Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
'iBooks Author' eBook Authoring App for Mac Now Available
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
A side effect of MacRumors not linking to the actual product page is incomplete information.
https://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/
Apple said:
There is a preview mode that allows you to load to an iPad before publishing to iTunes, but it's unclear if you can copy to more than one iPad
On a Mac, it's ok. Unless you have an older model that isn't supported by Lion, like a G5 Macbook...
But this tool should be available on Windows too. Think of it like iTunes which helped drive iPod sales. Underpaid teachers that prepare their stuff at home will not necessarily buy a Mac for this.
My 0.02$
from the apple page
"You can also export it in iBooks format to share on iTunes U or to give to anyone with an iPad."
There's a Share - Send via Mail menu option, and you can send in "iPad" format, which I presume is a "compiled" version.
If you save it as ".ibook" format, you can open it in a text editor. It's not ePub but it's not that far off. I wonder if version 1.1 will have epub export, even if it's simplified.
Yup. Get over it.
----------
It's the way the computer industry works. They're not doing this for fun.
Export is how the Teacher would get the file to students. Exports it as a .ibooks file (looks to be ePub2 format) and then side-load into iBooks.
The licence agreement for iBooks Author states that if you intend to charge for content created with the app then you can *only* publish it via iBookstore.
Curious to know how Apple will actually enforce this. iBookstore is far from the only eBook store out there and I'm sure people would like to get a slightly wider audience than just people with iOS devices.
As mentioned, you could rename the exported file to .epub and then open it in an app that is able to read epub files, that app could be desktop or iOS, so I'd presume Bluefire reader can access the file.
The licence agreement for iBooks Author states that if you intend to charge for content created with the app then you can *only* publish it via iBookstore.
Curious to know how Apple will actually enforce this. iBookstore is far from the only eBook store out there and I'm sure people would like to get a slightly wider audience than just people with iOS devices.
As mentioned, you could rename the exported file to .epub and then open it in an app that is able to read epub files, that app could be desktop or iOS, so I'd presume Bluefire reader can access the file.
It's using HTML5 and Javascript. Not exactly Apple's "own" format. Being able to easily embed interactive content, video, and audio is one of the main benefits of HTML5. Remember, iBooks are for iOS devices which naturally means they will be able to play imbedded Keynote presentations.
Effective for digital publishing, too.
According to the iBooks Author description it also allows exporting as a PDF which means it may be effective for digital publishing (maybe even for print) as well as for making iBooks.
Hopefully it'll give Adobe a run for its money.
According to the iBooks Author description it also allows exporting as a PDF which means it may be effective for digital publishing (maybe even for print) as well as for making iBooks.
Hopefully it'll give Adobe a run for its money.
Looks like you have to buy the ISBN number before publishing to iTunes. And if you decide to publish in multiple formats (IE softcover, hardcover, ebook, etc.), you need a separate ISBN for each. FYI: 1 ISBN number is $125, although it does have deals on bulk orders with 1,000 ISBNs being $1,000.
$29 upgrade is much better than $100+ upgrades we have seen in the past and continue to see with other operating systems!
Installed the authoring app and fooled around for a few minutes, very nice.
I wish there was a mechanism for distribution outside of the iStore, this would be a great app for building training materials (...yeah, I understand Apple's model). Maybe even something like the Enterprise deployment tools (for Apps), where you sign a book and let it be distributed to with the matching cert/key installed.
I wish there was a mechanism for distribution outside of the iStore, this would be a great app for building training materials (...yeah, I understand Apple's model). Maybe even something like the Enterprise deployment tools (for Apps), where you sign a book and let it be distributed to with the matching cert/key installed.
Not Working
I happened to have my dissertation nicely layed out into individual chapters in Pages, so I thought "why not turn it into a textbook?" So I've created an .iba file using the new software, and I've plugged in an iPad. I then hit the 'preview' button in iBooks Author. After the compilation process ends, a book appears entitled "Dissertation by Lee Drake" in iBooks on the iPad. It has the little 'loading' blue status bar at the base, you know the one I'm talking about?
