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How to send book from iBooks Author to friends without using Ibook store.

How can I send a copy of my book created using iBooks Author to my friends without going through the iBook store? It was mentioned this was possible but I haven't found any instructions on how to do this. I don't want my book available to the world

Posted on Jan 30, 2012 9:14 AM

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42 replies

Feb 5, 2018 3:45 PM in response to Tulse

I think MeCourious's thinking that the person who hires him to make the book won't want his personal stuff available for the general public to buy.


He (or she) is mistaken though, if someone hires him to make a book he's not selling a book that he's made, he's selling his services. That would be fine and not a breach of the EULA. Actual textbooks are not written by just one person, and the people who write the content rarely have the time or inclination to make the book. They hire people to do it.

Feb 5, 2018 3:45 PM in response to MeCourious

There's more to it than that. To sell books in their store you also have to get an ISBN, which costs money. If you wanted to sell books to just a few people, like your family, you would still have to spend the $100 odd for the ISBN, which would be a bit ridiculous.

[Edit: looks like I was wrong there, you don't need an ISBN for a free book if you have a free book agreement with Apple]


You are basically wanting Apple to provide free software (which they have), and a free platform for you to distribute what you make in that free software (which they have, at least it's free if the books are), and then you're not satisfied with that, you want to be able to customise the platform so you can direct your books to just a few people. I don't think it's likely to happen - Apple are in business to make money, and I can't see a lot to be made like that, even if you did charge for the book.


I am making an iBook version of a class lab book right now, that I want to be able to distribute to just 30-odd students (actually not even that many, they don't all have iPads) and yes it would be great to be able to do it in the iBook store, but I can see that it's not going to happen, and I don't expect it to. It's enough to have the ability to make the book with video etc, I can figure out how to distribute it.


Now if only the thing would stop behaving erratically, I'd be happy.

Jan 31, 2012 7:34 AM in response to MeCourious

Thanks K T and BronwynHCarlisle. Both good suggestions. I did the share -> email and I got and .iBooks file to send. But the file was too large. It was over 200 megabytes. My Yahoo mail account allows up to 20 meg. So I decided to put the file on my Dropbox account. I set up a share on my folder by doing a right click on the folder and selecting share this folder. I sent the share to my friend who wanted the book.


If he can download it from my Dropbox account, then he can do a double click on the file and the book should open in iBook. I haven't talked to him yet to see if it worked. I'll try to remember to update this thread and let you know if it worked.


I believe what Apple should have done was allow iBook Authors a chance to set up private accounts in iBooks. Then you send your book to this account. Anyone you want to have access to this account would receive a code that would allow them access. In this way, we could use the "Publish" button to send our books directly to Apple without the Dropbox usage. Imagine a teacher putting all their study materials in their account and having their students accessing it through the teachers account code without it being exposed to the rest of the iBook store. Maybe Apple will realize this some day.

Jan 31, 2012 11:12 AM in response to MeCourious

Where is iBooks Author Feedback? I too am just looking to distribute my iBook to the parents, maybe ~10 - 12 of which that have iPads, of the kids in my daughters 1st Grade class. It's not meant to be a book thats circulated outside of the kids' families. I like the idea of PRIVATE distribution. When the book is finished it's going to be way too large for email, as it will likely have ~ten short 2-3 minutes videos.

Jan 31, 2012 1:56 PM in response to DigitalSummitTV

(Not sure about selling - think not allow).

You may be sure! Selling iBooks "without Apple' participation" is what iBooks Author' EULA directly forbids.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

If you charge a fee for any book or other work you generate using this software (a “Work”), you may only sell or distribute such Work through Apple (e.g., through the iBookstore) and such distribution will be subject to a separate agreement with Apple.

and once more

B. Distribution of your Work. As a condition of this License and provided you are in compliance with its terms, your Work may be distributed as follows:

(i) if your Work is provided for free (at no charge), you may distribute the Work by any available means;

(ii) 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.

Jan 31, 2012 2:19 PM in response to Petr Perstnev

Yes, it's very clear we should not try to get around paying Apple a percentage if we are trying to sell our iBook. But many of us have a small group of people we want to share our efforts with. That was behind my original idea of Apple setting up a private account in the iBook store. We could designate one account for free books and one for paid books. Or we could have separate accounts for different purposes. One account for Family functions, one for business operations. All geared toward easy distribution through Apple. I just don't want some of these books seen by the entire iBooks world.


Under the current system, you must "Publish" the book through Apple and obtain an ISBN number for each book. Why do something like that if you wanted to record a family reunion you can distribute to everyone in the family who has an iPad?


IBooks Author can be huge. But only if there is an easier way to distribute some books that are not out to make a profit and the book wanted to be in a small circulation.

Jan 31, 2012 6:07 PM in response to Eastlake Chef

Thanks Chef.


I thought about it but decided against it. If I started giving my iBooks away from my site, someone might find an interest in my work and decide they wanted to hire me to make an iBook of some personal event in their life. The moment I sold the book through my web site download, I would break Apple's EULA agreement. Apple would have the right to revoke my use of iBook Author. I don't want that to happen.


I feel iBook Author has tremendos potential that we are only starting to scratch the surface. Any event that can be recorded is a potential for making a book about it. Superbowl parties, wedding receptions, baby showers. You name it, there is a potential in each one. So, I want to stay in Apple's good graces. I prefer Apple give us a solution. I can't imagine they thought we could email an iBook to someone. My book was only 25 pages long but with about 30 pictures and 6 videos. That took over 200 megabytes. When the average email service limits you to 20 megabytes, how did Apple feel comfortable with the email solution.


Anyway, enough of my rambling. Thanks again for the suggestion.🙂

How to send book from iBooks Author to friends without using Ibook store.

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