Apple Kills the Textbook with iBooks 2, iBooks Author

[onehandle]

Last edited Thu Jan 19, 2012, 02:25 PM - Edit history (1)

At the Guggenheim Museum in New York Thursday, Apple announced it would update its iBooks platform to include textbook capabilities and also added a new platform called iBooks Author, which lets anyone easily create and publish their own e-books. Apple's late co-founder and chairman Steve Jobs had hoped to bring relief to the higher education masses in the late 80s and early 90s, but 20 years later, Jobs's legacy lives on in Apple, which hopes to make yet another dent in the education industry.

At the beginning of the presentation, Apple's VP of public marketing Phil Schiller told the audience several pitiful statistics about U.S. education. For one, 70 percent of freshmen graduate in four years, but the country is ranked 17th in reading, 23rd in science and 31st in math. Assuming the human race isn't getting stupider, the statistics show that there is clearly a disconnect between students and their education.

Yet, the iPad offers a big opportunity for students to get excited about learning again. The iPad has already demonstrated it can help children with learning disabilities make leaps in bounds in their development, and schools have already invested heavily in Apple's tablet. Roughly 1.5 million iPads are currently in use in educational institutions.

At that point, Schiller introduced iBooks 2, which has a new textbook experience for the iPad. The first demonstration showed what it's like to open a biology textbook, and see an intro movie playing right before you even get to the book's contents. When you get to the book itself, images are large and beautiful, and thumbnails accompany the text. To make searching easier, all users need to do is tap on a word and they go straight to the glossary and index section in the back of the book. Navigating pages and searching is easy and fluid, and at the end of each chapter is a full review with questions and pictures. If you want the answers to the questions, instead of searching for a page toward the back of the book, all you need to do is tap the answer to get immediate feedback.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/284470/20120119/apple-kills-textbook-ibooks-2-author.htm

The demos were Amazing. These iBooks textbooks are simply astounding. No more lugging around back-killing sacks of books. Apple also introduced the iTunes U app when features fully interactive online courses. This is the first of Steve Jobs' legacy projects. One of many we will see roll out over the next several years.

On edit: I have great hope that this will help solve the growing problem of anti-science textbooks flowing out of Texas (and other red states). The power of publishing should be in the hands of educators, not right-wing power bases.

On edit 2: Must watch - Apple in Education
http://www.apple.com/education/#video-textbooks

[originalpckelly]

1. Yes, but it also may mean Neandertodd and Bob and make their own backasswards book.

[onehandle]

2. It's up to the school systems to review books. The problem with textbook publishing...

...is that its cheaper to mass produce. That's why so many blue states have to accept what red states publish.

With digital publishing, it's cheaper (first books will be sub-$15) and not restricted to one tree-killing run.

It's not foolproof, but with more choices, educators can avoid 'Neandertodd and Bob.'

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

87. But that means

everyone needs an e-book or iPad or whatever it's called, right? How do those get into the hands of every student? $$$$$

[tblue37]

110. There's an app for that.

Most computers can be used to read ebooks if you download an appropriate app. I read ebooks on both my Nook tablet and my HP desktop.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

52. Solid guess.

Neandertodd and Bob's last thought is writing a book.

[DontTreadOnMe]

3. "No more books from Texas!"

it makes a good bumper sticker

[Snake Alchemist]

4. Doubt this will fly.

How many iPads is a school willing to have lost or damaged?

[onehandle]

5. Bookmarked. nt

[frazzled]

8. Textbook loss, defacement, and damage is already a huge cost for school districts

I used to sit on a committee at a public school that dealt with this. Hard-copy textbooks are very expensive, and don't last that long. Kids lose them, deface them, or they simply wear out in a few years.

Two things will make e-books a better deal for schools:

(1) They can use them for a longer time, without replacement.
(2) Kids are not going to want to treat their iPads (or other tablets) like trash because they're fun and useful for other stuff. Of course there will be loss and damage due to accidents: kids aren't that responsible. But I'm guessing the costs won't be that bad in comparison to textbook loss. Schools can purchase base-level Kindle or other e-readers in bulk for probably very little, and skip the full-fledged tablet route.

I see this as the direction things will go.

[Snake Alchemist]

12. "Kids are not going to want to treat their iPads (or other tablets) like trash because they're fun"

ROFL. I just don't agree.

[joeglow3]

16. And I came to the opposite conclusion

As you said "Of course there will be loss and damage due to accidents: kids aren't that responsible." My son has lost or severely damaged a total of zero textbooks. However, some the things he has done (dropped, got water on, etc.) would have flat out destroyed a e-reader.

[Occulus]

114. The only answer to your complaint is a fully-sealed, spillproof tablet.

I don't think that's even possible yet.

[obamanut2012]

9. Schools and colleges are already doing this

With iPads and with Nooks and Kindles.

EXCELLENT idea for many reasons.

[Snake Alchemist]

13. Seems like a rooted color Nook would be a MUCH better option.

On price alone.

[emulatorloo]

30. iBooks can include video and lots of other media, and the kids can develop their own iBooks for free

Additionally there are tons of great interactive educational apps.

It is my impression that the nook is more limited as a platform, maybe more passive.

[Snake Alchemist]

32. A rooted Nook is powerful enough for what you have listed.

Also several hundred dollars cheaper. Also, anything the school gives out is going to have severe limitations/filters built in.

