Android and iOS are the two dominant forces in the mobile OS world, each with its own set of apps tightly integrated with its ecosystem. Whether you want to watch a movie, listen to music or read an eBook, both Apple and Google have developed a platform and entered into partnerships to bring you the best.
While Android may have the larger user base of the two, this is not to say that Apple is lagging very far behind when it comes to active devices in the world.
Today, we will learn which is a better platform if you want to read an eBook: Play Books or iBooks.
Download Play BooksDownload iBooks
1. Cross-platform Compatibility
May 02, 2016 Things iBooks does that I need: Syncing to my iPad. Providing a clutter-free reading screen that pages rather than scrolls. Things I am thinking about maybe needing in the future: I'm thinking about getting an actual ebook-reading device, because I'm. Jan 27, 2020 So I have a dozen of books in the iBooks app that I purchased a year ago. Honestly however I’ve never read them because even on my iPhone 8 Plus I feel the screen is too small to read for so much amount of time. Ive tried making the text bigger but then I’m reading only a few sentences per. Sep 18, 2019 Books white screen, app does not open. This annoyance has existed for some users for some time now. When you tap on the Books app, it doesn’t open the app. You see a white screen. We are not sure what causes this issue. The only workaround that we have found is to force close the app. Jun 05, 2020 Mac. Let’s talk about the continuous scroll feature. Open Books app on your iPhone or iPad. From Reading Now or Library, tap on the book you want to read. Once the book opens in full screen, tap anywhere to see the options. Next, tap on A A and turn ON the toggle for Scrolling View. Now you will see page number in a. Oct 19, 2017 View answer in context. Not sure about the PC experience, but for Mac, if you go to your iBooks desktop app (not to be confused with iBooks Author), you will find all your previously purchased iBooks. The application icon is an orange circle with an open book. These instructions (scroll down to the Manually add items. Section) explain.
Here is the thing, Apple operates a very tight ship. That has always been the case. The number of Google apps available on the App Store has always been higher than the number of Apple apps in the Play Store. This is also true for eBook app.
While Play Books can be downloaded and used on iOS devices, you can’t download and install iBooks on any Android device. This reduces the latter’s reach considerably, especially when there are more smartphones running the Android OS.
Why this matters? Authors and publishers will consider their potential audience reach while publishing their books. A larger user base clearly gives Play Books an advantage.
Smartphones users with both Android and iOS devices will also have to reconsider their options. I would want something that is available everywhere.
2. Accessibility
Once again Google gets the brownie points here. You can not only read Play Books on any Android or iOS device, but you can also launch your favorite browser and read eBooks on Play Store online.
Apple, on the other hand, uses iCloud to sync books which you can then access and read on iOS or MacOS devices only. No love for other platforms or browsers. This makes Google Play Books a more convenient option out of the two.
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3. DRM Protected Content
Apple is known to be a lone ranger. Always willing to take the less beaten path, creating its own rules and format. DRM protected content is not an option for them it seems. This is why Apple decided to create its own DRM policy called Fair Play.
This means any eBook bought from iBooks cannot be read on any other eReader device like Kindle, Kobo, and Nook. This matters because these are popular eBook readers that people like to carry around and use.
Google Play Books uses Adobe’s Digital Edition which is also supported by some popular eBook readers like Nook and Kobo among others.
Note that eBooks bought from iBooks and Play Store will not work on Kindle devices. While both iBooks and Play Books work with .epub format, Kindle uses .mobi.
PDF format is supported by all of them.
4. Availability of Titles
Availability of titles and prices are different on both the platforms. Some titles are available on one platform while not on the other, and some titles are free on one platform while paid on another. Why?
Book readers tend to get attached to their books and like to maintain a library. Both Play Books and iBooks will allow you to add PDFs and EPUBs, however, Apple has made it difficult. After version 12.7 of iTunes was released, the functionality was removed altogether. There is an iCloud workaround which is too cumbersome but works nonetheless.
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5. Audiobooks
Google is also leading the race when it comes to audiobooks. While eBooks are still more preferred due to the high cost associated with audiobooks, there are a number of audiobook titles available on the Play Books.
As an Apple user, you can’t buy audiobooks from Audible or any Kindle app. Why? Because Apple will charge a 30% commission which Amazon believes to be against the interest of its users and its business model. Frankly speaking, I think Amazon is right here.
Want to listen to audiobooks on Mac? Instead of iBooks app, you will have to go through iTunes and then transfer them to iBooks. This means you have to go through two apps before you can listen to it. Play Books offers a more integrated solution.
6. User Experience and User Interface
Both Play Books and iBooks come with a number of features to provide a refined reading experience. You can change and adjust font type and size depending on your screen size and eyesight.
Both eBook reader apps come with night time reading mode that reduces the emission of blue light. You have in-built dictionary with the ability to highlight text, make notes, and share them.
Having used both of them to read Art of War by Sun Tzu, I personally liked Play Books. Why? There were some additional options like translation. Highlighting the text in Play Books would bring up the dictionary automatically at the bottom of the screen. In iBooks, you have to scroll through options.
