter of time before the GR app is history, right?
Kindle Fire HD 7...so far no sign of Goodreads integration...software is up to date apparently...according to the System Updates under Settings>Device there are no available updates.
the GR iPhone app works great, but if you're integrating GR and Kindle, it's just a matter of time before the GR app is history, right? Nope. While we are excited for the Kindle integration, Goodreads is for everyone who reads - physical, digital on Kindle or otherwise, audio, etc - and we don't intend to change that. We will be investing heavily in all our apps (web, mobile web, iOS, android, e-ink, fire) in the coming years.
Will this be intergrated with just Kindle Fires, or will it also be on Kindle Paperwhites with an update?
I have the new "Kindle Fire 7" HD Second Generation"...will there be an OS update to include this?? It is brand-new, I just bought it from Amazon 2 weeks ago. I got it instead of the HDX because I saw almost no differences except price.
Nicky wrote: "Will this eventually come to the Kindle apps?"I highly doubt it since it's an app itself.
Frenchie wrote: "Well, I am not a grandma but I do not like reading swear words. To each their own as many people do not mind. What Amazon should invent, if a little application that block the swear words for those who do not like them but leave them for those who do not mind.You know , a little bit like the bleep on the TV except this would be the reader's choice. This little app could have a Yes or No for whoever wants to use it. If I was a programer, I would have a go. I am sure many people would be interested besides me LOL...
"
Hey, that's a pretty good idea. I would love it if that happened.I'm not a grandma either; just a conservative.
Otis wrote: "We are actively working on this problem as well - hopefully have an update on timing soon."Aces Otis. Nice to see you posting and responding out in public again.
I have the kindle fire hdx. I can't find the app and I don't see it on my books..... my system is up to date too lol..... Help!
Kaylee wrote: "I have the kindle fire hdx and I can't find the app and can't find the app and I don't see it on my books..... my system is up to date too lol..... Help!"You'll have to download the new update Kaylee. I had to manually do it because Amazon rolls out updates in waves.
Kelly wrote: "Kaylee wrote: "I have the kindle fire hdx and I can't find the app and can't find the app and I don't see it on my books..... my system is up to date too lol..... Help!"You'll have to download th..."
Did it work after you did that? :) and lol how do I do that? I just got my hdx a week ago lol
Kaylee wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Kaylee wrote: "I have the kindle fire hdx and I can't find the app and can't find the app and I don't see it on my books..... my system is up to date too lol..... Help!"You'll have ..."
Yeah it does. The app right now lets you share on goodreads, mark books in read, currently reading or want to read and check your updates. Sadly it won't let you update your reading progress.
Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custome...
Kelly wrote: "Kaylee wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Kaylee wrote: "I have the kindle fire hdx and I can't find the app and can't find the app and I don't see it on my books..... my system is up to date too lol..... Help!..."Thank you Kelly!!!!!
Kaylee wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Kaylee wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Kaylee wrote: "I have the kindle fire hdx and I can't find the app and can't find the app and I don't see it on my books..... my system is up to date too ..."No problem Kaylee!
WhyYesIYA/Bebe wrote: "Will this be intergrated with just Kindle Fires, or will it also be on Kindle Paperwhites with an update?"See our new blog post about Goodreads on Kindle Paperwhite here!
It does suck since I bought a Kindle Fire HD like 2 months before this announcement came out. Obviously I'm not going to turn around and buy another new version. I don't blame Goodreads though, this isn't really a choice on their end, but on the Amazon dept. for trying to sell the newer kindles. Mine is still new to me though so obviously I won't be a brand-brand new customer
I'm sorry if this is a silly question, but is the update only available for Kindle Fire HDX? I have Kindle Fire HD 7" and it's not showing any updates for that. Why isn't this one included? It shows up with the other Kindle Fires when I click on the link you provide, but then on it's updates page, no update is available.
Erin (Paperback Stash) wrote: "It does suck since I bought a Kindle Fire HD like 2 months before this announcement came out. Obviously I'm not going to turn around and buy another new version. I don't blame Goodreads though, t..."
At the end of the day what all of us want to do is read books/ebooks and gain pleasure and knowledge out of them. Everything else is just extra and 'nice to have'..making them a priority and making decisions based on them is like putting the cart before the horse. It's like that Bertrand Russell quote displayed on Goodreads' downtime announcement —
There are two motives for reading a book; one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it.
I will squeeze the last ounce of functionality off my old kindle 3 before even considering something newer. Even then, price/economy will determine what I buy rather than features because all it's required is just getting a screen to display the words/ebooks properly. Everything else is..just not a priority.