[emulatorloo]

37. Sounds good.

But check this page out if you get a chance re what the iBooks textbooks are like

http://www.apple.com/education/ibooks-textbooks

I think there are links off that page that describe the free "iBooks Author" program.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

106. You can think that all you'd like

But the fact of the matter is, Barnes and Noble didn't have a press conference today announcing their new textbook initiative. They don't HAVE a textbook initiative. Apple does. The reasons to have bound paper books at school have all but evaporated, and the textbook as you know it will disappear over the next few years. Pick some up as collectors items if you'd like.

Also, guess what happens to the warranty the instant a school's IT person roots the Nook.

[Snake Alchemist]

108. I'm sure BN can make a minor tweak and allow iBooks to work on all Nooks.

Then you get a relatively cheap tablet that will be able to be used in schools. That's what everyone wants right?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

109. Sounds good

Maybe the better idea would be to come up with an open textbook format that all readers can use, similar to the ePub format for standard ebooks (not for textbooks). Apple didn't write ePub, but it will open epubs, as will Nook devices (but not Kindle--they didn't want to play).

[yurbud]

57. open source is going to be the way of the future for instruction. Textbook companies got too greedy

I asked my college students what the most expensive text they had this semester was, and one said $250 for a physics text.

The companies can force kids to pay that by making slight changes every couple of semesters that mess up the page or chapter order, so they have to buy the new one.

I've taught without a text for years for that very reason.

[MedicalAdmin]

68. I always bought used anyway.

When the professor would say flip to page number "?" I would just listen to the topic and look up a similar page in my book. It was usually only a page or 2 off.

Worked for me.

It think this is a great idea and is the future of publishing. Fuck the red states textbook committees.

[yurbud]

135. those K-12 textbooks aren't worth the paper they are printed on unless you run out of toilet paper

[tblue37]

111. I tell my students to order old editions of our textbooks,

because they can often get them online for $.01 plus $3.99 S&H. Basically, I save them about $140 per semester that way.

[Posteritatis]

71. And they'll have to do it again every 2-5 years as a result. (nt)

[got root]

81. this needs to happen, hopefully it is not just tied to a particular device though

if it's web based, any web enabled device should be able to consume the content.

[Snake Alchemist]

83. If it's Apple, then it will only work on Apple products.

Such is their way.

[got root]

89. last i looked, iTunes ran on windows

maybe the creation tools might be apple only, but it would definitely suck if the consumption was tied to mac only.

But i am guessing they went with web tech, which would lend itself to being consumable from any web enabled device.

anyone know what the underlying tech is?

[Snake Alchemist]

90. Yes, but an iPhone and iPod only work with iTunes. nt

[got root]

94. not to mention ALL pc's

[Snake Alchemist]

97. Because they want you to use an iPod.

They knew if they didn't allow iTunes to work on Windows than they would write-off 90% of the market. But they don't want you to be able to use your iPod without first using their closed ecosystem.

[emulatorloo]

121. I prefer a walled garden to a jungle filled with malware and spyware

So do most consumers, unless they are hard core tech junkies.

[Snake Alchemist]

122. Who doesn't like a monopoly? nt

[emulatorloo]

129. Calling Apple a monopoly is silly

Aren't there other companies that make computers, cell phones, MP3 players, tablets etc?

[Snake Alchemist]

132. Market share is large enough to be a virtual monopoly.

Do you think that anyone should be able to build a Mac if they chose too? Would you be supportive if MS required app approval?

[GeorgeGist]

6. Hopefully the authors of iBooks will be better informed than Mr. Schill.

On average, 55.5% of freshman graduate in 6 years in the US. http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/?level=nation&mode=graph&state=0&submeasure=27

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Hasn't Barnes&Noble been doing Nook textbooks for...

a while and for less money?

[obamanut2012]

11. Yes

My friends' kids all have Nook textbooks.

[TreasonousBastard]

24. So, yet another idea Apple borrows and the world swoons at their genius.

[emulatorloo]

33. Apple was the first to combine video, sound, and text on an electronic device

Last edited Thu Jan 19, 2012, 03:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Tons of CDROM educational interactive books were developed with Apple hardware and Apple authoring tools.

Apple has been working on this a while and have been in the forefront on interactive educational material for a long time

Long before Barnes and Noble existed.

The free iBook Author program looks great, well worth swooning over.

It is a full featured easy to use multimedia book authoring program:

Text, audio, video, graphics, charts et cetera.

[Javaman]

10. and the downloads will still cost $100 bucks an etextbook. LOL nt

[onehandle]

14. The first titles announced were sub-$15. The audience gasped at the low price. nt

[Javaman]

15. Gasped? I would have fainted. nt

[Spike89]

29. Obviously highly subsidized

The critical thinking blind spot at the center of this discussion fascinates me. On the one hand, the argument goes that publishers must produce textbooks nationwide because high volume is cheaper (true). But then the same argument throws in a totally unsupported (and contradictory) assertion that low-volume/custom e-books will be cheaper.
I know the reason e-books are currently sold for much less--they are heavily subsidized. Most often by publishers, but also by hardware vendors (Amazon, Apple, etc.). The reality is that e-books are not significantly less expensive to produce than paper books, and in many cases cost more. Printing, especially when we're talking high-volume books, is essentially a minor cost in the process. For textbooks especially, printing costs aren't likely to come close to the proofreader budget.
All the serious investment costs in writing, producing, publishing, and marketing a book are at least as expensive in the e-book format as they are in paper format. When you throw in e-book middle-tier vendors (Amazon, Apple, etc.) and the costs of multiple file formats as well as DRM schemes, a strong case can be made that the true cost of an e-book may exceed the paper version. This is common sense, but I see otherwise reasonable people claiming that e-books are almost free.

