Apple has revealed the first steps in its iPlan for stepping into the world of digital publishing. At a press event in San Francisco today, Steve Jobs introduced us to the iPad, his company’s hotly anticipated entry into the tablet market that is set to release worldwide in 60 days. Moments later, they announced their iBook app, which will let iPad owners create their own library of titles purchased and downloaded from a central iBooks store.
Using the nearly 10-inch color touchscreen, voracious e-readers can place their iBooks neatly onto a virtual bookcase that requires no trip to Ikea or quintilingual instruction manual. The reading process will be expectedly haptic, using the already culturally ingrained motions of flicking, tapping and swiping to turn pages, switch titles and adjust font size. The real question is whether or not there is any sort of software involved to make reading for hours on end easier on the eyes. E-readers like the Nook and Kindle have e-ink technology, which helps to reduce the eye strain that comes with continuous screen-staring, and whether the iPad can offer something similar is an important distinction. If I had to read something like Under the Dome entirely on a computer screen, my eyes would probably melt into a milky goo.
The good news is that Apple’s iBook application uses ePub, which is already the most popular open book format in the world, and not exclusive to the company. Also, they have the early support of Penguin, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and the Hachette Book Group, who all teamed up with Apple to create the iBook store. The store features a top chart list and New York Times bestseller list, while offering readers access to in-book photos (both color and black-and-white) and even videos. And it runs a lot like iTunes, so the millions of current music customers who already shop there will find iBooks easy to peruse and, most important, to purchase. For some techie experts, this familiarity is a huge iPad advantage—the fact that Apple customers are loyal and that its new product could usher even more e-readers into the marketplace.
The thin iPad weighs in at 1.5 pounds, more than either the Kindle or the Nook. Its screen is the same size as the Kindle DX (9.7 inches), with touch capabilities like the Nook, but beyond that, the visual e-reading experience seems completely different–not surprising coming from Apple. This is particularly true for print publications like The New York Times, which took center stage at the iPad debut to show off its own application. The NYT app brought the newspaper format to life, according to live bloggers, with in-article videos and without a lot of ads. Then there’s the host of other applications that iPads offer, apart from reading eBooks—you can open all 140,000 iPhone apps on the new device, in their original size or in double-pixel vision.
iBooks will cost between $7.99 and $14.99, which is both above and below the $9.99 average Kindle edition price. Pricing for the iPad itself occupies an entirely reasonable range of $499 to $829, on Apple’s typical sliding scale of gigabytes. (with reporting by Keith Staskiewicz)
Thank you for postiing this. I wanted to hear how to works…Ugghhh..Don’t know what to do….I’m a huge Kindle 2 fan…but…
Kindle is going to get killed by this
I dunno..the more I read about the Ipad the more I actually don’t want it. From the way they light it (hard on the eyes if you’re an avid reader!) to the bulkiness of it, compared to the Kindle at least…But..still waiting to hear word of mouth reviews once people actually start owning this.
Too much! I’d rather just keep my iphone and get a macbook one day.
Why would anyone buy this overpriced toy. If I was going to spend $500 on a computer, I would buy a fully functional netbook. I could even get a touch screen, but would prob skip it because I like to be able to see what I am working on.
“Fully functional netbook” hahahahahahahahahahhaha, oh the comedy.
You’re an idiot.
If you travel for a living, and I mean live in hotels and airports for 8 months of the year and your suitcase is your house, then you would want this item with you. It’s not meant to be a laptop, no comparison and if you call it crap, you could essentially call all e-book readers crap. As an Apple enthusiast, I see that this machine just made my life as an international tour guide EASIER and more light weight. Not every product is for everyone, no need to bash it, but for me, it fills a need and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
^^What she just said. ^^
What they said
I completely agree! I dont travel alot but this yr I will be and I have a fashion consulting business and I love books! THIS IS A MUST HAVE for me….People expected way to much and like you said no need to bash it if it doesnt fit wat they want.
Isn’t it interesting how people are coming up with all of these reasons “not” to get an iPad? Naming all the stuff it “doesn’t” do.
It’s like making a list of all the things a “work of art” doesn’t do, therefore don’t acquire art for your home.
There are “some” things created simply to “inspire”.
As an accomplished artist, I’ve been using SKETCH PADS since childhood. Maybe it’s an art thang, but I LOOOOVE the name iPad! Perhaps the iPad is “not” for accountants, business people or factory workers. Maybe it’s functional art made “only” for artists, tour guides and fashion consultants – FINE! If it’s just a big ol’ toy for creatives to enhance their lofty lives it’s OK by me.
I already own a workhorse laptop. If I only use the iPad to immerse myself in Picasso art books or killer Ragdoll Apos, will it kill ya’ to set the HaterAid aside for a moment and allow one to enjoy some of the inspired possibilities of life?
