Apple Books#Apple Books Store

iBooks was announced alongside the iPad at a press conference in January 2010. The store itself, however, was released in America three days before the iPad with the introduction of iTunes 9.1. This was supposedly to prevent too much traffic on Apple's servers, as they have been overloaded with previous releases of the iPhone. On the day of its launch, on March 31, 2010, the iBooks Store collection comprised some 60,000 titles.{{Cite web|last=King|first=Sammy|title=Survey of Kindle, Nook, iPad, Sony and OverDrive eBook Store Collection Size|url=http://www.ebookreaderguide.com/2011/03/13/kindle-nookcolor-ipad2-sony-overdrive-which-ebookstore-has-most-ebook-titles/|publisher=eBookReaderGuide.com|access-date=March 13, 2011|archive-date=May 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513034105/http://www.ebookreaderguide.com/2011/03/13/kindle-nookcolor-ipad2-sony-overdrive-which-ebookstore-has-most-ebook-titles/|url-status=dead}}

On April 8, 2010, Apple announced that iBooks would be updated to support the iPhone and iPod Touch with iOS 4. As a result, iBooks was not supported on first-generation iPhones and iPod Touches.{{Cite web|title=Get a sneak peek into the future of iPhone OS.|publisher=Apple Inc.|date=April 8, 2010|url=https://www.apple.com/iphone/preview-iphone-os|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408194552/http://www.apple.com/iphone/preview-iphone-os|archive-date=April 8, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

On June 8, 2010, at the WWDC Keynote, it was announced that iBooks would be updated that month to read PDF files as well as have the ability to annotate both PDFs and eBooks.

As of July 1, 2010, Apple expanded iBooks availability to Canada.

Upon its release for older devices running iOS 4, such as the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch, iBooks received criticism for its slow performance.{{Cite web|title=iBooks on iPhone 3GS – app review|date=June 21, 2010|url=http://www.tipb.com/2010/06/21/ibooks-on-iphone-3gs-app-review/|access-date=July 19, 2010|archive-date=September 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925184304/http://www.tipb.com/2010/06/21/ibooks-on-iphone-3gs-app-review/|url-status=deviated}}{{Cite web |url=http://mobiputing.com/2010/06/apple-ibooks-now-available-for-iphone-ipod-touch/ |title=Apple iBooks now available for iPhone, iPod touch |publisher=Mobiputing.com |date=June 21, 2010 |access-date=September 18, 2011 |archive-date=August 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822083551/http://mobiputing.com/2010/06/apple-ibooks-now-available-for-iphone-ipod-touch/ |url-status=live }} However, a July 19 update from Apple offered several improvements.{{Cite web |author=balandin |url=http://www.iphoneheat.com/2010/07/download-ibooks-1-1-1-iphone-ipad/ |title=Download iBooks 1.1.1 for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch |publisher=iPhoneHeat |date=July 20, 2010 |access-date=September 18, 2011 |archive-date=September 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920213701/http://www.iphoneheat.com/2010/07/download-ibooks-1-1-1-iphone-ipad/ |url-status=live }}

On September 27, 2011, Apple expanded the premium store to Ireland.

On January 19, 2012, Apple announced the release of iBooks 2, which supported interactive textbooks on the iPad; the release of iBooks 2 was accompanied by a new Mac app, iBooks Author.{{Cite web |url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/01/19Apple-Reinvents-Textbooks-with-iBooks-2-for-iPad.html |title=Apple Reinvents Textbooks with iBooks 2 for iPad |publisher=Apple Inc. |access-date=January 19, 2012 |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120101456/http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/01/19Apple-Reinvents-Textbooks-with-iBooks-2-for-iPad.html |url-status=live }}

On October 23, 2012, Apple announced iBooks 3.

