In 2012, Apple launched a program called iBook Author, allowing the company to join the self-publishing production industry. iBook Author, like other self-publishing options, largely enriches the market with otherwise undiscovered or overlooked material. This product offers self-publishers many benefits that largely outweigh the cons.
iBook Author chose to market itself by focusing on its innovative unique selling point, iBook Textbook. Using iBook Textbook, publishers and individuals, especially teachers, can create and publish their own textbooks. This is optimal for professors who wish to teach from a customised curriculum or small publishers who customarily would have to hire costly freelance personnel.
One of the most stimulating components of iBook Textbook is the ability to create interactive material. With this technology authors are able to add 3D models, widgets, videos and more. Previously, products such as audio books incurred additional expense. However this no long needs to be the case. The inherent VoiceOver technology requires no additional cost thereby broadening the audience to include the visually impaired (Apple.com, 2014).
Apple has made sure to include a number of brand name publishers in this advancement including; Pearson, Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press by launching with their products (Hall, 2013). However, while iBook Author may be an exciting opportunity, its users will encounter a number of problems with this platform.
The products created using iBook Author cannot be used with non-Apple devices. This means that if publishers wish to use a multitude of platforms they would have to recreate the content in another program, which takes time and money. Small publishing companies may be content to only use iBook Store, but larger companies with more resources will be interested in maximising sales and will need to invest in other formats. Another disadvantage of iBook Author is that it lacks the personal touch that a publishing house can bring an author. For instance, traditional publishing houses can offer marketing, industry connections, editing services, tailored improvements and product presentation.
However, iBook Author among other self-publishing companies continues to improve their publishing packages resulting in products that could compete with, or even surpass, traditionally published titles. These options give authors the opportunity of bypassing publishers, and even literary agents, altogether. With the availability of more titles from iBook Author readers have a greater selection to choose from. Despite the increased competition publishers still benefit from iBook Author, as they are able to increase their reach and audience by utilising Apple’s technology and visibility.
Word Count: 409
Bibliography
iBook Author chose to market itself by focusing on its innovative unique selling point, iBook Textbook. Using iBook Textbook, publishers and individuals, especially teachers, can create and publish their own textbooks. This is optimal for professors who wish to teach from a customised curriculum or small publishers who customarily would have to hire costly freelance personnel.
One of the most stimulating components of iBook Textbook is the ability to create interactive material. With this technology authors are able to add 3D models, widgets, videos and more. Previously, products such as audio books incurred additional expense. However this no long needs to be the case. The inherent VoiceOver technology requires no additional cost thereby broadening the audience to include the visually impaired (Apple.com, 2014).
Apple has made sure to include a number of brand name publishers in this advancement including; Pearson, Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press by launching with their products (Hall, 2013). However, while iBook Author may be an exciting opportunity, its users will encounter a number of problems with this platform.
The products created using iBook Author cannot be used with non-Apple devices. This means that if publishers wish to use a multitude of platforms they would have to recreate the content in another program, which takes time and money. Small publishing companies may be content to only use iBook Store, but larger companies with more resources will be interested in maximising sales and will need to invest in other formats. Another disadvantage of iBook Author is that it lacks the personal touch that a publishing house can bring an author. For instance, traditional publishing houses can offer marketing, industry connections, editing services, tailored improvements and product presentation.
However, iBook Author among other self-publishing companies continues to improve their publishing packages resulting in products that could compete with, or even surpass, traditionally published titles. These options give authors the opportunity of bypassing publishers, and even literary agents, altogether. With the availability of more titles from iBook Author readers have a greater selection to choose from. Despite the increased competition publishers still benefit from iBook Author, as they are able to increase their reach and audience by utilising Apple’s technology and visibility.
Word Count: 409
Bibliography
- Apple.com, (2014). Apple (United Kingdom) - Education - iBooks Textbooks for iPad. [Online] Available at: https://www.apple.com/uk/education/ipad/ibooks-textbooks/ [Accessed 2 Oct. 2014].
- Apple.com, (2014). Apple (United Kingdom) - iBooks Author. [Online] Available at: https://www.apple.com/uk/ibooks-author/ [Accessed 2 Oct. 2014].
- Authorsolutions.com, (2014). Author Solutions Self-Publishing Companies, Book Publishing Services. [Online] Available at: http://www.authorsolutions.com/Default.aspx [Accessed 2 Oct. 2014].
- Hall., (2013). The business of digital publishing. An introduction to the digital book and journal industries. 1st ed. Andover: Routledge Ltd.
- Kobo.com, (2014). Kobo Writing Life – Self-publish eBooks with Kobo. [Online] Available at: http://www.kobo.com/writinglife [Accessed 2 Oct. 2014].
- Solomon, K. (2012). Apple launches free iBooks Author for ebook publishing. [Online] TechRadar. Available at: http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/apple-launches-free-ibooks-author-for-ebook-publishing-1056075 [Accessed 2 Oct. 2014].
- Theindependentpublishingmagazine.com, (2014). The Independent Publishing Magazine: Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) - Reviewed. [Online] Available at: http://www.theindependentpublishingmagazine.com/2014/02/kindle-direct-publishing-kdp-reviewed.html [Accessed 2 Oct. 2014].
- Timbrell, N. (2014). Devices, Formats and Standards, [Lecture] Oxford Brookes University, 30 Sep 2014.