Before you try to use the Amazon Mobile iPhone app, make sure you are already a registered member of the iconic Web site. Happy reading if you are.
True, that unregistered group probably only includes me and about three other people. But nevertheless I found it annoying that I had to flip open my laptop, and register on Amazon.com before I could use the app. You cannot register for it on your iPhone.
You will be happy once you get past this first step. The app’s efficient search tool allows you smoothly browse through the company’s massive inventory of books and other merchandise (music, movies, sporting goods, apparel, software, video games, etc.). Just like the site, Amazon mobile seems to have everything. It’s one of the best iPhone apps for shopping on the go.
You can easily manage your Amazon account on the app, including tracking packages, canceling orders, and signing up for email notifications about product sales. The app also includes an effective help option that teaches you how to do things like combining two separate orders.
By far the coolest thing I discovered about the app is an experimental feature called “Amazon Remembers.” It allows you to use your camera phone to snap a picture of anything. The app then identifies the object and searches for it – or other similar products – within its inventory.
I tried out this feature by taking pictures of just about every piece of furniture in my bedroom. It worked every time, and distinguished between similarly styled sheets and furniture. Pretty cool.
