Nicolas Online

Q: Every Single Problem with iBooks for Mac

Hello,

 

It is disappointing that as Apple users we are used to doing things a certain way for years, and Apple's way forward results in less functionality and flexibility.

 

Here is a list of all the problems I have been facing with iBooks for Mac:

 

1. Transfer of Books to iPad or iPhone from iBooks is non-existant. If I create or download a DRM-free epub and or PDF and add it to iBooks for Mac (i.e. it wasn't downloaded from the iBooks Store), there is no direct way to transfer them to your iOS device through iBooks. Even books downloaded from the iBooks Store, since iBooks itself doesn't allow the transfer of files to the iOS device.

 

2. iBooks doesn't allow us to Edit metadata. Many PDFs come without metadata. And to organize them into the library as was previously possible in iTunes, we could add Author, Genre, Year, etc... Also even for books we actually download from the iBooks Store maybe we want to change the Genre or Category the book is in or simplify the Author's name.

 

3. iBooks essentially duplicates any PDF or ePub we drag to it into it's own library. Acting like iTunes "Copy files to iTunes Media Library when adding to library". If I have hundreds of PDF's that are hundreds of Megabytes in size, I don't want them duplicated again, especially when it's duplicated on my default Macintosh HD whom many people have as SSDs nowadays.

 

4. iBooks doesn't allow us to create or choose multiple libraries and have them in any destination we want (like it is possible with iTunes, iPhoto, Aperture, etc). By Option-Clicking on iBooks we should have that option.

 

5. The ability to delete Collections in iBooks for Mac.

 

All the above problems are surprising, as what essentially Apple has done is a book reader, and not a book library management tool. With books becoming more and more digital and more and more people using them, so does the amount of books in one's collection grow. It is virtually impossible to manage any book collection with such a lack of features.

 

Should anyone have solutions to the aformentioned problems or ideas on how to overcome them, please feel free to post them here.

 

Should anyone have other problems they encountered in this initial version of iBooks, please feel free to post them here, as this would be a good place to sythesize all that's bothering a lot of people with this new phase into Apple's ecosystem of iBooks.

 

Thank you,

 

Nick

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 24, 2013 3:24 AM

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Q: Every Single Problem with iBooks for Mac

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  • by Girlsmitty,

    Girlsmitty Girlsmitty Nov 12, 2013 12:47 PM in response to AntiEverything
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2013 12:47 PM in response to AntiEverything

    I too updated all of my Apple devices and today was the first time an ibook purchase did not sync seamlessly. After reading these threads, the only thing that worked for me (after trying the preferences sync, etc.) was emailing the book to myself, then downloaded it on the other devices.

     

    Hope they find a fix for this, or I'll be forced to go back to printed books.

  • by Monkeyboy44,

    Monkeyboy44 Monkeyboy44 Nov 12, 2013 1:26 PM in response to Nicolas Online
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2013 1:26 PM in response to Nicolas Online

    Holy Zombie Jesus!!!. What the **** have they done to iBooks???. I can no longer drag and drop the books I want to read onto my iPad?. I have to sync them througth iTunes??. WHAT THE FUDGE!!!. Poor form Apple surely their was no need to relaese A half finished app???. did apple get the maps guy to finish iBooks??.

  • by MouldySquid,

    MouldySquid MouldySquid Nov 13, 2013 8:06 AM in response to MouldySquid
    Level 1 (10 points)
    iBooks
    Nov 13, 2013 8:06 AM in response to MouldySquid

    I forgot to mention that if your contents.opf file has more than one <dc:subject> tag, iBooks reads only the first one, that one is the one to change. I just get rid of the others, but some people find it handy to have multiple <dc:subject> tags.

  • by 3lfie,

    3lfie 3lfie Nov 14, 2013 9:47 AM in response to Nicolas Online
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 14, 2013 9:47 AM in response to Nicolas Online

    I cannot open my ibooks even after the latest update, it crashed each time. This issue started after i added e-pub books to my library. How can i fix this??? am almost regretting updating my mac.

  • by tincha,

    tincha tincha Nov 14, 2013 2:31 PM in response to RCB099
    Level 1 (57 points)
    iOS Apps
    Nov 14, 2013 2:31 PM in response to RCB099

    RCB099 wrote:

     

    There must be a lot of frustrated people out there.

     

    Hands down one of the very worst updates I've ever seen from Apple - horrible.

     

    Steve must be rolling in his grave. (Ironically just watched "Jobs" last night...this iBooks app goes against all he stood for, except ways of making $$ from the iStore.)

     

    I had the same thought after seeing the new version of iBooks just updated on my iPad. The whole look and feel of a book has been wiped out and now books are just flat. No way to change the theme back to look like a book.

     

    I guess I really don't understand why Apple has imposed this change on people who have been very happy with iBooks in the past.  Apple products used to "just work." With all these problems with iBooks, I feel somewhat betrayed by Apple.

  • by CB500X,

    CB500X CB500X Nov 14, 2013 6:18 PM in response to tincha
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 14, 2013 6:18 PM in response to tincha

    Yes, there seem to have been some retrograde changes in Apple software of late. Some cynical person earlier suggested that the team who wrote iBooks is the same team who wrote Maps. Personally, I think it is more likely that the team are retired Microsoft writers. The old Evil Empire of MS worked hard at preventing, not facilitating, cross-platform communication, and was more focused on locking in customers than providing a user friendly experience. Remind you of anyone lately? The sad part is that early Apple superiority in user friendly software engendered a very loyal tribe of followers and promoters. It's one reason why Apple eventually came to dominate, despite some canny marketing strategies from Bill Gates. I fear for Apple's future if they can't rediscover their earlier customer focused mojo.

