iBooks is the ebook reader application for the Apple iPad released first to the US on April 3, 2010. Users download ebooks via the iBooks app which is connected to the iBookstore. The latest news on iBooks downloads are found on this page. In addition to iBooks as the ebook reader application, there are alternative ebook readers that are available for the iPad such as Kindle ebook reader. You will also find news on developments for other ebook readers that run on the iPad.

The versatility of the iPad and the large color display that allows a richer reading experience (e.g., means to navigate around the ebook) are expected to attract the interest of many consumers considering ebook readers such as the Barnes & Nobles Nook.

WWDC10 highlights: 5 million books downoladed in 65 days - 2.5 books per iPad.

Over 1.5 million+ ebooks were downloaded for the iPad in its first month of sales,http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/mac/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224700595 although this represents only 1.5 ebooks per device.http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Apple-iPad-Sales-Pass-1-paidcontent-567503426.html?x=0&.v=1 This number excludes the free iPad book, Winnie-the-Pooh ebook, that comes with the iBook app.

iBooks is currently only available in countries where the iPad is for sale (until May 28th just in US).http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/01/28/ipad_ibooks_app_us_only_mcgraw_hill_absent_from_apple_event.html </ref> iBooks is now available in the UK for the forthcoming launch of the iPad. However, the UK iBookstore has no books to buy at the moment - just out-of-copyright classics (but free).http://www.slashgear.com/ibooks-hits-international-ipads-but-ibookstore-is-bare-2586971/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+slashgear+%28SlashGear%29</ref>

MyPadMedia is a new membership website promising unlimited downloads to your iBooks for a lifetime $49 fee. No big name reviews yet saying it is okay. Here are some less familiar sources saying it is okay (buyer beware).http://ipad-downloadssite.com/mypadmedia-scam-or-real-deal-for-ipad-book-downloads/ http://www.squidoo.com/mypadmediascam Will update ...

Download textbooks for the best prices using the free iPhone application called Book$Price from Direct Textbookhttp://www.prweb.com/releases/college-textbooks

"The Elements: A Visual Exploration" for the iPad has sold 20,000 copies http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/04/the-curious-tale-of-the-wooden-table-that-became-an-ipad-book.html

Toy Story Read-Along is a free iPad ebookhttp://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20002462-1.html

Steve Jobs said during the iPad product announcement "We're going to open the flood gates for the rest of the publishers in the world starting this afternoon". Five Major Book Partners were announced at product announcement most of whom had been speculatively identified earlier:http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/01/18/harpercollins_in_talks_to_offer_content_for_apples_tablet.html

Surprisingly, McGraw-Hill Education was absent despite repeated rumors prior to the announcement.http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/01/28/ipad_ibooks_app_us_only_mcgraw_hill_absent_from_apple_event.html

The pricing of e-books is likely change according to industry analysts as Amazon's domination of e-books and their typical $9.99 pricing through its Kindle reader would come to an end.http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/21/technology/ebook_pricing.fortune/index.htm Note that most ebooks at Barnes & Noble are also $9.99http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/15/AR2010011501623.html

iBooks is an iPad application just like iTunes or the Apple App Store. There is a 3D (virtual of course) bookshelf that contains your personal collection. You add books to the bookshelf as you buy and iBooks downloads them. There are now more books (26,000+) on iTunes than games (24,000+).http://gigaom.com/2010/03/02/books-now-outnumber-games-on-the-iphone/

A book is read using your fingers as done on all touchscreen devices. Flip to the next page by tapping anywhere on the right while a tap to the left side of the screen flips the page back. There of course is a button to go directly to the iBookstore. The full-color 9.7 inch screen also supports video embedded in the iBooks application.

The iBook interface offers a visual display to navigate the book and a means to skip chapters.http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2010/01/ibooks_from_apple.html

The iPad ebook reader relies on the widespread ePUB ebook standard developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum and used by many ereaders.http://theappleblog.com/2010/01/27/ibooks-app-ibook-store/ However, just using the ePUB format doesn't make the ebook compatible with other eBook readers due to different DRM software.http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14382854?nclick_check=1 While the ebooks in the iBookstore will be ePUB format with DRM, Apple is allowing the iPad to download DRM-free ePUB ebooks via iTunes which can then synch to the iPad.http://www.apple.com/ipad/features/ibooks.html This means This means Project Gutenberg, a digital library of free ebooks should be downloadable to the iPad.http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/23/project-gutenberg-books-will-work-on-the-ipad/ Instructions on getting Project Gutenberg books to your iPad are found in the referenced articles.http://www.gilsmethod.com/how-to-access-30000-free-ebooks-for-the-ipad http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=8920

Good Reader for iPadhttp://download.cnet.com/GoodReader-for-iPad/3000-2124_4-75177157.html - synch books from iTunes

Stanza - This free iPhone app has ability to download and read books (see video below). Lexcycle's Stanza, an Amazon owned company), has been stripped of its USB ePub transfer capability at the request of Apple.http://www.ipodnn.com/articles/10/02/02/part.of.campaign.against.amazon/

The April Distimo Reporthttp://distimo.createsend3.com/t/r/l/bddfh/tukhsidt/j has the following ebooks on the Top 20 free applications list.

Rank Application - Publisher

1 iBooks - Apple Inc.

12 Alice for the iPad-Lite - Atomic Antelope

The Wall Street Journal will cost $17.99 per month on the iPad.http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/25/wsj-on-ipad-17-99-a-month-magazines-to-be-at-or-near-newsstand/

Most publishers releasing digital book titles to the iBookstore will be locked by Fairplay digital rights management software. Fairplay was used on iTunes music until a year ago and continues to be used on other iTunes store content. Adobe Content Server 4 will be used on ePub content.http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/02/apple-ibooks-drm-fairplay.html

In a sneak peak at the iBookstore, 27 of the Top 32 books on the New York Times Bestseller list were priced at $9.99.http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2010/03/apple-ebook-prices-revealed.html The prices have now risen to $12.99.http://www.macrumors.com/2010/03/26/ibookstore-best-seller-prices-suddenly-jump-to-12-99/ Expect some volatility on prices as Apple and publishers come to terms on pricing.

Mygazines is technically an iPad app but it is really an alternative magazine e-reader.http://www.newslish.com/2010/04/mygazines-does-not-launch-an-ipad-app/ These magazines are typically specialty ones.http://www.mygazines.net/publications/index/?v=recent_published

The Amazon Kindle store has over 410,000 titles including 8,000 blogs and 130 domestic and international news sources (newspapers and magazines).http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/01/29/amazon_has_sold_millions_of_kindles_overall_sales_increase_42.html

Check out Kobo as well www.kobobooks.com touting more than 2 million ebooks.

Will you see books from independents on the iBookstore? Many independents are expressing reservations on the approval process necessary to get their title listed.http://www.utne.com/alt-wire/ipad-ibooks-and-independent-publishing-7143.aspx

Google public domain books in ePub format can be downloaded via iTunes onto your Mac or PC and then synch with your iPad.http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/books/thread?tid=19b845d194af4217&hl=en