Amazon Books vs Apple Books

2023. Amazon is attacked by AI-generated books



Amazon's Kindle Unlimited platform recently encountered a troubling issue involving an influx of AI-generated books that contained nonsensical content. The Top 100 chart for Best Sellers in Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance eBooks was flooded with AI-generated books designed to manipulate rankings and generate more clicks. Vice reported that out of the top 100 books on the chart, only 19 appeared to be legitimate. Although Amazon appeared to have taken action against these books, this incident emphasizes the problem of individuals spamming the platform with AI-generated material to profit from it. On Monday, Caitlyn Lynch's tweet referred to the situation as AI bots disrupting Amazon. She also shared a screenshot of the Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance category's Best Sellers list, which clearly showed that the majority of books were AI-generated and created solely for the purpose of click farming.


2023. Amazon makes Kindle Rewards Beta program less rewarding



Kindle Rewards is an exclusive beta program offered to specially invited customers by Amazon. Upon enrollment, customers have the opportunity to accumulate points by purchasing Kindle Books and Print Books, which can later be redeemed as credits for additional book purchases. However, there have been recent adjustments to the program, resulting in reduced earning rates. Now, customers will only receive 3 Kindle Points for every dollar spent on Kindle books, and 1 Kindle Point for every dollar spent on print books. This is a significant departure from the previous credit system, where customers earned 5 points for Kindle Books and 2 points for print books. Consequently, customers are now required to accumulate 300 points in order to receive a meager $3 book credit. As a result of these changes, many participants in the Kindle Rewards program are dissatisfied, particularly with the decrease in points earned per dollar spent.


2023. Amazon launches cheap ebook discovery program



Amazon has recently introduced a new notification system called Great on Kindle for non-fiction titles in specific markets. This program offers several compelling features such as cheaper Kindle book prices compared to print editions, high-quality images that allow zooming in for a closer look, and Wikipedia integration (which is already available in most Kindle books). "Great on Kindle" is prominently placed below the book formats (Kindle, hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and CD) and has its own landing page that lists all the eligible ebooks. The "Great on Kindle" program offers significant benefits for consumers who purchase Kindle editions. However, the enrollment process for authors is another key feature that sets this program apart.


2023. Apple Books is bringing back page turn animation on iOS



In the latest iOS 16.4 beta for iPhone and iPad, Apple is reintroducing the page turn animation in the Books app. With the upcoming update, users will have the option to enjoy the traditional page turn CURL animation, allowing them to swipe and gesture to get a peek at the next page or simply turn it in a conventional manner, mimicking the experience of reading a physical book. Previously, Apple Books only offered the swipe animation, which resulted in an abrupt page turn resembling sliding between slides. However, with iOS 16.4, the default animation will be the page turn CURL, although users can manually select from four different settings: Curl, Side, Infinite Scrolling, and None. Many users who were disappointed by the absence of animations in the Apple Books app with the release of iOS 15 had switched to alternative apps like Kindle that always supported such animations.


2023. Apple Books launches catalog of AI-narrated audiobooks



Apple Books has introduced a collection of books narrated by artificial intelligence, a move that could signal the start of a decline for human narrators. This strategy represents an effort to disrupt the profitable and rapidly growing audiobook market. However, it also brings the likelihood of increased scrutiny regarding accusations of Apple's anti-competitive conduct. Within Apple's Books app, a search for "AI narration" unveils a selection of works featured in this initiative. These works are described as having been "narrated by a digital voice based on a human narrator." Although there could be potential backlash from professional voice actors, authors themselves are increasingly being requested to personally narrate their own books. For writers, there exists a financial incentive in terms of upfront payments and broader accessibility of their creations.


2022. Apple Books is getting a bunch of new features in iOS 16



With the upcoming release of iOS 16 in the fall, the Apple Books reading app will receive a range of new options to enhance the reading experience according to individual preferences. Users will have the ability to customize the reading themes to suit different environments and moods, as well as adjust font, spacing, text size, and other settings. The audiobook player will undergo a redesign, featuring refreshed player controls and a convenient mini player that enables seamless listening while browsing the store. Furthermore, users can now continue listening to any audiobook they are previewing by directly purchasing the book within the player. This new Apple Books experience will be available on both iPad and iPhone devices. Notably, in iOS 15, the app featured a toolbar at the top providing access to chapter indexing, font adjustments, search tools, and bookmarks. However, in iOS 16, these elements have been relocated to the bottom of the app for improved accessibility.


