14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has released an update to its iBooks application for iOS devices, particularly targeting iPhone and iPod touch owners that have been keen on upgrading to version 4 of the new operating system. iBooks 1.1 is free to download for all users of a supported device.
“iBooks is an amazing way to download and read books,” Apple describes its e-book reading app. “iBooks includes the iBookstore, where you can download the latest best-selling books or your favorite classics – day or night. 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,” the App Store description ends.
In addition to the iPad, iBooks is now available on any iPhone or iPod with iOS 4, the changelog for iBooks 1.1 reveals. The ability to open and read PDF documents from Mail is now available, with PDF documents being added to the user’s library. These will appear directly on the PDF bookshelf, while users can even search PDFs for words or phrases, and bookmark their favorite pages. A lengthy list of key features is then offered on the app’s iTunes page. Here are a few highlights:
• Enjoy a complimentary copy of the beautifully illustrated classic, Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne. • 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. • 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. • Use iBooks with the amazing accessibility features in iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch – such as speaking the words on a given page.
One of the longest lists of requirements posted for an iOS app is also provided for iBooks 1.1. According to Apple, only the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad, iPod touch (2nd generation), or iPod touch (3rd generation) can run the application. While iPhone or iPod touch must have iOS 4 to use iBooks, an iTunes Store account is required to download content from the iBookstore. Additionally, the selection of books in the iBookstore may vary by country. Other requirements include:
• Automatic bookmark syncing requires your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch have an active Wi-Fi or cellular data connection and an iTunes Store account. • 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 to iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using iTunes 9.2 or later. • Some PDF documents may not be compatible with iBooks.