Books
Apple’s Books app has had a few tweaks in iOS and iPadOS 16. Here’s how to use them
IT WILL TAKE
> As long as you like
YOU WILL LEARN
> How to read a book on your Mac; use the new audiobook player; purchase ebooks, and customise the reading experience
YOU’LL NEED
> An iPad running iPadOS 16
The Books app got a minor refresh with the move to iPadOS 16. Admittedly, there’s nothing particularly dramatic, but the update is definitely worth having. Meanwhile, the audiobook player has also been revamped, with a new interface and a mini-player which makes it easier to listen to your book while doing other things on your iPad. The interface has had a brush-up too, with more customisation options and the ability to choose reading themes for different environments and moods.
As always, you can use the Books app to purchase digital reading material directly from Apple, and download samples of books before purchase. You can also add books obtained elsewhere, as long as they’re in a supported format, and organise them in your library. Here’s a guide on how to get the most from Apple’s amazing ebook experience.
Jargon buster
> An ebook is an electronic book read on an ebook reader or app. The Books app can use ePub books, titles created in Pages, PDFs and audiobooks in MP3, AAC and com formats.
Genius tip
The usual method of importing books to your Books app is to connect your iPad to your Mac and use the Finder, but you can email it to yourself instead. Then, in the email, tap and hold the book’s icon, and choose Share from the pop-up. In the next window, tap Books.
HOW TO Get more from the Books app
To buy audiobooks in the Books app, in the sidebar on the left (tap the top-left icon to reveal it if you’re holding the iPad in portrait