Well, it just hangs. Nothing happens. There is a book placeholder, but no book ever comes, it is as if it cannot create a functional book. I don't know what I could have done wrong, but it seems like it shouldn't be so obviously not working.
I happened to have my dissertation nicely layed out into individual chapters in Pages, so I thought "why not turn it into a textbook?" So I've created an .iba file using the new software, and I've plugged in an iPad. I then hit the 'preview' button in iBooks Author. After the compilation process ends, a book appears entitled "Dissertation by Lee Drake" in iBooks on the iPad. It has the little 'loading' blue status bar at the base, you know the one I'm talking about?
Well, it just hangs. Nothing happens. There is a book placeholder, but no book ever comes, it is as if it cannot create a functional book. I don't know what I could have done wrong, but it seems like it shouldn't be so obviously not working.
Last edited:
Soooo... Apple releases a "New Apple Thing" that isn't compatible with an "Old Apple Thing"... and people on MacRumors act surprised and outraged?
I get it if you're a Windows user looking in from the outside, but how could this possibly surprise or outrage any Mac user with even a whit of Apple and/or Mac savvy
I just have to chalk it up to IMBRS*, otherwise it makes absolutely no sense.
* Internet Message Board Rage Syndrome
I get it if you're a Windows user looking in from the outside, but how could this possibly surprise or outrage any Mac user with even a whit of Apple and/or Mac savvy
I just have to chalk it up to IMBRS*, otherwise it makes absolutely no sense.
* Internet Message Board Rage Syndrome
When you say you don't have reason to upgrade, aren't apps like this reason to upgrade?
Why Lion?
Why is Apple pushing all it's users so hard on to Lion? Lion stinks and yet, Apple is still forcing its users? Apple is changing for the worse and I'm getting worried...
Why is Apple pushing all it's users so hard on to Lion? Lion stinks and yet, Apple is still forcing its users? Apple is changing for the worse and I'm getting worried...
If you're an author of a novel, try Scrivener
I see that several of you are working on a novel and want to see iBooks Author have templates for novels. I'm also working on a novel, so I was hoping to see the same thing. I'm sure some more templates will be available soon, either through updates or third parties.
But I wanted to mention Scrivener, a very under-appreciated program for writing novels. It's incredibly robust and has many writing tools you're not going to find in iBooks Author. Specifically, it has tools for helping with character development and storylines. iBooks Author is geared more toward education and interactive books. It might not be the best tool to write a novel in.
Plus, Scrivener allows you to export to both iBooks and Kindle, so you get to hit both markets.
I'm not ruling iBooks Author out though. Once I finish my book, I do plan on loading it into iBooks Author and experimenting to see if there are any creative interactive elements I can add to enhance my story. But I can't imagine writing a book within the software itself.
Hope this helps the aspiring authors here.
I see that several of you are working on a novel and want to see iBooks Author have templates for novels. I'm also working on a novel, so I was hoping to see the same thing. I'm sure some more templates will be available soon, either through updates or third parties.
But I wanted to mention Scrivener, a very under-appreciated program for writing novels. It's incredibly robust and has many writing tools you're not going to find in iBooks Author. Specifically, it has tools for helping with character development and storylines. iBooks Author is geared more toward education and interactive books. It might not be the best tool to write a novel in.
Plus, Scrivener allows you to export to both iBooks and Kindle, so you get to hit both markets.
I'm not ruling iBooks Author out though. Once I finish my book, I do plan on loading it into iBooks Author and experimenting to see if there are any creative interactive elements I can add to enhance my story. But I can't imagine writing a book within the software itself.
Hope this helps the aspiring authors here.
Very Exciting!
I'm very excited about this feature...still need to know more details about the publishing process, etc...however overall it sounds great!
I'm very excited about this feature...still need to know more details about the publishing process, etc...however overall it sounds great!
I was waiting for them to announce something like that too, but looks like today was education only. Although I'm sure fiction writers will come up with a use for iBooks Author.
Why is Apple pushing all it's users so hard on to Lion? Lion stinks and yet, Apple is still forcing its users? Apple is changing for the worse and I'm getting worried...
Have you tried 10.7.2? It's much better now.