Slides from the TOC 2012 session. http://www.toccon.com/toc2012/public/schedule/detail/24526

1. KF8 and iBooks Author:
Up and Running
Adam Witwer
Sanders Kleinfeld

2. Five Key Facts About KF8
• KF8 stands for “Kindle Format 8”, and is the latest
version of the Mobi format for Kindle devices.
• KF8 adds increased design capabilities for complex
content, and brings Mobi closer to EPUB. KF8 does not
support audio/video.
• KF8 is supported natively only on Kindle Fire.
• But KF8 is backward-compatible with all other Kindle
devices.
• KF8 enables distinct book design for Kindle Fire and
Kindle eInk/App via @media queries.

3. Fixed Layout of Content

4. “Pop-up” text…

5. …and “pop-up” panels

6. @media queries
With Kindlegen 2.3, you can use @media queries to earmark
CSS specifically for KF8-enabled devices (Kindle Fire) or
classic Mobi devices (Kindle eInk, Kindle for iOS)
@media amzn-mobi @media amzn-kf8
{ {
h1 { h1 {
font-size 20pt; font-size: 1.5em;
text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold;
margin-top: 0; font-family: "Free Sans Bold",
margin-bottom: 10px; sans-serif;
} margin-top: 20px !important;
} }
}

7. @media queries
Kindle eInk Kindle Fire

8. WHEN GOOD MEDIA
QUERIES GO BAD

11. O’REILLY’S KF8
WORKFLOW

12. Five Key Facts About iBooks Author
• iBooks Author files can be read only on iBooks 2.0
for iPad.
• There is no better tool for creating ebooks that are
digital first, use dynamic page designs, and are
truly interactive.
• You cannot export a print-ready PDF or any
standard ebook formats.
• You must enter into an agreement with Apple.
• You will only be able to sell your book in the
iBookstore.

13. EULA
Apple’s Mind-Bogglingly Greedy and Evil License
Agreement --ZDNet
Apple Unmasks the Death Star: iBooks Author
-- ExtremeTech
The Dark Side of Apple’s Digital Texbook Utopia
-- Washington Post
iBooks Author: You Work for Apple Now
-- PC Magazine

14. !!!
“If you want to charge a fee for a work that includes files in
the .ibooks format generated using iBooks Author, you may only
sell or distribute such work through Apple, and such
distribution will be subject to a separate agreement with Apple.
This restriction does not apply to the content of such works
when distributed in a form that does not include files in
the .ibooks format.”

15. A SHORT TOUR

16. LANDSCAPE

17. PORTRAIT

18. iBooks Author Workflow

19. iBooks Author Workflow:
What’s Missing?