Apple rolling iBooks out across iOS 4 devices, get your Winnie the Pooh now

No shock and awe here, Apple's already given us plenty of warnings, but we thought we'd drop you a friendly note to say that if you've upgraded to iOS 4 early, your copy of Winnie the Pooh is flying at you right this minute. Tipsters point out that they get a notification encouraging them to download the heretofore iPad-exclusive iBooks app, though they're finding they have to do it via their desktop iTunes client rather than over the air. Ah well, Apple's probably being extra cautious with moving those big wooden bookshelves into the smaller dimensions of your iPhone or iPod touch. We've not been able to get the app running on our iPhone 3G, so perhaps this is another of those features you're not going to be able to enjoy on older hardware -- we hope it's just us though.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[insidertrading Posted Jun 11th 2010 2:44AM]

I wish they included icomics

[taoprophet420 Posted Jun 11th 2010 4:15AM]

@insidertrading Try Stanza they added comic archiving and pdf support.

[gracefulspammer Posted Jun 11th 2010 8:14AM]

@insidertrading

this just in:

Sales of Winnie the Pooh up 600%

[Killing Time Posted Jun 11th 2010 8:20AM]

@taoprophet420 yeah but can you buy graphic novels though the store?
(havent used it)

[captaind172 Posted Jun 11th 2010 11:28AM]

@gracefulspammer

It's a free download.

[deanhatescoffee Posted Jun 12th 2010 4:10AM]

@gracefulspammer I'm confused about the Winnie the Pooh reference. Are they actually giving away a Winnie the Pooh ebook through the iBook app?

[buoy Posted Jun 11th 2010 2:44AM]

How shocking! I'm in awe...

[juanvaldez Posted Jun 11th 2010 4:18AM]

@buoy I can't tell if that's sarcasm or not. I'm not against the idea, but reading a full length novel on a 3.5" screen feels a bit gimmicky to me. I do think continuing and syncing between devices with notes and all the stuff I think I recall them advertising though will fill the gap nicely, so it's got good potential for the quick 15 min break you are trying to fill.

[Tuan X Posted Jun 11th 2010 4:19AM]

@buoy ... Currently it's only giving us the iPad version.. I'm guessing Apple will be updating the App later today to be universal. Looks like they prematurely ejact'ed their alert.

[Jimbob Posted Jun 11th 2010 4:33AM]

@buoy

I really dont get it, It's a nice extra feature for free but I've tried reading e-books on my HD2 but the screen is just too small to be enjoyable.

[bnutzinger Posted Jun 11th 2010 4:38AM]

@juanvaldez I have to date read 14 full length novels on my iPhone via the Kindle app. Sure it's an inferior experience compared to the iPad but it's still a ok experience that makes up with convenience. I don't carry my iPad along with me at all times but I do carry my iPhone with me.

[LordThree Posted Jun 11th 2010 1:13PM]

@bnutzinger The people who are screaming that it's to small don't read enough- it's not hard at all... A bit more scrolling but that's it

[RonaldsThings Posted Jun 11th 2010 2:47AM]

Can't find it, maybe a iTunes link to the App?

[Maybach Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:04AM]

@RonaldsThings You can't get it unless you're a beta tester, whch means you have to pay Apple for a dev license

[RonaldsThings Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:06AM]

@Maybach I am a beta tester.

[CTTHosting Posted Jun 11th 2010 10:05AM]

@RonaldsThings Do you have iTunes 9.2 installed.

[Nathan Sweeney Posted Jun 11th 2010 11:22PM]

@Maybach No, not anymore. With the GM release you can download the firmware and iTunes 9.2 beta and install it without a paid dev account. I'm on iOS 4 and I don't have a dev account.

[RonaldsThings Posted Jun 12th 2010 4:19AM]

@CTTHosting I have iTunes 9.2 and iOS 4 GM installed on my iPhone 3G. I am a beta-tester. There just isnt a iBooks application in the App Store. When I search for it I only get the iPad one. Can someone post the iTunes Store link to it?

[jenjaman Posted Jun 11th 2010 2:48AM]

Folders, just like in Symbian OS 7 years ago! Welcome innovation Apple (great artist steal, dont't they Steve?:lol:)

[Elranzer Posted Jun 11th 2010 7:49AM]

Their folder system is really ugly, too. I thought Apple's UIs were suppossed to be attractive?

[Christopher02 Posted Jun 11th 2010 1:00PM]

@jenjaman

Poll's over, you lost.

VIVA iPHONE

[Gad Get Posted Jun 11th 2010 2:49AM]

Awww, look at the cute little screenshot! Little thing thinks it's spelled "Utilitys"! That's adorable!

