With iPad Mini & an updated iBooks Author, Apple finally has a chance to revolutionize the classroom

Apple CEO Tim Cook re-emphasized the company's interest in becoming *the* primary tool in the classroom today with the announcement of a new version of it's iBooks Author tool.

Apple could announce iBooks 3 at iPad Mini event

While Apple's forthcoming Oct. 23 event is dominated by speculation of new iPads, new information suggests that the company might also unveil an update to its native ebook application iBooks.

California passes bills to create open-source digital library for college textbooks

The California State Senate today passed two bills, SB 1052 and SB 1053, designed to provide students at public postsecondary institutions with access to free digital textbooks for popular lower-division courses and to open source the curriculum to facility members.

Amazon now renting old-fashioned paper textbooks

Amazon now offers physical textbook rentals as a cheaper option for college students, a move designed to keep Amazon as a dominant player in textbooks.

Edtech startup Rafter acquires HubEdu to lower textbook costs

Education startup Rafter announced today that it has acquired HubEdu in a move that Rafter says will help it further lower the cost of higher education.

The Rafter Course Materials Network is a suite of cloud-based software that helps colleges …

Inkling for Web brings interactive ebooks to your browser, no iPad necessary

Sorry, college students. Losing your iPad is no longer an excuse for not doing your reading in Inkling’s electronic textbooks. The company today unveiled Inkling for Web, an HTML5 client that will give you access to all of Inkling’s titles …

Beyond textbooks, Inkling aims to revolutionize travel with Frommer’s digital guides

Inkling’s digital publication platform helped textbook makers move to the iPad. Now, the company is setting its sights on travel with the launch of Frommer’s Day by Day travel guides for the iPad and iPhone.

Travel has traditionally been one …

Apple making changes to its online store for educators

Apple may be making improvements to its online store, but only for its education customers.

The company recently posted a notice on its K-12 educators website explaining that a new e-commerce store is in the works, according to a report …

Apple sees over 350K digital textbook downloads, report says

Apple’s venture into digital textbooks is apparently already proving successful, according to a recent report from Global Equities Research.

Last week, the company launched a new version of its iBooks iOS application for the iPhone and iPad, which will offer …

How schools are reacting to Apple’s entry into education

When Apple announced its textbook initiative on Thursday, there was a rush of excitement among educators. Textbooks from major publishers, which can cost $40 to $75 dollars in print, would be available as interactive e-books for $15 or less. The …

The dark side of Apple’s digital textbook utopia

As it did with music and cellphones, Apple today fundamentally redefined what a textbook is with the announcement of iBooks 2 and its accompanying iBooks Author software.

The benefits of iBooks 2 and its interactive textbooks were hammered home during …

Can Apple’s new textbook initiative save U.S. education? (infographic)

Apple recently announced a handful of new initiatives focused on making digital books more accessible in the classroom.

The company launched a new version of its iBooks (iBooks 2) iOS application for the iPhone and iPad, which will offer highly …

iBooks 2: Apple’s stab at interactive textbooks (hands-on video)

Apple set its sights on education this morning when it announced a slew of new apps and services for students and teachers.

Among them was iBooks 2, an updated version of the company’s iPad e-reading app that adds support for …

Apple reinvents textbooks and curriculum with iBooks 2, iBooks Author, updated iTunes U

I can’t remember the last time anyone was so interested in education technology, but leave it up to Apple to whip up excitement. The company held an “education related” event at New York City’s Guggenheim Museum today, where many expected …

Apple to revolutionize textbooks with “GarageBand for e-books,” says report

For its big education-related announcement in New York City this Thursday, January 19, Apple may be planning to unveil new tools that would make it easy for publishers and authors to create interactive textbooks.

That’s according to Ars Technica, which …

Apple announces education event Jan. 19 — iTextbooks coming?

Apple is sending out media invitations to an event next week where it plans to make an “education announcement”, much to the dismay of many fanboys and fangirls hoping for information about the company’s next generation iPad.

The event, which …

Steve Jobs wanted to revolutionize textbooks next

After revolutionizing the digital music business, smartphones and tablets, former Apple CEO Steve Jobs was planning to take on an unlikely project: textbooks.

Jobs apparently wanted to hire textbook writers to create interactive digital versions of their books for the …

Inkling lands $17M, promises more innovative digital textbooks than Amazon

Digital textbook company Inkling announced Wednesday that is has scored $17 million in second-round funding from Tenaya Capital to compete with major competitors entering the space.

Collegians are getting more attention with companies like Chegg and CampusBookRentals, which recently raised …

Amazon finally introduces Kindle textbook rentals

Amazon on Monday announced that it would now offer students the option to rent digital textbooks, advertising that customers can save up to 80% off textbook list prices.

Buying textbooks in college has been a costly endeavor for many years, …