3 Replies Latest reply: Jan 20, 2012 10:47 AM by Error7103 RSS

    FrameMaker and Apple's new iBook Author

    Arnis Gubins CommunityMVP
    Arnis Gubins Jan 20, 2012 8:59 AM

      If anyone is thinking about Apple's new iBook Author tool as possible approach to creating tech comm content, Scott Prrentice has just posted his first look at the tool and how it might fit in a FrameMaker-based workflow.

       

      See: http://blog.leximation.com/2012/01/apple-ibooks-author-and-adobe-framemaker/

       

      Thanks Scott!

      • 1020 Views
      • Tags:
        • 1. Re: FrameMaker and Apple's new iBook Author
          Error7103 Community Member
          Error7103 Jan 20, 2012 8:53 AM (in response to Arnis Gubins)

          If anyone is thinking about Apple's new iBook Author tool ...

           

          They need to first read the fine print before they make that mistake.

          iBA EULA terms just reported on Groklaw:

          "IMPORTANT NOTE:

          If you charge a fee for any book or other work you generate using

          this software (a “Work”), you may only sell or distribute such Work

          through Apple (e.g., through the iBookstore) and such distribution

          will be subject to a separate agreement with Apple."

           

          It may look like a pretty Walled Garden, but it's a prison nonetheless.

          ______

          I posted a response on the Leximation blog. It was in moderation

          and may not appear for a bit.

          • 2. Re: FrameMaker and Apple's new iBook Author
            Arnis Gubins CommunityMVP
            Arnis Gubins Jan 20, 2012 9:24 AM (in response to Error7103)

            Totally agree that is a restriction (along with the inability to even offer product in some markets as well). However, the concepts shown in the educational iBooks presented, sure make a compelling case for re-thinking the deliverables that are currently produced using the tools at our disposal in the TechComm Suite. End users are going to have higher expectations and will the available tools allow us to deliver?

             

            There are a couple of more posts on this topic by RJ Jacquez (former Adobe evangelist for Tech Comm products) at:

             

            http://rjacquez.com/the-real-killer-feature-in-apple-ibooks-author-is-preview/

            http://rjacquez.com/apple-ibooks-author-for-interactive-textbooks-and-mobile-learning-vide o/

            • 3. Re: FrameMaker and Apple's new iBook Author
              Error7103 Community Member
              Error7103 Jan 20, 2012 10:47 AM (in response to Arnis Gubins)

              Totally agree that is a restriction (along with the inability to even offer product in some markets as well).

               

              The blogosphere seems to be well aware of it. It's quite a reach for an EULA, and was probably cooked up back while Saint Steve was still in charge. Heck, why don't they just write in that you assign your copyright to AAPL.

               

              So anyone planning on becoming an iStore billionaire needs to know about it in advance.

               

              And the principal message is: do your original authoring on some other platform. Use iBA only to re-render for the iPrison.

               

              And we need some clarity on whether "the work" in the EULA is presumed to be pre- or post-iBA (or both).

              ______

              On further reflection as regards the blog link in the basenote, it may be no accident that iBA doesn't import some obvious formats like RTF or (pick up jaw) XML. I suspect that the AAPL lawyers are trying to discourage precisely what I recommend - author in some other tool. And no, I would not presume that they make no claims on your pre-iBA source document. This is lawyers we're talkin' about, after all, not human beings.