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It would most likely be safe to assume that most people are aware of the Amazon Kindle and the coinciding iPhone/iPod touch app.  There is another app out there, which is actually one of the most downloaded for the iPhone.  Stanza, an eBook reader with support for a wide range of formats, got there long before Amazon, and also has a Windows and Mac app to go along with it.

As of yesterday, Lexcycle, the maker of Stanza, is owned by Amazon.  The main draw of Stanza has been that is supports the EPUB format which is popular among other eBook retailers like Fictionwise.  Although it also has support for PDFs, XML, and a large number of other text-ridden formats you’d like to throw at it.  There’s nothing showing that these things will be included in the Kindle, or even the Kindle app, though Amazon is apparently looking forward to working with the company.

If Amazon is able to take some advice from Lexcycle, even if it’s only on the iPhone app, everybody should benefit greatly.  There seems to be no plans on changing Stanza, which is great news.  Stanza is currently one of the best experiences when it comes to reading eBooks on the iPhone/iPod touch, and the desktop app is great for making netbooks into impromptu eBook readers (though there is no Linux version, unfortunately).  This move makes it so Amazon technically has a role in four aspects of eBook readers: the retail store, mobile phones (however limited it may be), standalone devices, and desktop readers.  It will be interesting to see how it might eventually try to integrate all of them if at all.  Wishful thinking says maybe we’ll see a more open Kindle eventually, maybe.

Read [NY Times]