Is iBooks Kobo? - Page 2

Terisa de morgan · 01-28-2010, 02:21 AM

Perhaps they've made a new application... or have joined two different existing apps

zacheryjensen · 01-28-2010, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjk

nekokami, iBook's interface looks really familiar to me-the bookmarks, the completed so far indicator, the page turning..I just don't know where I saw it before. The bookshelf looks taken from Delicious Library or Classics.

Numerous book and media related apps emulate a shelf. The page turn effect is also trivial and commonly implemented amongst many applications, not even specifically the iPhone.

The fonts are of course, iPhone OS standard fonts.

There's really no reason this shouldn't all look familiar, as none of it is terribly original, even prior to all the iPhone targeted eBook apps. Even Shellfari website does the fake bookshelf looking thing.

Personally I suspect either this is entirely original work, or a licensing of part of classics. Though if original, it's obvious that it emulates popular variations of certain aspects of the eBook reading experience. This practice is pervasive in the software industry as well as in the writing industry, and pretty much every creative industry so it shouldn't come as any surprise.

That said, I really hope it's not Kobo. Kobo seems to have no way to load your own books. I don't want 25,000 eBook apps on my devices, and I intend to buy an iPad as it's pretty much everything I had been wanting from the QUEreader x 10, without the awful slow screen and unresponsive touch UI. I also hope that whatever iBooks is really based on, that it is made for the iPhone/iPod Touch as well.

nekokami · 01-28-2010, 06:01 AM

You may be right about Classics.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71495

Lo Zeno · 01-28-2010, 06:12 AM

Well, to *me* it looks identical to Aldiko... but that's an application for Android.

deltop · 01-28-2010, 10:10 AM

Doesn't seem to be Kobo.

http://blog.kobobooks.com/

kjk · 01-28-2010, 10:14 AM

The plot thickens... Classics just went from a paid to free app last night.

nekokami · 01-28-2010, 05:45 PM

Tap Tap Tap says the iBook reader isn't theirs on their Classics iTunes page.

snape · 01-28-2010, 06:35 PM

I don't know if this offers any additional information to folks more in-the-know about the various reading apps than me (which is most of you), but I received this e-mail from Kobo this morning:

Exciting News!!!
There are lots of new and exciting changes happening in the eReading world, especially with the launch of the new Apple iPad tablet.

Kobo has been working around the clock to develop our FREE iPad app that will launch with the iPad in 60 days - check out a few images of our prototypes below!

Plus, we will have new Tablet apps available for Android & Windows tablets starting in February. We continue to enhance our FREE apps for Blackberry, iPhone, Palm Pre and Android. Kobo is committed to giving you choice when it comes to the devices you read on, the content you read with over 2 million eBooks available, and where you shop with leading retailers adopting Kobo for eReading. Read on the go with your Blackberry, at home on your Tablet - picking up exactly where you left off!

Choose from Kobo's selection of over 2 million eBooks, including $9.99 NY Times bestsellers, and read anytime, anyplace...on any device!

Again, I have no idea if that offers clarification or just more questions.

EDITED TO ADD: Same info is now available on the Kobo website, with images.

nekokami · 01-28-2010, 07:24 PM

The iBook reader is not Kobo, but Kobo will be available on the iPad. This makes me optimistic that other reader apps, e.g. Stanza, will also be available.

Pardoz · 01-28-2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

The iBook reader is not Kobo, but Kobo will be available on the iPad.

Well, Kobo have announced they're porting their app to the iFap. Not quite the same thing - we'll have to wait and see if Apple lets people use it.

BWhite · 01-28-2010, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

The iBook reader is not Kobo, but Kobo will be available on the iPad. This makes me optimistic that other reader apps, e.g. Stanza, will also be available.

Yes.

http://blog.kobobooks.com/2010/01/27...-kobo-is-ready

nekokami · 01-28-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pardoz

Well, Kobo have announced they're porting their app to the iFap. Not quite the same thing - we'll have to wait and see if Apple lets people use it.

I would hope that Kobo would not have made such a public announcement without first clearing with Apple that their app will be allowed....

BWhite · 01-28-2010, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

I would hope that Kobo would not have made such a public announcement without first clearing with Apple that their app will be allowed....

