Apple has finally acknowledged the existence of the iPad outside of the US by splashing it across its UK website, but the news isn’t all good; there’ll be no iBook Store for Blighty when the device launches within the next couple of months.
The Apple UK site lists all of the big features available on the new touchscreen tablet device, including the tweaked Safari, Mail, Contacts, iTunes, and Photo applications but there’s no mention of the new marquee app – the iBook Store. A little further digging around the US-site tells us that, for now at least, that the iBook Store will be "US-only".
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We can only assume this is a licensing issue, but what is it about electronic books on these shores? We can’t seem to catch a break. The Amazon Kindle device was only recently made available to us after what seemed like an age, casting envious gazes across the Atlantic. And now this?
iPad owners in the UK will, at least, be able to use the Kindle app as normal, as well as a range of others currently up for grabs on the App Store. We must say were were excited to play with that shiny new touchscreen interface, but rumour has it that only books purchased from the iBook Store will be compatible with the app.
So at the moment, perhaps the leading feature pushing us towards splashing out on the iPad is a non-event for us Brits. We’ll be keeping our ears close to the ground on this one and will update you when any more news springs up.
Link: Apple (via Wired News)