2020. Apple Books giving away hundreds of free books



Apple Books has recently unveiled a selection of several hundred audiobooks and ebooks that are now available for free. To access these offerings, simply launch the Apple Books app and navigate to the featured section where you will find a category labeled "Free Books." It is important to note that this promotion is exclusively available to customers in the United States. Within this section, you can explore a diverse range of genres, including read-alongs for children, cozy mysteries, and audiobooks suitable for the entire family. Furthermore, Apple is highlighting their "First in a Series, Free" section, allowing users to choose a complimentary novel from this collection. The app features an extensive assortment of titles catering to both adults and children, featuring renowned works from Sesame Street to HG Wells, as well as well-known classics like Pride and Prejudice available in audiobook format. Depending on your geographical location, the app may also include timeless masterpieces by authors such as Shakespeare.


2019. Apple Books adds Reading Goals



Apple plans to introduce reading goals in Apple Books, allowing users to track their reading progress for both audiobooks and ebooks when iOS 13 launches later this year. The system aims to encourage users to engage in short reading sessions, such as while waiting in line for coffee, during their commute, or before bedtime, with the goal of achieving their daily reading targets. Users can build streaks by consistently meeting their goals and share the books they have completed through the "Books Read this Year" collection. Reading goals will be accessible on various iOS 13 devices, including iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Mac computers. While it remains uncertain if users will earn badges or achievements, or if it will solely focus on daily reading goals for audiobooks and ebooks, more details are expected to emerge with the launch of the public beta next month.


2018. iBooks rebrands as Apple Books



When iOS 12 is released later this year, Apple iBooks will undergo a rebranding and be known as Apple Books. Alongside the rebranding, the app will undergo a significant redesign. One notable addition is the "Reading Now" feature, which provides users with information about the audiobook and ebook they are currently engaged with, offering an indication of their progress within each title. This will be visually represented by an open book image accompanied by the book title. The existing iBooks app's bottom menu options, including "My Books," "Featured," "Top Charts," "Search," and "Purchased," will be replaced with "Reading Now," "Library," "Bookstore," "Audiobooks," and "Search." This modification will simplify access to the audiobook section, eliminating the need to navigate through the bookstore before reaching the audiobooks tab.


2017. Amazon is renaming Kindle Books to Digital Books



Amazon is introducing changes to the terminology used for its digital books, as the terms "Kindle eBook" and "Kindle Edition" will now be referred to as "Digital Book" or simply "eBook." This shift aims to emphasize that e-books can be accessed and enjoyed on various platforms beyond Kindle e-readers. Amazon now offers multiple mediums for reading or having books read aloud, such as the option to have e-books narrated through devices like Amazon Echo and with the assistance of Alexa. These alterations reflect Amazon's efforts to broaden the accessibility and versatility of e-books, expanding the range of options available to readers.


2016. Amazon Prime Reading is now available on iPhone and iPad



Amazon Prime Reading introduces a fresh program that grants you unlimited access to a dynamic selection of titles, akin to a condensed version of Kindle Unlimited. With approximately 1,000 e-books and magazines available on the platform, you can now enjoy them on the Kindle app for iPad and iPhone. Notably, all the e-books you read seamlessly support features such as Page Flip, Popular Highlights, X-Ray, and Goodreads, enhancing your reading experience to the fullest extent.


2016. Apple iBooks adds iCloud support for PDF files and audiobooks



Apple has recently introduced a new update to iOS, which brings several notable enhancements to iBooks alongside the much-discussed nighttime reading mode that reduces blue light emission. One significant improvement addresses a longstanding concern regarding the absence of iCloud support for EPUB/PDF files and audiobooks in iBooks. This enhancement is particularly beneficial for individuals who possess an extensive e-book collection on their computers and wish to seamlessly read on their iPhone when on the go, and switch to their iPad when at home. With iCloud integration, users can now conveniently load their content onto a single Apple device, and iCloud will prompt them on their secondary device, enabling access to the content. This functionality applies not only to sideloaded content but also to purchases made directly from iBooks, making it a versatile solution for managing and accessing e-books across multiple devices.


2016. New iOS 9.3 feature will make reading at night easier on your eyes



Apple is set to enhance nighttime usability of its devices through the upcoming iOS 9.3 update. This update will introduce a new feature known as "Night Shift," which adjusts the color temperature of your iPhone or iPad's display according to the time of day. Night Shift utilizes your device's clock and current location to determine sunset time, automatically shifting the display's colors towards the warmer end of the spectrum. This functionality, similar to the well-known Mac and Windows app f.lux, gradually reduces eye strain by transitioning the display's lighting to warmer tones as darkness falls outside. With Night Shift, Apple aims to provide users with a more comfortable and pleasant viewing experience during nighttime usage.


