ebrary is launching their new interface January 20, 2009. The new look allows for quicker navigation and a sleeker look, and the long-time coming QuickView — which allows users instant access to the full text of ebooks WITHOUT DOWNLOADING THE EBRARY READER! This and other features of the new interface are described in the ebrary technology site.
You may preview the new ebrary interface from their demo site. To view the new interface, Just go to http://exdemo.ebrary.com/lib/uidemo and use the login information sent via email. Should you need the login information for the demo, please ask Noelle.
So, I’ll start by noting that I have seen no evidence yet of the Quickview option within ebrary, but here’s the press release:
November 3, 2008 – Palo Alto, CA, USA – A Reader is no longer required to view documents in ebrary® on Windows or Linux operating systems.
The leading provider of e-content software and services today announced the availability of ebrary QuickView™, which enables end-users to instantly view documents in many of the leading web browsers and even works on the iPhone. No software downloads or installations are needed.
Currently offered in conjunction with ebrary’s new Java-based Reader™, ebrary QuickView is ideal for quickly accessing and exploring documents in the ebrary system such as e-books, maps, journals, reports, and other authoritative information. For a richer and more productive research experience, an end-user can also choose to use ebrary’s Java-based Reader. For example, an end-user can use QuickView to quickly browse through a document online, then use ebrary’s Java-based Reader for added functionality such as printing, copying and pasting, highlighting, note taking, and ebrary InfoTools™.
ebrary QuickView currently offers the following key features:
- Instant viewing and page flipping in a web browser
- Relevancy ranking at the chapter level with links to specific sections
- Navigate to search terms or specified pages
- Search within document for key words
- View and navigate to highlights and notes created using an ebrary Reader
- Multiple view magnifications
ebrary offers several viewing options including its new Java-based Reader with QuickView and ActiveX Reader.
I’ll keep you all posted as the Quickview option becomes more transparent.
As I discovered this morning, there is an issue when using Firefox 3 to access Ebrary. Once you have installed the Ebrary Reader, you may find that you have inadvertently wandered into an “install missing plug-ins” loop. If this is the case, don’t worry, there is a way out.
Mac: save the plug-in to LibraryInternet Plugins folder on your Macintosh HD
Windows: save the plug-in to My ComputerLocal Disk C:Program FilesMozilla FirefoxPlugins then restart your browser
This should free you from the loop. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Nancy
