Apple’s iBooks application may be the recipient of a much-needed update in the next version of iOS. According to a rumor out of 9to5Mac, Apple is expected to add support for folders, PDF emailing, and PDF printing to its iBooks application. Though these features are not confirmed, Steve Jobs reportedly hinted at them in a recent email. In a brief exchange with a customer, Jobs suggested improved PDF handling was “coming” to iBooks.
Information on these features was obtained from a leaked Apple document that details both folder support and PDF management within this iOS-based eBook application. Users with a library of books can organize their books by creating custom folders, known as “collections”. These user-created collections can be created, renamed, and deleted from within the iBooks application. Similar to folders on the iOS desktop, these collections appear on your bookshelf and are an easy way to organize a library of books.
PDF emailing and printing are two other desirable features coming to the iBooks application. With improved support for PDF files, iBooks users will be able to send a portable document file to family and friends as an email attachment. In addition to sharing, iBooks users will be able to use AirPrint to print a portable document file from their iOS device. Before you get too excited, Apple is clear that these features are available only to PDFs and not protected ePub books purchased from Apple’s online bookstore.
While not game changers, these value-added features make the iPad, perhaps even the iPhone, a bit more attractive to folks in the market for an eReader. Many eReaders like the Sony Reader and the Amazon Kindle are dedicated devices and offer little beyond reading and note-taking within books. With the iPad, you have an eReader, a media player, a web browser, a gaming device, and more. Given the choice which would you buy for your book reading needs?
[Via 9to5mac]