[onehandle]

34. Pearson, McGraw Hill, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (who sell 90% of textbooks) have signed up.

How long can a publisher survive if they 'subsidize' their titles?

[Spike89]

61. Obviously not long, which is my point

If what you're really asking is "Why would publishers agree to subsidize an emerging segment of the market?" then the answers are pretty simple. At this point e-books are not significantly affecting paper book sales and the actual situation is that the paper version (not the publisher) is subsidizing the e-book. My publishing house does this--once we spend the money to get a manuscript into publishable format, the additional cost isn't that much to convert to e-book formats. Most importantly though, we don't do any e-book only books because there is no way the business model makes sense.
So, that's point one...it costs little to add an e-book version to an existing publication and because e-book sales (for non-fiction especially) are currently not affecting paper book sales significantly, there is almost no downside.
Even so, why would publishers consent to having their products sold below cost on a platform that is still highly speculative? Easy, market share. Pearson, McGraw Hill, et al., do understand that not only do they risk getting shut out of the market if and when the e-book market eventually does become profitable, they know that being seen as "behind the times" could hurt them competitively in current sales.
BTW - you will find that a few true "paper-free" e-books are making their way into the market. For the most part, they are almost exclusively in highly specialized niche markets. These ebooks actually reflect their true cost. Most are in the $100/copy range, but I've seen prices near $1,000 for a single volume.

[Robb]

35. Those investment costs won't enter into the equation, especially with the authoring software.

Look at school districts right now where Smartboards or Promethean Boards are well-integrated: the lesson plans for various subject modules are designed by teachers, "certified" by district officials using existing standards, and shared throughout the district -- and, where standards overlap, other districts as well. The teachers who design the lesson plans earn professional development credit (tied to income). Districts that can't "afford" to design their own can adapt others' lesson plans... and I've seen many that come close to the complexity of a textbook without really trying to.

Reading this article made me think of that immediately. This is no small shot across the bow of the textbook industry.

[Spike89]

59. Lesson plans aren't textbooks

However, I think you have a valid point. Some curriculum areas and teaching styles will more easily convert to an environment where lesson plans (original and collaborative as you describe) and multi-sourced online reference materials will provide both the structure and knowledge base that currently is provided by textbooks.
What I don't really see is an e-book equivalent of a textbook being the long-term answer. E-books do not solve the fundamental problems of traditional textbooks (cost, potential bias, regimented resources). Your idea, taken a bit further with students being guided toward finding their own knowledge over the internet is much more promising in my opinion. Of course, it does have the disadvantage of being a model that the for-profit education industry will have trouble getting money from.

[Robb]

60. It's an interesting time.

Someone will always find a way to make money, it just won't look the same way. In this case the obvious "someone" is Apple.

[usrname]

84. Lesson plans vs textbooks

I think the point of the Apple presentation today is to say that a static textbook is irrelevant. A lesson plan that incorporates a 21st century iTextbook (or whatever it's called) utilizing multi-media and dynamic search and linking within and beyond the "book" will become a much more effective teaching and learning medium.

Read Cathy Davidson's recent book, "Now You See It" to understand what she did at Duke University and nearby elementary schools in developing new teaching methods, addressing how people learn (from a physiological perspective) and how to incorporate new ideas into teaching and learning. Duke was the instigator of the novel "free iPod for every freshmen" in 2005 where educators all over derided the idea, saying that it's money down the drain. Instead, that idea formed the basis for iTunes U! Podcasting lectures became the new thing and look at where we are. I'm right now downloading lectures from Stanford to learn iOS programming. For free.

I would love to add my 2¢ in by publishing an iBook textbook. It looks easy and doesn't require that much upfront fee or even need an agent to talk to publishers. For $15 a copy and Apple takes 30% or whatever, it would be a nice income generator. Of course, to keep it current, I would need to keep maintaining it, which could be a PITA.

[obamanut2012]

62. Exactly -- I thought of Smart Boards and sharing, too

[Evasporque]

22. you can't sell an e-book for beer money after finals....bummer....nt

[Javaman]

38. There is that.

they always screw us one way or another.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

73. You can always sell your plasma for beer money ... long after finals.

Not that I would know.

[azurnoir]

116. selling plasma doing your bit for Big Pharma

cause that's what they do with the stuff ya know

[usrname]

86. On the other hand....

It cost you $15 in the first place. So you should have had beer money for the start of the next quarter or semester!

[exboyfil]

17. At both the High School and College level

there is no reason why we cannot have open source textbooks for everything but highly specialized subjects. A classic example is Mathematics. My daughter uses Larson for Algebra and Trig. Compare this textbook with the straight Algebra II textbook or the Precalculus textbook - the content is virtually identical with the exception of no Trig in the Algebra II book. This textbook costs $175 new.

My daughter's Precalculus class will cost $600 at the Community College. The textbook will cost $175. The actual cost should be under $30.

I think the federal government should insist on pushing for more economical textbook options for universities/colleges to receive federal funds. For a Freshman engineer textbooks can represent 15-20% of their tuition.

