The iBooks app is a great new way to read and buy books for the iPad. Download the free app from the App Store and buy everything from classics to best sellers from the built-in iBookstore which is part of iTunes. Once you’ve bought a book, it’s displayed on your Bookshelf. Just tap it to start reading.

[edit] Overview

There isn't much information available about this application. What we know is:

• it supports ePub format.
• it will use Apple's FairPlay DRM scheme to protect some eBooks purchased via iTunes. This will limit the use of these eBooks to Apple devices.
• it will be able to import ePUB books from other sources via iTunes desktop
• touching and holding any word lets users look it up in the built-in dictionary, on Wikipedia, or search for it in the book or on the Web.
• TTS via iPad's VoiceOver screen-reading technology

[edit] iBooks 2

Version 2 has added specific support for text books and moves closer to ePub 3 features.

• Multi-Touch textbooks designed for iPad
• iBooks textbooks include interactive features, diagrams, photos, and videos
• Tap to dive into images with interactive captions, rotate 3D objects, swipe through image galleries, watch videos in full screen, and more
• Use a finger as a highlighter when swiping over text in a textbook
• Take advantage of Study Cards to help you memorize important highlights, notes, and glossary terms
• Tap glossary terms to see definitions of key topics and concepts without leaving the page

[edit] Tips

While iBooks reads ePUB files it does have extensions that are not necessarily ePUB compliant.

• Expandable photo blocks in iBooks - zoom images.
• Version 1.2 and later supports a new Fixed layout ePub which is unique to this reader.
• Padiliciouse multi-column layout - article. Other articles are available from the site.
• Embedded fonts will not be used by iBooks unless a special file is included in the ePub with special content. The file is: META-INF/com.apple.ibooks.display-options.xml and must contain:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<display_options>
<platform name="*">
<option name="specified-fonts">true</option>
</platform>
</display_options>