Frenchie, that's actually pretty brilliant. IMO, swearing doesn't "bother" me per se, but I do think it shows a complete lack of imagination and is lazy writing. Blacking the word out seems moot because we all know what the word is and still fill in that blank; however, that's just my POV, and I get that it does make a difference for some people. An app like this would solve the problem for those who don't want to read it while not censoring for everyone else. Even better, if it had the ability to mask any word you wanted...that would have come in handy recently when the author used the same annoying word so much that it was starting to grate.
Man, I wish I had the know-how to create this!
Beth wrote: "I'm sorry if this is a silly question, but is the update only available for Kindle Fire HDX? I have Kindle Fire HD 7" and it's not showing any updates for that. Why isn't this one included? It show..."It is not yet available for automatic updates but you can do so manually by going here for the update and a link to instructions how to perform the procedure.
Manually updated but unable to login in with the password which I am using to log into to the site itself. Error message claims that the Goodreads email and password are not recognized.
Inexplix (Random Reader) wrote: "Beth wrote: "I'm sorry if this is a silly question, but is the update only available for Kindle Fire HDX? I have Kindle Fire HD 7" and it's not showing any updates for that. Why isn't this one incl..."Right, but when I go there, it says my Kindle is up to date. It doesn't offer an update.
Beth wrote: "Inexplix (Random Reader) wrote: "Beth wrote: "I'm sorry if this is a silly question, but is the update only available for Kindle Fire HDX? I have Kindle Fire HD 7" and it's not showing any updates ..."Follow the link and download the update then click the link on that page for instructions how to apply it to your Kindle manually.
Still no recognition of my email and password when attempting to login. The password and email work when logging into the site with a browser and with the Goodreads app.
I have found one really annoying bug with the new integration that needs to be fixed asap.The majority of the books on Goodreads that are part of series are listed as book-title (serie name, #series number). One example would be Sycamore Row which is listed as Sycamore Row (Jake Brigance, #2).
When you click on such books in the Goodreads integration and select search for book in the kindle store it fails to find it due to the parenthesis in the name. It happens for roughly half the books in my collection. The only way I see to fix this is to have the app discard everything starting at the parenthesis when searching the kindle store because renaming half of Goodreads database doesn't seem feasible.
Without this the app is not really useable as the main feature it delivers (integration with the kindle store) does.not work....
This and my previous complaints really make it look like the integration was rushed before it was ready...
FYI: I have the Kindle Fire HD 7" Second Generation and got an update today that included the goodreads integration. Mystery solved. It is not just for the new Kindle Fire HDX.
Taja wrote: "FYI: I have the Kindle Fire HD 7" Second Generation and got an update today that included the goodreads integration. Mystery solved. It is not just for the new Kindle Fire HDX."I'll believe -it's not just for the new devices when I get an update for an old kindle..like kindle 3. It looks pretty hopeless though..who would want to innovate yesterday's technology, right?
Bahh Humbug.. :[
I have been waiting for the Goodreads app on my new kindle since I got it a few weeks ago because I loved the old app so much! While the new integration on my HDX is cool there are still some big issues IMO. There is no way to search for a book and that is a feature I used on my Fire HD app all the time. Also, there is now way to look at recommendations that GR has for me. Some of the new options are great but I think the old app is far superior at this point.
Taja wrote: "FYI: I have the Kindle Fire HD 7" Second Generation and got an update today that included the goodreads integration. Mystery solved. It is not just for the new Kindle Fire HDX."Already figured that one out a few days ago.
Joakim wrote: "Taja wrote: "FYI: I have the Kindle Fire HD 7" Second Generation and got an update today that included the goodreads integration. Mystery solved. It is not just for the new Kindle Fire HDX."I'l..."
It is only for the Kindle Fire HD line...starting with the second generation to the HDX. I was able to update mine manually shortly after the announcement of an update was made.
Obviously my brain is not working today..... my system is updated but on my books I still can't share on goodreads or do anything that they say we should be able to do now on my HDX.... Wtf should I do? I'm getting aggravated..........
Kaylee wrote: "Obviously my brain is not working today..... my system is updated but on my books I still can't share on goodreads or do anything that they say we should be able to do now on my HDX.... Wtf should ..."Where do you live ? If you don't live in the US, well, you have to wait to have these features. I live in France and I've been waiting and waiting and now I'm -_-
Are you integrating Goodreads into other e-readers? Not everyone has Kindles.
I figured it out. ...... just my pov but it's not all its cracked up to be..... we can't search books or our groups...... so I have to use both goodreads apps.... kinda disappointed but I do like the feature that you can share your highlights on goodreads and your review on Amazon & Goodreads..... I wish we could search and add though....
