Textbook Publishers Strike Deals to Bring Content to iPad

Tuesday February 02, 2010 09:21 PM EST
Written by Eric Slivka

Mac News
The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that major textbook publishers have struck deals with Apple to bring their content to the iPad. According to the report, textbook publishers will rely on the technology of ScrollMotion, which already has experience developing such content for the iPhone.

Though Apple didn't outline its strategy to target the educational sector with its iPad last week, people familiar with Apple's thinking have said that the iPad's use in schools was one of the focal points of discussions in developing the product. In its exploration of electronic book technology, it thought particularly about how it could re-invent textbooks, these people said.
Rumors of talks between Apple and textbook publishers prior to the iPad's launch sparked interest in the offerings, and they gained additional publicity when McGraw-Hill CEO Terry McGraw appeared to tip Apple's hand regarding the iPad the day before its official introduction. Apple chose not to discuss McGraw-Hill's offerings or any other e-textbook offerings at the media event, leading to conflicting claims about whether McGraw-Hill had been tossed from the event at the last minute over its CEO's comments.

Today's report notes that McGraw-Hill Education, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt K-12, Pearson Education, and Kaplan have all reached deals with Apple for the iPad.

And... Tablet Rumors Revived: Larger Mac-Like Tablet in the Works?

Monday February 01, 2010 09:07 PM EST
Written by arn

Mac Rumors
After just five days free of Apple tablet rumors, it has begun again. TechCrunch claims that they have heard that Apple is working on a second larger tablet that will be "much more like a Mac than an iPhone."

But the information we’re hearing is that Apple is thinking much larger for another version of the product, maybe all the way up to the 15.4″ size that it currently uses for one version of the MacBook Pro. If you think that would be way too big for an iPad, we’re also hearing that this other tablet would be quite a bit different from the one revealed last week. Namely, it could run a version of OS X much closer to the traditional version that runs on Macs.
In the wake of the iPad launch, the possibility of Apple also pursuing a Mac OS X-based tablet seems strange. While some iPad detractors have been hoping for a Desktop-OS-on-Tablet experience, variations these products have existed and have simply not gained traction.

TechCrunch claims such a device would be launched within the next year. If true, we'd expect Apple to introduce more multi-touch friendly changes to Mac OS X itself. The rumors of a 22-Inch Touch Screen iMac could well tie in with these rumors.

iPad Enclosure Has Empty Space for Camera?

Monday February 01, 2010 08:37 PM EST
Written by Arnold Kim

Top: iPad frame, Center: Camera, Bottom: MacBook Frame

Repair company Mission Repair has posted images of what is supposedly the iPad outer frame. While the iPad is not yet shipping, the company seems to have gotten a supply of iPad parts through unofficial channels. Identical photos have been circulating on other websites. Assuming these are actual iPad parts, it appears that Apple did build in a space for a camera at the top of the device.

The photo above is particularly convincing as the iPad frame is compared to a MacBook frame which does house a camera. The holes seem identical. Even if this is all true, Apple ultimately chose not to include a camera from the first version of the iPad. The iPad will begin shipping in late March.

Tablet Manufacturers Reevaluating Pricing Options in Light of iPad Announcement?

Friday January 29, 2010 04:44 PM EST
Written by Eric Slivka

Mac Rumors
DigiTimes reports that several Asian notebook manufacturers were taken by surprise by the unexpectedly low entry-level $499 price point for Apple's iPad, forcing them to reconsider how they will price upcoming tablet models.

The vendors originally planned to offer prices pegged at 20-30% lower than the Apple iPad, while they generally expected the device to cost as much as US$1,000. The US$499 entry-level price has caught vendors by surprise and means they will now need to adjust their price scales even lower to attract consumers, the sources pointed out.
The report notes that manufacturers are reluctant to undercut the iPad price and start a pricing war for fear of eliminating profit margins even before the industry can really take hold. The fears seem justified in light of plunging netbook prices, which have reduced profits in that segment to razor-thin margins even as unit sales have exploded.

Reports as long ago as last August claimed that tablet manufacturers were holding off on new designs for their products until they could see what Apple's contribution to the market would be.