How to Use Kotobee Author to Create Interactive Publications

Kotobee Author Review — Features, Pricing, and Best UsesKotobee Author is a desktop and cloud-based application designed to create interactive, multimedia-rich eBooks and digital publications. It targets educators, publishers, instructional designers, and businesses that need responsive, embeddable e-learning content. This review covers its core features, pricing structure, strengths and weaknesses, and the best use cases to determine whether Kotobee Author fits your workflow.

What Kotobee Author is (briefly)

Kotobee Author is an interactive eBook creation tool that allows authors to combine text, multimedia (audio, video), widgets (quizzes, interactive widgets), and code (HTML/CSS/JavaScript) into responsive EPUB, web apps, mobile apps, and SCORM packages. It’s intended to bridge the gap between static ebooks and fully interactive learning content.

Key Features

• Authoring interface

  • WYSIWYG editor with a sidebar for chapters/sections.
  • Support for importing Word, PDF, and EPUB source files to accelerate content creation.
  • Page templates and style controls for consistent design.
  • Drag-and-drop placement of media and widgets.

• Multimedia support

  • Embed video and audio (local files or external links).
  • Support for image galleries, SVG, and embedded web content (iframes).
  • Built-in media player controls and captions.

• Interactive widgets and assessments

  • Built-in widgets: multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, and hotspots.
  • Advanced widgets: timelines, accordions, flashcards, and polls.
  • Custom widgets created with HTML/CSS/JS for tailored interactions.
  • Quiz reporting and score tracking when exported as SCORM or Tin Can (xAPI).

• Responsive layout and themes

  • Publications adapt to desktop, tablet, and mobile screens.
  • Multiple themes and style customization, with CSS editing for full control.

• Export options and publishing

  • Export to EPUB (EPUB 3), PDF, HTML5 web app, desktop app (Windows/Mac using Kotobee Reader SDK), Android and iOS apps, SCORM, and xAPI packages.
  • Host on Kotobee Cloud to serve web books and manage access.
  • Embed books in websites via iframe or embed script.
  • Generate protected books with licensing, DRM-like restrictions, and expiration dates when using Kotobee Cloud.

• LMS integration and tracking

  • SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 support for LMS compatibility.
  • xAPI (Tin Can) support for more detailed analytics.
  • Integration with LMS platforms through exported packages or hosted content.

• Collaboration and team features

  • Kotobee Cloud provides team workspaces, user roles, and online hosting.
  • Versioning and access controls when using cloud-hosted books.

• Developer-friendly capabilities

  • Customization via CSS and JavaScript.
  • API endpoints when using hosted services.
  • Ability to add interactive widgets and third-party scripts.

Pricing Overview

Kotobee’s pricing is tiered and includes both desktop license options and cloud subscription plans. Precise figures change over time; check Kotobee’s site for current rates. Typical structure:

• Free or trial tier

  • Often limited exports (watermarked or limited features).
  • Good for evaluation and light use.

• One-time desktop license

  • Perpetual license for Kotobee Author with optional paid upgrades.
  • May limit certain export formats or advanced features unless paired with cloud.

• Cloud subscription plans

  • Monthly/annual tiers for Kotobee Cloud hosting, team collaboration, storage, and advanced publishing options.
  • Higher tiers include app generation (Android/iOS), DRM/protection, SCORM/xAPI reporting, and higher usage quotas.

• Enterprise / custom pricing

  • Custom quotes for large organizations, white-label app builds, and on-premise needs.

Prospective buyers should calculate total cost including cloud hosting, app generation, and any per-app submission costs (Apple/Google developer fees).

Strengths

• Feature-rich for interactive content: Widgets, multimedia, and custom code enable complex learning materials.
• Flexible export options: EPUB, HTML5, SCORM, mobile/desktop apps cover many publishing scenarios.
• Responsive design: Books adapt across devices without separate builds.
• LMS compatibility: SCORM/xAPI support makes it suitable for formal e-learning.
• Developer extensibility: JavaScript/CSS access and custom widgets allow bespoke interactions.
• Cloud hosting and access control: Useful for organizations that want central management and restricted access.

Weaknesses

• Learning curve: Full feature set and custom widget coding can be complex for beginners.
• Design limitations: WYSIWYG editor can feel constrained compared to full web design tools; deep customization requires CSS/JS skills.
• Performance: Very media-rich books can be heavy; optimization required for smooth mobile playback.
• Pricing complexity: Costs can add up when factoring in cloud services, app builds, and enterprise needs.
• Dependency on ecosystem: Some features (DRM/advanced analytics) require Kotobee Cloud or paid tiers.

Best Uses / Ideal Users

• Educators building interactive textbooks and courseware that need quizzes, video, and student tracking.
• Instructional designers creating SCORM/xAPI-compliant modules for corporate LMSs.
• Publishers converting print content into enriched digital editions with multimedia.
• Businesses producing training manuals, product guides, and internal knowledge bases with access control.
• Developers and power users who want to build custom interactive experiences using HTML/CSS/JS inside an eBook framework.

Less ideal for purely static eBooks where a simple EPUB or PDF suffices, or for users who want drag-and-drop visual design at the fidelity of tools like Adobe InDesign without coding.

Workflow Example: Creating a SCORM Course

1. Import Word or EPUB content into Kotobee Author.
2. Organize chapters and add interactive widgets (quizzes, hotspots).
3. Embed videos and audio; add captions and transcripts.
4. Apply responsive theme and tweak CSS for branding.
5. Enable SCORM/xAPI reporting; map quiz results to LMS tracking.
6. Export as SCORM package and upload to LMS, or host on Kotobee Cloud and connect via xAPI.

Practical Tips

• Start with templates and import features to speed initial setup.
• Optimize media: compress images and transcode video for web/mobile.
• Use custom widgets sparingly—test across targets (web, mobile, apps).
• If you need strict DRM or analytics, plan for Kotobee Cloud subscription.
• Test SCORM/xAPI packages in a sandbox LMS before full deployment.

Alternatives to Consider

• Adobe InDesign + plugins — stronger layout/design control, less interactivity natively.
• Rise 360 / Articulate Storyline — more focused on e-learning with robust SCORM features and branching scenarios.
• PubCoder — focused on interactive ebooks with a visual authoring approach.
• Pressbooks — web-first book publishing with simpler workflows for educators.
• Sigil / Calibre — for more manual EPUB editing and conversion (less interactive).

Verdict

Kotobee Author is a powerful, flexible tool for creating interactive, multimedia eBooks and e-learning content. It excels when you need responsive, trackable publications that combine media, quizzes, and custom interactions. For educators and organizations needing SCORM/xAPI compatibility, cloud-hosted distribution, and app exports, Kotobee provides a comprehensive solution. However, be prepared for a learning curve, potential performance tuning, and additional costs for cloud services and app generation.