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Archive for ibooks
Apple iBooks Brings Real Page Numbers and Intuitive Highlighting in New Update
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The Apple iPad 3 was announced yesterday and there was a ton of press surrounding the latest iteration of the world’s most popular tablet. In preparation for the March 16th launch, Apple has updated its iBooks application. It brings features that are relevant to previous versions of the iPad as well as the newest one.
The huge draw of the update is focused on the new retina display which pushes more pixels than any HD TV on the market. The screen and text have dramatically been increased and Apple is claiming it will be as clear as reading a real book.
One of the largest new features that applies to all models of the iPad is the addition of real page numbers. This may not seem like a big deal, but many digital versions of eBooks do not reflect the same page numbers of their printed counterparts. Amazon is one of the only other companies that has put a huge priority on digital page numbers reflecting the tangible ones. This is applicable to not only book clubs, but also helps with reference and educational books.
Highlighting text has also become easier with the ability to simply swipe over a specific block of text. In the past you would have to hold your finger down on a piece of text and then manually scroll around. Finally, there are a few increases to the speed of page turns and general enhancements. The new version of iBooks is a free download in the Apple App Store and we also recommend you grab the new 5.1 update.
Wisconsin Schools to Adopt iPads with Money from Microsoft Settlement
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Teachers at the Madison School District will soon be seen doling out brand new iPad tablet devices to the students. This isn’t the first time that we are coming across a school adopting the apple tablet, though this time Microsoft is paying the bill.
Wisconsin, along with 18 other states, had filed a lawsuit against Microsoft almost a decade ago accusing the tech giant of having charged more for its software. The court ruled against Microsoft, so that the latter is now forced to pay out about $80 million, a portion of which is being used by the state to pay for the iPad tablets. Students will be getting 600 of the Apple tablets by this spring, while another 800 will be procured by this fall. A total of 20 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and three high schools will be among the beneficiaries of the first pile of iPads this spring.
This latest move is being hailed as a “significant development” by the district Director of Technical Services Bill Smojver who also added, “This is the most significant transition point for having digital learning at the optimal level.”
Not only are tablet devices a lot cheaper than personal computers, but they are also a lot more portable and easier to use. Also, another great reason to adopt the iPad is that students have shown a distinct liking for the Apple tablet, which has been found to be effective in keeping students engaged with their subject of choice.
Apple has only recently introduced its latest Digital Textbook Service named iBooks, which aims to allow students and teachers customize their textbooks in a manner they find most convenient.
However, Wisconsin schools did not make any commitment just yet as to whether they are putting to an end to the use of conventional textbooks, though the school district did not rule it out altogether as a future development.
via madison
Apple Launches Digital Textbook Service called iBooks 2
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Apple unveiled a new Digital Textbook service today aimed at the educational market called iBooks 2. The company has been closely working in cahoots with Pearson PLC, McGraw-Hill and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which account for over 90% of all textbooks currently sold in the educational market. The entire industry is currently worth over 8 billion dollars and was Steve Jobs pet product before his untimely passing last year.
Starting today the new iBooks 2 app is available in the iTunes market and gives you a ton of flexibility with your textbook experience. Heavily customized for the iPad 2 students have the ability to highlight passages with different color options. There is a ton of different note taking features and the ability to make flash cards.
“Education is deep in Apple’s DNA and iPad may be our most exciting education product yet. With 1.5 million iPads already in use in education institutions, including over 1,000 one-to-one deployments, iPad is rapidly being adopted by schools across the US and around the world,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Now with iBooks 2 for iPad, students have a more dynamic, engaging and truly interactive way to read and learn, using the device they already love.”
Textbooks are not cheap and students spend a ton of money every semester in order to buy them. With Apples new service it seeks to lower the entry level cost due to the digital format, which helps the bottom line.
Apple releases iBooks 1.5 Update that Ushers in Nighttime Reading Mode
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Apple has upgraded today their seminal reading application iBooks and brings a ton of new features to the table. One of the most important one is the new ‘Nighttime’ reading option that displays white text on a black background. Many popular reading apps such as Kob and Kindle all have these features baked into the options and it is about time Apple caught up.
If you are a fan of editing fonts and changing the ebook experience you are in luck with the iBooks 1.5 update! You have new typeface options such as Athelas, Charter, Iowan and Seravek to customize.
My favorite new feature was the full screen mode that eliminated some of the superfluous bookmarks and other distracting elements. It really feels now like you are reading a book and its simple design makes it my reading app of choice on the iPad.
Finally public domain ebooks have undergone a revision in the cover-art department. There is a bunch of new graphics used for books that do not have proper art displayed on the front of it.
Apple iBooks launches official Twitter Account
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Apple iBooks in the United States launched its first official Twitter account. This will be used to keep customers informed of new releases, exclusive book offers and much more.
The accounts tweet today was promoting the new book by Erin Morgenstern, called “The Night Circus.” This book is being promoted by Apple on the main iBooks page. It is also the book of week in Starbucks locations in the USA.
