Apple launches new iBooks with continuous scrolling, better iCloud support, and page filters

Apple debuted a new version of its e-book application iBooks today, which features improved iCloud and social sharing support and more customization over how you consume your e-books.

If you hate having to flick the touch screen to turn a page, then this version of iBooks is for you. Apple has added a continuous scrolling feature that makes the reading experience much more like a long article via a web browser.

The company also added various page “filters” that alter the way a book’s pages look when you’re reading them. You can choose from a sepia-toned (old, yellowed paper) view, a view with a black background and white text, and a handful of others.

IBooks’ is also getting more social. The company has added greater support for iCloud and additional social tools for sharing on Facebook and Twitter.

Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook said the company now has over 1.5 million books in its iBooks store, and customers have downloaded more than 400 million books since the app first launched.

We first heard rumors about a new version of iBooks over the weekend, which hinted that Apple would create a more visually stimulating version of the app.

Photo by Dean Takahashi/VentureBeat