Apple's education announcement is all over the news, with suggestions ranging from interactive textbooks to ebook publishing tools (gee, those sound familiar). Some, however, say that it's all over-hyped--so clearly we should be looking forward to the next next Apple announcement. The remainders for Tuesday, January 17, 2012 are almost excited enough to consider going back to school. Almost.
Apple to Give a Lesson About Textbooks (Wall Street Journal)
As with the week leading up to any Apple event, speculation is rife about what the company will announce. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) says Apple will roll out interactive textbooks along with partnership deals with major publishers like McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Also, the company is expected to release a themed Smart Cover made out of a brown paper bag.
Apple to announce tools, platform to "digitally destroy" textbook publishing (Ars Technica)
Along the same lines, Ars Technica says that Apple plans to "digitally destroy" textbook publishing with its new initiative, which will include GarageBand-style tools for creating ebooks. I think perhaps I'm most looking forward to the great stompbox effects for microeconomics and organic chemistry.
Apple's education event is getting seriously over-hyped (Fortune)
But there's always a killjoy, isn't there? Fortune's Philip Elmer-Dewitt says that the event is "seriously over-hyped," pointing specifically to the Ars Technica article, which he says "got it wrong." Apple's not interested in destroying the current textbook industry, but in working with the companies behind it in a harmonious fashion. Just ask the music industry! Wait. Bad example.
Rumor: Apple to hold 'iPad 3' & iOS 5.1 event in early February (AppleInsider)
Despite the looming event in New York City, it's never too soon to talk about the next Apple announcement. Japanese site Macotakara is saying that an Apple event will be held in February to launch the iPad 3 and iOS 5.1. We just need to wait for Tim Cook to finish personally assembling and coding them, as he does all of Apple's products.
Scott Forstall is Apple's 'CEO-in-waiting' says new book (Fortune)