Wait, Starbucks? Last month Starbucks locations only in the USA expanded on their weekly free iTunes music cards you see by the Barista. Apple changed it up by offering free ebooks and discounts on them. Too bad this is not available yet in Canada or other international markets.
No word yet when iBooks will start an international version of its account, but I would not hold my breath.
New iPad 2 ad – ‘Learn’
Posted by: | CommentsApple had promoted its iPad tablets through a slew of ads before, each centered around a single theme. Like the latest Apple iPad ad that is named ‘Learn.’ On focus will be the iPad’s capability to enable its users to pick up new skills such as calligraphy, or a new language via suitably designed apps.
The ad showcases several apps which includes GarageBand, Chinagram and iBooks among several more.
Publisher Mark Batty Introduces Indie eBooks to Apple iBookstore
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Mark Batty, which is well known in the independent writing community for its full color illustrated books, has partnered with iBooks to bring a slew of new content to the bookstore.
The publisher will not only be bringing new books to the iBookstore, but will be putting up some of their new content as well. The big draw about these books is that they are fixed with epubs. They will also work on the iPhone and iPad, which puts their books in the hands of many avid readers.
Mark Batty Publisher’s designer and production director Christopher Salyers explained the benefits of fixed-format eBooks, saying, “Apple’s decision to include fixed-width viewing in Epub format on the iPad/iPhone opened up an opportunity for illustrated book publishers to get into the eBook game. You can view one of our books as they’ve been originally designed for print, but with the added ability to zoom and move about the high definition spreads with ease.”
One book that I am excited about checking out is The Book of Ice by Paul D. Miller a.k.a. DJ Spooky has been a well known musician for over a decade.
Apple out to buy Barnes and Noble?
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Now here is something that does sound odd even by rumor standards. Apple out to buy Barnes & Noble might not make much of a sense but it obviously seems to do to several ‘unproven sources’ with BGR. Barnes & Noble can’t be considered a direct competitor of Apple nor is there any product in either of their portfolio that competes directly in the market. The one B&N product that can be considered to be able to put up some sort of a competition to the iPad (if at all it does) is the Nook Color though its makers are more comfortable considering it an e-readers while buyers of the Nook Color look more at it as a cheap tablet option. Even then, the disparity — both in capability and ultimately in the sales figures — between the two are just too wide.
However, the huge B&N bookstore might be tempting to Apple and may be reason enough to purchase the bookstore giant. But then again, why would Apple want to buy an existing bookstore and integrate the titles into their own iBookstore when signing deals with publishers can bring the same content to the Apple bookstore?
Another reason is perhaps B&N’s over 700 brick and mortar bookstores along with an additional 600 college bookstores, some of which Apple may consider converting into Apple stores. Also, the net worth of Barnes & Noble right now is just $1 billion which can be considered a short change when compared against the massive $76 billion cash pile Apple is sitting on right now. However, here again it can be a lot easier to set up Apple stores afresh then refitting an existing B&N store.
BGR’s unproven sources also claimed that Apple would be releasing iTunes 11 in September along with iOS 5 and iCloud. The source further added that it will allow users to read iBooks on computers while also supporting textbook purchases and rentals. In any case, while the last bit seems plausible, the idea of Apple acquiring Barnes & Noble does seem too audacious at the moment. We will be watching thing though, so stay tuned.
Random House adds eBook titles to the Apple UK iBookstore
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Random House eBooks are now officially offered via the UK version of the Apple iBookstore, giving Apple iPad owners access to a large selection of popular titles.
This is a great move by Random House to give customers accessing the United Kingdom version of the iBookstore access to some of the best authors in the Fiction genre such as James Patterson, John Grisham and Frederick Forsyth.
The new agreement with the book publisher will eventually offer its full catalog of ebooks available for the first time on Apple’s iBookstore in the UK. Right now you can check out some of the most recent book titles in the iBooks app under the “Bestselling authors just added’ and ‘Bestselling books just added”. categories.
Random House has also confirmed that it will be adhering to the agency model of selling books, which means the company will be establishing the price of the books, rather then letting Apple determine the price. Currently the Agency model in the UK and Europe is under fire due to many groups claiming they are little more then a price fixing cartel, which is illegal in the UK.
Random House eBooks have been available in the USA and Canada for quite some time, but this new agreement finally gives customers in the UK access to one of the largest publishers in the world. The books are available now, so get reading!
iBooks 1.2.1 Update brings Airprinting with PDF Files
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The Apple iPad iBooks application has received a new upgrade that is sure to placate users who want to see more AirPrint capabilities in the program. We also see new store options to buy art books and kids books.
The iBooks application is many readers’ application of choice for electronic books. It provides great ease of use to both buy books from the services, but is best known as a great program to import your own ebooks and PDF files you might have downloaded from other websites.
