Downloading Epubs to iPhone or iPad

SamL · 06-28-2011, 01:18 PM

So I am working on an epub for a client. His main concern is viewing it on an iphone or ipad, so in the ibooks app. I actually don't have either of these devices, but I am familiar with how layouts will look on them.

I have attached the epub to him in an email, but he claims he can't open it. My question is, besides going through iTunes on a computer while your device is plugged in, how do you get an epub on your device if you didn't buy it through the store?

Say I upload the epub to my server, will an iphone automatically recognize the file format and open up the epub in ibooks when it downloads it?

Eventually the client wants to give these away on his site, so he wants to make sure people don't have to go through a bunch of steps to read the book.

Thanks for any help or info.

templario · 06-28-2011, 02:54 PM

Hi, epub files indeed can be open from the email app. One should select the epub attached file and hit "open in" and select ibooks. The process is similar with any epub file found on the web. Hope to have helped.

Jose

pen_sq · 06-28-2011, 03:37 PM

It's possible that the epub is being stripped in transit, you could start with having your client forward (not reply) the message to you, which always gives the option to forward attachments.

The firmware doesn't have iBooks built in, so it's possible your client never installed the app. Your client could also install Stanza, one of the better alternative epub readers. If your client is still stuck, they could try to download an epub from Gutenberg, like http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/76/pg76.epub .

SamL · 06-28-2011, 05:19 PM

Thanks for the help, turns out he didn't have ibooks installed.

wannabee · 06-29-2011, 07:24 AM

Another case of Kill the messenger. I can't open your file. What program are you trying to open it in? Windows. Do you have acrobat? What's that?

vxf · 06-29-2011, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamL

Thanks for the help, turns out he didn't have ibooks installed.

But then again... why do iPad NOT come with iBooks pre-installed is beyond me. I just don't get it. I am sure it gets much more use than youtube... hell, at least, I hope it does...

slayda · 06-30-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vxf

But then again... why do iPad NOT come with iBooks pre-installed is beyond me. I just don't get it. I am sure it gets much more use than youtube... hell, at least, I hope it does...

Probably more people watch video than read books!

@SamL -- Another way is to use Dropbox to make the transfer. This is the way I do it. When you open a book from dropbox with the iPad, it will ask which app to open with. Just choose iBook (assuming iBook is installed.

SamL · 06-30-2011, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannabee

Another case of Kill the messenger. I can't open your file. What program are you trying to open it in? Windows. Do you have acrobat? What's that?

Indeed, he told me that he doesn't want

"his customers to have to download any program to open it in, just like a PDF"

06-28-2011, 01:18 PM	#1
SamL I mess around with Epubs Posts: 82 Karma: 1566 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cambridge, MA Device: mac, ipad, nook, kindle	Downloading Epubs to iPhone or iPad So I am working on an epub for a client. His main concern is viewing it on an iphone or ipad, so in the ibooks app. I actually don't have either of these devices, but I am familiar with how layouts will look on them. I have attached the epub to him in an email, but he claims he can't open it. My question is, besides going through iTunes on a computer while your device is plugged in, how do you get an epub on your device if you didn't buy it through the store? Say I upload the epub to my server, will an iphone automatically recognize the file format and open up the epub in ibooks when it downloads it? Eventually the client wants to give these away on his site, so he wants to make sure people don't have to go through a bunch of steps to read the book. Thanks for any help or info.

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06-28-2011, 02:54 PM	#2
templario Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006 Device: Iliad	Hi, epub files indeed can be open from the email app. One should select the epub attached file and hit "open in" and select ibooks. The process is similar with any epub file found on the web. Hope to have helped. Jose

06-28-2011, 03:37 PM	#3
pen_sq Enthusiast Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	It's possible that the epub is being stripped in transit, you could start with having your client forward (not reply) the message to you, which always gives the option to forward attachments. The firmware doesn't have iBooks built in, so it's possible your client never installed the app. Your client could also install Stanza, one of the better alternative epub readers. If your client is still stuck, they could try to download an epub from Gutenberg, like http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/76/pg76.epub .

06-28-2011, 05:19 PM	#4
SamL I mess around with Epubs Posts: 82 Karma: 1566 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cambridge, MA Device: mac, ipad, nook, kindle	Thanks for the help, turns out he didn't have ibooks installed.

06-29-2011, 07:24 AM	#5
wannabee Media Bloke Posts: 2,381 Karma: 113956855 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NSW - Australia Device: iOS	Another case of Kill the messenger. I can't open your file. What program are you trying to open it in? Windows. Do you have acrobat? What's that?

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