iPad iOS 8.4.1 vs iTunes 12 - how to sync ebooks?

[Giuanniello]

Hello,

until I get a dedicated ebooks reader (probably a Kindle) I'd like to use my old iPad2 with iOs 8.4 (don't want to upgrade as two apps I have won't work on iOs 9) to read ebooks but I lost track on how to upload files from computer to iPad, back in time it was iTunes to serve the purpose, now I can't see the ebooks library into it but I have them into the iBooks app.

Apple used to be so easy to use, with passing time it gets more and more complicated...

Grazie

 

[smbu2000]

Don't you just select the "Books" Tab in iTunes and then you can add/sync any Books or PDFs through that?

Older articles:
https://www.dummies.com/consumer-electronics/tablets/ipad/how-to-transfer-pdfs-to-an-ipad/
https://ebookfriendly.com/3-ways-add-ebooks-iphone-ipad/

I don't have iTunes 12, but I just connected my iPad 2 to my M1 Mac Mini (running Big Sur) and the "Books" tab is still there and available to sync books onto it. My iPad 2 is running an even older version of iOS than yours, it has iOS 4.3.3 on it.
Or you could try one of the other ways besides iTunes as mentioned in the second link above.

 

[rui no onna]

Don't you just select the "Books" Tab in iTunes and then you can add/sync any Books or PDFs through that?

Older articles:
https://www.dummies.com/consumer-electronics/tablets/ipad/how-to-transfer-pdfs-to-an-ipad/
https://ebookfriendly.com/3-ways-add-ebooks-iphone-ipad/

I don't have iTunes 12, but I just connected my iPad 2 to my M1 Mac Mini (running Big Sur) and the "Books" tab is still there and available to sync books onto it. My iPad 2 is running an even older version of iOS than yours, it has iOS 4.3.3 on it.
Or you could try one of the other ways besides iTunes as mentioned in the second link above.

Apple removed Books from iTunes a long time ago. They made a separate Books app for Mac but there's no such counterpart on Windows.

Personally, I just use Dropbox for my ebooks. Can't do batch sync to iBooks though. I use Marvin 3 for EPUB reading. It's sadly abandonware but it's still my favorite reader for iOS.

 

[Giuanniello]

The complicated route is to add ebooks to dropbox and open them on the iPad then save them locally, iTunes can't sync any longer nor can the Books app on the Mac (I use a mac) neither iCloud since my iPad can't use the iCloud app which would have made things much easier.

I hope there will be a drop in price for the Kindle during the Black Friday so I can forget about they sync complications.

Grazie

 

[smbu2000]

Oh, it doesn't let you sync. Even when it shows up.
Have you tried something like iMazing?
https://9to5mac.com/2021/09/15/imazing-ios-data-backup-device-transfer/
I think they do have a free trial.

Or If you have an older Mac running High Sierra or earlier you may be able to use the older version of iTunes 12.6.3 before Apple removed things like Books and being able to save apps on your Mac. They still have it archived for Enterprise purposes.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208079

It's not compatible with Mojave and later though.

 

[Giuanniello]

Yes, I have an old Mac running High sierra, it is a 2010 Mini which serves as a music server for lossless audio, might give it a try, great suggestion!!!

Will keep you posted, in the meantime I used the old but reliable DropBox method and moved a manual from the computer to the iPad, tedious but working solution...

Grazie again