SmartGo Books

I love it for learning Go, but more than that, it makes iPhone/iPad learning exactly how it should be. Wherever I am, I buy a book, read some ideas, apply them in the interactive game diagram, and keep going. Awesome.<br/><br/>Also, the book selection has gotten better and better over time, and is now fantastic. Most of my favorites (missing only the Elementary Go series) are there. Plenty for anyone to learn from.

Seldom do we find an imitation that surpasses the original. A better Go book!

The ebook format used in this app was designed with go books in mind. The diagrams, which are key elements of go books, have powerful features. When reviewing a game rather than just studying the numbered stones you have the option of actually stepping through the moves and watching the board evolve. Also, you can play problems out in the app. <br/><br/>I had a small library of paper books which I've been replacing with Go Book versions because they're so much better than paper.

HIGHLY recommended!! Read previous reviews for more details. They’re very well written and helpful. This app is a spectacular resource for books to improve at Go. Some of my favorite app highlights include...<br/>- Interactive diagrams! Being able to rewind and SEE a sequence as it plays out is vastly superior to simple numbered diagrams in paper books. It’s much easier to really UNDERSTAND the moves. <br/>- Syncing and reading books between devices (both iOS and macOS).<br/>- Huge book selection in store, readily organized by strength/level, making it easy for a kyu player to select a book good for their level.<br/>- Suggested reading lists and other resources.<br/>- If there’s a better Go ebook library out there, I haven’t found it. <br/>...and of course, it saves weight and space over paper books 🙂<br/><br/>I really don’t have anything to complain about. There is room for minor improvements...<br/>- The interface is not as polished/easy as some other ebook apps. I don’t really mind. Not a hindrance; just a note. <br/>- Place in book (and sometimes bookmarks) don’t seem to sync. Not a big deal. <br/>- DRM! 😠 While I understand the necessity to try to protect authors’ work, I really, really, REALLY dislike DRM and will choose less convenient apps/stores to avoid DRM’d books whenever possible. At the very least, I like to be able to download and store backup copies just in case (darned shame to lose a whole library under unforeseen circumstances).

It’s so helpful to be able to play through examples. 100 books each with free chapters you can try. Then buy and read them here or in your Mac.

This format is really a revolutionary way of viewing go books. So for that the app is really great. As a book app though the interface is really frustrating. <br/><br/>Bookmarks are able to be set but I have no idea how you actually view them again. There is no index of bookmarks or anything to view ones that are set. Adding notes is a cool feature but it displays as if the note is part of the document with a confusing bookmark icon next to it.<br/><br/>You can recover purchases on other devices using an email address, but it isn't a synced book. So you don't transfer your progress in a book or any notes or bookmarks. <br/><br/>I also wish there was some integration with smartgo kifu where I could send problems from books over to that app so I could track ones that I am having difficulty with all in on place. <br/><br/>I think this has a tremendous amount of potential, and there really isn't any other app competing with this. I just hope the overall interface can evolve into something truly amazing.

I’m currently a 5k and member of AYD. I’ve been playing for about 3.5 years. I have found this app invaluable in making Go book more accessible. Being able to play through the diagrams/examples is a very effective way to learn.<br/><br/>One suggest, I wish they would make the app compatible with the apple keyboards. Being able to click through the diagrams would be much better than touching the screen all the time or having to reposition the mouse. <br/><br/>Thanks for a great app.

The feature where you can play the examples rather than have to mentally visualize them alone is worth several time the price of admission.