Looks like the Kindle now has a worthy arch-enemy. Apple’s iPad has an ebook store called “iBooks”. (What else?) The publishers include all of the big players: Penguin, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and Hachette.
Apparently the books won’t be cheap, which means publishers can stay in business longer. You can probably expect price wars very soon. The example book is a hefty $15. Interestingly, Apple is using ePub, which means books from other stores may work as well.
[Gizmodo]
TAGS:
app, Apple, ebook, iBooks, iPad, tablet 
Actually, I don’t think this will kill the Kindle.
Books at the Kindle store are generally less expensive, and the new iPad is still an LCD screen. The Kindle is not. It uses e-ink, which is easier on the eyes when reading for long periods of time. For ebook reading, I would prefer the Kindle anyday.
That is not to detract from the “coolness” of the iPad, but as someone else stated, “It’s a big iPod Touch.”
As with everything, there are tradeoffs. e-Ink is definitely superior to LCD for reading. However, I have been in the market for an e-reader, and the Kindle’s one-function just didn’t cut it. I’ve been waiting for something like this. An e-reader PLUS much much more. The good news for Kindle lovers is that they are now going to be forced to change. Competition is a good thing.
Some people might prefer a backlit screen to eInk. A friend let me use his Kindle once, and the slow blink and refresh on every page turn was very annoying and threw off my reading speed. I actually preferred reading books in the B&N eReader app on the iPhone.
Of course, Amazon can still sell books through its own account and just scale up the iPhone Kindle app, so readers like me could still buy books from Amazon.