Web to Kindle clipping - service comparison

Background

So, you want that web-page article on your Kindle, do you?

There are a few services out there that enable you to 'clip' parts of a web-page and have them sent automatically to your Kindle. This post is going to review all the ones I can find, both bookmark-based and plugin/extension based. I will only be looking at extensions for Google Chrome (as that's the browser I use. If you haven't tried it, you should - it's the fastest, cleanest experience for viewing the web).

I have a Kindle 4 (I think). It's the WiFi, but not 3G, enabled version without the keyboard and no touch.

The Article

For these tests, I will be using the following web-pages:

• A - http://www.29infantrydivision.org/WWII-Stories/Baumgarten_Harold.htm
• B - http://www.bennadel.com/blog/2367-ColdFusion-10-Looping-Over-Queries-Using-A-For-In-Loop-In-CFScript.htm
• C - http://recantha.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/optimising-jvmjre-for-eclipse-indigo.html

I will admit, this is only a limited test, but I believe represents a good selection. The 29th Infantry page is an independent website with a fairly typical layout. The Blog is, of course, a blog, but is slightly customised. The blogspot page (which is a page on this site) should, in theory, be the easiest as it is standards compliant (I think!) and is representative of all blogspot pages.
When conducting the tests, I will always try and clip these documents in this order, to save confusion. I will refer to them by the letters indicated.

The Tests!

Method 1 - Tinderizer (http://tinderizer.com/ - previously "Kindlebility")

Installation

Well, this is very easy. Tedious, but easy. The tedious part is in using their website. You are presented with a somewhat patronizing (though nicely designed) page asking you about how cool it would be to send web pages to your Kindle. Anyway, three clicks later and you are presented with a 'bookmarklet' (is this name even standard? Ah, it's on Wikipedia, so it must be!). Another couple of clicks and you're onto the instructions page.

This is a multi-step process, but the process is stepped-through very nicely with simple, clear English, explanations. The process:

• Go to the Amazon Kindle Management page.
• Login.
• Go to the Personal Document Settings page and add the required email address to those authorised to send to your Kindle.
• Enter your Kindle email address on Tinderizer to make your bookmarklet. (Could be clearer - ought to have a submit button but instead relies on the user clicking the What's Next? link)
• Drag the generated bookmarklet to your browser bookmarks bar. (Could be clearer - the bookmarklet link isn't actually labelled as the thing you need to drag. Also, the bookmarklet has a title of "Send to my Kindle" which, if you have lots of bookmarks on the bar comes out as "Send to my Kin").

Using it

You basically visit a web page and click on the bookmarklet. A small tooltip comes up showing the progress of the Tinderizer process. Again, kind of patronizing - they ask you to "Hold tight!" Per-lease.

The only major problem with it is that it is a bookmarklet, on your bookmarks bar. So, when you add more shortcuts to the bar, you may end up losing track of where the Send to Kindle bookmark is.

Results

In general - Excellent delivery time - at least as quick as an Amazon book would arrive. Images are not transferred. A footer is added which contains the original URL, an acknowledgement for Tinderizer and a timestamp. The main title is a bit large in comparison to the rest of the text. Author information, where present, is honoured.

Document A - Very good. Title was a bit large, but okay.

Document B - Not bad. The multi-font experience for the code etc didn't carry over. Instead, each line of code was turned into a bullet-point, which is not ideal. Comments were also clipped, which you either want or not, but they're not presented well. The "Post a comment" section was also clipped, but not the form.

Document C - Very good. Bulletted lists were carried over. Font differences were not kept. Comments section was not imported, so no junk at the end.

Method 2 - Klip.me (http://www.klip.me)

Installation

There are two methods of installation. One, a Chrome Extension, is far more convenient, as it installs to your little App Icon tray at the top-right of the browser.

The second is as a bookmarklet. Both options are found by clicking the obvious Kindle link on the front page.

For the app install:

• You click the Chrome icon on the subsequent Klip.me web-page. This is not clear and you are far more likely to use the bookmarklet below.
• Installing the app from the Chrome Web Store is simple, as all Chrome Extensions are.
• You are taken to the options page which is very clear.
• You need to add an email address to your Personal Document Settings page on Amazon.
• You enter your Kindle email address in the box.
• There are a couple of options such as the ability to keep images and the option to enable a 1-Click send.
• You can sign into 'the Cloud' using your Google login as it runs on the Google App Engine. It's quite handy.
• When you've finished and clicked Save, a small confirmation message is your only sign that something has happened. Not all that clear what to do now!

For the bookmarklet:

• You drag the clearly labelled 'button' to the bookmarks bar.
• It is given the clear title of Send to Kindle.
• The first time, you are taken to the options page (as for the App)

Using it

You either click the bookmarklet or the App icon (a nice, attractive K in an orange box.)

A confirmation tooltip appears briefly.

Results

In general - Excellent delivery time. Author information not honoured - the base URL is used instead. A footer is added with the URL of the page.

