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Kindle Unlimited

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Re: Kindle Unlimited

#42
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm well aware of that. And, I don't think it's discrimination to only sign complex licensing deals in only one territory. I'm just not sure why people in the UK would go for this when the Library already does a fine job of "all you can read".

I haven't been to a Library in probably 20 years, so this is a legitimate question, not being snarky. Can you somehow check out e-books at libraries these days? Some people actually prefer that experience.

Usually you can even do it online without having to go to the library. Go to your local library's website and see if they have anything there.

Re: Kindle Unlimited

#43
post #2

Very saddened by this: We're sorry. Kindle Unlimited is currently only available for US customers. Please visit us again when it is available in your country.

I still don't understand why, when content is digital and distribution doesn't cost anything extra, things like this are restricted to specific countries.

Content licensing. Different companies (or legally distinct subsidiaries) control licensing & distribution for different countries. Inherent limits of physical books (i.e.: space & mass & energy needed to haul content across significant distances) mitigated the issue, as it's usually cheaper to get a book locally than ship it from afar. Now that content can, for most practical purposes, be shipped free with instant delivery the legal ownership rights are being enforced and controlled (and more middlemen squeezing into). Amazon will get around to sorting out licensing issues elsewhere, but 'til then they've got a big local market to satiate.

Re: Kindle Unlimited

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kindle Unlimited gives you unlimited access to about 600,000 ebooks and audio books on Kindle devices. Prime gives you free 2-day shipping on a large number of Amazon products and gives you unlimited access to Amazon Video. I personally was a little surprised (and disappointed) Amazon didn't roll this out as another Prime perk. I'm not sure why making Amazon Video available to Prime members makes financial sense to A…

I would rather have unlimited Kindle books over both videos and music.

I guess that's why they can make it a separate product.

Re: Kindle Unlimited

#45
post #17

I love the idea, but the selection is not good enough (for me) yet. I keep an Amazon wishlist as a "reading queue" and none of the 60 books (technical, business, pop-psych) in it were available on Kindle Unlimited. I usually buy 2-3 Kindle books a month at around $9/per, so I would definitely use this service if the selection improves. I kind of wonder if Amazon could get away with charging $9/month for any book they…

Was wondering if this could replace my Safari Books Online subscription, and the answer to that is a resounding 'no'.

Re: Kindle Unlimited

#46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kindle Unlimited gives you unlimited access to about 600,000 ebooks and audio books on Kindle devices. Prime gives you free 2-day shipping on a large number of Amazon products and gives you unlimited access to Amazon Video. I personally was a little surprised (and disappointed) Amazon didn't roll this out as another Prime perk. I'm not sure why making Amazon Video available to Prime members makes financial sense to A…

Probably because Amazon is known more for their books than their movie/TV show selection. Also: Prime gives you access to the lending library, but you can only lend one book a month.

> Prime gives you access to the lending library

I'm a Prime subscriber and I didn't know about this. It seems the lending library has 350K-500K books, not dissimilar to Kindle Unlimited. And like other commenters, it looks like both unlimited and the kindle lending library has pretty small intersection with my reading habits.

Re: Kindle Unlimited

#47
post #17

I love the idea, but the selection is not good enough (for me) yet. I keep an Amazon wishlist as a "reading queue" and none of the 60 books (technical, business, pop-psych) in it were available on Kindle Unlimited. I usually buy 2-3 Kindle books a month at around $9/per, so I would definitely use this service if the selection improves. I kind of wonder if Amazon could get away with charging $9/month for any book they…

How'd you find the overlap between the two? I'm trying to do the same but can't find a simple way to do it other than checking every book.

Re: Kindle Unlimited

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kindle Unlimited gives you unlimited access to about 600,000 ebooks and audio books on Kindle devices. Prime gives you free 2-day shipping on a large number of Amazon products and gives you unlimited access to Amazon Video. I personally was a little surprised (and disappointed) Amazon didn't roll this out as another Prime perk. I'm not sure why making Amazon Video available to Prime members makes financial sense to A…

Probably because Amazon is known more for their books than their movie/TV show selection. Also: Prime gives you access to the lending library, but you can only lend one book a month.

...and that book can only be read on a Kindle-branded device. No iPad/Android Tablets.

Re: Kindle Unlimited

#49

To all the "this is just a 10 dollar library card", I ask you this: if library books are the way to go, why do people buy endless amounts of books from amazon. Amazon became successful by selling books. Audible is another successful company that offers a feature that according to you, can be achieved at a library. Clearly libraries are missing something or else we'd be using them more. Maybe it's one click instant ac…

Libraries have fixed locations you must travel to, and limited collections (rarely more than one copy of each book) of aging content (limited range of latest material). If you want something in particular, good chance it's not available.

Amazon will, from the convenience of any computer (mobile devices included), ship you books from a vast & nearly inexhaustible collection at acceptable costs.

Now the Unlimited plan brings you both for $10/mo: beyond-library-scale of practically free books delivered instantly, and bringing you in close proximity to darn near every book ever written available at modest cost in 2 days.

Heck, many subscribers would pay more than $10/mo just in gas driving to the library.

Re: Kindle Unlimited

#50
post #17

I love the idea, but the selection is not good enough (for me) yet. I keep an Amazon wishlist as a "reading queue" and none of the 60 books (technical, business, pop-psych) in it were available on Kindle Unlimited. I usually buy 2-3 Kindle books a month at around $9/per, so I would definitely use this service if the selection improves. I kind of wonder if Amazon could get away with charging $9/month for any book they…

Same as me. I think I can wait for the list be improved.
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