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Archive for August, 2009

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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Posted in Instructors, Students, Uncategorized | 2 comments

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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Posted in Instructors, Mobile, Students | 8 comments

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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Posted in Instructors, Mobile, Students | 14 comments