On November 13, 2012, Apple was granted the patent "Display screen or portion thereof with animated graphical user interface"{{Cite patent|number=D670713|title=Display screen or portion thereof with animated graphical user interface|pubdate=2012-11-13|inventor1-last=Cranfill|inventor1-first=Elizabeth Caroline|inventor2-last=Inose|inventor2-first=Mikio|inventor3-last=Lemay|inventor3-first=Stephen O.|country=US|assign1=Apple Inc.}} for page-turning animation. The page-turning animation was first filed for in December 2011 as ornamental design for a display screen. The patent's illustration shows three different images of a virtual page being turned. One with a corner of a page being turned slightly, the next image with the page halfway turned, and the third showing the page almost entirely turned over.{{Cite web|url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/12/11/13/apple-wins-design-patents-for-page-turning-animation-and-ipad-smart-case|title=Apple wins design patents for page turning animation and iPad Smart Case|first=Mikey|last=Campbell|date=November 13, 2012|website=AppleInsider|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19|archive-date=February 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219084838/https://appleinsider.com/articles/12/11/13/apple-wins-design-patents-for-page-turning-animation-and-ipad-smart-case|url-status=live}} The patent refers to O'Reilly Media and FlippingBook companies that use page-turning animation in eBooks.

On June 10, 2013, Apple announced iBooks for OS X Mavericks.

On October 24, 2013, Apple applied for a patent (since granted) for "Personalizing digital gifts",{{Cite patent|country=US|number=10198736|pubdate=2019-02-05|title=Personalizing digital gifts|assign1=Apple Inc.|inventor1-last=Dougherty|inventor1-first=Casey Maureen|inventor2-last=Hajj|inventor2-first=Melissa Breglio}} which describes a novel method for gifting e-books to friends. The patent describes how a user can select the appealing e-book snippet that will bring up a contextual menu containing an option to gift the media to another party.{{Cite web|url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/13/10/24/apple-patent-filing-hints-at-future-ibooks-gifting-options|title=Apple patent filing hints at future iBooks gifting options|first=Mikey|last=Campbell|date=October 24, 2013|website=AppleInsider|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19|archive-date=February 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219084838/https://appleinsider.com/articles/13/10/24/apple-patent-filing-hints-at-future-ibooks-gifting-options|url-status=live}}

On November 15, 2013, Apple pushed version 3.2 of iBooks for iOS with a redesigned interface to match the "flat" style of iOS 7, which dropped support for iOS 6 and earlier versions.

On the annual WWDC in 2014, Apple unveiled that iBooks will be a pre-installed app in the next version of the operating system, iOS 8, along with the Podcasts app.

On September 17, 2014, Apple bundled version 4.0 of iBooks for iOS with iOS 8.0. This includes slight changes with the bookstore button (into a persistent navigation bar at the bottom), grouping of books by series in the bookshelf, Auto-night mode theme, as well as small changes to the underlying rendering engine.

On October 20, 2014, Apple bundled version 4.1 of iBooks for iOS with iOS 8.1.

On January 24, 2018, Apple renamed iBooks to Books in the iOS 11.3 beta.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/ios-11-3-best-new-features-iphone-ipad/|title=iOS 11.3: The 7 best new features|date=2018-01-24|work=CNET|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212005145/https://www.cnet.com/news/ios-11-3-best-new-features-iphone-ipad/|url-status=live}}

As well as in macOS 10.13.4 beta iBooks to Books on March 5, 2018. It was renamed back to iBooks in a next intermittent 10.13.4 macOS beta, showing some uncertainty about the marketing decision.

In early 2019, Apple renamed the app Apple Books.

On September 19, 2019, Apple included an Audiobooks app with watchOS 6 to play from the Apple Books Audiobook store.

The supported e-book formats of Apple Books are EPUB and PDF.{{Cite web|url=http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4059|title=iBooks: Frequently Asked Questions|publisher=Apple Inc.|date=June 8, 2011|access-date=August 27, 2011|archive-date=September 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904031644/http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4059|url-status=live}} As of version 2.0, it also supports a proprietary iBook format (IBA), generated with the iBooks Author tool. This format is based upon the EPUB format but depends on a custom widget code in the Apple Books app to function.{{Cite web|url=http://www.macrumors.com/2012/01/19/new-ibooks-not-technically-in-epub-format|title=New iBooks not technically in epub format|publisher=MacRumors|author=Arnold Kim|date=January 19, 2012|access-date=April 26, 2012|archive-date=April 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411165553/http://www.macrumors.com/2012/01/19/new-ibooks-not-technically-in-epub-format/|url-status=live}}

As of version 3, iBooks started to render text written in 18 different languages. Users of the application are able to change the font and text size displayed. Available English fonts are Baskerville, Cochin, Georgia, Palatino, Times New Roman, Verdana, Athelas, Charter, Iowan Old Style and Seravek.{{Cite web|title=Apple iPad Typography: Fonts We Actually Want|first=Joel|last=Friedlander|publisher=TheBookDesigner.com|date=March 1, 2010|url=http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/03/apple-ipad-typography-fonts-we-actually-want|access-date=April 8, 2010|archive-date=April 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412152633/http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/03/apple-ipad-typography-fonts-we-actually-want/|url-status=live}} Version 5 removed Cochin and Baskerville.{{Cite web|author=J.D. Biersdorfer|url=http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/qa-a-new-look-for-ibooks|title=Q&A: A New Look for iBooks|work=The New York Times|date=September 1, 2012|access-date=September 7, 2012|archive-date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102124608/http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/qa-a-new-look-for-ibooks/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.itproportal.com/2011/12/07/apple-releases-update-ibook-app/#ixzz25oiWCISH|title=Apple Releases Update for iBook App|author=Erica Thinesen|publisher=Net Communities|date=December 7, 2011|access-date=September 7, 2012|archive-date=January 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127205915/http://www.itproportal.com/2011/12/07/apple-releases-update-ibook-app/#ixzz25oiWCISH|url-status=deviated}}

Users can adjust screen brightness from within the application.

Words can be selected and searched throughout the book. Definitions of words can also be found upon clicking on the word and selecting 'define' which will give the reader a brief description of what the word means and if there isn't a definition available, the reader can opt to either search on Wikipedia or the web for a definition, an option available even if there is a definition for the word. Readers can also highlight passages and when this is done, the part of the Ebook which deals with the chapters and notes will automatically save the words or sentences which were highlighted, as well as revealing any notes made after highlighting a certain passage, another feature.

Originally, there were three viewing background themes to choose from, except when reading PDF documents. The themes were:{{cite web |url=https://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps |title=Apple - the new iPad - Amazing iPad apps, built right in. |website=Apple |access-date=August 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314080217/http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/ |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://osxdaily.com/2012/03/27/ibooks-themes-improve-reading-ios/ |title=Use iBooks Themes to Improve the Reading Experience on iPhone & iPad |website=OSXDaily |date=March 27, 2012 |access-date=August 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331131559/http://osxdaily.com/2012/03/27/ibooks-themes-improve-reading-ios/ |archive-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live}}

• Normal: black text on a white background
• Sepia: sepia text on an off-white background
• Night: light grey text on a black background

With the introduction of iOS 8 in 2014, an additional "Auto-Night Theme" was introduced, which dynamically changes the theme from 'Normal' or 'Sepia' to 'Night' and vice versa based on the ambient light conditions.

With the introduction of iOS 9 in 2015, a fourth background theme was added: Gray: light grey text on a dark gray background.

Apple Books also stacks books that belong to a series when the user is on the "All Books" screen. When selected, the books included in the series are shown in the order in which they were released, including books in the series that the user has not purchased. The prices of the unpurchased books are displayed on the upper right corner of the book "ear-marked" in green. Tapping the unpurchased book takes the user directly to the Apple Books store allowing for quick purchase.

There are three page layouts: Book, Full Screen, and Scroll. In Book or Full Screen layout, pages are turned by tapping or dragging the page, animated to imitate the appearance of a paper book. In Scroll, there is no page turning, and the book appears as continuous text, read vertically like a web browser.

Until May 2011{{Cite web|title=Winnie the Pooh goes MIA from NZ iBookstore, demands money from other territories|url=http://www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/2011/all/winnie-the-pooh-goes-mia-from-nz-ibookstore-demands-money-from-other-territories/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531025736/http://www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/2011/all/winnie-the-pooh-goes-mia-from-nz-ibookstore-demands-money-from-other-territories/|archive-date=May 31, 2011|df=mdy-all}}. iPhonewzealand. May 26, 2011 the Apple Books app (under name iBooks) included a free copy of Winnie-the-Pooh, the 1926 book by A. A. Milne, in order to get the user's library started.

In macOS Monterey, released in late 2021, Apple added a Cover tag to user-editable metadata tags for books, while removing other editable tags for Year, Category, Comments, and Description. This coincided with the Mac version of the app being ported from the iOS/iPadOS version using Catalyst.

The Apple Books Store (formerly iBook Store) is an ePub content sales and delivery system that delivers eBooks to any iOS device such as the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. It does not currently support either the downloading or reading of Apple Books directly on Windows or Linux distributions, but it does support the downloading and reading of Apple Books on OS X Mavericks and later.{{cite web |url=http://www.apple.com/osx/whats-new/#ibooks |title=Apple - OS X Mavericks - New apps, new features, new technologies |website=www.apple.com |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023225452/http://www.apple.com/osx/whats-new/#ibooks |archive-date=23 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}

Prior to the unveiling of the iPad, publishers Penguin Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan Publishers, and Hachette Book Group USA committed to producing content for the Apple Books Store (under name iBooks Store). Additional publishers were invited to participate on the day of the product announcement, January 27, 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/01/28/ipad_ibooks_app_us_only_mcgraw_hill_absent_from_apple_event.html|title=iPad iBooks app US-only, McGraw-Hill absent from Apple event|work=AppleInsider|date=January 28, 2010|access-date=February 14, 2010|archive-date=June 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627111405/https://appleinsider.com/articles/10/01/28/ipad_ibooks_app_us_only_mcgraw_hill_absent_from_apple_event.html|url-status=live}} The Apple Books Store also provides access to the 30,000+ free books available from Project Gutenberg,{{Cite web|url=http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/03/25/apple_loads_up_new_ibooks_store_with_free_public_domain_ipad_titles.html|title=Apple pre-loading iBook Store with 30,000 free eBooks|publisher=Appleinsider.com|date=March 25, 2010|access-date=September 18, 2011|archive-date=September 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903173139/http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/03/25/apple_loads_up_new_ibooks_store_with_free_public_domain_ipad_titles.html|url-status=live}} and it provides content channeled through Draft2Digital or Smashwords, allowing independent authors and publishers to self-publish.{{Cite web|last=Foresman|first=Chris|url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/03/self-published-authors-to-get-in-ibookstore-via-smashwords.ars|title=Self-published authors to get in iBookstore via Smashwords|publisher=Arstechnica.com|date=March 31, 2010|access-date=September 18, 2011|archive-date=September 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905034042/http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/03/self-published-authors-to-get-in-ibookstore-via-smashwords.ars|url-status=live}}

The day before the iPad event, Terry McGraw, the CEO of McGraw-Hill, appeared to divulge information to Erin Burnett on CNBC about the upcoming iPad release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1396376379&play=1|title=McGraw-Hill's Q4 Earnings|publisher=CNBC|date=September 16, 2001|access-date=September 18, 2011|archive-date=February 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217081814/http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=1396376379|url-status=dead}} This was quickly picked up and disseminated by rumor sites and eventually mainstream media outlets as revelation of features of the iPad. McGraw Hill was not included in the iPad presentation at the Apple media event and there was speculation that the exclusion was in response to this release of information.{{cite web |url=https://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/specialevent0110/ |title=Apple Special Event January 2010 |website=Apple Inc. |date=January 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201005901/https://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/specialevent0110/ |archive-date=February 1, 2010 |url-status=dead}} However, McGraw-Hill has stated that the information disclosed by McGraw was not privileged, and that the company had not intended to participate in the event.{{Cite web|url=http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20100128/mcgraw-hill-no-we-didnt-confirm-ipad-launch|title=McGraw-Hill: We Didn't Get Booted From the iPad Launch, Because We Weren't Part of It|work=All Things Digital|author=John Paczkowski|author-link=John Paczkowski|date=January 28, 2010|access-date=January 28, 2010|archive-date=January 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130181233/http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20100128/mcgraw-hill-no-we-didnt-confirm-ipad-launch/|url-status=live}}

In 2011, an Apple spokesperson announced that "We are now requiring that if an app offers customers the ability to purchase books outside of the app, that the same option is also available to customers from within the app with in-app purchase."{{cite news |last=Yarow |first=Jay |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/02/01/businessinsider-apple-kindle-2011-2.DTL |title=Apple Just Declared War On Amazon Kindle (AAPL, AMZN) |newspaper=Business Insider |date=February 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205023628/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/02/01/businessinsider-apple-kindle-2011-2.DTL |archive-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}} Due to the 30% revenue share that Apple receives from the in-app purchase mechanism, the financial viability of competing bookstore apps run by other book retailers is uncertain, even though in many countries, the Apple Books Store still does not provide consumers access to any e-books except for free works, such as ones that are in the public domain. Apple's competitor Amazon.com updated its iOS Kindle app in July 2013 to bypass the 30% revenue share by requiring the user to purchase content using the Kindle Store's website instead of using the Kindle app; users can still get free e-books or samples while using the app.{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/7/30/4572170/amazon-finds-clever-way-around-apple-restrictions-with-kindle-ios-app |title=Amazon skirts Apple restrictions with updated Kindle iOS app |website=The Verge |date=July 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511122926/https://www.theverge.com/2013/7/30/4572170/amazon-finds-clever-way-around-apple-restrictions-with-kindle-ios-app |archive-date=May 11, 2017 |url-status=live}}

{{Infobox software

| name = iBooks Author

| screenshot = IBooks Author screenshot.png

| logo = IBooks Author logo.png

| author = Apple Inc.

| released = {{Start date and age|2012|01|19}}

| discontinued = yes

| latest release version = 2.6.1{{cite web|title=Apple discontinues iBooks Author; encourages transition to Pages|url=https://macdailynews.com/2020/06/10/apple-discontinues-ibooks-author-encourages-transition-to-pages/|website=MacDailyNews|date=June 10, 2020|access-date=February 3, 2024|archive-date=February 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203210447/https://macdailynews.com/2020/06/10/apple-discontinues-ibooks-author-encourages-transition-to-pages/|url-status=live}}

| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2018|09|24}}

| operating system = macOS

| replaced_by = Pages (word processor)

| website = hide

}}

Steve Jobs told biographer Walter Isaacson that:

{{Blockquote|text=The process by which states certify textbooks is corrupt. But if we can make the textbooks free, and they come with the iPad, then they don't have to be certified. The crappy economy at the state level will last for a decade, and we can give them an opportunity to circumvent that whole process and save money.|author=Steve Jobs|title=|source=}}

After Jobs's death, in 2012, Apple released iBooks 2, which added support for interactive textbooks on the iPad. These textbooks can display interactive diagrams, audio, video, quizzes, HTML, and 3D content,{{Cite web |last=Wingfield |first=Brian X. Chen and Nick |date=2012-01-19 |title=Apple Introduces Tools to (Someday) Supplant Print Textbooks |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/apple-unveils-tools-for-digital-textbooks/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=New York Times, Bits Blog |language=en |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204183722/https://archive.nytimes.com/bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/apple-unveils-tools-for-digital-textbooks/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Michael E. |date=2012-01-21 |title=Why iBooks Author is a Big Deal |url=https://tidbits.com/2012/01/21/why-ibooks-author-is-a-big-deal/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=TidBITS |language=en |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204183720/https://tidbits.com/2012/01/21/why-ibooks-author-is-a-big-deal/ |url-status=live }} and support highlights, notes, and annotations, which can be viewed in an "index card"-like interface. Apple argued that these iPad textbooks would be more engaging for students than paper textbooks.{{Cite magazine |last=Carmody |first=Tim |title=Engage: Apple's New Tools for Interactive Books on iPad |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/01/engage-apple-books-ipad/ |access-date=2023-03-20 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320084035/https://www.wired.com/2012/01/engage-apple-books-ipad/ |url-status=live }} Apple simultaneously released a free Mac app, iBooks Author, which could be used to create these interactive textbooks in WYSIWYG fashion.{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2012 |title=Apple debuts e-publishing book app |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/us/apple-debuts-e-publishing-book-app/index.html |access-date=2020-02-19 |website=CNN |archive-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219084837/https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/us/apple-debuts-e-publishing-book-app/index.html |url-status=live }} Apple's launch partners included education publishers Pearson, McGraw-Hill and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, whose textbooks were available in a new Textbooks section of the iBookstore.

iBooks Author introduced two proprietary file formats:

• {{Mono|.iba}} files is its native file format, which can be opened and edited in iBooks Author. These files are zip archives disguised as Mac bundles, and store their data in an XML file.{{Cite web |last=Glazman |first=Daniel |date=20 January 2012 |title=iBooks Author, a nice tool but.. |url=http://www.glazman.org/weblog/dotclear/index.php?post/2012/01/20/iBooks-Author-a-nice-tool-but |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122225459/http://www.glazman.org/weblog/dotclear/index.php?post/2012/01/20/iBooks-Author-a-nice-tool-but |archive-date=January 22, 2012 |access-date=March 20, 2023 |website=Glazblog}}
• {{Mono|.ibooks}} is the format for exported iBooks Author documents, which can be opened by the iBooks app on iPhone, iPad and Mac. This format is a proprietary extension of EPUB3, and can only be read with the iBooks app on Apple devices.

TechRadar's Steve Paris called iBooks Author "incredibly simple to use", but noted a few bugs in the first public release, and criticized the fact that it only supported H.264 video files, despite iPads being compatible with more formats.{{Cite web |last=Paris |first=Steve |date=2012-02-13 |title=iBooks Author review |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/graphics-and-media-software/desktop-publishing-dtp-software/ibooks-author-1062792/review |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=TechRadar |language=en |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320083226/https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/graphics-and-media-software/desktop-publishing-dtp-software/ibooks-author-1062792/review |url-status=live }} Macworld called it an "impressive" tool, but said it was "constrained" by its exclusive compatibility with iPads.{{Cite web |title=iBooks Author fashions multimedia books for the iPad |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/216435/ibooks_author_fashions_multimedia_books_for_the_ipad.html |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=Macworld |language=en |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320083226/https://www.macworld.com/article/216435/ibooks_author_fashions_multimedia_books_for_the_ipad.html |url-status=live }} iBooks Author's license agreement was controversial upon release, for stating that documents created with the tool could only be sold for a fee if they were accepted and exclusively distributed by Apple.{{Cite news |date=January 20, 2012 |title=If you publish with iBooks Author, does Apple 'own' you? |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2012/01/apple-ibooks-author.html |access-date=January 21, 2012 |archive-date=October 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006140659/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2012/01/apple-ibooks-author.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Apple's iBooks Author Software: Just Say No |url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/productivity_apps/232500227 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711052352/http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/productivity_apps/232500227 |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |access-date=November 27, 2015 |work=InformationWeek |df=mdy-all}}{{Cite web |last=Segan |first=Sascha |date=January 20, 2012 |title=iBooks Author: You Work For Apple Now |url=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0%2C2817%2C2399148%2C00.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521192846/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2399148,00.asp |archive-date=May 21, 2012 |website=PCMag}} Apple backtracked a few weeks later, in an updated license agreement.{{Cite magazine |last=Carmody |first=Tim |title=Apple to Authors: Content You Make in iBook App is Yours, Not Ours |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/02/apple-to-authors-content-you-make-in-ibook-app-is-yours-not-ours/ |access-date=2023-03-20 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320083226/https://www.wired.com/2012/02/apple-to-authors-content-you-make-in-ibook-app-is-yours-not-ours/ |url-status=live }} Its proprietary file format was also criticized by Ed Bott of ZDNet, who compared it to Microsoft's "embrace, extend, extinguish" strategy.{{cite web |last1=Bott |first1=Ed |title=How Apple is sabotaging an open standard for digital books |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-apple-is-sabotaging-an-open-standard-for-digital-books/ |website=ZDNET |access-date=12 January 2024 |language=en |date=22 January 2012 |archive-date=January 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112003252/https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-apple-is-sabotaging-an-open-standard-for-digital-books/ |url-status=live }} In contrast, Serenity Caldwell of Macworld lauded iBooks Author's additional features over EPUB authoring software. Apple added support for EPUB export to iBooks Author in 2015, although textbooks exported in EPUB supported fewer features than iBooks textbooks.

