iBooks app meets App Store, produces US-only iBookstore offspring

Get ready to welcome some amazing wood grain effects into your lives, future iPad owners, for the iBooks app has just landed at the App Store. Proudly proclaimed as being "designed exclusively for the iPad," this app gives you direct access to the iBookstore, which will offer free samples of books ahead of purchase and a brand new way for you to channel money into Cupertino pockets. Built-in search, highlighting and bookmarking features are augmented by text-to-speech functionality and ePub format support. Funnily enough, iBooks will only support DRM-free ePub files sourced from outside the iBookstore, but no mention is made as to whether its own wares will be similarly unimpeded. Speaking of restrictions, the whole operation is still limited to the United States, leaving the Stephen Frys of this world sighing wistfully from across the pond.

[Thanks, Brian]

[Decoy Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:14AM]

iKea :)

[aubreyq Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:17AM]

I guess I should be readying my non-Apple version of Engadget for this weekend!

[Federaly Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:19AM]

IKEA is a acronym.

[Frostyisgod1 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:18AM]

Only to the us that sucks what about Canada?

[MrJimlad Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:01AM]

@Frostyisgod1

easy targets first ;-)

[justinpe Posted Apr 2nd 2010 1:13PM]

@Frostyisgod1

Has anyone seen the Amazon or Barnes and Noble iPad apps yet? I have yet to find them in the U.S. Store.

[iKid Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:34PM]

@justinpe I just use a US iTunes store account. I get all the "US-only" goodies :)

[CloverPod Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:21AM]

I'm going to start registering domain names with i"insert word" , and then sell them to apple when they launch a new product.

[Saad Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:24AM]

@CloverPod

1998 called, it wants its idea back.

[CloverPod Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:33AM]

@Saad It's an old idea, sure. But now, more than ever, apple is venturing outside it's core business.

[tobsmonster2 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:40AM]

@Saad
beast ^

[lexitu Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:56AM]

@Saad

Oh yeah, well the jerk store called and they are running out of suckers.

[Decoy Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:07AM]

@CloverPod
Apple core that is! BAM!

[bwhite Posted Apr 2nd 2010 6:40AM]

@CloverPod

Can't do it bud, they caught on to that long ago:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersquatting

[hardluckstories Posted Apr 2nd 2010 8:11AM]

@CloverPod

'cept usually they use www.apple.com/insertproducthere

[kolizz Posted Apr 2nd 2010 9:58AM]

@bwhite
But that can't apply if the words aren't trademarked yet? :)

On topic, I am a bit bummed to be living in Sweden where we have to wait an unknown time for the device to appear at all, and then have no book store. As they still haven't got movies and tv shows to our iTunes Store I guess I shouldn't be keeping my hopes up for that at all.

And by the way, DRM-free for books from outside the iBook Store?! Are they letting me import books from wherever I want? I just assumed they would lock everything to their store. It's Apple after all.

[Ignition1 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:29AM]

Awesome. Books.

This iPad is going sell by the bucket load. Despite its flaws. Now THAT's awesome.

[MrJimlad Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:03AM]

@Ignition1
why?

[MrJimlad Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:03AM]

@MrJimlad
why is it awsome, not why will it sell...

[Ignition1 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:08AM]

@MrJimlad

That a company can sell a product which is missing major features. Thats whats awesome.

[Original Nosebleed Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:35AM]

@Ignition1 To true even tho pads with superior specs have been announced this will dominate apple could market a bike with no wheels if they tried

[KarlW Posted Apr 2nd 2010 6:53AM]

@Ignition1

How is it missing major features? Find a tablet for that price with all these missing features.

Personally, I think it's great. Good specs, good price. The software features that are there (a multi-touch UI you can actually use and a bounty of applications built for it, for one thing!) more than make up for those that are missing.

I don't believe there's a product today that can beat it, for the simple reason that when it comes to touch-based OSes, there's nothing better than the iPhone's OS. I actually own an Android phone, and even though I'm happy with it, I know the iPhone's OS is better and has more, better apps.

[Ignition1 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 7:12AM]

@KarlW

True at the moment there are no tablets out there with the specs of an iPad. The features that most techies on this site complain about are the lack of multi-tasking, camera and some other software things.

I personally feel you don't need any of those "missing" features anyways.
And yes...the iPhone OS is currently the best touch OS out there at the moment in terms of its useability, the fact it is a standardized OS (so dev's can make apps quickly and easily for it) and the regular updates it gets.

But still...considering the general concensus is that the iPad is an underwhelming product, it will still smash all sales expectations regardless. That's whats amazing.

[Parkettpolitur Posted Apr 2nd 2010 8:03AM]

@Ignition1 No, what's awesome is that Apple - like them or not - have thought up a new kind of device - like it or not - that marks a new paradigm in computing. This is awesome because Apple's competitors will also release such devices and we, the customers, will be able to choose the device that suits us best. If you dislike the slate-paradigm, you don't have to buy such a device. Just ignore them. If you like the form factor but dislike the iPad, you can still be grateful to Apple for kickstarting the slate revolution. I'm not sure if I'll be getting an iPad, but I'm excited by the prospect of comparing, fondling and testing different "Pads" with different functionality, like the HP Slate, the JooJoo, and especially the Notion Ink Adam. Every gadget fan should be excited about this!

[Ignition1 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 9:13AM]

@Parkettpolitur

Thats the crux of this whole thing. Apple are trailblazers in this market with the iPod, the iPhone, App Store and now the iPad. By doing this, they are clearly showing other companies that yes...there is HUGE demand for products like this - just have to do it RIGHT. Soon there will be a flood of competitor products with different specs, uses etc...which is great for the consumer obviously.

