Apple corrects iBooks PDF features list after TUAW post

After our post that iBooks 1.1 doesn't deliver what Apple promises, Apple has quietly updated the language on its iBooks page to accurately reflect what iBooks 1.1 can do as far as PDF handling goes. Two days ago we pointed out that the copy on Apple's iBooks page read:

Tap a PDF to read it and it fills the screen just like an ebook. You can flip through pages, add bookmarks and highlights, or zoom in for a closer look.

The problem with this was that you couldn't actually flip through PDF pages or highlight them -- those were features of books purchased from the iBooks store, not PDFs.

While some readers thought I was being picky that Apple used the word "flip" instead of "swipe" to move to the next PDF page, Apple seems to have agreed with me. Flipping a page involves the iBooks page-curl eye candy. Swiping a page moves one page off screen as the next appears. As of today, Apple has changed the copy on the iBooks page to accurately reflect how you can interact with PDFs in iBooks 1.1. The new copy reads:

Tap a PDF to read it and it fills the screen just like an ebook. You can swipe through pages, add bookmarks, or zoom in for a closer look.

Here's hoping that Apple does add page flipping and text highlight functionality to PDFs soon. iBooks is shaping up to be a wonderful app and I can't wait to see where it goes in the future.

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Source: http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/25/ibooks-1-1-doesnt-deliver-wha…

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After our post that iBooks 1.1 doesn't deliver what Apple promises, Apple has quietly updated the language on its iBooks page to...

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Jay

I'd really like to be able to select which PDF page to use as the cover-page in library bookshelf view, so that I can make them more recognisable and distinguishable from each other.

August 22 2010 at 6:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Brad

The iBooks app needs locked zoom like good reader has. I agree with a previous post. It's very annoying i have to re-zoom after every page turn. Matter of fact, i'll stick with good reader until iBooks does this.

July 29 2010 at 1:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

DAVIDSCUBADIVER

I find the "flipping" of pages on the two PDF's I have on my iBook shelf is painfully slow. It is much faster to flip through pages using iAnnotate.

July 07 2010 at 2:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Raj

My biggest complaint is that iBooks for PDF doesn't do what Stanza does; which is allowing the swipe/flip (semantically equivalent to me) while viewing the PDF in zoomed mode.

Ie, I want my 3GS to show the text as large as possible, and be able to go to the next page without (double-tap to zoom out, swipe, double-tap to zoom in) and instead just one swipe to go to next.

Unfortunately, the 3GS doesn't support Application Data like the iPad does:
http://www.lexcycle.com/faq/how_to_get_books_onto_stanza_iphone

I hope iBooks steps up to the plate and delivers on this; I have way too many technical PDFs that are the basis of my reference, I will NOT rebuy them.

June 28 2010 at 2:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Trev

When are we going to see Pages released for 1st gen touches?
My little 1st gen is still working fine. I'd like to view pdf's, e-books, etc, why can't apple release a version for us too?

June 28 2010 at 10:40 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Trev's comment

Trev

I did, of course, mean iBooks. Argh.

June 28 2010 at 11:00 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

eleanloui

A very impressive market share. But these are numbers for the US alone of course. Typically he left it out to say that. At a conference that has the word "worldwide" in its name. Dogpedic

June 28 2010 at 9:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mactaris

If a 3rd party app in it's feature list says,

"Tap a PDF to read it and it fills the screen just like an ebook. You can flip through pages, add bookmarks and highlights, or zoom in for a closer look."

And does not support PDF highlights at all, will this app get rejected by Apple?

June 28 2010 at 6:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Scott

Of course, if Apple allowed Flash on iOS, wouldn't PDF's get the Flash based page curl PDF's have had since 2008?

June 27 2010 at 9:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Fastred

Damn you TUAW - you just "forced" Apple to remove capabilities from iBooks... Hate you forever

....

(wink)

June 27 2010 at 9:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Shy

Your first post about this may have been news, but this is just you gloating. Sorry about criticizing.

June 27 2010 at 7:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply