The Invisible iBookstore

[starrigger]

I'll defer to others on Steve Jobs's ego.

But I still don't think they'd be doing this at all if they didn't have ambitions to be seen as the world's coolest bookstore.

Maybe the reason they're keeping it invisible to most of us right now is that they know perfectly well it's not up the standards of other bookstores, so they're only showing it to those who may be predisposed to like it.

[SameOldStory]

Will your door be bashed in if you post a picture of Apple's iBookstore?

[Tamara]

Originally Posted by starrigger

I'll defer to others on Steve Jobs's ego.

But I still don't think they'd be doing this at all if they didn't have ambitions to be seen as the world's coolest bookstore.

Maybe the reason they're keeping it invisible to most of us right now is that they know perfectly well it's not up the standards of other bookstores, so they're only showing it to those who may be predisposed to like it.

There's no point to making it visible unless you own a device that can use it and the iPad is the only device that can read books from the iBooks store. This summer, iPhones and Touches will also have access to iBooks.

[starrigger]

Originally Posted by Tamara

There's no point to making it visible unless you own a device that can use it and the iPad is the only device that can read books from the iBooks store. This summer, iPhones and Touches will also have access to iBooks.

There's every reason, if you want to promote it and let people know what a great thing it is. Or just to welcome the curious. As anyone can browse the Sony ebookstore, even if they don't have Sony devices. Or the Kindle store, on Amazon.

Right now, it's a pig in a poke. "Here, buy an ipad. We have this great store. Trust us."

[vaughnmr]

Originally Posted by Tamara

There's no point to making it visible unless you own a device that can use it and the iPad is the only device that can read books from the iBooks store. This summer, iPhones and Touches will also have access to iBooks.

????? Say what?? I can't believe you said that...

[Blue Tyson]

Originally Posted by Tamara

There's no point to making it visible unless you own a device that can use it and the iPad is the only device that can read books from the iBooks store. This summer, iPhones and Touches will also have access to iBooks.

Sure there is. It is called advertising.

Some of the Apple way is just as stupid as the kobo georestricted book excerpts.

[GeoffC]

Surely one of the USPs for the iPad would be what it offers for e-reading - and the best way to find that out would be the ability to see, beforehand, what the store has to offer?

A fundamental commercial decision-making process?

[Blue Tyson]

Yep.

Add up the number of times you have seen an advertisement for an Apple ebook.

Don't think it will take you any time at all.

Add up the number of times you have seen one from Amazon and you will be counting quite a while.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

I agree that it's strange and frustrating that you can't view the ibookstore unless you have the ipad. I had to post a question in the ipad forum here just to confirm that my ebooks were present.

It would seem logical that the store should at least be viewable so people can see the selection. And why not let them buy ibooks and through itunes anyway? It seems that Apple could market the ipad to ebook readers better if that market could actually get into their store.

If anyone has the Apple developer kit, they could try running iBooks in the iPad simulator and see if that can connect to the bookstore?

[kjk]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

If anyone has the Apple developer kit, they could try running iBooks in the iPad simulator and see if that can connect to the bookstore?

iBooks isn't in it, sadly...or so I've heard.