Even without electronic technology (which I am not sold on even though I own a Kindle), I think providing cheap Chapter by Chapter booklets would make far more sense. Right now most schools only use 60% of the textbook anyway in a subject like math.

[Snake Alchemist]

23. How much should the cost of an iPad be? nt

[onehandle]

27. One title they talked about this morning will be released chapter by chapter.

And the first full titles are sub-$15 for complete textbooks.

Digital can be anything we want.

[Marrah_G]

18. I would love to see desks turned into computers

In my opinion this would vastly improve both education and the environment.

[provis99]

19. so we'll have grossly expensive e-textbooks with a time limit.

How is this an advancement?

[onehandle]

20. First titles announced are sub-$15, get updates, are interactive, searchable, and are yours to keep.

Advancement.

[joeglow3]

21. I bet those college professors will start writing text books for free

How much of the cost of a textbook is in the materials, versus how much is due to the FIXED cost of paying highly educated people to write/review them? You will not reduce the latter with e-books.

[obamanut2012]

63. It is a scam

"Rewriting" chapters every semester so new textbooks are needed. It is a SCAM that textbook companies and certain professors run to bilk college kids and their families. Except for computers. health sciences, and a few other subjects, textbooks only have to be updated every few years. Language books, Bio 101, World Civ, etc. I teach in higher education, and it is a scam.

Some educators WILL write "open source" textbooks, for free, or as part of their job. Computers folks have done it or university ILS, and it's been shared with lots of other institutions.

[MedicalAdmin]

69. It's a huge scam.

I once took an organic chem grad class from a fairly famous professor. I'll give you three guesses whose very expensive and minimally annually updated book he used...

One of the worst classes and definitely the worst professor I have ever experienced.

[Spike89]

70. You've nailed it!

I'm the acquisitions editor of a mid-size non-profit book publisher in the education field (we don't do textbooks). It is always very difficult to say exactly what percentage of cost is materials/storage/shipping because those can vary widely based on a books sales volume. However, the percentage is very small in even the worst cases.

Anyway, roughly speaking a paper book with a moderately high print run might cost a couple dollars to print and ship, a very popular book could actually cost less than a dollar. Of course, a high-quality hardbound book with color images throughout might cost considerably more to print ($5, $10 possibly) but books of that type generally have extremely high production costs all around (photographers get paid as well as authors!) Photographers and artists generall get paid a flat fee based upon estimated print run (for instance, a photo fee might be $300 for up to 3,000 copies, subsequent print runs will typically require paying the artist more.) Authors almost always get paid commission (royalties) and for most nonfiction that ranges from 8-12%.

I do believe in the future of ebooks. However, I believe they will eventually become the primary delivery system because they'll have added features and advantages--true cost will not be one of those advantages.

[quakerboy]

95. Actually, I'm pretty sure that

the main fixed cost is profit. The internet tells me it costs about $4 to physically make the book. It would be interesting to know how much of the cost goes to pay the people who actually make the content. I am guessing its not all that much more per book sold than the materials themselves. Maybe on a first edition, but I seriously find it hard to believe that all the later editions cost more than the materials.

I think back to Anatomy and Physiology, for instance. I took the second term before the first term. I had one book one year, and they wanted me to buy a new book the next year.

I made it through with the one I had, because the changes were all cosmetic... New pictures, a slight rearranging of paragraphs in a couple spots, some different questions at the end. Anatomy had not changed, nor physiology. Almost all of the text was identical

But I was unable to sell my book back, because the new edition was out. I had kept it in pristine condition. I actually still have that book, and I would bet that if I went back to my college and compared books with a current student in the class, it would still match up almost identical to a newer version.

What amount of the cost of putting out the new edition went to pay "highly educated people" to rewrite it? I am guessing it was pretty minimal, seeing as the alterations were minimal.

[Poll_Blind]

104. Yep, the time limit and revocation abilities were the first thing to come to my mind. nt

PB

[AlbertCat]

25. I would be more optimistic if....

.... someone taught kids at an early age to think critically. THEN bombard them with "anyone" writing text books.

[snagglepuss]

26. So what wil be the environmental cost? Why does that not get considered?

How much more carbon will be spewing into the atmosphere to keep these devices charged? Paper otoh once texts are out-of-date can be easliy recycled. People act as if computers//internet don't use massive amounts of energy.

[Fearless]

65. Quite a bit...

And to landfills... filled with Lithium Ion batteries and cracked/malfunctioning iPads. Books rot. They don't. Plus how do kids use them if they are homeless/don't have internet/etc. These are all issues that books don't have.

[eppur_se_muova]

28. If it's an important course for your major -- buy the printed book.

You'll want it on hand for years.

Freshman and intro courses, not so much.

[onehandle]

31. Once you buy the iBook, you own it and can re-download it whenever you want.

Including your saved highlighting and added notes.

Watch the video.

[emulatorloo]

36. Printed books don't contain video and audio, nor can they quiz you to see if you,ve got it

As one handle points, the book is yours for life.

Check out this page for more info on what the iBook textbooks are like

http://www.apple.com/education/ibooks-textbooks

[ForgoTheConsequence]

39. Cool I guess.

But I have two textbooks right next to me and a quick glance shows that they were printed here in the USA. I'm more than capable of creating my own cards and quizzing myself if it means that I don't feed the slave labor machine and buy a product from a company like Apple who has driven people to suicide with their labor conditions.

