Last modified: Wednesday, May 25, 2011
IU first university to offer publications on tablet devices through Apple iTunes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University is now the first higher education institution to partner with Adobe Systems Inc. to make university publications available for download to tablet devices through the Apple iTunes store.
Using Adobe's Digital Publishing Suite (DPS), IU's Libris application became available for free earlier this month, making a number of IU magazines and other DPS publications available through the store for distribution to the iPad. IU publications currently offered are IU Teaching & Learning, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Alumni Magazine, and the Principles of Excellence publication from IU President Michael McRobbie's office. Additional publications will become available in the future.
Sue Workman, associate vice president in IU's Office of the Vice President for Information Technology (OVPIT), said the new distribution model allows IU to broaden access to its publications and create an opportunity for a more sustainable publishing process that reduces paper and printing needs. She said other cost benefits could be realized as designers work simultaneously on both digital and print products.
"By developing publications within the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite with the customized viewer, Indiana University is in a unique position to offer one of the highest-quality viewing and reading experiences in the world," she said. "With this pilot project we can now offer a digital viewing experience on par with leading global publications."
Tablet users benefit by viewing IU publications on a variety of platforms, and with the launch of IU Libris, users will be able to view these publications on the iPad. In the future, tablet users will be able to access publications on Android-based tablets, the Samsung Galaxy, and the Blackberry Playbook. Adobe DPS also offers interactive, high-quality viewer features like 360-degree rotation and panoramas, template consistency, and the opportunity for IU to brand its viewer with unique display and navigation options.
To preview the IU Libris application and to download the 2.3 MB version, visit: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/iu-libris/id434236207?mt=8.
