eText technical requirements

Access to your eText is provided through Vital Source Technologies. Once you have created a VitalSource Bookshelf account, they provide a number of options for you to read your eText both online (Bookshelf ^® Online) and offline (Bookshelf ^® Downloadable or one of the Bookshelf ^® Mobile apps).

We strongly recommended that you download your eText.

To see the technical requirements for the computer or mobile device on which you wish to view your eText, click on the appropriate links below.

Bookshelf^® Online

Supported Platforms:

• Windows
• Mac OS X

Supported Browsers:

• Firefox
• Safari
• Google Chrome
• Microsoft IE (not recommended)

In general VitalSource will support two versions of a Web Browser; the current version and one back. Browser support will be reviewed and updated every six months.

Note: Depending on the file provided by the publishers, some browsers may work better than others. If you encounter difficulties accessing or using your eText, for assistance:

• Undergraduate Faculty of Business Students should contact business-support@athabascau.ca
• Undergraduate and Graduate Faculty of Science and Technology Students should contact fst_success@athabascau.ca
• All other students should contact the Computing Services IT Help Desk

See the VitalSource Support article Bookshelf Online for a current list of supported browser versions.

Limited Support:

VitalSource provides limited support for all Tablet and Smartphone browsers. However, they do not recommend that you use Bookshelf^® Online on your mobile device . Instead, users should install the appropriate Bookshelf^® Mobile app (for iOS, Android, or Kindle Fire).

Bookshelf^® Downloadable for PC (Windows) or Mac

See the VitalSource Support article Bookshelf for Mac and PC for a list of the software and hardware requirements.

Note: Once you have installed Bookshelf^® Downloadable, you will require an internet connection to download your eText. Once downloaded, you will be able to read your eText offline.

Bookshelf^® Mobile for iOS (iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch)

See the VitalSource Support article Bookshelf for iOS for version and system requirements.

You will also need a valid Apple ID in order to download the Bookshelf^® iOS app from the App Store.

Bookshelf^® Mobile for Android and Kindle Fire

VitalSource Bookshelf^® is supported in the latest versions of Android and Kindle Fire. See the VitalSource Support article Bookshelf for Android and Kindle Fire for version and system requirements.

Note: VitalSource Bookshelf^® for Android will not work on the Barnes & Noble Nook.

You will also need a valid Google Play account in order to download the app from the Google Play market.