Apple, iBooks Author, and Open Textbooks: RIP K-12 Publishers as We Know Them
David Wiley, iterating toward openness, January 31, 2012.

David Wiley weighs in on the Apple iBooks announcement from the perspective of someone who has already dipped a toe (and both feet, and most of his body) into the world of online and open publishing. He describes the collapse of an entire industry in just a few paragraphs (which are so delicious they are worth reprinting in full):

"It’s fairly clear from the Jobs biography and the publishers’ behavior that the original plan was: (1) Apple would hire some rockstar PhDs who would write textbooks (2) Apple would own the textbooks, and (3) Apple would give away the books for free in order to sell more iPads.

"This apparently kindled a great fear in the publishers, who consequently agreed to create video- and multimedia-rich, moderately interactive textbooks and sell them for only $14.99.

Now, if video-based, multimedia-rich, interactive textbooks are only worth $14.99 to the big publishers, what are relatively static, text-based books with a few photos worth to them? Answer: The Apple event was the big publishers’ public announcement that they are ceding the traditional textbook market to OER creators and others." (Hits Today: 2 Total: 1103) [Direct Link] [Tags: Open Educational Resources, Books, Apple Inc., Video, Open Access]

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Re: Apple

mgozaydin, February 1, 2012

State of Washington may be some others too providing FREE digital books to all of its K12 student. Why should I Apple ibooks and iPad written by a Phd nobody knows . Look for the other states too .
In fact I blame Duncan. He should declare all these to all USA , he is in the central table . I have never seen uninformed people as in USA nowhere in the world unless a marketing genious hits their door . [Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

Re: Apple

Frank Lowney, February 5, 2012

Since annual repurchase is required (students own the eTextbook), it will be interesting to see if commercial iBooks 2 eTextbook publishers actually improve these high school textbooks from year to year. Imagine a HS history text that mentions currently sitting leaders such as the US president. =8-0

The other process to watch is statewide textbook adoption. Utah and a few other states are more flexible than most. More common is the 'broken market' created by textbook adoption which is made even worse by states such as California, Texas and Florida who have disproportionate influence on what publishers offer because they purchase centrally.

So commercial publishers still have a few cards to play. They will not go gently into that good night. [Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

Re: Apple

mgozaydin, February 6, 2012

Dear Frank
Sometimes I wonder why Americans are so much misinformed what is going on in the USA and in the world .
I am 12,000 miles away and I am aware what is going on in Washington State Education Committee.
Washington State is adopting etextbook . ASll books are free to students. Utah is following. Why in the worl other states do not follow such a nice project
Why on tjhe earth All American are not aware of that .
Publishing industry will bankrupt like KODAK soon.
They had an opportunity to have ebooks to everybody at fairprices. But they missed the boat. They charge still very high prices to ebooks .
I call it greedy capitalism I like the mild capitalism but not the wild capitalism .
Solution
DC should have all etextbooks for schools written by the best subject experts of the USA . Just imagine 500 textbooks for all 1 to 12 grades . Imagine you pay $ 1 million to authors per book.( ohhh Ohhhh ) That is only $ 500 million total.
The cost for 60 million students of K12
500.000,000 / 60,000,000 = $ 8.33 /student for only first year next year it is free.
Why DC does not show the right direction to states. Even look up how much charge I allowed to authors $ 1 million. One can find a nobel prize winner for that money . Please get wiser. Act smartly . Don't waste your money . Children need that money for better things . [Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

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