Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Classics brings a different approach to reading on the iPhone
A new application coming soon to an iPhone near you hopes to bring a new experience for reading e-books. Classics.app, which is being developed by Andrew Kazmierski and Phillip Ryu, will allow its users to read classic works of literature ... right on their iPhones!
Classics will feature public domain ebooks like Alice in Wonderland, Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver's Travels, and Paradise Lost. Best part of the application? The developers will be offering free updates to owners. With future updates will come a new collection of books. Classics should leave many iPhone owners flipping the virtual pages of books (just remember to charge your iPhone regularly).
Classics will be available soon on the App Store for an introductory price of $2.99. Until it is released, you can watch a short demo movie on their website, and sign up for updates.
For some insight into how Classics was made, check out the designer's blog.
Thanks for the info, Phil!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
totoro said 3:11PM on 10-23-2008
Why not mention the other iPhone Apps that already provide these classics?
I know TUAW likes Phillip Ryu and his dev team ( and I enjoyed Dream App), but come on. This reads like a PR release.
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ahyes said 11:02PM on 10-23-2008
"We care deeply about these books. That's why we've spent countless hours working on making them look just right on the screen"
Translation: These books are out of copyright and we downloaded the text off the net.
"Intrigued? Sign up below to hear from us as soon as it's out!"
Translation: We're working on the next MacHeist and want to build a huge email database to spam.
"The best part? This collection will keep on growing. Just make sure to keep up with our free software updates!"
Translation: We'll be in Mexico 5 seconds after your $2.99 hits our bank account.
Hellpop said 3:15PM on 10-23-2008
What does this offer that Stanza does not?
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mentalsticks said 4:30PM on 10-23-2008
And what is the "different approach" mentioned in the headline?
Surely not the free public-domain books...
Peter said 3:17PM on 10-23-2008
Cool, Phil Ryu and his team - so there'll be one update then he'll get bored of it and do something else?
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ahyes said 10:47PM on 10-23-2008
Quite likely!
My Dream App: What happened there? Will these apps ever see the light of day? I feel sorry for everyone who entered...
WidgetMachine: Selling widgets eh? That worked so well it was dropped in no time.
Disco: Has made it all the way to version 1.0.3. Well done on actually getting to release, but don't expect any more effort from the team as they have your money now.
MacHeist: I have less of a problem with this. It is what it is. Still slightly shifty though.
Classics: I assume the only reason these books have been used is because they don't have to pay licensing... the books would be out of copyright.
Do you really want to give money to these guys?
Sebastiaan de With said 3:21PM on 10-23-2008
Thanks for the post, guys. I sense a lot of hostility here; perhaps it's harder to judge an application based on its merits, design, and features, than it is to make a flame on a weblog.
Also, disclaimer: I am not the sole designer of Classics! The inimitable David Lanham has designed a lot in Classics, and there's also beautiful CG page flip animation work and book cover design done by other individuals.
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totoro said 3:27PM on 10-23-2008
Sorry, no hostility intended towards you or your app. Just expect TUAW to post more than PR stuff about new apps, esp. ones that are similar to existing ones on the App Store. We can't demo anything on the App Store, so we rely on Apple blogs to give us honest comparisons, and keep us informed of what is already out there.
This post makes it sound like you guys are the first to offer Classics to read on the iPhone, and that just isn't the case.
Peace.
Ryan said 3:58PM on 10-23-2008
There is hostility because Phil doesn't stay with his projects. The app looks good, but I have no faith that it will be updated a few months after release. I won't buy it due to Phil's reputation and track record.
Hellpop said 5:07PM on 10-23-2008
No hostility here. Just a simple question. What does your program do that a really good free program does not? I use Stanza a lot and love it. You've got some selling to do to convince me to spend 3 bucks let alone get a look at your merits, designs and features.
ithincalot said 3:30PM on 10-23-2008
I agree with totoro and Hellpop. This is another e-Reader. Yea for another option, I guess? But it seems a little biased when there are other already-established apps out there.
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LS said 3:42PM on 10-23-2008
What are you talking about...you guys are hit&run developers!!
AppZapper - 11 Dec 2006 (updated)
Menuet - 12 Jun 2006
Disco - useless!
and many more...
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GadgetGav said 4:39PM on 10-23-2008
Looks like they took a lot of "inspiration" from Delicious Library...
I thought this was a DL app when I skimmed the page and just glanced at the graphic.
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Phillip Ryu said 4:56PM on 10-23-2008
GadgetGav: We definitely did take a lot of inspiration from DL. Kaz worked on the app, and the visual shelves had me mildly obsessed for years. :P But we think we have contributed something real and new of our own to compliment the visual shelves.
And we will absolutely continue to support Classics. It's a personally significant project for all of us, and we are absolutely dedicated to developing this further.
In any case, back to work! :)
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Look said 5:15PM on 10-23-2008
"it's a personally significant project for all of us"
So what you saying is that Menuet, AppZapper...where not significant! Refund us and will believe you.
***Menuet was supported for 4 months only! AppZapper for 9!
Phillip Ryu said 5:21PM on 10-23-2008
No, neither Kaz nor I are involved with AppZapper or Disco (though Austin is a good friend). Regarding Menuet, to be honest, I ended up quitting my job, largely frustrated for the same reasons you were, as I couldn't do much to market an unsupported app. I believe the others involved have made it donationware since.
Nosamwe said 4:58PM on 10-23-2008
Layout looks like Delicious Library...
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Gianpaolo Macerola said 5:02PM on 10-23-2008
Stanza = Free. I don't want to pay $2.99 for bookshelves and page flips.
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Look said 5:09PM on 10-23-2008
Delicious Library is another app that went backwards..Losing Matt Matas was a bit much...
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Brian Hanington said 5:24PM on 10-23-2008
Oh dear! A quick look at the demo makes it abundantly obvious why Classics is head and shoulders above Stanza (which itself was brilliant). It is the reader experience that matters... and how much more tactile that experience will be with pages that are designed specifically for the iPhone, illustrations, covers (with the delightful bookshelf motif) and crunchy page-flip sounds. I'm definitely ponying up the $3 bucks, and just may finally knuckle down to reading Madame Bovary.
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