Apple rolls out iBooks app for iPhone, iPod touch
It's not just multitasking apps that are hitting the App Store to coincide with the release of iOS 4.0 -- Apple has also just rolled out version 1.1 of its iBooks app, which is now available for the iPhone and iPod touch in addition to the iPad (officially, this time). As previously announced, the app now also supports PDF viewing, and boasts a range of other more minor improvements, including new ways to bookmark (complete with syncing across devices), your choice of white or sepia colored pages, more font options and, of course, "greater stability and better performance."
























When do we get a OSX version to read these books on our laptops?
@TheSteve Seriously. This really needs to happen. I like the idea of Apple selling books and all but I want a way to read them at my computer so I don't have to use a smaller screen when I'm already sitting in front of my laptop.
@TheSteve
Right when OS 11 comes out which runs iPhone OS interface.
@TheSteve i noticed that it's a bit buggy
When do we get a version that isn't a ghetto looking wood bookshelf graphic?
Apple assumes their iSheep would be too dumb to realize the bookcover images are readable books without that dumb wood bookshelf.graphic.
@Mister Warmth Now. You can view your library as a list.
But don't let me get in the way of your "iSheep" rant.
@TheSteve The funny thing is that the iPhone version says it's only works with the maxipad still
@TheSteve - I didnt see the feature where apple introduces an ipod touch with the same hardware as the iPhone-4 and BT, so it can be used as a BT headset do you? hmm.. me either.
@hyporez
It's EXTREMELY buggy. I downloaded a free book, and got an error trying to open it. Deleted it, re-downloaded it, worked, but going from landscape to portrait takes nearly a minute to configure. It's very very slow turning pages and not very responsive. I had it crash on me twice, and I'm running it with a 3GS.
@TheSteve
Wait, so you're telling me that you don't already have an iPad to just look at books? It is the latest and greatest e-book reader. Everyone has one.
*warning: these books are known to raise estrogen levels
@Psyclotr0n They took Eclipse off the shelf as a precautionary measure.
@Psyclotr0n
Hmm, I wonder if Tampax would release an app for use in conjunction with those books
@ssgadget I've been reading books on my iPhone for years, never once experienced eye strain. It seems to me that you need glasses, because I've never met anyone with 20/20 vision that complains about eye strain when looking at an LCD.
@ssgadget
Yeah no kidding. You watch in 2-3 years there will be a class action lawsuit for people suffering from eye strain. Iphone/Ipod books = Dumbest idea EVER
@REP I read Fellowship of The Ring on my old PDA back in the day (a Compaq Aero) I had no complaints of eye strain.
Next apple nonsense article in 3...2...
Exclude function use it, it works wonders
hmm, I have no idea how to load PDFs from my computer to the app. I hope this isn't an email attachment only feature.
@Matthew Mongan oh, garbage it is. "open and read pdf documents from mail"
@Matthew Mongan You open them with iTunes and then sync them over, just like you do with ePub you don't buy from Apple.
@VetPsychWars oh, heck yeah. thank you!
Pooh kicks ass.
Too much redundant useless Apple news. Lets have an article on every app that comes out.
PDF isn't working on the 3G
@xxdesmus1 Having trouble syncing DRM free ePubs too.
Why, hello there Delicious Monster.
wtf. None of my epubs are showing in ibooks on my ipod touch.
@Anay Me too! That's really strange
@Anay: Thank goodness ePub isn't called iPub or else that would be one really irritating sentence to read.
Just loaded it up. Eager to see how my PDFs of music books I've scanned work out. The new sepia page color will be nice for reading in bed at night in the dark.
Speaking of the iPod Touch, anybody been hearing what the usual iPod September update will bring?
I'm rocking an aging Zune 80, but I would definitely spring for, say, a 128 GB Touch with the iPhone 'retina display' for ebook reading.
It's the perfect device in that you get all the benefits of the App Store without dealing with AT&T. If it gets a front facing cam, even better. Skype!
@Johnny Tremaine
Thank you!
An objective nerd that uses logic instead of brand loyalty to purchase products!
Bravo.
@hated one sell you books at prices well above what you should be paying for a digital copy? im fine with that.
Wait, so we can choose from sepia or white background ... what about a high contrast black background w/ white text for reading in low light? Does iBooks not do that?
@James Sonne Settings > General > Accessibility > White on Black.
It's a system-wide toggle.
Ahh look @ what I will be missing out on because of ATT'S Administrative incompetence to properly handle pre-orders.
I don't particularly understand why someone would use iBooks over the Kindle app.
@DeekoVB5 I think the iBook app is a bit nicer to use, overall, and I can buy ePub from Baen (as well as their free library) as well as Fictionwise, and load them into iBooks using iTunes. Can't do that with Kindle app.
That said if a book is cheaper on Kindle app, I'll use it.
This downloadable from the App Store (for my 2g) or is it only installed when you upgrade to iOS4?
@Saljen You have to be running 3.2 which I assume is the ios4 firmware update.
Still no PDF annotation.... Lame.
@casik still no PDF reformatting, SUPER LAME
I guess I'll come back tomorrow when Apple Day is over.
@sweet greggo: Ha apple day lasts atleast 2 days after something actually happens. See, first you have the wave of reviews, then you get the wave of new/revived rumors. It never stops really
Thanks for the constant update of Apple apps.
@hated one: Android already did this a long time ago
Where is my Winnie the Pooh?
@onlymyrailgun It's free from the store. Just search and download it.
This looks a lot like Aldiko.