CNET Editors' note: The "Download Now" link directs you to the iTunes App Store, where you must continue the download process. You must have iTunes installed in order to open the link, and you must have an active iTunes account to download the application. This download may not be available in some countries.
CNET Editors' review
iBooks is a stylish, crisp-looking, colorful e-book reader and storefront that runs on Apple's iOS devices. The latest version of the software includes support for textbooks, a new addition to the iBookstore for students.
As with other e-book readers, iBooks responds to the device's accelerometer and switches between landscape and portrait modes. Its controls disappear when unused, and a swipe (or tap on the left or right side of the screen) will cause the pages to turn. iBooks' page-turning is smooth and engaging, with page corners digitally curling toward you as you advance, but this behavior is only a minor cosmetic difference between what you'll find in other digital readers. iBooks also includes a progress bar to show how far you are along in a book, and you're able to change the reader's font size.
Also like other e-readers, you can add bookmarks, define individual words, do quick Web lookups, and add notes. You also can underline words, sentences, and paragraphs for later viewing. All five major book publishers stock iBooks' digital shelves (Penguin, Harper Collins, Simon and Schuster, MacMillan, and Hachette), which makes the content stack up against competing apps and electronic bookstores.
iBooks 2 added support for textbooks and gave students the ability to purchase and download course textbooks that are supported. Newer features launched alongside the new iPad give users the ability to highlight text in a number of colors with the swipe of a finger. The interactive media and features for textbooks will definitely be useful to students. It's hard to say how many schools will adopt all iPad textbooks because of price limitations, but it will be interesting to see how it plays out as we get closer to the new school year.
Publisher's Description
From Apple:
iBooks is an amazing way to download and read books. iBooks includes the iBookstore, where you can download the latest best-selling books or your favorite classics day ornight. Browse your library on a beautiful bookshelf, tap a book to open it, flip through pages with a swipe or a tap, and bookmark or add notes to your favorite passages.Features: Download many of your favorite books from the included iBookstore. Read a free sample of any book on the iBookstore before making it a part of your collection. Reorder your books on your bookshelf or browse them in a list sorted by title, author, or category. Organize your books and PDFs into personal Collections. Swipe left or right to jump between Collections. Easily adjust your screen brightness to find the perfect lighting for any environment. Change the font size and pick from six included type faces to make your books more comfortable to read. Find a word, character, or phrase anywhere in your book with the built-in search feature. Keep your bookmarks, notes, and your current page wirelessly in sync between iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with the new automatic bookmark syncing feature. Quickly find a specific page using the page navigator at the bottom of every page. Read your books on white or sepia colored pages. Choose left or fully justified text layout from Settings. Highlight your favorite passages and add notes with the built-in bookmarking features. Add books in the industry-standard ePub electronic book format to iTunes and sync them to iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Add PDF documents to iBooks from Mail, or add them to iTunes and sync them to iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Print PDF documents and notes you've written in iBooks using AirPrint. Use iBooks with the amazing accessibility features in iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch such as speaking the words on a given page.Requirements: iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad, iPod touch (2nd generation), iPod touch (3rd generation), or iPod touch (4th generation) is required. iPhone or iPod touch must have iOS 4 or later. The iBookstore is available in many countries. The selection of books in the iBookstore may vary by country. An Apple ID is required to download from the iBookstore. Automatic bookmark syncing requires an active Wi-Fi or cellular data connection and an Apple ID. iBooks only opens books published in the ePub electronic book format or documents in the PDF format. To add ePub books from outside the iBookstore to iBooks, they must be DRM-free and synced using iTunes 9.2 or later. Some PDF documents may not be compatible with iBooks.
What's new in this version:
Introducing iBooks 2 -- now with iBooks textbooks.
Experience gorgeous Multi-Touch textbooks designed for iPad
â?¢ iBooks textbooks are filled with interactive features, diagrams, photos, and videos
â?¢ Tap to dive into images with interactive captions, rotate 3D objects, swipe through image galleries, watch videos in full screen, and more
â?¢ Use a finger as a highlighter when swiping over text in a textbook
â?¢ Take advantage of Study Cards to help you memor... See all new features
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All versions:
4.5 starsout of 2 votes
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Results 1-2 of 2
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"Fantastic App v1.1, the bookstore is in the app!"
Version: iBooks 1.1
Pros
Everything is in one place. The iBookstore is setup similar to the iTunes Library. BUT it's in the app! THe book shelf is very inviting. You can even get the Apple Users Manuals for your iPad / iPhone / iPod in bookform, nicely illustrated in color!
Cons
Wished there was an uTube demo of how to get the most of this app.
Wish the search for magazines and titles could be sorted by price as well.Summary
Best of all it's FREE, it works wonderfully! Get it! Book prices are par with B&N Nook and Amazon Kindle. I'd download this app just so I can get the owner's manuals ( 400+ pages) in a friendly format!
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"excellent yet there are more things could be better"
Version: iBooks 1.0
Pros
portability, quick and trustable
Cons
itunes compatibility, there is no usb, not user friendly
Summary
i have not too much experience about the product, still it is making a challenge in using new and maybe up-to-date technologies. this challenge might become a barrier for those who are stagnant or want to be changed.
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