[emulatorloo]

40. The workers threatening suicide make Microsoft XBOX 360s

Apple has opened its suppliers factories to independent inspectors and joined the Fair Labor Association, a group set up in 1999 to monitor workplace conditions around the globe.
More details here:

Apple reveals supply chain, details conditions
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/13/us-apple-suppliers-idUSTRE80C1KQ20120113

By Poornima Gupta
SAN FRANCISCO | Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:12pm EST
(Reuters) - Apple revealed its closely guarded list of global suppliers for the first time and vowed to deal with worker abuses, hoping to deflect criticism it was turning a blind eye to cases of poor working conditions in a mostly Asian supply chain.

The dramatic and unprecedented step -- unveiling the names of 156 companies that represent 97 percent of the company's supply chain -- was an unusual move in an industry that relies heavily on foreign component suppliers to drive margins.

<SNIP>

Apple's list is the culmination of internal probes into its supply chain, spanning hundreds of audits over years and high-profile firms from Foxconn or Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd to Samsung. Foxconn in particular has dragged Apple into headlines after a spate of worker suicides raised questions about conditions at its Chinese plants.

Apple said it found six active and 13 historical cases of underage labor at some component suppliers, but none at its final-assembly partners.

"With every year, we expand our program, we go deeper in our supply chain, we make it harder to comply," Cook told Reuters in an interview. "All of this means that workers will be treated better and better with each passing year. It's not something we feel like we have done what we can do, much remains to be done."

<MORE AT LINK on how they are moving ahead on this>

[onehandle]

41. The device you are using right now was made by the same people.

Microsoft, Google, Intel, HP, Dell, Sony, Acer, Barnes & Noble, Lenovo, Logitech, Motorola, Panasonic, Samsung, Nintendo, etc.

All made in the same factories as Apple's devices.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

43. I'm aware.

A lot of the parts are, but I built the system myself.

In this case there is an option however, that's the difference.


Not to mention there are sustainable printing practices available, are there sustainable electronics manufacturing processes? Those rare earth materials used to mass produce Ipads for education are very very dirty.

[onehandle]

51. You built the CPU, Drive, Motherboard, Power, Fan, Keyboard, Monitor, Mouse, etc?

Impressive.

Nope. You assembled some pieces together. 95% of the manufacturing happened in China.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

54. I already admitted that.

Way to skip over the rest of my point.

[emulatorloo]

44. And Apple recently joined the Fair Labor Association, the first tech company to do so

The Fair Labor Association was set up in in 1999 to monitor workplace conditions around the world. Apple is the first tech company to do so. They are making a pretty big effort right now to make sure the conditions in those FOXCONN factories improve.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

45. Give me a break.

The factory is forcing them to sign pledges to NOT KILL THEMSELVES!

http://gawker.com/5548195/heres-the-apple+factory-suicide-pledge


And I wasn't talking about the recent suicide threats I was talking about the people who DID KILL THEMSELVES!
http://labornotes.org/blogs/2010/06/suicides-apple-factory-china-rock-sweatshop-supply-system


"A shocking 12 Foxconn workers have now ended their lives this year, mostly by jumping from the massive multi-story dormitories they live in during the precious few off hours they have. The crisis is so deep the company has installed safety nets between dorm buildings."

Do you think any company that was ruled by someone as anti union as Steve Jobs cares about labor conditions in China? If they cared about labor conditions they wouldn't be sitting on billions while paying workers pennies an hour.

[emulatorloo]

47. Read the article I linked, it addresses that.

Quotes from several apple people, including Tim Cook the new CEO

[ForgoTheConsequence]

53. It didn't really, however address this...

Why do you think its OK for a company like Apple who's ilk have dumped millions into programs to undermine teachers unions, and who supports censorship legislation like SOPA to be any closer to our children's education during crucial times of development? I know that we live in a time when free-traders and people who like cute little glowing Apples are the status-quo of the "liberal" movement but what I'm reading here is truly astounding. Knowing the history of this company the fact that anyone who calls themselves a progressive would be in favor of this is mind blowing.

[newblewtoo]

85. Thank you, your post almost brings a tear to my eye because

You actually get it!

This is nothing more than enlightened self interest on the part of Apple. And your point about Jobs and unions is true as well. Anyone who has not read his biography probably should. I found it very enlightening. I will never own another Apple product if I can at all possibly avoid it.

[emulatorloo]

100. Here's what I get. You use FOXCONN made products.

If you have such a hard line position on Appl, then you should dismantle your computer and throw away every component not manufactured by FOXCONN.

You will pretty much be left with nothing.

And then you should post hard line threads on every company that uses FOXCONN rather than singling out Apple.

Anything else would seem hypocritical.

And at least Apple is working to improve those conditions.

Are IBM, amazon.com, Samsung, MSI, ASUS, Microsoft, Dell etc doing anything about it?

[Snake Alchemist]

103. What has Apple done so far to improve those conditions?

Serious question.

[emulatorloo]

119. See the Reuters article above. See also "Supplier Responsibility" page at Apple site

Here is the link:

http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/

Let me know when one of Foxconn's other clients start working on a similar initiative. I would be interested.

[Snake Alchemist]

120. Yes, but what have they DONE?

Anyone can make statements and sign pledges.