[collindow Posted Jun 11th 2010 2:54AM]

@Gad Get
That was the first thing I noticed. SPELLING. ISN'T. HARD. Come on, Apple!

[packy17 Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:03AM]

@collindow

You're assuming that it wasn't intentionally spelled that way by whoever took the shot... You CAN rename these things.

[Runkle Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:06AM]

@collindow My iPhone says "Utilities" just fine. Whoever spelled it that way in the photo above did it on purpose.

[ChazClout Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:06AM]

@collindow
I'd say that was a user misspelling as it is fine on my iPod touch.

[witq Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:08AM]

@collindow I don't think it's Apple who made the mistake.

[witq Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:08AM]

@witq Wow, I'm slow

[ceg1805 Posted Jun 11th 2010 5:47AM]

@Gad Get I just noticed that spelling as well. What a shocker!!

[AceMcLoud Posted Jun 11th 2010 8:44AM]

@Gad Get Not sure where that screenshot comes from, but on my version of iOS 4 a folder with utilities is correctly named "Utilities". You can rename them though, maybe someone tried to be clever.

[jzetz Posted Jun 11th 2010 9:16AM]

@packy17

Trust me, you don't spell everything else right and misspell just one folder title.

[Maybach Posted Jun 11th 2010 2:50AM]

iBookstore prices (UK) are cheaper than the RRP of the books and Waterstones. I ain't complaining.

[Tes Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:07AM]

@Maybach

Really? Are you talking Waterstones eBooks or hard/paperbacks?

[Jimbob Posted Jun 11th 2010 4:29AM]

@Maybach

Publishers RRP perhaps, but EVERY book I checked is cheaper from Waterstones online.

[Maybach Posted Jun 11th 2010 7:00AM]

@Tes The one I checked was a hardback. @Jimbob try The Big Short, £17.50 at Waterstones vs. £15.99 on iBookstore. It's cheapest as a hardback on Amazon though, at £12.50.

[FrankDTank Posted Jun 11th 2010 2:50AM]

Wow where is it? I CANT FIND IT

[BenderBends Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:01AM]

@FrankDTank I dont see it either...tried downloading the ipad version, tried syncing books, tried desktop and mobile appstores...

nothing
(on a 3GS)

[Maybach Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:05AM]

@FrankDTank ITS. ONLY. FOR. BETA. TESTERS.

[H264 Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:11AM]

@Maybach
WHAT. A. BURGER.?

[packy17 Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:11AM]

@Maybach

Actually, it's for anyone running the GM of iOS 4. Which anyone with OS X and a general understanding of the internet can do right now.

GM = Gold Master = Full Version.

[FrankDTank Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:11AM]

@Maybach Dude I am running IOS4. Where in the hell do i sign up for ibooks beta?

I am a registered dev

[Maybach Posted Jun 11th 2010 7:04AM]

@packy17 Not really, unless the UUID of your phone is registered as a dev phone with Apple it'll get bricked if you try installing any type of beta firmware on it. If I'm wrong, please link me to a page proving so, I'd like to be wrong in this case.

[BenderBends Posted Jun 11th 2010 7:13AM]

@Maybach you are wrong...

my iphone 3GS is NOT registered....and running GM candidate iOS 4.0...and is BOT bricked...actually its running smooth as butter and speedy as hell.

[BenderBends Posted Jun 11th 2010 7:15AM]

@Maybach read the second sentence of first paragraph and next time learn to search the internet before making such accusations....

http://www.redmondpie.com/ios-4-gm-leaked-download/

[stpn Posted Jun 11th 2010 8:27AM]

@FrankDTank: its probably only available in the US. cant find it either.

[packy17 Posted Jun 11th 2010 10:28AM]

@Maybach

That was correct for the BETAS. The Gold Master activates without issue on any device. I think Engadget even had an article on it.

[jonbruc Posted Jun 11th 2010 11:45AM]

@Maybach You are wrong in this case, I am not a dev or beta tester, and I installed the gm software Monday night on my 3G from the beta itunes 9.2.

[Eastman Posted Jun 11th 2010 2:50AM]

On a 3G here and getting that message too but also gets stuck while trying to install .. :((
And whats this other white App icon .. i got that too !!


and i hope its not one of them "Not 4 3G" items .. cos it sucks not being abel to have a wallpaper ( thats soooo windows 7 home basic ) :-((

[witq Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:48AM]

@Eastman I enabled the wallpapers feature and it's sooo damn slow on my 3G I'm not surprised it's not enabled by default. On the other hand, they could've optimized it a bit more.

[DefPoet Posted Jun 11th 2010 4:18AM]

@witq that is apples poor coding.
Placing a wallpaper using winterboard on a jailbrokeb device doesn't slow shit down. Heck I even had video playing as my background on the original iPhone and that didn't slow it down. Not having a custom background is bullahit.