Safari Books Online on iPad ... Anyone?

[jocampo]

Can anyone share the Safari Books online experience on iPad? Just saw the app. but not sure how the content looks like, overall experience, etc.

Screenshoots would be lovely ...

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Can anyone share the Safari Books online experience on iPad? Just saw the app. but not sure how the content looks like, overall experience, etc.

The original iPad app was a horrible disaster that whoever developed it should have been too embarassed to even submit for testing, let alone release it.
The new app seems pretty good so far, although I haven't used it a great deal.
You can read either original page images (like a PDF file), or a HTML view.
You can read your entire library when online, and nominate a single book to be available for reading offline.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

The original iPad app was a horrible disaster that whoever developed it should have been too embarassed to even submit for testing, let alone release it.
The new app seems pretty good so far, although I haven't used it a great deal.
You can read either original page images (like a PDF file), or a HTML view.
You can read your entire library when online, and nominate a single book to be available for reading offline.

Thank you so much!

Do you mind sharing some screen shoots for us? Thinking about subscribing, but not sure if worth the money, for the iPad app. I am not planning to read on my PC.

[tvanpatten]

There are some screenshots here: http://www.safaribooksonline.com/safaritogo/

[jocampo]

Interesting ...

Which option you opted for guys ... Library or Bookshelf .... is the Library one a good value?

[pwalker8]

I've experimented with it a couple of times and haven't have much success. Frankly, most of the time that I would want to use the iPad app rather than the website is when I'm offline, so the limit of one book at a time is a killer for me. In addition, it still seems to have a lot of bugs. I've tried to download a book and had the app lock up a number of times. I love the web site and the idea, but for whatever reason, the app just doesn't get it done for me.

[andrewsavikas]

Frankly, most of the time that I would want to use the iPad app rather than the website is when I'm offline, so the limit of one book at a time is a killer for me.

Thanks for the feedback. An increase to the number of titles available offline is in the works, though I can't offer a specific date right now. We just pushed out a new release yesterday with several bug fixes, so if you're still encountering lock-ups, please do let us know.

Andrew Savikas
CEO, Safari Books Online

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by andrewsavikas

Thanks for the feedback. An increase to the number of titles available offline is in the works, though I can't offer a specific date right now. We just pushed out a new release yesterday with several bug fixes, so if you're still encountering lock-ups, please do let us know.

That is good to hear, and encouraging that you are following customer feedback.
I also find the single-book limit very constraining. Perhaps it could be linked to the account type, so that unlimited library subscribers are allowed more simultaneous downloads than 10-slot accounts, who have more than 5-slot accounts?
You could also allow the offline download of any eBooks that have already been bought with subscription tokens for offline download through the website, to allow them to be kept within the one application, rather than reading some offline books in the Safari app and some in Goodreader or another eBook app.
Or allow tokens to be used to 'purchase' additional offline download ability?

[andrewsavikas]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

That is good to hear, and encouraging that you are following customer feedback.
I also find the single-book limit very constraining. Perhaps it could be linked to the account type, so that unlimited library subscribers are allowed more simultaneous downloads than 10-slot accounts, who have more than 5-slot accounts?
You could also allow the offline download of any eBooks that have already been bought with subscription tokens for offline download through the website, to allow them to be kept within the one application, rather than reading some offline books in the Safari app and some in Goodreader or another eBook app.
Or allow tokens to be used to 'purchase' additional offline download ability?

Yup, we're definitely looking at all of those options, thanks for the feedback and suggestions!

[leebase]

I use it. It works -- "fine". Better than nothing and much better than reading via the safari browser.

Lee

[thinkpad]

I stumbled upon this blog while searching for Safari To Go:
http://kenyarmosh.com/blog/client-la...o-go-for-ipad/

The author seems to be on the development team of the app.

I’m happy to announce that the Safari Books Online service is now also available on the iPad as “Safari To Go.” That’s due to the incredible effort of both my team and many, many amazingly talented folks at Safari Books Online

[thinkpad]

The app has gotten quite bad reviews and low scorings:

- navigate to a page and the page is blank. Wait an inordinate amount of time and finally the text shows.

- switch to another app on the iPad, come back and the page turns to blank and the wait cursor kicks off.

- the app is constantly forgetting where I am in a particular book.

Can anyone who uses the app comment if these are real issues to take into account.

[pwalker8]

Let's just say that the app still needs some work. I generally use the firefox web browser on my computer to read safari books. I've tried using the app a few time, as recently as today. It just feels klunky compared to the web browser version. Lots of long delays before a page is displayed. I kind of get the impression that it doesn't cache much and goes to the server for everything. I also get the impression that it was tested with a really fast, steady internet connection.

The two biggest problems that I have with it are that I am either trying to immerse myself in the book, in which case the delays break my flow. Or I'm scanning a book as a reference book, in which case it can be very confusing when you scroll and you just see a blank screen.

I think there is a disconnect between how the app developers envision how it will be used and how I want to use it. For the most part, I find that I am better off simply using my tokens to download specific books as ebooks (hopefully epub, but even pdf) and read it that way.

[thinkpad]

How about reading in off-line modus. Does that make up for a smoother experience? I would imagine the book would have to be cached which should improve the performance circumventing the net-lag.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Interesting ...

Which option you opted for guys ... Library or Bookshelf .... is the Library one a good value?

I don't quite remember the name of the program, but there was 1 week for free or something like that. I've briefly tested it and then decided against it because of the content.