[emulatorloo]

123. Did you look at the apple page? There is a PDF Progress Report

There is a whole section on auditing. There is a whole section on education programs for workers. There is a PDF report from the auditors. There is tons of information on that page about what they are doing and planning.

Here is the summary page of the report, you can download the PDF there

Highlights from the 2012 Report
http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/reports.html


Apple’s Supplier Responsibility Progress Report details our efforts to improve worker protections and factory conditions. This report also includes results from our 2011 audits.

-- In 2011, we conducted 229 audits throughout our supply chain — an 80 percent increase over 2010 — including more than 100 first-time audits. We continue to expand our program to reach deeper into our supply base, and this year we added more detailed and specialized audits that focus on safety and the environment.

---Apple-designed training programs have educated more than one million supply chain employees about local laws, their rights as workers, occupational health and safety, and Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct.

---Our audits have always checked for compliance with environmental standards. In 2011, in addition to our standard audits, we launched a specialized auditing program to address environmental concerns about certain suppliers in China. Third-party environmental engineering experts worked with our team to conduct detailed audits at 14 facilities. We uncovered some violations and worked with our suppliers to correct the issues. We will expand our environmental auditing program in the coming year.\

---We have a zero-tolerance policy for underage labor, and we believe our system is the toughest in the electronics industry. In 2011, we broadened our age verification program and saw dramatic improvements in hiring practices by our suppliers. Cases of underage labor were down significantly, and our audits found no underage workers at our final assembly suppliers.

---We offer continuing education opportunities at our suppliers’ facilities free of charge. More than 60,000 workers have enrolled in classes to study business and entrepreneurship, improve their computer skills, or learn English. And the curriculum continues to expand. We’ve also partnered with some local universities to offer courses that employees can apply toward an associate degree.

[Snake Alchemist]

125. Yes, I looked at it.

I want to see hard evidence that Apple's factories are BETTER than their competitors. Do you know the profit margin on iPod's and iPhones? Do you know how much cash Apple is holding? How much SHOULD these workers be making?

[emulatorloo]

126. See my post above. I added a summary of the progress report. Here are some more links.

YOu asked me what apple is doing, I am providing you links to information

http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/code-of-conduct/environmental-impact.html

<SNIP FROM LONGER PAGE>

Results
We required 112 facilities that were not handling hazardous chemicals properly — for instance, not providing secondary containment for hazardous chemicals or separate storage for incompatible chemicals — to establish chemical management procedures for proper handling and storage of these substances.

We required 69 facilities that were not recycling or disposing of hazardous waste properly to correct their disposal practices and to maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with Apple requirements and applicable laws.

http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/code-of-conduct/labor-and-human-rights.html

<SNIP FROM LONGER PAGE>

Addressing excessive work hours.
We continue to address excessive work hours, and this has been a challenge throughout the history of our program. While the problem is not unique to Apple, we continue to fight it. Apple limits factory working hours to a maximum of 60 work hours per week and requires at least one day of rest per seven days of work — except in emergencies or unusual circumstances.

The reasons behind excessive work hours vary, but they include inadequate shift planning, failure to prepare for changing demand or employee attrition, lack of accountability by management, and inadequate oversight when the same employee works for multiple business groups or customers.

We began weekly tracking of 110 facilities where excessive work-hour violations were commonplace. Additionally, we are working with industry experts on a work-hour reduction program that combines training, management consultation, and verification of work-hour systems and practices. While the problem is complex, it is also manageable. Reducing excessive overtime is a top priority for our Supplier Responsibility program in 2012.

Prohibiting discriminatory policies.
Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct protects against discrimination in a range of areas: race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, religion, political affiliation, union membership, national origin, and marital status.

We also prohibit the use of pregnancy tests and medical tests as a condition of employment. When we find instances of discrimination — even where permissible under local laws — we require facilities to discontinue the practice and to establish clear policies and procedures to prevent recurrence.

=========

There is lots of information at the site about what is being done.

[Snake Alchemist]

130. These are so minor as to be humorous.

Once again, how much SHOULD Apple be paying their employees? How much do you believe they could afford to and still produce for a handsome profit?

[emulatorloo]

134. That is an entirely different discussion

Which I am not going to have with you, because you only have an obsession with Apple, not

Acer Inc. (Taiwan)
Amazon.com (United States)[23]
In 2011, Amazon and Foxconn formed a joint-design manufacturing company. The move was meant to produce an Amazon branded smartphone sometime in 2012.[24]
Apple Inc. (United States)[25]
ASRock (Taiwan)
Asus (Taiwan)
Barnes & Noble (United States)
Cisco (United States)
Dell (United States)
EVGA Corporation (United States)
Hewlett-Packard (United States)[26]
Intel (United States)
IBM (United States)
Lenovo (China)
Logitech (Switzerland)
Microsoft (United States)
MSI (Taiwan)
Motorola (United States)
Netgear (United States)
Nintendo (Japan)
Nokia (Finland)[25]
Panasonic (Japan)
Philips (Netherlands)
Samsung (South Korea)
Sharp (Japan)
Sony Ericsson (Japan/Sweden)[27]
Toshiba (Japan)
Vizio (United States)

The notion that any company is manufacturing in China is disturbing to me. That is another discussion. However you have such a fixation on Apple to the exclusion of other manufacturers I don't think you can discuss the larger isssues objectively.

[Snake Alchemist]

136. Not sure what those other companies are supposed to do with it?

Isn't Apple supposed to be better? Think Different and all that? The belief that Apple is somehow a kinder, gentler megacorp is my problem.