Notable books created using iBooks Author include How to Say Cheese, Physics in Motion, NASA's Destination: Jupiter. E.O. Wilson's Life On Earth was also released for free as an interactive textbook.{{Cite web |last=Ingraham |first=Nathan |date=2012-01-19 |title=iBooks 2 hands-on: Apple's reinvented textbook |url=https://www.theverge.com/apple/2012/1/19/2718539/ibooks-2-first-hands-on-photos |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=The Verge |language=en-US |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320083226/https://www.theverge.com/apple/2012/1/19/2718539/ibooks-2-first-hands-on-photos |url-status=live }}

Between 2015 and 2017, an annual iBooks Author Conference was held; Tidbits reports that some authors called the tool "best in class", with no equivalent on any other platform, but that Apple had "let the entire iBooks Author ecosystem stagnate". Author Denise Clifton reported that despite the iBooks Author version of her book being the "best and most advanced", it "sold fewer copies than any other" edition. The most downloaded interactive textbook on the iBooks Store was only downloaded 3,000 times in total, despite being free.

In 2020, Apple abandoned iBooks Author, and recommended that authors use Apple's Pages word processor instead. In the intervening years, Apple had built most of iBook Author's functionality into Pages, and the latter can export these books in standard EPUB format rather than the proprietary iBooks Author format. However, as of 2020, Pages only supported image galleries, videos, and audio, and lacked iBooks Author's more advanced features.

Some critics have stated that the Apple Books (under name iBooks) interface is a near-exact replica of Classics by Andrew Kaz and Phill Ryu, released over a year prior and even featured in Apple's own TV commercials. Apple has made no acknowledgment of this.{{cite magazine |last=Chen |first=Brian X. |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/01/apple-tablet-ebook/ |title=Apple's Tablet E-Book App Rips off Indie Dev's Creation |magazine=Wired |date=January 27, 2010}}{{cite web |last=Carnoy |first=David |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/is-apples-ibooks-e-reader-app-a-rip-off/ |title=Is Apple's iBooks e-reader app a rip-off? |website=CNET |date=January 28, 2010}}{{cite web |last=Slivka |first=Eric |url=http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/25/new-iphone-ad-read/ |title=New iPhone Ad: 'Read' |website=MacRumors |date=January 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017065938/http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/25/new-iphone-ad-read/ |archive-date=October 17, 2011 |url-status=live}}

In June 2011, Apple was sued by New York publisher John T. Colby over the use of the term "iBook".{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/06/apples-ibooks-trademark-under-fire-from-independent-book-publisher.ars|title=Apple iBooks trademark under fire from independent book publisher|author=Chris Foresman|publisher=Ars Technica|date=June 16, 2011|access-date=June 14, 2017|archive-date=April 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425195010/http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/06/apples-ibooks-trademark-under-fire-from-independent-book-publisher.ars|url-status=live}} Colby claims to be the owner of a trademark on the term "ibooks" as applied to published books, after acquiring the assets of deceased publisher Byron Preiss, who had published a series of sci-fi and fantasy books under the term. Apple had previously used the term "iBook" to refer to a line of laptops that it sold until 2006, but Colby claims exclusive right to the term as applied to published books, including e-books. Apple began using the term "iBooks" in 2010 to refer to e-books sold for the iPad. Byron Preiss published more than 1,000 books under the "ibooks" brand starting in 1999.{{Cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20071694-37/apple-sued-over-its-use-of-ibook/?tag=mncol;txt|title=Apple sued over its use of 'iBook'|publisher=CNET.com|author=Musil, Steven|date=June 16, 2011|access-date=January 19, 2012}} Apple emerged the victor in the suit. The judge stated: "They have offered no evidence that consumers who use Apple's iBooks software to download ebooks have come to believe that Apple has also entered the publishing business and is the publisher of all of the downloaded books, despite the fact that each book bears the imprint of its actual publisher."{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-wins-trademark-lawsuit-over-use-of-ibooks-term|title=Apple wins trademark lawsuit over use of 'iBooks' term|date=May 10, 2013|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=CNET|access-date=November 27, 2015|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208114523/http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-wins-trademark-lawsuit-over-use-of-ibooks-term/|url-status=live}}

• Google Play Books
• United States v. Apple Inc., a book price-fixing conspiracy, which also involved collusion between publishers and was also ruled illegal

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|https://www.apple.com/apple-books|Apple Books}} – official site
• {{YouTube|id=MgyXObP9TwU|title=Making & Selling iBooks for iPad}} (video)

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