Document A - The image came through fine, however the rest of the page was black, probably the background colour was transferred over. A nice touch was the use of the first image on the page as the cover of the 'book'.

Document B -  Disappointingly, not all of the page was sent. Code was handled well, albeit in the same font as the rest of the document. Comments also did not make it over.

Document C - Much better than document B. Comments not transferred over.

Notes

They also provide Google Reader-to-Kindle and Google Calendar-to-Kindle options, which is cool.

Method 3 - SendToReader (http://www.sendtoreader.com)

Installation

• You have to register first for this one. I should say that this is not immediately clear - they could do with a larger emphasis on Register Now!
• You can use Facebook to 'connect' to register, which is cool. The process for this involves a pop-up and a couple of clicks.
• After that, registration is pretty simple. You can do it without Facebook and this is the same as a Wordpress registration with a confirmation email etc. I prefer the Facebook way - you get a seamless login integration that way.
• You are taken to the Account page. The next step is not clear.
• You have to go into 'Settings' to get the bookmarklet.
• You will also need to add an email address to Amazon's Personal Document Settings. Again, this is not clear - it's a bit lost on the page.

Using it

It's a bookmarklet, so you click it. A slightly rubbish tooltip appears to say you've done it.

Results

In general - Delivery time excellent.No images are brought over. It adds the date that the page was clipped to the top. The original URL, an acknowledgement, a timestamp and a small piece of advert text is added to the bottom. A nice touch is that pages you've clipped appear on your account homepage. This lets you resend it and even edit the document if you need to fine-tune it. You can also assign keyword metadata.

Document A - Pretty good except for some reason, it misses some of the content at the top of the page, possibly because of proximity to the image.

Document B - Alright I suppose. The multi-font experience for the code etc didn't carry over. Instead, each line of code was turned into a bullet-point, which is not ideal. Comments were also clipped, which you either want or not, but they're not presented well.

Document C - Very good, no problems.

Notes

There are some paid services on the site, such as page subscriptions and periodical subscriptions. I didn't try this as I don't like the thought of paying for something I could program myself!

Method 4 - Kindle It (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pnaiinchjaonopoejhknmgjingcnaloc)

Installation

• This is a Chrome Extension so it's fairly seamless. Find it in the webstore and add it to Chrome.
• This installs an icon in the app bar. It's a bit dull, but does look like a mini Kindle.

Using it

• Go to your webpage, click the icon.
• It's not as seamless as most, but you do get a preview of the content to be sent across. This gives you the option to alternatively use Pastepad (see Notes)
• You enter your Kindle email address.
• You can specify a different 'from' email address, which is cool as it means you don't have to add another email address to the Personal Document Settings if you already have one there that you want to use instead.
• You click Send and it does it's business. What would have been nice is to have the window close afterwards and return you to the original page, but you can't have everything!

Results

In general - Delivery time excellent. Author info not honoured, the domain name is used. Images not brought across. Original URL added as footer. Now the bad: regardless of whether you choose @kindle.com or @free.kindle.com, it sends it to the @free address. This gives you pause for thought as, hey, email addresses are unique so it won't get to my Kindle, will it! Actually, it will, but they like to suck you in to a 'Sustainer' membership which costs a one-off 5 Euros. Don't be sucked in. With a Kindle Wi-Fi, the @free address works the same as the normal one.

Document A - Average. No problems except it loses the text near the image.

Document B - Bullet pointed code and comments.

Document C - Very good. no probs

Notes

They also provide 'Pastepad' where you can literally paste anything into a box to be converted and sent to your Kindle. It then shunts you to the same process as the normal Kindle It click.

Method 5 - Chrome 2 Kindle (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mlpfngejhfcfblgahoeafeeljeaoggjh/related)

Do not use this one. It does nothing. Absolutely NOTHING. Moving on!

Method 6 - Web Kindle (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hmepblodlgapbbleiedhlcfkcibgeepi)

Installation

• A typical Chrome web store install.

Aaaand another one that does nothing. Well, it converts the page into a 'readable' form, but apart from that... Does nothing for the Kindle!

Method 6 - ClipDo (http://clipdo.com/)

Installation

• Go to the http://clipdo.com/ website and click the Signup tab.
• You'll need a decent-length password.
• You are taken through to the set-up wizard. Which you can skip. Not sure why you'd want to!
• You will need to add their email address to the Personal Document Settings page. Very clear instructions from clipdo at this point.
• One thing I should say is that the forms are grey text on a grey background... Not exactly what you'd call accessible!
• There is a choice of a bookmarklet and a Chrome extension. I went for the extension.

Using it

• Visit a webpage, click on the app icon.
• Stunningly quick tooltip comes up.
• ClipDo has an account page which shows the pages you have clipped. Which is great. It even shows a progress indicator to show how the conversion is going. Nice job, guys. You can delete/resend a bit like Klip.Me.