The 1.2.1 update for iBooks brings many new features, such as the ability to AirPrint entire PDF books! Not only can you print PDF Books, but also your notes you have made with the program can be printed as well.
One of the most exciting options is to organize your book collections with either ePub or PDF files. You can create new collections and swipe left or right within the iBooks app to browse each one. This feature is great because by default all of your books are listed in one bookshelf, and the possibility to organize them into genres or specific authors is intriguing.
There is also a new feature on the iBook store to be able to buy animated children books and new art books. These really take advantage of the iBooks ability to display a ton of different colors. In order to view books though, you need to have upgraded to the most recent version of iOS.
The iBooks application is a must have application if you have the Apple iPad, though it currently does not have the widest ebook collection. What it does have is the ability to read enhanced books with audio, video and more. It also has a direct source to the New York Times bestsellers list and then you can purchase said books. This free app from iTunes is currently our best recommendation to read your own books, and also discover new ones!
Online Digital Content in Canada – Why we always get the shaft
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It has been a long standing tradition that Canada get’s the short end of the stick with regard’s to online media. Being that we share the same border, and are so close in term’s of business shouldn’t it be possible by now that The most obvious is if anyone on a Canadian IP goes to a major US network to watch an episode of a TV show online. A single example would be going onto Fox’s website and trying to watch Glee. An error message appears that states that this program is not available in your country. Popular Hulu.com also does not offer service for Canadian viewers. This also translates into music, with major online radio provider Pandora also being unable to play due to licensing considerations.
Now these are all fine and dandy, they are online and most people know they aren’t avail to Canadians. We get by, there are other options, its a free world and the internet is as infinite as the imaginations powering it. When purchasing an eReader you are not just signing on with the manufacturer of the technological hardware, but also the online stores, and support services. Due to more publishing complications, nearly a third of books that are available in the United States are not available in Canada. These aren’t just lesser known book’s either, these are some newer hit book’s that the publisher’s have just opted that we don’t get to have access to.
Further investigation also revealed that the companies themselves know about these availability deficincies. Apple’s iBook and iBookstore FAQ questions asks, “Is iBooks available in every country with an App Store?”. The response being. “Yes, iBooks and the iBookstore are available in all App Store countries. iBookstore content varies by country.”
Even look at Barnes and Noble, their popular Nook E-Readers are heads over tails better then most other ones out there, but try and order a Nook online to ship to Canada, no go. If you manage to buy a Nook via Shop e-Readers or Ebay, there is no way to even buy Books unless you fake an American address and use your real credit card.
Looking at the eBook and e-Reader industry leader Amazon, Canadians again get the shaft in eBook selection. The Canadian eBook store has around 530,000 books VS. the American version which has 760,000. Now you may think, its probably older titles or classics that fall through the cracks, not so. Authors like Malcolm Gladwell, whose best-selling books like The Tipping Point and Outliers are all available to Kindle users in the U.S. but not Canadians. Also to even buy the eBooks, you do not use Amazon.ca you have to use Amazaon.com and all books purchased are in US dollars, and not Canadian.
This doesn’t mean to say that the companies themselves are being malicious. There is legal restrictions in some countries as to what content can be sold, and going even a step further, some Author’s just don’t want to be published in more then one country. At the end of the day though it begs the question, “Can’t we all just get along?”
Amazon controls over 60% of the eBook Market
Posted by: | CommentsAn analyst at the RR Bowker group found that, contrary to popular belief (mainly perpetrated by Amazon), they only control 61% of the ebook market, and not 80%.
Amazon Kindle eBook store is dominantly leading all major online sales for ebooks. Barnes and Noble is the runner up with 20% of ebook downloads and Sony has a meager 5%.
At the time of the report, Apple iBooks was not included in the report, but they are only expected to control around 3% of the total market. Apple’s iBooks has only been around since April, so there is not enough market data to publish a report on them.
The Study was also enlightening on the fact that Amazon controls 40% of the entire E-Reading market, while reading directly on your PC came in second.
Apple to promote iBookstore at BookExpo America
Posted by: Michael Kozlowski | Comments (0)BookExpo America is one of the largest publishing expositions in the USA and will start on May 24 2010. The conference has listed Apple to be one of the attendees and has launched a private conference with select members of the publishing industry.
Apple will be promoting the iBookstore which is now the 3rd largest online store that sells ebooks in the world, according to Goldman Sachs. Who is number one? Well Amazon ranks number one for ebook sales, while Barnes and Noble rolls in at number two.
Apple is quickly becoming a major player in the ebook digital realm. It only launched in April 2010 in conjunction with the original iPad. All of the major publishers are also listed in Apples store with the only holdout Random House signing up during the iPad 2 launch.
Its solid to see Apple get behind the iBookstore, more alternatives are always better. The one drawback is if you are registered to a non-USA address it still is a baron wasteland for international users. I also really like the iBooks application to load my own books in.
via Apple Insider