Both iBooks and Play Books have page turn animation that looks good but does little to improve functionality or feature.
Reading is to Mind What Whetstone is to Sword
Reading is a great activity. Something that everybody must indulge in. After going through the two apps for over two days, I have realized that Play Books is far better than iBooks in several ways.
The fact that Apple was caught, and subsequently fined, for fixing and raising eBook prices from five major American publishers doesn't help the case either. Can you download movies on mac from netflix.
It is no secret that Apple hasn't been paying much attention to this part of their ecosystem for a long time, but all that may change soon after the rebranding. Till then, there are plenty of options available in the market and Play Books is a solid contender.
Next up: Looking for free and discounted eBooks to ramp up your collection? Look no further. Read the below guide to learn about 10 sites to get the best eBook deals.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextTop 10 Sites for Free and Discounted EBooksAlso See#ibooks #Google Play Books
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iBooks is several apps in one: It lets you find and buy ebooks and audiobooks in the iBooks Store; organize, view, and sync them in the iBooks reader; and download and view PDFs. You can customize the reading and listening experience, including paper, and even organize your files into collections.
A.
What is the book format for Iphone?
Most are free and include ones like iBooks by Apple. Most eReaders can read .txt and .pdf files, the standard is the .epub format. Kindle, which does have an app as well, uses the .mobi format. We'll take you how to create eBooks for your Apple products using the Calibre program.
What is ibook format?
The supported e-book formats by iBooks are EPUB and PDF. As of version 2.0, iBooks also supports a proprietary iBook format (IBA), generated with the iBooks Author tool. This format is based upon the EPUB format but depends upon custom widget code in the iBooks app to function.
Can you read EPUB on Ibooks?
You can also copy EPUB files into DropBox (or a similar service) and use the DropBox app to send them to Apple's book-reading app. More importantly, users can now open EPUB files directly from Mobile Safari and easily open them in iBooks, where they are saved automatically.
What is an EPUB format?
EPUB is an e-book file format with the extension .epub that can be downloaded and read on devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, or e-readers. It is a technical standard published by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). The term is short for electronic publication and is sometimes styled ePub.
B.
Can I read my iBooks offline?
Yes, iBooks can function normally while not connected to the internet. As long as you have the book(s) present in the iBooks app before you get out of coverage you will be fine. If you are out of your coverage area and connect to another network, or roaming, you might have additional expenses for using another network.
How do I transfer my Apple ID to another country?
On your device, tap Settings > [your name] > iTunes & App Store.
Tap your Apple ID.
Tap View Apple ID.
Tap Country/Region.
Tap your new country or region, then tap Next.
Review the Terms and Conditions and Apple Privacy Policy, then tap Agree if you agree.
Can you listen to audiobooks on Ibooks?
While Apple has moved audiobook playback to the iBooks app, you can still play your audiobooks in the Music iOS app, at least at the time of this writing (iOS 8.4.1). In iTunes on your Mac, simply add your audiobooks—ripped, Audible, or iBooks Store—to a playlist and sync that playlist to your iOS device.
Can you read Ibooks online?
Is there a way to read it on my PC? AApple designed your iTunes electronic book to be readable only on its iBooks software, which so far is available only for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. But there is free software that will unlock your iTunes book so you can read it on your PC.
C.
How do I find iBook on my Iphone?
Launch the iBooks app from your Home screen.
Tap the tab at the bottom of the screen to find a book. You have three options.
Tap on the book you want.
Tap price to buy the book, or tap sample to have a few free pages downloaded.
How do I organize my Ibooks?
How to add books or PDFs to a collection in iBooks for iPhone and iPad
Launch iBooks from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
Tap on the Edit button in the upper left hand corner of the main bookshelf.
Tap on the titles you'd like to move to a different collection and then tap the Move button at the top.
How do I add ebooks to my IPAD?
First, open iTunes on your PC and navigate to the Books section.
Click on the “PDFs” tab and drag drop any PDF file from your PC to the open iTunes window.
Connect the iPad or iPhone and click on the device button once it appears in iTunes.
How can I share an ibook with a family member?
To download them on your device, go to Purchased in the iTunes Store (in the More tab), App Store (in the Updates tab) or iBook Store, tap on the family member whose collection you want to browse, and then download or play the content.
1.
How do you move Ibooks to the cloud?
Open iBooks.
In the upper-right corner of the iBooks window, tap Select.
Scroll to find the item that you want to delete, then tap it.
In the upper-left corner of the iBooks window, tap Delete.
If you want to remove the file from iCloud and all of your devices, tap Delete From All Devices.
2.
Can you open Ibooks on your computer?
AApple designed your iTunes electronic book to be readable only on its iBooks software, which so far is available only for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. But there is free software that will unlock your iTunes book so you can read it on your PC.
3.
What is the ibook app?
Read and listen to your personal library at home or on the go with iBooks. Use iBooks on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac to buy and download books, manage your purchases, organize your library, and more. Find audiobooks in the iBooks app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and in iTunes on a Mac.
