Currently viewing the tag: "iBooks"

The already usual suspects in iBooks 2.0

On January 20, 2012

There are two things that got people mad, after Apple event: 1. There was nothing special for students, only for teachers; 2. The output of the iBooks Author seems to be Apple’s property.

Well, I guess smart manuals, learning as leisure and better teaching structure are not helping students…

I remember Steve Jobs’ response to [...]

There are two things that got people mad, after Apple event: 1. There was nothing special for students, only for teachers; 2. The output of the iBooks Author seems to be Apple’s property.

Well, I guess smart manuals, learning as leisure and better teaching structure are not helping students…

I remember Steve Jobs’ response to a Cupertino counselor that was asking for free wi-fi in Cupertino, as Google did in Mountain View: “I think we [Apple] bring a lot more than free wi-fi”;

The same response is fit here: if you need cheaper iPads for students, it’s the schools that should develop such projects and offer discounts; Apple can do a lot more than discounts. Like a better learning curve.

On the second issue, regarding the ownership of the iBooks created with iBook Author, there’s no doubt it’s a false problem.

Apple has come up not only with a “strange” kind of textbooks, but with an entire new process of teaching & learning, that is, a new kind of teacher / student relation.

Now, the teacher can build books that can be distributed for free, just like the apps can; the teacher can also make some money out of these books one’s writing, just as in apps’ selling; on top of that, the teacher has the freedom to email the books, which is a bonus comparing to the apps distribution process. No DRM.

Where’s the problem? Apple’s textbooks are far less book-like than they are app-like. Did you find it unacceptable for Apple to limit apps distribution?

.

I was talking to a friend about these two “mistakes” Apple has made, and his take was “Yes, Apple is the only company in the world that can possibly make such “mistakes”; the dead never make such mistakes, they can only copy the living and “correct” their mistakes.”

Tagged with: • •
 

Apple offers developer books for free

On December 22, 2010

This is a very nice offer; these guys are blazing from all their guns…

(via Creativebits)

This is a very nice offer; these guys are blazing from all their guns…

(via Creativebits)

Tagged with: • • •
 

Dim or light?

On October 11, 2010

Everybody has seen Kindle’s commercial showing off Kindle’s benefits under direct sunlight conditions compared to iPad. 

This morning a SmokingApples saying the opposite post struck me: “The Kindle may put the iPad to shame in bright sunlight, but for me a time convenient for reading is usually found in a dimly-lit surrounding” .

I’ve [...]

Everybody has seen Kindle’s commercial showing off Kindle’s benefits under direct sunlight conditions compared to iPad. 

This morning a SmokingApples saying the opposite post struck me: “The Kindle may put the iPad to shame in bright sunlight, but for me a time convenient for reading is usually found in a dimly-lit surrounding” .

I’ve checked my apps in all my iOS devices: iBooks, Kindle app, Stanza and guess what? All of them are adapted to low light conditions! Sepia background or even white fonts over black background:

 

That’s iBooks with Sepia (always) on.

This is Kindle app, white fonts, low contrast.

Stanza – same white fonts, low contrast.

I may be biased here, but which is the most probable time of the day you people usually read? Is it in the morning, afternoon, evening, at night? For me it’s 90% at night (although I’d say news reading is a morning activity).

Another reasonable question is where are you usually staying while reading? I’d say it’s either in bed or at the desk, under the low light of a lamp, isn’t it? I’ve been doing this since childhood. But what if you could just turn off that lamp?! I’m telling you this: it’ll be the most immersive reading experience ever! 

No matter it’s literature or professional reading, having a self illuminated device carrying your books is just the ultimate reading experience.

Say you’re not a college person having to study for a next day exam, but you’re reading an Agatha Cristie crime novel. How would you feel when you’re spouse wakes up at 2 AM saying the lamp light is too strong and she / he cannot sleep? 

Now imagine what a magical device iPad would had been for you as a kid! Wouldn’t you want this experience to be shared by your own kids?

I’m not saying iPad is a better reading tool than Kindle in tech terms, but the iPad is more of a fertile, immersive tool than Kindle is. 

Tagged with: • • • • • •