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Question

PDF Books from iTunes

Apr 4, 2015 6:50AM PDT

Started using iTunes and made a few purchases. Discovered that I could buy an album, download it and then save the songs to another drive for backup, but that could not be done for movie, which have to be played in iTunes, and on the same device (or shared devices). Which is okay since I don't watch a lot of movies and use iTunes to hunt down rare soundtracks.

I'm confused about books. Every book I checkout says that you must have iBook installed and iOS as an operating system to view the book. On other sites people keep talking about getting "the PDF of the book" from iTunes.
So, I guess my questions are; 1) where do I find any PDF books or magazines in iTunes, and 2) how to I download them as PDFs that can be viewed anywhere?
Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
The reason behind all this is simple.
Apr 4, 2015 7:33AM PDT

Let's say you buy your book as a PDF and without copy protection. It's a sure bet that sales will be less than if the content was locked down in some way. The author might have a free PDF somewhere but if you insist on PDF, the author has a choice to offer this or not.

A few folk I've run into think the author should have no say!
Bob

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reply
Apr 4, 2015 7:48AM PDT

Thanks for the reply, but doesn't answer my questions.
I understand the books are DRM protected, but are you saying that the books ARE in PDF format, but just DRM protected? They're not in epub or mobi or some other format?

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Won't matter.
Apr 4, 2015 8:06AM PDT

Even in PDF or any other format they are locked to that app. If you want epub, PDF or such, be sure to shop for such.

In parting, if you can print that book, all the Apples I've used let you print to a PDF file. Can you print it?

Remember the forum forbids DRM removal discussions so some are asking but that discussion can't happen here.
Bob

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Apr 4, 2015 8:37AM PDT

I haven't mentioned removal of DRM at all.
I'm just trying to understand how iTunes with books works.

I downloaded a selection of free books from iTunes and everyone was in epub format.
Can anyone tell me if any of the books on iTunes are in PDF format, because I just don't see any?
(although, like I said, other websites mention PDFs available on iTunes)

I don't like epub because they are not identical with the layout and fonts or the originals.

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See other reply.
Apr 4, 2015 8:40AM PDT

How iTunes works is on the web. What formats work in iBooks and such is well documented but it appears you are dancing around the usual question. How to get content out.
Bob

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PS. To answer how it works we have to cover DRM.
Apr 4, 2015 8:41AM PDT

You didn't mention it but since we are looking into it, DRM will pop up very fast.

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Apr 4, 2015 9:09AM PDT

But all I am trying to find out is whether any iTunes books are in PDF format. How difficult is that for you to understand? You don't know me, so don't try to say I'm doing something I'm not. Maybe others will bring up removal of DRM, but I'm not interested in that. I have a Windows machine, not a Mac. I can run iTunes on it, but I don't like epub format. Are you unable to accept that? I've given you no reason to believe any other reason for my request. I will say that it's a poor way to make a poster feel welcomed. Anyway, I probably won't see your reply to this, since I'll be off looking for someone who will give me a decent answer without any personal remarks. Have yourself the kind of day you deserve.

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They can be.
Apr 4, 2015 9:29AM PDT

But as you don't have any and all the books for sale are not in PDF (at least what I see in the store) the answer so far is simply no. You and I haven't seen PDFs for sale there.
Bob

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Answer
Let's look at iBooks native files.
Apr 4, 2015 8:20AM PDT