Not sure How to Read a Book I Got From iTunes

Question

Level 1

7 points

Not sure How to Read a Book I Got From iTunes

I am not sure if this is the best place to post this questions, but I will try it. I am new to using iTunes. I purchased a free Lincoln book from iTunes and it was downloaded to the Books Library in iTunes. How do I open this book? I am thinking maybe I need an iPad, but I would think I should be able to open the book on a MBP.

Also, I downloaded iBooks on my iPhone 5. Is it possible to read books on an iPhone? How do I know if it is an audiobook?

Thanks.

Posted on Nov 18, 2012 11:56 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,922 points

Nov 19, 2012 5:10 AM in response to NObodE

NObodE wrote:

I am thinking maybe I need an iPad, but I would think I should be able to open the book on a MBP.

Normally every purchase page in the iBookstore has this kind of requirements statement on it, which tells you exactly on what devices the book can be read.

In general if you want to read ebooks on you Mac or PC, you need to get them from another source, like Kindle, Nook, Kobo, or Googlebooks.

That said, if the book you got does not have DRM (most free books do not), then you should be able to read it on your Mac with an app like Calibre or Adobe Digital Editions.

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Answer 2

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,922 points

Nov 19, 2012 5:39 AM in response to NObodE

Ps audiobooks on an ios device are read using the Music app.

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Answer 3

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 19, 2012 8:35 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Thanks. So if I want to read a book on my iPhone 5 iOS 6.0.1 I think it is. I should be able to download the free Lincoln book to my iPhone and read it on there. I did install iBooks on the iPhone and I would have thought it would download to my iPhone but it did not. It would seem that reading a book downloaded from itunes to my itunes Library---Books would allow me to read it, but I guess it is more complicated than that. As far as what you said that goes over my head. thanks for the info.

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Answer 4

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,922 points

Nov 19, 2012 8:53 AM in response to NObodE

NObodE wrote:

I should be able to download the free Lincoln book to my iPhone and read it on there. I did install iBooks on the iPhone and I would have thought it would download to my iPhone but it did not.

Just use the store function in the iBooks app on your iPhone to get your free Lincoln book (or any other book, free or paid, that you want from the iBookstore) directly without using iTunes.

Like I said, you should be able to read most free books on your Mac by downloading and installing one of the major ebook reading apps. If you have trouble doing that, I'm sure someone here can help.

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Answer 5

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 19, 2012 5:45 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

I search the store after going to iBooks on my iPhone and it come up with Lincoln--a Steven spielberg film but no book comes up after the search is done. so I guess I cannot read the book on my iPhone.

if the book downloaded on iTunes under Library--Books, are you saying I need another program to open the book?

any thoughts on what program I need to put on my MBP to read Lincoln? is this found in the App Store?

Is the App Store on my MPB the same as the App Store on my iPhone 5?

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Answer 6

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,922 points

Nov 19, 2012 6:26 PM in response to NObodE

NObodE wrote:

if the book downloaded on iTunes under Library--Books, are you saying I need another program to open the book?

To open the book on your Mac, yes, I said that twice already, and I also gave you the names of two programs: Calibre and Adobe Digital Editions. Use Google to find them and download them to your Mac. They should work for free books, which normally do not have any DRM.

To open an ebook on your iPhone, you use the iBooks app. What country are you living in? When I search the US store in iBooks for Lincoln, the first thing I get is The Life of Abraham Lincoln by Henry Ketcham.

The app stores for your MBP and your iPhone are totally different, because the two devices use different OS's and the apps for one will not work on the other.

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Answer 7

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 19, 2012 6:31 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

I apologize for the trouble but I would think this woud be much easier. I search for Lincoln and the book I downloaded on my MBP comes up but I do not know in what order. On my iPhone when I highlight the Lincoln-A Steven... it searches for the book but comes back empty handed. I guess it is not available on iBooks.

I got the message that you need another program to watch or read a book downloaded from itunes, but that just seems odd that it has the book, it downloads it to itunes ---Library---Books but one is not able to read it unless they have another program.

so I am not having any luck reading this booklet that I heard was great-especially before one sees the movie.

I am in Salt Lake city, UT USA

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Answer 8

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,922 points

Nov 19, 2012 6:54 PM in response to NObodE

NObodE wrote:

On my iPhone when I highlight the Lincoln-A Steven... it searches for the book but comes back empty handed. I guess it is not available on iBooks.

The particular book you are talking about, Lincoln: A Steven Spielberg Film - Discover the Story, says this on the page where you get it:

So you cannot view that one on either an iPhone or on a Mac, only on an iPad.

I understand that you think iTunes should read ebooks. But it doesn't. You always have to read the Requirements for the ebooks you get to know how to read them.

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Answer 9

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 19, 2012 7:14 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

for some reason that did not paste there is just a question mark in the middle. do you use the advanced editor? I am assuming it says as the one you posted earlier says, "Requirements..."

I understand that now but for the iPhone it is odd that the book comes up in the search but it can't locate the book to add it to....oh, I yea I need an iPad.

Oh well, thanks anyway. it should not download it to my MBP then if I can't read it on the device, JMO.

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Answer 10

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,922 points

Nov 19, 2012 9:01 PM in response to NObodE

NObodE wrote:

it should not download it to my MBP then if I can't read it on the device, JMO.

You don't seem to understand the role of iTunes in OS X. It is used to sync all your iOS content, regardless of whether that content can be used in OS X itself.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1386

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Answer 11

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 21, 2012 12:16 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Yea, you have pointed out a lot of stuff "I don't seem to understand." However, are you not on here or does not one come here to get and/or give assistance? Do not take my questions and lack of knowledge as a way to blast me because I do not know. Use your knowledge humbly in a way that will help people who do not have the same knowledge that you have.

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