Sencha embeds interactive CSS3 animations in iBook Author

In 2005, Adobe acquired Macromedia for $3.4 billion to branch out from conventional print publishing into the dynamic web market, largely to get ahold of Flash. Using web standards, Apple has bridged conventional publishing with dynamic, interactive animation in iBooks Author, and Sencha has demonstrated how to extend iBooks with custom, Flash-free animations.

Apple incorporates support in iBooks Author for several built-in widgets, including a gallery viewer, a 3D model viewer, interactive images and review questions. Authors can also create interactive components within Keynote to embed into iBooks, or create their own widgets using Dashcode.

Web developer Sencha has now demonstrated how to use its graphical Sencha Animator tool (below) to build Flash-like animations with interactivity using the features of CSS3, which can then be incorporated into iBooks.

This lets non-programmers create interactive, animated content they can include in their own titles. Once created, users currently have to add an info.plist descriptor file and set the file type to .wdgt, identifying it as a Dashboard widget. The component can then simply be dragged into a iBooks Author page within an HTML widget.

Authors can also develop their own custom widgets using Apple's Dashcode, which is available as part of the Xcode developer tools. However, this requires more sophisticated development skills than many publishers accustomed to working in print are likely to have.

iBooks Author is Apple's strongest push yet into Adobe's print production territory. While Apple has sold iWork Pages for desktop publishing, EPUB and PDF output, iBooks Author aims at capturing an exclusive role in creating sophisticated iPad ebooks, starting with textbooks in the education market where Apple already maintains a strong position.

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9 Comments

MacPro 19838 comments · 18 Years

About 12 years ago

Hype from Tumult can also be used to create interactive material for iBook Author.
http://tumultco.com/hype/

edit : after thought... but like Sencha there is hack required to make the .wdgt file, they will hopefully add a simple 'export as a widget' in the next few weeks.

mdriftmeyer 7395 comments · 20 Years

Who really cares?

Adobe is killing Flash in the embedded space.

How about these folks work on Canvas, WebGL,WebCL and use custom controls with Javascript to create this stuff?

ungenio 49 comments · 14 Years

Apple will once again start a publishing-related tsunami like the one it started in the 80s. Adobe has no other options than follow the curse and release already those HTML5 tools they are working on, or they'll miss the first, all-important market-setting waves. And enough of that maritime figures

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ungenio

Apple will once again start a publishing-related tsunami like the one it started in the 80s. Adobe has no other options than follow the curse and release already those HTML5 tools they are working on, or they'll miss the first, all-important market-setting waves. And enough of that maritime figures

I agree but this time I hope Apple remains in the race and at the front. Not just lay the ground work for Adobe to become the giant who them moves to Windows and relegates Macs to last place.

Originally Posted by digitalclips

I agree but this time I hope Apple remains in the race and at the front. Not just lay the ground work for Adobe to become the giant who them moves to Windows and relegates Macs to last place.

Well, I think Apple is more interested in selling iPads than leading the publishing software, or any other non-massive software related market by the way.

In any case, Apple may need to bring the textbook approach to comics, magazines and newspapers if related software companies continue with their tepid innovation. Adobe has already wrestled Apple and knows what's coming to them if they try to use the tactics you're talking about.