I can’t wait to store a whole comic book collection, while publishing on my own graphic novel.
I guarantee that children learning to doodle on the iPad today will watch their fingers transform into phenomenal drawing tools as adults.
So, keep bashing this nifty-gizmo that promises nothing but a bit of fun and a few million creative apps. While you’re hard at work multitasking your behinds off, we will bravely experiment with the art of ease, and continue to play with iPad’s intriguing possibilities.
This thing doesn’t even have a real OS. The iphone OS can barely cut&paste. What a POS.
You’re a total idiot.
it would be easier to jusy buy a netbook or those mini laptops
Sure, if you want something that’s going to break.
I really love the idea of an iBook store. It would also be really cool if you could get a magazine subscription that downloads new issues automatically to your iPad.
You mean like the Kindle does?
I’ve been waiting on buying a Kindle till this came out, but I really don’t need another mini computer. That is what my netbook,laptop and Blackberry are for. Don’t worry Amazon, I’ll be ordering my Kindle very soon.
Why would you want to carry around your Netbook, Laptop, Kindle and Blackberry when the IPAD does all four?!
I can’t comment on the netbook, but the iPad will never fully cover all the functionality on a laptop or blackberry, so you’d at least have to carry around those 3 devices. As for replacing the kindle – the fact that there’s no backlighting (and no associated eyestrain) is a huge benefit of e-ink technology. So whether someone would buy the iPad and stop using a Kindle is arguable – if you read occasionally, maybe, but if you’re reading 1-2 books a week (like myself), that’s a whole lot of eyestrain to give you second thought.
Amber, what functionality on a Blackberry do you think the iPad will be missing?
HM-
the ability to make a phone call.
Funny. Some people work all day on computers and they don’t complain about eyestrain. What’s the difference?
Meh, I’ll wait for Apple to design a pocket-sized robot that reads books to me, the iWeebot.
Is that a robot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
It’s like a Netbook and it doesn’t have a phone or any backlighting. I was thinking this could be my all-in-one device…guess not! — http://www.DontDateHimGirl.com
a lot of celebrity musicians have been weighing in on the ipad. John Mayer loves it. Q-Tip not so much. http://mog.com/MOG_Features/blog/1726911
ya, cause their opinions count.
What about library access? Any word on whether I will be able to check out ebooks for a certain length of time? That’s what I’m waiting for, although as a voracious reader and Apple fan, this is very tempting.
voracious reader of pulp?
IPad ? What a name! I want the small one – you know the mini one – think it’s called an IPod or something. Seriously it’s an oversized IPhone, so hey why not just call it a BPhone (big phone) or a DPhone (DirtyPhone), you know that screens gonna get so dirty from putting your fingers all over it…lol. Also these types of things have been around for years but apple loves to act like they made everything first. Remember when mp3 players came out? Apple didn’t invent them. But they still went ahead and claimed an IPod to be something special.
Check this out…http://ketiva.com/Computers_and_Internet/apple_tablet_rumors__of_awe.html
Clearly a woman wasn’t involved in naming this!
It’s funny how no one has mentioned that this device will also allow you to read all Kindle books as well as the epub. Amazon has a Kindle iphone/touch app already. If the ipad uses all iphone/touch apps, then it’s also a Kindle format reader as well as an epub reader. More expensive than all models of the Kindle, but the 16 gig model is only marginally more expensive than the Kindle DX and does so much more.
Amazon will at least need to update to take advantage of the larger screen, if not a complete redesign to be on par with the iBooks app. The app will run as-is, but only at iPhone resolution 320×200.
I want to know if only iPad will be the only device that can purchase and read iBooks. If so, what if there’s no wireless? what if it is iStolen or iLost?
Presumably iTunes will enable purchase and transfer to iPad, but are they going to tack on a viewer as well?
The real question is whether or not there is any sort of software involved to make reading for hours on end easier on the eyes. E-readers like the Nook and Kindle have e-ink technology, which helps to reduce the eye strain that comes with continuous screen-staring, and whether the iPad can offer something similar is an important distinction. If I had to read something like Under the Dome entirely on a computer screen, my eyes would probably melt into a milky goo.
Am i missing the answer to this question?
iTab will automatically adjust screen brightness in response to ambient light. Mismatch is one common cause of computer eyestrain (particularly too-bright screens), so that should help some.
hopefully F.lux will be available for the ipad, it’s a must if you read a lot, especially at night. It automatically adjusts your screens color temperature, makes looking at the screen for hours really easy on the eyes. http://www.stereopsis.com/flux/
Funny how continuous screen-staring by computer operators doesn’t seem to bother them. At least I don’t hear any complaints and I never experienced any myself when I spent 8-10 hours a day staring at a Mac screen. So why should the iPad be different?
Holy Lord in Heaven, this is the best product in the entire world.