But one aspect that Apple has over its rivals is the App Store - with thousands of iPhone OS running iPads out there - its great for developers. Develop an app for one and it'll work on them all.
I can see the iPad's technology being completely outdated by other "Pads", but they'll need more than just high resolutions and powerful processors to compete with that mighty App market.

[James Sonne Posted Apr 2nd 2010 12:17PM]

Only problem is that they didn't release it for iPhone and iPod Touch. The marketplace would get a lot more sales if iTouch OS users could all buy books!

[Ignition1 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 1:11PM]

@James Sonne

Yeah that's a shame. Looks like they're relying on iPad sales being so huge that they wouldn't need the iPhone or iTouch user base to generate cash. Maybe something down the line?

But reading on a 3.5inch screen for long periods will damage your eyes (which opens the door to massive court battles).

[xnowimcoolx Posted Apr 2nd 2010 1:43PM]

@James Sonne

not just on touch devices, what about just on itunes? I loaded an .epub book into itunes clicked on it and nothing happened.

I don't understand why someone would buy a book from ibooks and be locked into the ipad when Amazon (in it's smartest move since releasing kindle 2) gives ebook buyers the ability to read a book on their mac/pc/ipad/iphone/ipod/blackberry/kindle.

[Research Paper Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:30AM]

*sigh*... The irony of iBooks being available to the US audience yet non-available to the European one.

[NewL Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:36AM]

@Research Paper - just like most of the rest Engadget is gushing over. Netflix, ABC, NBC, whatever...those things are all worthless outside the US.

[Jakob Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:47AM]

@Research Paper Except that it's easy for us Europeans to download and use iBook..

But man Netflix / Hulu - come to Europe!

[Cy Starkman Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:29AM]

@NewL

Yeah, the gush is more of a pizzle across the pacific pond. Maybe just fill up a teaspoon.

[KarlW Posted Apr 2nd 2010 6:55AM]

@Research Paper

It isn't ironic

[nabechu Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:34AM]

Well downloading it now in prep for Saturday.

[xenon73 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:34AM]

The writer of this post makes the mistake of asuming only you guys in the US have a US iTunes account, I'm in the UK and have had one for years, just need to pay by gift card rather than a credit card. If I can do this I'm sure Stephen Fry will also, and millions of others. :-)

[mqasem Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:36AM]

My main freakin' reason for getting an iPad is for book reading. Keep books in the US, and I say you can keep your freakin' iPad too.

[ECVOICE Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:44AM]

Stephen Fry mentioned on Craig Ferguson a couple weeks ago that he lives in Los Angeles and loves it, so I highly doubt he'll be sighing wistfully from across the pond...

Rather, he'll be enjoying iBooks quite a bit, thank you very much. =)

[GeorgeRobo Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:51AM]

@ECVOICE Stephen Fry doesn't live in the US, he may own a property there but he definitely lives in the UK.
I know this for a fact as he did a home tour on a BBC show about a month ago.

[GeorgeRobo Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:55AM]

@ECVOICE "Fry currently lives in London with his partner, Daniel Cohen, whom he met in 1995. He drives a black TX4 London cab. He also has a second home near King's Lynn, Norfolk."

[MrJimlad Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:06AM]

@GeorgeRobo
and his stalker hangs out in this thread....

[Hidd3nFury Posted Apr 2nd 2010 6:37AM]

@ECVOICE

He splits his time between London and LA.

[GeorgeRobo Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:49AM]

Ok so 4 of the 5 publishers Steve Jobs announced at the iPad reveal were European (3 British 1 French) and yet we don't have iBooks...

I'm still hoping it will be announced at the same time release dates and pricing for Europe is announced.

[jessese Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:15AM]

Given the fact no one in Europe has an iPad I wouldn't worry to much about it right now. Given that Steve likes making more money I'm sure that when the iPad is available for your region the iBook software will be made available. Although I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Hulu in other countries. Just like I won't hold mine waiting for access to the BBC streaming videos.

[Avex Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:26AM]

@jessese I don't know why you'd assume that. We've had the iPhone and Apple TV here in Holland for years, still no iTunes movie store.

[Atkins Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:17AM]

I am all for the iPad, but would it be possible to turn off the animations of turning pages? What's with that obsession of making everything more "real", like this... Bumptop?

[r3loaded Posted Apr 2nd 2010 6:00AM]

@Atkins Much like me, you do not understand the inner workings of an Apple fanboy's mind.

[Wesscoast Posted Apr 2nd 2010 6:16AM]

@Atkins

It's probably just turned off in the settings.

By the way, you ... do know you sound like a luddite right?

You're asking for less whiz bang technology? How much of a hater can you be... Take another look at the Kindle. Look how butt ugly the competition is! And you're put off by Apple's 'glossy' touches?

Pfffft....

[Atkins Posted Apr 2nd 2010 6:33AM]

@Wesscoast Now, is that sarcasm or not? can't tell sometimes, my english is not that good.
I am a Mac user and I am buying the iPad. What's with the "luddite" stuff? The animated turning pages must be considered "luddite".

[Atkins Posted Apr 2nd 2010 6:36AM]

@Wesscoast And what has the Kindle to do with that? It's an overpriced, badly featured PMP.

[Wesscoast Posted Apr 2nd 2010 8:46AM]

@Atkins

Uh, it's the market leader in eBook readers, and about to get anally raped by Steve Jobs.

What did you think the iPad was for? Playing Scrabble?