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Now Available! Updated “eTextbooks for the Iphone” App

October 14th, 2009 by Sean B

This update includes several enhancements to the application’s speed, performance and ease of use.

What’s new in this update?

  • eTextbook pages now load 25% faster!
  • Improved next/previous page navigation in landscape mode
  • Fixed problems that prevented certain eTextbooks from appearing on the bookshelf
  • Many more speed, stability and quality improvements

Improved next/previous page navigation in landscape mode

This was the most frequently requested new feature on the CourseSmart blog and iTunes App Store reviews.

Navigation_in_Lanscape_Mode_v1-1

The new design preserve as much screen real estate as possible for the eTextbook page image while making it easy to get to the next or previous  page.

What’s next for the CourseSmart iPhone App?

You tell us! Use the comments on the blog to let us know what you like about the app and what still needs work.

Dude. Where is my book?

September 28th, 2009 by Sean B

In the weeks after the App Store launch, reviews and support calls trickled that started with, “Hello. I downloaded the new iPhone App and it’s great! BUT, one or more of my books are missing…”

We are addressing the root cause as fast as we can. Continue reading to learn what we fixed and what’s still on our to to list.
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Real Student Reviews CourseSmart’s iPhone App

September 4th, 2009 by Sean B

This week AppJudgment released an enthusiastic review of CoureSmart’s “eTextbooks on the iPhone” app from the student point of view.

AppJudgment » Episode 11: iPhone: eTextbooks

Clarification: The iPhone App allows you to view the notes you make from CourseSmart’s online eReader. That point may be lost in AppJudgment’s review of the notes feature.

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Update: eTextbook Pages Load 25% Faster on the iPhone!

September 2nd, 2009 by Sean B

What? CourseSmart’s “eTextbooks for the iPhone” will now load book pages upto 25% faster.

How? We eliminated extra info sent with page image. This reduces the amount of data transmitted over the internet.

When? Right now! You do NOT need to update your app.

Why? You spoke and we listened. We prioritized speed and stability over new features in August.

Where? Any iPhone or iPod Touch with an internet connection, active CourseSmart eTextbook subscriptions and the “eTextbook for the iPhone” app installed.

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What exactly is an eTextbook anyway?

August 18th, 2009 by CSAdmin

Lots of people ask me this question.  Mostly because until you see an eTextbook, it is hard to visualize it.  So check out the video below for a visual!

What other questions do you have?  I’ll respond here.  Thanks.

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Design Discussion: Zoom-in and Next Page

August 14th, 2009 by Sean B

CourseSmart uses image files to display true digital equivalents of the textbook pages. As you will learn, this has a big impact on the “eTextbooks for the iPhone” application.

Using the Swipe Gesture to Scroll and Pan the Page

In many places on the  iPhone, a swipe gesture is used for next/previous page.  But when you view a “resized” image file, swiping “pans” left-to-right or “scrolls” top-to-bottom.

The app automatically zooms the image file to fit the screen width. This improves legibility immensely. That’s why you can’t swipe to get to the next page.

What’s the Best Way to Zoom-in?

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Thanks for the Customer Reviews!

August 14th, 2009 by Sean B

The initial response to CourseSmart’s “eTextbooks for the iPhone” app has been amazing. Many thanks to everyone that downloaded and reviewed the app in the App Store.

We are using the App Store reviews to prioritize enhancement for app updates. While several of these suggestions are already in the works, we need more reviews to make this the best iPhone app possible.

In addition to suggestions, the reviews included several questions and concerns about our commitment to preserving “true digital equivalency”:

  • Why didn’t CourseSmart use reflowable text like other eReaders and news applications?
  • Why is “true digital equivalency” so important?

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Downloadable and Online eTextbook formats supported

August 11th, 2009 by flyman

CourseSmart offers both a downloadable and online eTextbook format at www.coursesmart.com.  Subscribers to either format will be able to access their eTextbook via the eTextbooks for the iPhone app.

More information on our format in the clip below:

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Thanks for your interest in eTextbooks for the iPhone

August 7th, 2009 by flyman

We will be blogging here throughout our launch as we get questions and suggestions from the community about our app.

Feel free to download the app, check out the free demo, then buy your textbooks as eTextbooks from www.coursesmart.com.  Once you do you will have access to them online from your computer AND anywhere you have your iPhone or iPod touch.

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