4.
Can you put Ibooks on a Kindle?
In order to read the iBooks on Kindle, you need to firstly understand that the iBooks are in ePub format while the eBooks supported by Kindle should in formats like Mobi, AZW, PDF, etc. It's easy to convert the DRM-free iBooks to Amazon Kindle compatible formats by using some eBook converter software.
5.
Do Ibooks sync between devices?
If you use iCloud Drive, you can access your imported ePub, iBook Author books, and PDFs across all of your devices. You can also manually sync Audiobooks that you didn't buy from the iTunes Store using iTunes and USB. If you're part of Family Sharing, you can share purchased content with other members of your family.
6.
Can you send a purchased ibook?
If you have five or fewer computers, they can all access the same iTunes account and share the same purchased music, movies, apps, and books. Such account sharing may not be a good idea, however. From the main Library view in the iBooks app, tap the Store button, and then tap Purchases in the toolbar.
7.
How do I change Ibooks country?
Apple's support section now details in 15 steps how to change the country listed on your iOS device – iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
Tap iTunes Store, App Store or iBooks Store.
At the bottom of the Featured page, tap Sign In.
Tap Use Existing Apple ID.
Enter your Apple ID and password and tap OK.
Tap your Apple ID.
8.
How do you move books around in Ibooks?
How to reorder your Bookshelf in iBooks on iPhone and iPad
Launch iBooks from your Home screen.
Tap on the My Books tab. It's in the bottom left corner of your screen.
Filter your bookshelf.
Tap and hold the book you want to move.
Drag the book to the position you want.
Let go of the book.
9.
How do I sign into Ibooks on Iphone?
Open the iTunes Store App.
Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign In.
Tap Use Existing Apple ID, then enter the Apple ID and password that you use with the iTunes Store.
Tap OK.
10.
How do I organize my Ibooks?
How to add books or PDFs to a collection in iBooks for iPhone and iPad
Launch iBooks from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
Tap on the Edit button in the upper left hand corner of the main bookshelf.
Tap on the titles you'd like to move to a different collection and then tap the Move button at the top.
11.
Are Kindle books compatible with Ibooks?
Firstly, mostly purchased Kindle books (.azw4, .prc, .azw3, etc) are protected from DRM. Secondly, the Amazon kindle main formats are MOBI and AZW. But iBooks doesn't all support these formats except for epub. eBook Converter Bundler can convert any eBooks including DRMed eBooks to iBooks format.
12.
Do you have to be on the Internet to read Ibooks?
Yes, iBooks can function normally while not connected to the internet. As long as you have the book(s) present in the iBooks app before you get out of coverage you will be fine. If you are out of your coverage area and connect to another network, or roaming, you might have additional expenses for using another network.
13.
Is there Ibooks for Android?
When the eBook readers installed properly on your Android devices, you can transfer the DRM-free iBook files to Android phone or tablet via the USB cable. Then you are able to read the iBook ePub files on any Android device with the eReader at anytime for free.
14.
How do I buy an ibook?
Launch the iBooks app from your Home screen.
Tap the tab at the bottom of the screen to find a book. You have three options.
Tap on the book you want.
Tap price to buy the book, or tap sample to have a few free pages downloaded.
15.
Where did all my audiobooks go?
Since iOS 8.4 audiobooks have been available from the iBooks Store, accessed via the iBooks app on your iPad, or iPhone. Once you download an audiobook it will be available to listen to in the iBooks app. Complicating matters somewhat is that audiobooks still live in iTunes Store on the Mac (and play in iTunes).
16.
How do I permanently delete a book from Ibooks?
This has since moved from iTunes to within the iBooks app, but the procedure is exactly the same:
Open iBooks.
Click iBooks Store in top-left corner.
Click Purchased.
Click the x in the top-left corner of the book you want to hide.
17.
How can I share an ibook with a family member?
To download them on your device, go to Purchased in the iTunes Store (in the More tab), App Store (in the Updates tab) or iBook Store, tap on the family member whose collection you want to browse, and then download or play the content.
18.
How do I add ebooks to my IPAD?
Download Ibooks App For Pc
First, open iTunes on your PC and navigate to the Books section.
Click on the “PDFs” tab and drag drop any PDF file from your PC to the open iTunes window.
Connect the iPad or iPhone and click on the device button once it appears in iTunes.
19.
Can I read a PDF file in Ibooks?
For example, if you have opened a PDF file in Dropbox, you can save it to iBooks by tapping the Share icon. When you tap the icon, a list of options will appear. Select Open In and then select “Copy to iBooks”. After the file opens in iBooks, it will automatically be saved to the reading app.
20.
Can I delete Ibooks from my phone?
Ibooks Desktop App
In iOS 7 and earlier, you can delete the iBooks app. Tap and hold down on the iBooks app icon until all of your home screen icons start bouncing. Tap the X in the corner of the iBooks app icon to remove the app and its contents. Starting in iOS 8, iBooks is bundled in iOS by default so it cannot be deleted.