What is a .IBOOKS file?
The .IBOOKS file extension is used for a special type of digital book that is designed to be read on Apple devices, such as Mac computers, iPhones, and iPads. These digital books are known as Multi-Touch iBooks because they are not just regular eBooks; they are interactive and can include a variety of media types. This means that in addition to text, an .IBOOKS file can have images, videos, 3D objects, and even presentations embedded within its pages. What makes these iBooks even more unique is that they allow readers to interact with the content using multi-touch gestures, like tapping, swiping, or pinching, to navigate through the book or engage with the multimedia elements.
The .IBOOKS format is based on the ePub 3 format, which is a standard for eBooks, but it includes some extra features that are specific to Apple's ecosystem. This makes .IBOOKS files particularly rich and interactive compared to standard eBooks.
To open an .IBOOKS file, you can use Apple Books, which is an application included with Apple's operating systems (iOS and macOS). This means if you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you already have the software needed to open and read an .IBOOKS file. Unfortunately, Apple Books is the primary program for opening these files, and since it's only available on Apple devices, opening .IBOOKS files on non-Apple devices can be challenging.
Previously, there was a program called Apple iBooks Author, which was used to create these .IBOOKS files. However, Apple has discontinued iBooks Author. Despite this, files created with iBooks Author can still be opened and read in Apple Books, ensuring that users can continue to enjoy the interactive iBooks they've downloaded or purchased.
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