Apple launches iBooks Author, but conditions apply

Apple ‘s announcement about the new iBooks Author tool is being talked about with admiration from not just Apple fans but even by those who are loath to admit even the best technical innovations by the Cupertino based tech giant. Apple has demonstrated its education friendly iBook Author that helps authors create rich content without much effort.

Apple 's announcement about the new iBooks Author tool is being talked about with admiration from not just Apple fans but even by those who are loath to admit even the best technical innovations by the Cupertino based tech giant. Apple has demonstrated its education friendly iBook Author that helps authors create rich content without much effort.

iBooks is going to be a godsend for academics and teachers besides whoever is interested in bringing out easy to prepare iBooks to put different types of media in one iBook. One thing that will get Apple more praise from academic circles is the fact that the app comes free.

Many people who have tried their hands at creating ebooks know that it is not that easy. For common people who want to do, it is all the more difficult as they need many costly software and programs that need intricate knowledge of all those programs. A commentator while talking of the advantage that the new platform is going to give to Apple in a very competitive market says, "Although Apple's iTunes is the world's most popular online music storefront, Amazon is the world's largest seller of e-books. By adding a level of interactivity to books that Amazon and others simply can't match, and by making it easier to publish a book and sell it in the iBooks app directly from iBooks Author, Apple has made a move to challenge Amazon. Though capable of producing many different types of content for a broader range of devices, Adobe's software can cost thousands of dollars, while Apple's iBooks Author app is free."

Roger Rosner, a senior Apple official while demonstrating the new platform said, "Traditionally creating books is really hard, but we think we've changed all that with iBooks Author".

A great aspect of the new iBook is the fact that it works well with all sorts of programs that are needed to type and edit text and other media. If you wish you can do the typing work in the new Apple platform, but you can do the same in Microsoft's very popular program Microsoft Word, besides Quark Xpress or any other such software and then import it in the new iBook Author.

But Apple has tried to put some impediment in commercial distribution of ebooks that is prepared using iBook Author. Apple makes it clear under the following clause. "if your Work is provided for a fee (including as part of any subscription-based product or service), you may only distribute the Work through Apple and such distribution is subject to the following limitations and conditions: (a) you will be required to enter into a separate written agreement with Apple (or an Apple affiliate or subsidiary) before any commercial distribution of your Work may take place; and (b) Apple may determine for any reason and in its sole discretion not to select your Work for distribution."