Google has updated its Google Play Books iOS app following its keynote address at Google I/O this morning, adding support for user uploaded PDF and ePub files.

googleplayuploads

Google Play, the world's largest eBook collection, just got bigger. Now, you can upload your own files to Google Play Books to access on Android, iOS, and the web. Whether you're a student with a backpack full of PDF printouts or an avid reader with hundreds of pages held captive on your computer, relieve your back and start adding files today!

After uploading your files, you can enjoy reading them with all the nice features available: bookmarks, highlights and notes, dictionary and more. What's more, your reading progress, highlights etc are synced to the cloud, so if you have multiple devices, you can easily pick up reading anywhere!

The Google Play Books app has also been redesigned to add a Read Now section, featuring books that have been recently purchased, upload, or read. This update also brings both stability and performance improvements.

Apple has long supported the ability to upload both ePub and PDF files through iTunes so the new version of the Google Play Books app brings it up to speed with iBooks.

Google Play Books is a universal app that can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

Huracan Avatar
157 months ago
When would Apple allow reading iBooks from any platform, i.e. through a browser? Perhaps through iCloud website. This is ridiculous. Amazon and Google are much better value for your book dollars, as you can read the material in many more platforms than iBooks.

Does anyone have a good reason why one should buy a book from the Apple bookstore as opposed to Amazon or Google to give an example? Perhaps I am missing something. Hopefully this will make Apple wake up and provide more value to their customers.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Klae17 Avatar
157 months ago
You know what I love about all these updates from Google? Because it MIGHT get Apple to move on the old and tired iOS. Hoping!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Snowy_River Avatar
157 months ago
If you purchase eBook on let's say a work computer, but your iTunes is on your home computer Mac. What would be the easiest more secure way (besides emailing it) to transfer back home? Voila, uploading it to the cloud.

Why not just redownload it when you get home? So long as the two computers both are connected to the same iTunes account, there's no problem here.

If the ebook in question is from another source, then, I would agree that Apple could make it a little easier to get it into iBooks, such as clicking on an ePub file in an email. But I don't see the need for a "cloud" solution.

I, personally, prefer iBooks for reading, for a number of reasons. However, I get many of my books in ePub format from other sources. Not having much in the way of non-iDevices, the lack of such support doesn't effect me that much. However, I am one who supports the idea of Apple creating broader support for more platforms with iBooks.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
conradwt Avatar
157 months ago
When would Apple allow reading iBooks from any platform, i.e. through a browser? Perhaps through iCloud website. This is ridiculous. Amazon and Google are much better value for your book dollars, as you can read the material in many more platforms than iBooks.

Does anyone have a good reason why one should buy a book from the Apple bookstore as opposed to Amazon or Google to give an example? Perhaps I am missing something. Hopefully this will make Apple wake up and provide more value to their customers.
I read a lot of technical books. Thus, I can usually get better deals on eBooks directly from publisher's website than Apple, Google, or Amazon. Furthermore, Apple uses the EPub format which works great for iDevices. However, Amazon only sells the Kindle format if you're talking about eBooks. Last but not least, why in world would I want to upload the eBooks that I have purchased?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Battery Capacity and Weight Allegedly Revealed

Monday May 19, 2025 2:22 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air later this year, and while there have been plenty of rumors about the camera's overall design and thinness, we haven't heard any details about the device's weight and battery capacity until now. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air has a weight ...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
WWDC 2025 Banner

Apple Announces WWDC 2025 Schedule, Including Keynote Time

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced a more detailed schedule for its annual developers conference WWDC, which runs from June 9 through June 13. The schedule confirms that Apple's keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with a live stream to be available on Apple.com, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube. During the keynote, Apple is expected to announce iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16,...
Apple Intelligence General Feature

Report: Apple's Next-Gen Version of Siri Is 'On Par' With ChatGPT

Monday May 19, 2025 9:00 am PDT by
Apple has big plans to improve Siri over the next few years, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett report. Some Apple executives are now reportedly pushing to turn Siri into a true ChatGPT competitor. A next-generation, chatbot version of Siri has reportedly made significant progress during testing over the past six months; some executives allegedly now see it as "on par" with recent...
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Apple Will Reportedly Be More Cautious About Announcing New Features Well in Advance

Sunday May 18, 2025 2:50 pm PDT by
Apple plans to mostly stop announcing new features more than a few months before they are ready to launch, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett. The pair of reporters revealed this noteworthy tidbit towards the bottom of a lengthy report about Apple's artificial intelligence shortcomings today. This alleged change in strategy comes after Apple was forced to delay its more...