The integration is shiny and cool, but for me the new app is missing the most important feature that I use on GoodReads. Most often I use the app to look up books, authors, and series. I sometimes add them to my shelves or I may not. However, I am doing this because I prefer the information, layout, and reviews as they appear on GoodReads rather Amazon. This is a HUGE feature gap.
I read a lot and many books are checked out of the library. I can see not easy way for me to search and find those books to add to my shelves using the new app. Argh!!! Please add this feature soon.
I also like to be able to use the app to add titles that a friend recommends to me face to face. Not all of my reader friends use GoodReads. (I don't understand why, but hey, that is their loss!)
Most of my book purchased do come through Amazon, both DTE and Kindle versions, however, I do not want to sync ALL of my Amazon books. At times I will make impulse purchases of low cost/free indie authors. I do not want to clutter up my GoodReads shelves with all of them. It is nice to be able to do this sync, but I never had a problem doing it on my own. Can I pick and choose what I sync? I have not clicked on this option because I don't want a sudden sync of everything.
For me, when it comes to updating when I finish a book, I am much more likely to do this manually using the full website because it is then easier for me to submit a review at the same time.
One last thing - can anyone point me to a good online user's manual for this app so I can figure out all of the features. Maybe I am just stupid and I have missed something obvious.
I totally get that this is a new project and I respect what you have so far. However, the top of my Christmas wish list includes that ability to search books from the GoodReads database independent of Amazon. In the meantime, I will continue using the browser to access the full site on my new Kindle Fire HDX.
Thanks.
Joakim wrote: "Erin (Paperback Stash) wrote: "It does suck since I bought a Kindle Fire HD like 2 months before this announcement came out. Obviously I'm not going to turn around and buy another new version. I ..."
Excellent point. I think some of us forget this some of the time.
quotes about friendshipHe Who rescues another in distress is a friend. He who helps another in failure is a relation.
Ramayana
http://aboutyourphilosophy.blogspot.i...
I have a new Kindle Fire HDX with about 2,000 plus books on it, my Goodreads account only shows 708 books. How do I get all my books to show up on Goodreads, even my newest books are not on there.
If I could use this on my Kindle fire HD8.9" ,I would be thrilled! On GR I've read 6 books this year, but on Amazon, I've reviewed over 450. It was just too much rigamarole to post reviews on both sites. If I could do it automatically or simultaneously....Wow! How do I get the good reads app for the older Kindle fire models?
As goodreads is heavily biased to the US reading market, with only the tip of the European publishing scene iceberg catered for, it will be a long time before I worry about this app. As it's only available on new kindle devices, it's clearly just another Amazon marketing ploy. Nothing to get excited about. After a year my Kindle Fire HD has run out of storage space, and despite my best efforts, I'm having problems resolving this issue. Lesson to be learned: You have to buy multiple kindle devices to stay in the loop.
Any word on when this will be available on older versions of Kindle Fire? Or is this just more pressure for owners of older models to update to newer version? I was thinking of getting the HDX, but I don't watch movies/videos or play games, so my current Kindle Fire is just right for me. But I definitely wish that my Kindle and Goodreads were synced up, as it is a pain to remember to update my books to Goodreads. Thanks!
I have GoodReads on my computer and I have it on my KindleFire but they are like separate. Is their a way to join them. I have to add my books both places when I refresh my information.
Rowena wrote: "I have GoodReads on my computer and I have it on my KindleFire but they are like separate. Is their a way to join them. I have to add my books both places when I refresh my information."Apparently there is a way to sync it but only if you have one of the newer models of Kindle Fire. That is what this blog is about. I have the first generation, so it seems I am out of luck!
I have the newest model and still don't know how to make this happen!
Mary wrote: "As goodreads is heavily biased to the US reading market, with only the tip of the European publishing scene iceberg catered for, it will be a long time before I worry about this app. As it's only a..."The way to free up space is to leave books in the cloud and not on the device. I don't get leaving books recently read on the device. How soon are you going to re-read them?
Please please please do a backwards compatible version and allows us kindle fire hd first geners to get this feature. I bought the new one for my daughter and the app rocks, but I am not a wasteful person and don't want to just toss out my kindle fire. You guys should think about allow us the upgrade and not forcing us to create more ewaste by having to get a whole new device to replace one that is only a year old.
Randolph wrote: "Joakim wrote: "Yodamom wrote: "Not for the first generation Kindle Fires, too bad. I'm not buying a new device just for this"But they want you to buy the new device and that's why it's not availa..."
That is promoting ewaste, and is bad for the environment, shame on them.
If I bought the latest kindle fire hdx in the UK, would I get this?
Unfortunately it's likely to be a 'tablet' thing.