  • by Franco Franchi,

    Franco Franchi Franco Franchi Nov 16, 2013 9:14 AM in response to CB500X
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Nov 16, 2013 9:14 AM in response to CB500X

    Well, very sadly, I share all of these comments and would have some more to add. The "problems" are not limited to Mac software, but they are rapidly (it seems) extending to iPad and other portable devices. However, I believe that crying among orrselves will not produce any reaction from Apple. At least after so many weeks no "rumors" are around that they begin awakening and correct the undergrading "upgrades".

     

    I would propose to organize collecting the largest amount of signatures to a "public protest letter" and forward the hottest letter of disappointment to Apple, addressed to the highest level possible. Even the specialized mass media could also be informed. I can't believe Apple would ignore the real risk of loosing its clients (I'm one of those since 1989!) as well as their money, after all.

     

    Is there anyone having suggestion as to the most effective way to do it? I would immediately subscribe to such an inirtiative.

  • by NMBob,

    NMBob NMBob Nov 16, 2013 9:39 AM in response to Franco Franchi
    Level 1 (44 points)
    Nov 16, 2013 9:39 AM in response to Franco Franchi

    What if we all just wrote a one-line email to mossberg@wsj.com telling him to please go to Apple discussions and check out how much people like iBooks for Mac.  In fact, send the email to him every day.  Eventually someone will notice.

     

    I did a clean reinstall of everything back to Mountain Lion, but I think the new iBooks for my iPad just wiped out all of my bookmarks, btw.

     

    Bob

  • by Michael Kahn,

    Michael Kahn Michael Kahn Nov 16, 2013 9:45 AM in response to Franco Franchi
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Nov 16, 2013 9:45 AM in response to Franco Franchi

    Perhaps creating a page on a well known social media site might make Apple take more notice and do what they should have done weeks ago, admit that iBooks is a bust and that they are making every effort to fix things.

     

    When I read the posts, it is clear to me that I was not using the previous iBooks version to its full capability. I am just somebody that wants to read my books across various devices while maintaining my notes. The program is so bad, that I can't even do that.

  • by Michael Kahn,

    Michael Kahn Michael Kahn Nov 16, 2013 10:22 AM in response to NMBob
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Nov 16, 2013 10:22 AM in response to NMBob

    Just to let people know, Mossberg left the WSJ:

     

    Mr. Pogue’s departure comes as technology coverage has become increasingly prized by media companies. Only weeks ago, Walter S. Mossberg, a leading reviewer of new devices, said he would be leaving The Wall Street Journal to start a technology writing and conference business with Kara Swisher, who is leaving AllThingsD. The business will be backed by new partners.

  • by Maxwell Edison,

    Maxwell Edison Maxwell Edison Nov 16, 2013 10:39 AM in response to Nicolas Online
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 16, 2013 10:39 AM in response to Nicolas Online

    I had problem #1, but then I realized there is a way:

     

    1. connect ipad to itunes via usb    

     

    2. on the ipad screen in itunes, go to the "on this ipad" tab

     

    3. Click "books" in the left column to select it, then drag your epub from the Mac to the right side of the window.

     

    Eventually, this book shows up in iPad iBooks on the bookshelf.

  • by bibistrikesback,

    bibistrikesback bibistrikesback Nov 19, 2013 3:50 AM in response to Nicolas Online
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 19, 2013 3:50 AM in response to Nicolas Online

    Luckily I never trusted Apple "auto-filing", may-be because I experienced too many OS changes over the years. So the PDF issue is not one for me as my documents, including PDFs, are filed the "old fashion way" via Finder.

    Now I do find the new design just awful, the Orange icon, disgrasful, and had to sync all the books and pdfs to see it working properly, after my books were no more accessible on my iPad.

    Not happy of what clearly seems to be another Apple fiasco!

  • by S_eye,

    S_eye S_eye Nov 20, 2013 1:57 PM in response to bibistrikesback
    Level 1 (2 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 20, 2013 1:57 PM in response to bibistrikesback

    For me this version of iBooks was the last straw...

    I will buy an Android tablet and see how it compares to iOS.

  • by bluevoice,

    bluevoice bluevoice Nov 20, 2013 2:04 PM in response to S_eye
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 20, 2013 2:04 PM in response to S_eye

    I think iOS is still rock solid for its simplicity and ease of use (so no need for an Android tablet). Unfortunately Mac OS X is lagging behind, the Mac OS X still doesn't benefit of the interface overhaul in iOS 7. Some parts of it yes but not the whole. There is no consistency in the interface and functions any more.

     

    Apple clearly priorizes iOS, while Mac OS X is falling more and more behind.

  • by S_eye,

    S_eye S_eye Nov 21, 2013 2:34 AM in response to bluevoice
    Level 1 (2 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 21, 2013 2:34 AM in response to bluevoice

     

    the Mac OS X still doesn't benefit of the interface overhaul in iOS 7.

     

    I don't really agree. Take as an example Windows 8. Microsoft tried to get a desktop operating system as close as possible to a mobile OS. The result is that Windows 8 is not well suited for desktop productivity and works poorly on a tablet.

     

    Apple didn't make the mistake of turning Mac OS X into a hybrid OS not well suited for anything.

     

    The real problem with iOS is that it is relying too much on desktop applications like iTunes for managing contents.

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