Apple Books 13+

I have been addicted to using Apple Books ever since I purchased my iPad. It is smooth and has a simple interface, unlike other apps. Most importantly, it fits perfectly with the Apple ecosystem. However, there are some bugs that have existed for a long time without being fixed. Among them, the most annoying and frustrating one, also the most persistent one, is that notes made on highlighted texts in PDF files usually get lost after the file is closed and reopened while the highlights remain. It happens most frequently (actually, almost certainly) to the notes at the beginning of those files, although I am not sure whether that is because they are in the beginning of the files or they are the earliest notes in the files because obviously I tend to read the files from the first pages to the last. I contacted Apple Support regarding this problem. After recording my complaint, the agent suggested a phone call with their staff member. However, I have serious phone anxiety, therefore I preferred communication via text or email, never via phone calls. The agent said that the only available way was through phone calls, therefore I gave up. I really appreciate this app, it helped me read so many books, for school and for fun. But the loss of notes really annoys me. Please fix this problem.

The very first iBook app was the best. It was very easy to set up categories of books and then drag the books to the bookshelf. The page turn feature was great as was the range of fonts and character sizes. Many supposed upgrades later and all those wonderful features are gone or so cheapened to be disgusting. If I want to read a book with two pages shown, the largest font size is so small to be almost impossible to read. Jump up a character size and you end up with a continuous scrolling book with a character size way too big. I could go on and on, but unless the developers are paying attention, it’s just a waste of time….. I do not like audible books, my mind doesn’t work that way. I fully understand that apple makes way more profits from audiobooks and music and games. But I have been a loyal apple customer for a long time. Print books are the best, but I would have to buy a bigger home. Please, please, please fix this! Otherwise I may have to start looking elsewhere. Kindle, which used to be the worst book app is now way ahead of apple. You are very close to being at the bottom of my book app reading choices.

Frustration with iOS 16 disfunction leaves me wondering if the upgrade was tested before being released. I agree with the previous reviewer and won’t re-address those same concerns. However, I will address the book mark and scroll reading issues. The slightest touch while scroll reading activates the red book mark which (because I’m reading) needs to be cleared. Sometimes touching the red bookmark is enough to clear it, but other times you have to open the Themes and Settings menu and remove the bookmark there as well. This seems to be more sensitive with iOS 16 than previous versions.

Even more frustrating, though; when using the scroll reading feature near the end of a chapter the (scroll) screen jumps ahead - sometimes paragraphs ahead, sometimes pages ahead, sometimes to the end of the current chapter, or other times to the end of the book. Imagine trying to find where you were reading last when that happens. (An opportunity to use the search feature as long as you have the exact verbiage.)

Anyway, to fix the jumping scroll issue I change from scroll to page turning or sometimes I have decreased the font size, and then sometimes I have to close the book because it won’t reload after a font size change. And since the pages are renumbered you can’t just go to your last page and continue reading. Please FIX this bug in the near future. Thank you.