In a sure sign of the times, the world-famous Encyclopaedia Britannica has finally landed on iOS -- or at least part of it. The company has released the universal Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2011, which leaves at least some of those dusty old books behind.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. quietly released the Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2011 into the App Store this month, a $19.99 universal app that condenses 25,000 articles and 2,700 images into a mere 85MB download. Best of all, everything you need is right inside the app -- there’s no internet connection required.
“Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2011 contains over 25,000 articles and 2,700 images covering just about every aspect of human endeavor -- Arts, Business, Computers, Geography, History, Literature, Medicine, Philosophy, Politics, Pop Culture, Science, Sports, and more -- making it the perfect information resource for the entire family,” the app description reads. “Whether you're focusing on biographies, satisfying your knack for facts, or locating quick research data for work or school, answering your everyday questions has never been simpler.”
Of course, the encyclopedia publisher has taken advantage of the technology to provide a few nifty features such as “On This Day,” which highlights historical events on each calendar day as well as a browser-like interface that lets you view links within articles and even share what you’re reading with friends via email.
Want to learn something new totally at random? Shake your device and have a random article pop up like magic. Once you find something you like, save it easily as a Favorite, and you’ll also have access to your search history for the last 100 articles you’ve read.
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2011 is a $19.99 purchase from the App Store and available now; it requires iOS 3.0 or later and since it’s a universal app, it’s fully compatible with any iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.
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