[emulatorloo]

137. Clear case of Apple Derangement Syndrome.

Have a great day.

[Snake Alchemist]

138. Fighting megacorps is what I live for.

I refuse to be poster boy for any of them.

[Snake Alchemist]

58. The PR is working. nt

[emulatorloo]

101. Lol n/t

[got root]

77. I wouldn't recommend that for 21st Century students - interactive, and always up-to-date

thats the textbook I want to invest in.

http://www.apple.com/education/#video-textbooks

[MichaelMcGuire]

117. I agree buying the main textbooks

I tend to buy and then I'm able to share and lend or sell

I also find it easier to use physical books over on screen methods

[Yavin4]

42. They Will Still Charge a Fortune for College Textbooks

Even though technology reduces publishing costs considerably. They will still charge a brazillion dollars for a History 101 textbook.

[onehandle]

48. The first titles announced were sub-$15. The audience gasped at the low price.

The publishers will be able to charge less for titles, because there will be no more 'aftermarket' for used textbooks.

[hunter]

46. I'd like to see "Open Source" textbooks.

Created by state or federal funding, distributed free, and maintained and kept current FOR EXTRA PAY by the teachers who use them.

Shoot down an error or a creationist trying to sneak in through the side door, win $150!

I won't shed any tears if the major textbook companies have to close their doors. Maybe their employees could get better jobs as teachers, teacher aides, and other academic support staff, and the crooked company CEO's could clean toilets and grade state mandated standardized "bubble" tests by hand.

[obamanut2012]

66. I'm betting this WILL happen over the next 10-20 years

School and university systems are already creating their own library, grading, and other systems, and sharing them with other districts and institutions, instead of paying insane amounts of money for initial costs, upgrades, sourcing, maintenance, etc. A college, for instance, can save literally millions of dollars over just a few years, for about $500,00-700,000 in salary and benefits costs, and that's for IT folks.

The textbook companies and the profs who "update" random chapters twice a year or so with squeal, but budgets will mandate it over time.

[JDPriestly]

49. Is there any research comparing the average student's retention of material

read on the internet with the retention of material read in hard copy.

I find that my retention is better with the hard copy, but then maybe that is my age.

Also, when I do research, I like to be able to rearrange documents, copied pages with quotes, etc.

The files on my word processor don't give me the same mixed sensory experience and it is this involvement of my touch as I turn pages as well as my eyes that help me out.

In addition, in my experience, e-books generally don't have pages that are numbered and that is a problem for me because I tend to remember page numbers on which important information is located.

[Locrian]

139. shhhhhsss!!!

That's not supposed to matter! It's shiny so it has to be better!!!

[caraher]

50. etextbooks still have a long way to go

A few months ago I attended a forum where several faculty at my university described their experiences with two ebook platforms (one was Nook Scholar which, ironically, does not work on the Nook device!). One of the biggest surprises was negative student feedback regarding things like eyestrain (for the most part, students read these on laptops). One big drawback was limited access - in one model you basically had to be connected to the internet, and I think with both you didn't have the book permanently, just for the semester.

There was a lot of hype about annotation capabilities, and the ability to share annotations among classmates. Some faculty felt this was a huge step backward, akin to reading a novel from the library somebody has already scribbled all over. For other purposes this might be handy. One can also track student reading to some extent, but the main system people used also allowed students to buy black and white hardcopies for something like $25, and it wasn't clear that students who didn't show as reading weren't simply using the paper copy instead. (For this package, purchase of the ebook was "mandatory" for all students; the paper copy was optional.)

Searchability is obviously a huge advantage over paper textbooks.

I can't wait to find ways to make books more affordable for my students; I already factor price into my adoption decisions. But I'm still not sure we're "there" yet. I think truth in advertising is lacking - if you only have access for the semester, it's really more of a rental or access fee, which is not at all the same as buying a book.

[onehandle]

55. This is nothing like that.

Watch the video:
http://www.apple.com/education/#video-textbooks
http://www.apple.com/education/ibooks-textbooks

[alfredo]

56. Remember, Apple democratized the recording industry by putting inexpensive tools

into the hands of the musician. Final Cut Pro allowed reporters in the field to edit from their laptop. No telling how many movies are edited in Final Cut Pro.

Let's see what they can do with TV.

Maybe I will create a simple photograph book, just to see how the free software works.

[Snake Alchemist]

64. Yes, before Apple, no musician could afford a 4 track recorder.

Now they only have to spend a little over 1K for a cpu and accessories.

[azurnoir]

75. Lol +1 n/t

[alfredo]

96. The tools I saw in Mac based studios were putting out sound as good as the big studios.

You put side by side the cost of a Mac based studio compared to a four cut demo tape at a 2nd ave studio, and you can see why musicians went independent.

The 90's was when my wife and I were in the industry in Nashville. By the late 90's we saw desktop studios popping up everywhere.

A lot can be done on a four track, but you had more flexibility with the computer based studio. You can't do the cover art and liner notes on a four track.

[Fearless]

67. Does anyone really believe that they won't hack the iBook

And sell it off on EBay or other services... That people won't steal them from students... costing them hundreds of dollars... That Apple can make a product that will not break down over a decade or more of use? Constant charging and recharging. Drops. Dents. Dings. Software malfunctions. Batteries that won't hold a charge.