I read through Kobo's blog posting and I am getting the impression that this is exactly what Kobo is doing.

I don't disagree with such a strategy by the way - make Apple look like the bad guy as soon as possible. It being only 60 days to launch?

nekokami · 01-29-2010, 10:57 AM

Are you assuming the image of Kobo on an iPad is photoshopped? (It could be, I'm just wondering what you think.)

I wouldn't assume Kobo is setting up for a publicity fight with Apple. Apple was soliciting app developers to create versions of their apps for a larger screen well in advance of this announcement. Kobo may have had access to the new SDK for some time now.

deltop · 01-29-2010, 11:16 AM

I responded to their blog post by asking in the comments section if they had any concerns about not being iPad approved due to an overlap in functionality with iBooks. This was over a day ago. The comment is still "awaiting moderation" yet another comment has shown up after it.

You can make what you will of that.

I'm assuming that either they hadn't considered it and have no idea how to respond to my question or they are just hoping for the best.

01-28-2010, 06:35 PM	#23
snape Language Lover Posts: 111 Karma: 71544 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Current: PRS-350, Kindle PW // Previous: PRS-505, Kindle 1, Kindle 2	I don't know if this offers any additional information to folks more in-the-know about the various reading apps than me (which is most of you), but I received this e-mail from Kobo this morning: Exciting News!!! There are lots of new and exciting changes happening in the eReading world, especially with the launch of the new Apple iPad tablet. Kobo has been working around the clock to develop our FREE iPad app that will launch with the iPad in 60 days - check out a few images of our prototypes below! Plus, we will have new Tablet apps available for Android & Windows tablets starting in February. We continue to enhance our FREE apps for Blackberry, iPhone, Palm Pre and Android. Kobo is committed to giving you choice when it comes to the devices you read on, the content you read with over 2 million eBooks available, and where you shop with leading retailers adopting Kobo for eReading. Read on the go with your Blackberry, at home on your Tablet - picking up exactly where you left off! Choose from Kobo's selection of over 2 million eBooks, including $9.99 NY Times bestsellers, and read anytime, anyplace...on any device! Again, I have no idea if that offers clarification or just more questions. EDITED TO ADD: Same info is now available on the Kobo website, with images. Last edited by snape; 01-28-2010 at 06:37 PM.

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01-28-2010, 02:21 AM	#16
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,597 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	Perhaps they've made a new application... or have joined two different existing apps

01-28-2010, 06:01 AM	#18
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	You may be right about Classics. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71495

01-28-2010, 06:12 AM	#19
Lo Zeno Addict Posts: 202 Karma: 4379 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Italy Device: Hanlin V3 (with lBook firmware & OpenInkPot)	Well, to me it looks identical to Aldiko... but that's an application for Android.

01-28-2010, 10:10 AM	#20
deltop Zealot Posts: 136 Karma: 244 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Kobo Glo	Doesn't seem to be Kobo. http://blog.kobobooks.com/

01-28-2010, 10:14 AM	#21
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	The plot thickens... Classics just went from a paid to free app last night.

01-28-2010, 05:45 PM	#22
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Tap Tap Tap says the iBook reader isn't theirs on their Classics iTunes page.

01-28-2010, 07:24 PM	#24
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	The iBook reader is not Kobo, but Kobo will be available on the iPad. This makes me optimistic that other reader apps, e.g. Stanza, will also be available.

01-29-2010, 10:57 AM	#29
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Are you assuming the image of Kobo on an iPad is photoshopped? (It could be, I'm just wondering what you think.) I wouldn't assume Kobo is setting up for a publicity fight with Apple. Apple was soliciting app developers to create versions of their apps for a larger screen well in advance of this announcement. Kobo may have had access to the new SDK for some time now.

01-29-2010, 11:16 AM	#30
deltop Zealot Posts: 136 Karma: 244 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Kobo Glo	I responded to their blog post by asking in the comments section if they had any concerns about not being iPad approved due to an overlap in functionality with iBooks. This was over a day ago. The comment is still "awaiting moderation" yet another comment has shown up after it. You can make what you will of that. I'm assuming that either they hadn't considered it and have no idea how to respond to my question or they are just hoping for the best.