2 replies to this topic

[TheSentinel]

Mr. University President, please don't adopt Apple's iBooks 2 platform
By Ryan Tyler

2012-01-19

I'm a second year doctoral student, and I've got some concern about something I heard today that I want to share with any forward-thinking university president, but also with you.

Many schools will be looking at a new e-textbook platform from Apple that will have long-lasting impact on curriculum, students, teaching and cost of education.

Dear President Jones:

Hi, I?m one of your Doctorate in Education students. I have a concern I would like to share with you.

As you well know, this year my tuition went up- again. I?ve seen all your emails explaining this situation -- that these are tough times with steep cuts in state funding due to a loss in tax revenue. I?m sure you know that, according to the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, college tuition went up 757 percent from 1980-2009. For perspective, healthcare costs during this same timeframe went up 401 percent. I think you know tuition is a real problem and truly do want to deliver us the highest quality education at an affordable price.

This is why I?m imploring you not to adopt Apple?s iBooks 2 platform for this university.

Today, Apple announced new iBooks 2 software that will make it so a student like myself can buy all his textbooks as interactive ebooks. Among other things, Apple says they?re going to fix the problem of ridiculously high textbook prices by offering books from publishers like McGraw Hill that would normally cost $75 for only $15 through iBooks 2. Additionally, they announced a way for my professors to easily publish their own textbooks and post them right onto Apple?s iBooks platform. They also released an app so that iTunes U can now become an easy way to do online learning, with iBooks integrated right in with audio and video.

More about these concerns at:
http://betanews.com/...oks-2-platform/

[TheSentinel]

Apple schools us on the next wave of textbooks
by Josh Lowensohn | January 21, 2012 4:00 AM PST

This week marked the end of speculation about Apple's plans to expand its business in the education market.

At a relatively low-key event held in New York this week, the company debuted a new version of its iBooks software with support for textbooks, alongside free authoring tools for Macs that can be used to create and publish new iPad-compatible works.

Additionally, Apple opened up its iTunes U program to any institution, including K-12 organizations, which expands the company's original pilot program from a select group of universities.

Of note, the announcements wrapped up a loose end introduced in Walter Isaacson's biography of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, which included details about textbooks being on Jobs' to-do list ahead of his death. Jobs had told Isaacson that he wanted to take textbooks digital, and tie them to the iPad--both things that came to pass with this week's unveilings.

More:
http://news.cnet.com...e-of-textbooks/

[TheSentinel]

Apple's iTunes education gamble is about building loyal consumers early
By Ed Oswald

2012-01-19

Two months ago, I argued here on BetaNews that despite the ever-increasing chorus of negativity surrounding Apple, its best days are ahead. One of my reasons for my belief is the young consumer, where the Cupertino company is building a considerable amount of brand equity.

Today's education-centric announcements only strengthen that argument. While there wasn't much pomp or circumstance, the significance is not the immediate announcements but what they mean for the future.

With the help of textbook publishers, high schools and universities, Apple's brand will be front and center among high school and college-aged students: these are impressionable consumers who are likely just coming into an increasing amount of disposable income.

Remember the Harris Interactive data I shared in November. The firm polled young consumers aged eight to 24. They found that Apple had strong brand equity in this key group -- in fact, it is the top brand in computers, phones and tablets among those 13 to 24. Apple beat out a long-established brand in HP, one of the biggest phone manufacturers in HTC, and dusted the floor with the Motorola XOOM.

As I said then, kids are growing up Apple. Now in high school and college, they find themselves logging onto iTunes to download their books and courses. Apple couldn't ask for anything more: it's a part of these kids' lives from childhood to adulthood.

The fact that so called "Generation Y" (born 1977-2000) eclipses the size of the "Baby Boomers" is another positive for the company. The collective buying power of Generation Y is going to be huge, much bigger than those before it, and Apple is uniquely positioning itself to ride that wave.

Read more:
http://betanews.com/...onsumers-early/