Not to mention that they disservice those who do not have homes/reliable electricity, internet connections, the money to replace it if damaged/lost.

And there's the environmental impact, contracts and bloated fees set by Apple/publishers, and so on.

How about ads in your textbooks. Ads everywhere! Just let Apple play the Google game on their very own corner of the internet.

[Posteritatis]

72. What a ridiculous headline. (nt)

[Fearless]

74. Never before has an industry been destroyed by intentions such as these!

[got root]

80. If it 'bleeds' it leads with the lamestream, revolutionize would be more like it.

imho

[Dreamer Tatum]

76. Yeah, when I think "economical" I think Apple. nt

[got root]

78. WOW! now thats the kind of invesment we need to be making for our children's future

When I was a teacher in the 90's I would turn the textbook lesson into a video and interactive lesson.

It's about time!

Now I just hope that the underlying tech is web based, with HTML5/CSS3/JS for the programming.

[onehandle]

91. It is based on modern web standards, with no antiquated Flash to weigh it down.

Steve Jobs said that Flash was a 'bag of hurt,' and it took years for Adobe to admit it was and give up on mobile Flash.

[Dead_Parrot]

102. So basically, they've invented a way to download a web page?

Pure genius.

[azurnoir]

79. well this might be all well and good for collage level students but what happens at thr elementary

and secondary levels? There are a good number of schools especially inner city schools that are struggling to afford regular textbooks for their students much less iBooks! What I can see happening is this becoming a boon for corporate charter schools, who will be enabled to buy these devices so that their students are 'properly' educated

whats not to love here

[got root]

82. use the money they want to give charter schools w/no strings attached, and invest in public schools!

[azurnoir]

115. well unfortunately "they" in this case usually own the charter schools

not much incentive there

[progressoid]

88. Apple iBooks Author: Top 10 Limitations

However, it must be mentioned that the new iBooks Author has several limitations:

{1} If you're planning to sell your e-book, you must also submit a sample version (free e-books do not require the sample version).

{2} The max. file size limit for all books published to the iBookstore using iBooks Author is 2GB. This is a serious limitation as many textbooks available through iBookstore is around 2GB (e.g., McGraw Hill's Biology and Geometry) or even more (Pearson's Biology - 2.77GB).

{3} Apple will charge 30% fee for sale of all e-books created using iBooks Author.

...

{7} You CANNOT sell the e-book created using iBooks Author on any other Web site, except iBookstore. But if it's a free e-book, you can distribute it through non-iBookstore channels.

... http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/284648/20120119/apple-ibooks-author-top-10-limitations-textbooks.htm

[Snake Alchemist]

92. That pretty much says it all right there. nt

[onehandle]

93. Yes. With those 'limitations' Apple will never get anywhere.

This is why the iTunes store failed.

[Snake Alchemist]

98. iTunes had a virtual monopoly for quite a while.

Now with other major players entering the market such as Amazon and Google it should prove very interesting. I especially like Amazon's options.

[emulatorloo]

128. I wish Amazon's audio sounded better

They compress their MP3's to hell.

[Snake Alchemist]

133. I've had no problem with Amazon's mp3's.

The one's I have sound great. No worse or better than iTunes to my ears.

[emulatorloo]

140. I don't like the iTunes compression either, gives me a headache

[alfredo]

99. Ha!

[progressoid]

107. The limitations are placed on the authors by Apple

:not sarcasm:

[emulatorloo]

131. 2GB limit? Split your book into volumes

Sample Version? Why would Apple want to publish textbooks that are filled with misinformation

If your book is free, you can email to your readers.

All distributers charge for distribution

[Poll_Blind]

105. Was Dean Kamen on hand? nt

PB

[suffragette]

112. Sounds like these will be accessible through Voiceover

which is good.
http://www.lioncourt.com/2012/01/19/apple-announces-education-initiatives/

[Firebrand Gary]

113. This is fascinating! Apple could very well save education.

Considering what Apple has achieved so far, it's not hard to new schools that are totally interactive and energy independent. I thought the Iphone was big, the could, very well be Steve Jobs Mona Lisa.

The geek in me finds this totally exciting!

[madrchsod]

118. i have books that are 120-50 years old

will the e-books last that long?

[xxqqqzme]

124. What a boon for foxconn

and those thousands of $.31/hr workers!

[emulatorloo]

127. List of FOXCONN's major clients

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxconn

FOXCONN manufactures products for companies including:
(country of headquarters in parentheses)

Acer Inc. (Taiwan)
Amazon.com (United States)[23]
In 2011, Amazon and Foxconn formed a joint-design manufacturing company. The move was meant to produce an Amazon branded smartphone sometime in 2012.[24]
Apple Inc. (United States)[25]
ASRock (Taiwan)
Asus (Taiwan)
Barnes & Noble (United States)
Cisco (United States)
Dell (United States)
EVGA Corporation (United States)
Hewlett-Packard (United States)[26]
Intel (United States)
IBM (United States)
Lenovo (China)
Logitech (Switzerland)
Microsoft (United States)
MSI (Taiwan)
Motorola (United States)
Netgear (United States)
Nintendo (Japan)
Nokia (Finland)[25]
Panasonic (Japan)
Philips (Netherlands)
Samsung (South Korea)
Sharp (Japan)
Sony Ericsson (Japan/Sweden)[27]
Toshiba (Japan)
Vizio (United States)