Results

In general - No images. Author information not honoured (in fact, replaced by clipdo.com, which is just terrible!). Adds the URL to the bottom of the book, but not hyperlinked. Bad show. And then worst of all - they add ADVERTS to the bottom of your document. This is not acceptable!

Document A - Misses the near-image text. 

Document B - The same problems again. Bullet points. Comments included.

Document C - Not bad. Strange spacing issues - too many carriage returns?

Method 7 - ReKindleIt (http://www.rekindle.it/) - cute name

Installation

• Very clear website to get it from.
• There's an email to add to the Personal Doc Settings page.
• It's a bookmarklet, so you know what to do! Badly named - "Read with Rekin" on my full bookmarks bar. You can rename it, of course.
• That's it for installation - there are some more options which you set on your first use.

Using it

• Go to a webpage, click the bookmarklet.
• A pop-up appears (for EVERY document) and asks you how you want it delivered and what your Kindle email address is. I chose Email Delivery as this is the way to do it for my type of Kindle. If you have a 3G-enabled one, use Wireless Delivery. Slightly confusing, but you get no sympathy if you don't read instructions, which are very clear here. It doesn't remember the delivery option, but it does keep the email address.

Results

In general - Slower than most to deliver. Didn't even deliver two of the documents!

Document A - 

Document B - 

Document C - Rubbish. Just gives you the title linked to the web browser.

Method 8 - Readability (http://www.readability.com/)

Installation

• Go to their website (which is pretty gorgeous!). The most obvious button is Download Now (It's Free! - always nice to see).
• It's a Google Chrome extension, usual installation. You get a lovely little Armchair icon in your app dock.
• You are taken to a sign-up page. So, fill that in.
• Pretty clear instructions on what to do now.
• A confirmation email is sent to your real email account, so make sure you do that.

Using it

• You click the armchair icon and get a little menu. You can choose to save it to your Readability reading list or send it to the Kindle. As nice as the reading list screen is, let's choose Send to Kindle.
• Now, of course, we haven't put our Kindle email address into Readability... so why weren't we asked? Never mind. So, we go back to the Readability website.
• We'll take a punt and go for 'My Account'.
• Big form dominates screen. Okay, fill that out... no Kindle details.
• Ah! Kindle Settings on the left hand menu.
• There is an email address to add to the Personal Doc Settings.
• Okay, we try again. Go to a webpage, click the armchair. Choose Send to Kindle.
• No confirmation that we've done anything. Great. So, let's see if the documents arrive...
• The reading list doesn't appear to be updating with my selections... Weird.
• Okay, so the Chrome Extension doesn't work.
• So, we go into Apps on the Readability site and use the bookmarklets at the bottom of the page. Fine.
• Go to the page, click the bookmarklet. Ah! A confirmation tooltip comes up. Better. The articles now appear in the Readability archive.

Results

In general - Excellent fast delivery. No images, but then no footers at all. Nice title display - shows the title and the website domain. No timestamps.

Document 1 - No first image or attached text. Apart from that, lovely.

Document 2 - Bullet points and comments again.

Document 3 - Excellent, no problems.

Other services not covered here

Instapaper (www.instapaper.com) - Apparently they have some kind of Kindle service but the site is generally unhelpful and no mention is made apart from a thumbnail on the homepage.

DotEPub (http://dotepub.com/) - clips webpages into .mobi or .epub files. Useful, but manual transfer to the Kindle is required.

Comparison

			Results
Service	Installation	Using it	General	Doc A	Doc B	Doc C	Overall
Tinderizer	4	3	3	5	3	5	23
Klip.Me	4	5	4	1	2	4	20
SendToReader	3	4	4	4	3	5	23
Kindle It	5	5	4	4	3	5	26
Clip.Do	4	5	2	4	3	4	22
ReKindleIt	4	3	2	0	0	1	10
Readability	3	4	4	4	3	5	23

Although this was a pretty subjective investigation, I believe my scores compare well to one another.
Overall, these were the rankings:

1. Kindle It
2. Tinderizer
   SendToReader
   Readability
3. Clip.Do
4. Klip.Me
5. ReKindleIt

So, Kindle It seems to clinch it on the points. I think I'd go along with that. It's a Chrome Extension, so you get that the app icon (okay, it's dull, but it's okay!) in the top right tray, so much more usable than a moving-feast bookmarklet. The preview, I think, is a plus point as you'll see immediately if there's going to be a problem. Being able to add a 'from' email address is fantastic. The Amazon Personal Document Settings page is not great, after all. There is slight confusion from the Sustainer part... But if you just ignore it, it works very well. The conversions were great, above average. The only bad point was the code conversion on Ben Nadel's post (Doc B) having bullet points, but it was a fairly common problem in most of the tests.

And the addition of the PastePad is a nice feature - this lets you collate from several different articles if you want, and even paste in content from 'local' web-pages that would not normally be accessible (all these services assume that they can reach the pages from their servers).

I think I'll be using that from now on, then!