2015. Apple iBooks improves listening audiobooks



Apple has recently launched iOS 9.2, accompanied by an enhanced version of the iBooks app. This update introduces 3D Touch functionality, enabling users to seamlessly explore pages by employing peek and pop gestures on the table of contents, notes, bookmarks, and search results. Furthermore, iBooks now allows users to listen to an audiobook while simultaneously browsing their library, reading other books, or exploring the iBooks Store. These improvements aim to provide a more intuitive and versatile reading experience for iBooks users on Apple devices.


2015. Amazon launched crowd-publishing platform Write On



Amazon has introduced a new crowd-publishing platform called Write On, which directly competes with Wattpad, a social network where self-publishing authors share their content for free and collaborate with the community to incorporate feedback into their ongoing projects. While the Amazon version initially launched in October as an invite-only beta, it has now evolved into a fully-fledged product accessible to all users, with the beta label removed. The Write On platform enables individuals to share their creative works at any stage of development. Users can offer complete works, chapters, outlines, character sketches, or even snippets and engage the community to provide feedback. Participation is not limited to writers alone—readers can explore a wide range of content organized by genre and use the "shuffle" feature to discover random works of interest.


2014. Apple acquired book discovery site BookLamp



Apple has recently acquired BookLamp, a book recommendation service often referred to as the "Pandora of books." BookLamp utilizes its Book Genome technology to connect readers with books that align with their preferences. This advanced platform can dissect a book into numerous data points, providing insights into its content and helping readers determine its suitability for their tastes. It is expected that Apple will leverage BookLamp's technology to enhance its own book store, iBooks, which offers a vast collection of over 2 million free and paid book titles. Although BookLamp.org has discontinued its services following the acquisition, let's take a closer look at the company and its innovative technology.


2014. Amazon.com continues price battle against big publishers



In a recent covert dispute, Amazon has been engaged in a battle with Hachette, a prominent global publisher, aimed at securing increased "co-op" funds, which represent the marketing budget publishers allocate to retailers for promoting their products both in physical stores and, in Amazon's case, on their website. Amazon reportedly implemented measures to make it more difficult for readers to access Hachette's titles. This included delays in delivering Hachette products to customers and reducing the level of discounts offered on Hachette titles. Just last week, Amazon went as far as removing the option to pre-order upcoming releases from Hachette. It is worth recalling that in 2010, Amazon ceased selling books published by Macmillan but eventually relented under public pressure.


2014. Apple iBooks Textbooks Now Available in 51 Countries



Apple is extending the reach of its educational service, iBooks Textbooks, as part of its ongoing efforts to establish dominance in the global education market. The interactive digital textbook platform, iBooks Textbooks, is now accessible in 51 countries across Asia, Latin America, Europe, and other regions. Notable additions to the list of countries include Brazil, Italy, Japan, Russia, Thailand, and Malaysia. By utilizing the iBooks app on Mac or iOS devices, publishers can create immersive, digitally-native educational materials for students. Eddy Cue, Apple's Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services, expressed excitement about the expansion, stating, "We are eager to witness the impact of interactive textbooks, apps, and engaging digital content on teachers' lesson plans in these additional countries."


2013. iBooks lost its bookshelf



At long last, Apple has released an update for its e-reader application, iBooks, designed for iPad and iPhone devices, featuring a fresh iOS 7-inspired interface. The new iBooks design moves away from its previous real-world aesthetics, such as wooden textures and bookshelves, opting instead for a minimalistic look. The revamped design maintains a sense of depth through the implementation of shadows, albeit without the vibrant color partitions seen in the previous version. With the iBooks app, users can easily download and enjoy a wide range of books. It provides access to the iBooks Store, where you can acquire the latest bestselling titles or your beloved classics at any time, day or night. Organize your library on a visually pleasing bookshelf, open books with a simple tap, navigate through pages with swipes or taps, and effortlessly bookmark or add notes to your favorite passages.


2013. Amazon offering descounted ebooks for purchased print books



Amazon has introduced a new program called MatchBook, which offers customers a compelling incentive to purchase the digital version of any physical book they have previously bought on the platform. If you have ever purchased a print edition of a book from Amazon, you now have the opportunity to acquire the Kindle edition at a significantly discounted price, ranging from free to $2.99. This benefit extends to books purchased as far back as 1995 when Amazon initially launched its online bookstore. Not only does this program offer great value to customers, but it also presents a clear advantage for publishers and authors, who will have the opportunity to earn more from each book they publish. The program is scheduled to launch in October.