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.

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.

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.
Read the rest of this entry …

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.

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.

Read the rest of this entry …

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.

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?

Read the rest of this entry …