iOS 6 may bring iBooks to Apple TV

By Ed Sutherland on Sep 5, 2012

Until now, Apple TV seemed to assume the role of livingroom entertainment center. However, the device may soon find a new home: the classroom. The latest beta of iOS 6 suggests Apple could display digital textbooks on large in-class screens, vastly updating how schools teach.

The clue came in an error displayed when AppleInsider downloaded an e-book from Apple’s iBookstore. Since the Apple TV unit shared the same iTunes account, a message appeared that an automatic download of the book failed because the device did not have the needed software. The iBooks software already exists for the iPhone and iPad… Read More

 

Will Textbooks for iPad Change Education?

By Jake Smith on Jan 20, 2012

Yesterday, Apple held an event focusing on education at New York City’s Guggenheim Museum to unveil a couple of new products that are supposed to change education. Apple opened up the event with the video below, where teachers explained what is wrong with education and why many students do not get the fullest education offered — or simply do not graduate.

Apple unveiled three new products yesterday: iBooks 2, iBooks Author, and iTunes U apps for the iPhone and iPad. iBooks 2 allows for textbooks publishers to sell their textbooks for $15 a pop, while iBooks Author allows for anyone to create text books simply through a Mac application. Lastly, iTunes U is an iOS app that allows for teachers to customize topics, provide students with office hours, post messages to the class, and give assignments.

With these announcements, Apple is working towards changing education, because really, education is not where it is supposed to be. But then comes the question: is Apple really the company that should be taking this charge, or should someone else? Moreover, will yesterday’s announcements make a difference? As someone infinitely familiar with the inter-workings of high school education, I try to breakdown why I do not think Apple is up for the task… Read More

 

The Economics Behind Apple’s Digital Textbook Initiative

By Cody Lee on Jan 19, 2012

During its New York-based media event this morning, Apple announced its plans to get into the digital textbook publishing business. We have a good recap of the event in case you missed it, but the gist of it all is fairly straight-forward.

Using new applications like iBooks 2 and iBooks Author, Apple plans to disrupt the textbook industry by making it easier for folks to publish and consume educational content. And what’s more impressive, they’re giving the tools away for free… Read More

 

iBooks Educational Event Wrap Up

By Jeff Benjamin on Jan 19, 2012

There’s been quite a bit to digest today regarding Apple’s excellent educational event. I think the rumors that we’d see a “Garageband” for iBooks pretty much panned out like we expected.

To sort out all of the details, we’ve compiled a post explaining the highlights from Apple’s event, along with details on the software involved and videos plus download links.

If you’re at all behind on Apple’s Media event this morning, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Read More

 

Apple Posts Educational Media Event Video

By Jeff Benjamin on Jan 19, 2012

Were you one of the one’s that didn’t enjoy standing in the freezing cold in NYC waiting to be let into Apple’s Media event? If so, then you were likely relegated to taking in one of many “live blogging” sessions posted by various online tech blogs.

For those of you wishing to consume the full media event as it was meant to be seen, then Apple has posted the entire one hour video online for your convenience. Be warned, it’s not the best quality, but it will do until a higher quality version is made available. Read More

 

iBooks Author Video Demonstration

By Jeff Benjamin on Jan 19, 2012

Along with our hands-on video of iBooks 2, we’ve also tackled Apple’s latest content creation tool, iBooks Author.

iBooks Author is the free Mac App Store app that allows you to create book content for use in iBooks. What’s great is that it’s not just for so-called textbooks. No, it’s for cookbooks, history books, picture books, and whatever else you mind can come up with. Read More

 

Watch Apple’s iBooks Textbooks Video

By Jeff Benjamin on Jan 19, 2012

Apple has posted a promotional video for their recently launched iBooks Textbooks feature, and you can watch it right now.

As you’re no-doubt aware of, Apple hosted a media event this morning in NYC to unveil their new education initiative.

We’ve tried the iBooks Textbooks ourselves, and we liked what we saw. Now you can head over to Apple’s website to see a video of their new take on educating the masses via the iPad and iBooks. Read More

 

Apple Releases iTunes 10.5.3, Brings TextBook Syncing

By Cody Lee on Jan 19, 2012

It’s been quite the busy morning for the folks out in Cupertino. During its education event, Apple released a handful of new applications including iBooks 2, iBooks Author, and iTunes U. But it didn’t stop there.

Apple has also released an update to its iTunes software today, bringing the music-syncing program to version 10.5.3… Read More

 

iBooks 2 ‘Life on Earth’ Textbook Video Demonstration

By Jeff Benjamin on Jan 19, 2012

We just got the chance to go hands-on with one of the first textbooks to appear in Apple’s textbook section of the iBookstore, and we were very impressed by what we saw.

Besides the fact that the book downloads are very hefty in size, making for a pretty lengthy download time over Wi-Fi, the content is great for education. Kids in school are going to learn a lot, and best of all, they’re going to enjoy doing so.

Check inside for our hands-on demonstration of E.O. Wilson’s Life on Earth — one of Apple’s flagship textbooks to demonstrate the power of textbooks on iPad… Read More

 

iBooks 2 Works on iPhone But Textbooks Are iPad Only [Updated]

By Jeff Benjamin on Jan 19, 2012

For those of you wondering whether or not iBooks 2 works on the iPhone or iPod touch, the answer is yes, with a catch.

You can update your current app to iBooks 2.0, but you still cannot download textbooks without an iPad. We also advise jailbreakers to stay away from the latest iBooks update… Read More

 

iBooks 2 Now Available — Download Now

By Jeff Benjamin on Jan 19, 2012

As promised, iBooks 2 has just hit the App Store, and you can download it right now.

If you don’t see the download when searching the app store on your iPad, then simple head over to this link in Mobile Safari.

As we covered, iBooks 2 is the latest update to iBooks that features the ability to download full text books, along with many other improved features… Read More

 

iBooks Author: A Free Mac App Dedicated to Creating Books

By Jeff Benjamin on Jan 19, 2012

iBooks 2 looks superb, but how does one go about creating the content? Apple’s answer? iBooks Author — a free Mac App Store app that allows you to create books for use in iBooks 2.

From the photos from The Verge’s live blog feed, the impression we get is that it’s a simple to use creation tool that looks like Pages meets Keynote meets Hypercard. In other words, it looks mighty slick, and easy to use… Read More