Apple has issued an update to its iBooks app on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Version 1.5 of iBooks brings two major additions: a nighttime reading theme and full-screen mode.
The update also brings several new fonts, more covers for public domain books, pop-up footnotes, and a redesigned annotation palette.
What’s New in Version 1.5
iBooks 1.5 adds the following new features as well as some stability and performance improvements:
• Nighttime reading theme makes reading books in the dark easier on the eyes.
• Full-screen layout lets you focus on the words without distraction.
• iBooks now features an improved selection of fonts, including Athelas, Charter, Iowan, and Seravek.
• Beautiful new classic covers for public domain books.
• A redesigned annotation palette makes it easier to choose a color for your highlighted text.
The new full-screen mode is great because you don’t have to turn it on or off. The app automatically hides your reading options and iOS status bar once you start reading. Simply tap anywhere on the screen to see your options in either landscape or portrait orientation.
iBooks 1.5 can be downloaded for free in the App Store.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
10 responses to “Apple Updates iBooks With Nighttime Reading Theme, Full-Screen Mode, And More”
still reading it too huh?
What can I say, I don’t have all day to read it. ;)
haha your still ahead of me
Love it, I was waiting for it since I switched from Stanza to iBooks :)
As soon as I can highlight a word and have the definition instantly like I can with the Kindle app, I’ll think about using it. Right now I just don’t see much upside vs. Kindle app.
Still does not work on OSX. What’s up Apple? Kndle does… Kobo does… Others do too.
You got no programmers?
Well the time to start thinking about it is NOW!!!!!! The iBook app has actually had that capability for ages now. Dictionary, copy, paste etc.
I tried it when it first came out and almost instantly discarded it and returned to whatever I was using at the time (pre-Kindle). I will give it a shot again. Thanks for the heads-up.
When your literacy is at a 2nd grade level like mine, the dictionary is invaluable!
As my username implies, I’m a voracious reader. It has served me very well throughout the years to always look up words whose meanings I’m unsure about. It doesn’t just build vocabulary, but gives insight into the subtleties of speech.