Google's cure to spinal problems: textbooks in Play store unveiled (US only)

Alexander Turcic · 08-09-2013, 07:29 AM

Every semester is the same: Students limp back to their dorm rooms with heavy bags full of textbooks and light wallets. Google's entry into the textbook market is a sign of change for the better. Although we haven't seen an official announcement yet (except for this teaser), news is spreading fast that textbooks have arrived in the Google Play store (alas only if you live in the US, so far).

You can purchase textbooks from Play at full price or rent them for six months at up to 80% off, and read them either on your desktop or with the Google Play Books app (available on Android and iOS).

More at Android Police (via Digital Reader).

Related: Google Play Books expanding further in Europe

medard · 08-09-2013, 10:53 AM

When I rent a textbook is it possible to read it offline? Are these ePub books or how does this work?

The idea is interesting, textbooks are expensive and most students would like to save some money on them. And never need them again after six months.

teh603 · 08-09-2013, 11:05 AM

At least they're being honest about textbook rental. If the Big Whatever were involved, it'd probably be buried in the fine print and you'd still pay full price.

Alexander Turcic · 08-09-2013, 02:18 PM

An update for the Google Play Books app is out taking advantage of the textbook addition.

Quote:

What's New
Highlighting and note-taking are now supported in scanned pages books.
Added support for rental books.
Added support for copying selected text if copyright allows.
Improved UI design of the scrubber and recommendation cards.
Stability and performance improvements.

08-09-2013, 07:29 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Google's cure to spinal problems: textbooks in Play store unveiled (US only) Every semester is the same: Students limp back to their dorm rooms with heavy bags full of textbooks and light wallets. Google's entry into the textbook market is a sign of change for the better. Although we haven't seen an official announcement yet (except for this teaser), news is spreading fast that textbooks have arrived in the Google Play store (alas only if you live in the US, so far). You can purchase textbooks from Play at full price or rent them for six months at up to 80% off, and read them either on your desktop or with the Google Play Books app (available on Android and iOS). More at Android Police (via Digital Reader). Related: Google Play Books expanding further in Europe

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08-09-2013, 10:53 AM	#2
medard Wizard Posts: 1,014 Karma: 5595784 Join Date: May 2012 Device: Electronic Paper	When I rent a textbook is it possible to read it offline? Are these ePub books or how does this work? The idea is interesting, textbooks are expensive and most students would like to save some money on them. And never need them again after six months.

08-09-2013, 11:05 AM	#3
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	At least they're being honest about textbook rental. If the Big Whatever were involved, it'd probably be buried in the fine print and you'd still pay full price.

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