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A Closer Look at iBooks Author, Textbooks and Exclusivity
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You forget to include upgrade cost of iPad every year
no kids like old toys. iTunes U is great, but iPad brings too much distraction to class room. Apple need to build special version of iPad, cheaper and locked down for class room.a okay
I'm alright with this.
I work for a company developing software tools. I would not want a competitor to use the tools we spent the time and effort (investment) making to generate results and sell those results to our customers. This is common sense.
Publishers are still free to create and sell their textbooks in any manner they choose, whether it be Kindle books or traditional paper books, or anything else. What they can't do is use Apple's tools (which are free) to create the textbooks that would be sold elsewhere, and that is perfectly fine. I'd do the same thing if I had developed the whole system.
Now, at some time in the future, I hope that Apple will open this up at bit. First, in the near term, I hope they'll contribute the tech they developed back to the ePub format so it can be an industry standard format. This can only help Apple. Then, a little farther into the future (1-2 years?) drop the exclusivity terms for use of the iBooks Author tool, since by then there will be competing tools that will have shown up on the market. Making the format an industry standard will help cement iBooks as a trusted product with long term viability.
I'm alright with this.
I work for a company developing software tools. I would not want a competitor to use the tools we spent the time and effort (investment) making to generate results and sell those results to our customers. This is common sense.
Publishers are still free to create and sell their textbooks in any manner they choose, whether it be Kindle books or traditional paper books, or anything else. What they can't do is use Apple's tools (which are free) to create the textbooks that would be sold elsewhere, and that is perfectly fine. I'd do the same thing if I had developed the whole system.
Now, at some time in the future, I hope that Apple will open this up at bit. First, in the near term, I hope they'll contribute the tech they developed back to the ePub format so it can be an industry standard format. This can only help Apple. Then, a little farther into the future (1-2 years?) drop the exclusivity terms for use of the iBooks Author tool, since by then there will be competing tools that will have shown up on the market. Making the format an industry standard will help cement iBooks as a trusted product with long term viability.
Did somebody doodoo in your Wheaties this morning?
I wouldn't say Lion is perfect but it is a significant improvement over Snow Leopard for those that understand what an Operating System is.
I wouldn't say Lion is perfect but it is a significant improvement over Snow Leopard for those that understand what an Operating System is.
You forget to include upgrade cost of iPad every year
You are silly. No school would upgrade their tech every single year. You would get a school issued iPad that you wouldn't be allowed to keep (Much like computers schools have). and if you wanted a new one, you could get your own. The fact that I said that schools 'could' give them out was only to emphasize the savings that schools would get from going digital.
This is baseless speculation, but I think Apple will be selling iPad 2's cheap to schools when the new one comes out. Also they have till the end of the school year to do so. It's not like any school would change everything mid-year (and most wouldn't change the next year either) It is going to take a little time at least.
The interactives aren't part of EPub 3.0, they are Apple only. So they wouldn't work anyway.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with assuring balanced text books.
Every state should be following Texas lead. For example it is silly to deny that the original settlers came here for religious reasons. It was in fact a prime motivator and was maintained right through the revolution. Their escape from religious persecution is why the constriction prohibits the government from recognizing and one sect.
Mind you I'm not a church goer and frankly have little time for the religious nuts out there, but it is pretty obvious from reading the constitution and associated documents of the time that the US was founded as a Christian nation. Of course our modern day problem is that this seems to give the religious nut cases the freedom to persecute any and all that aren't like them. Not realizing of course that the nation was founded upon the idea of freedom of religion.
In any event if Texas wants to clean up the educational system all the power to them. There is to much influence from special interest groups now.
Every state should be following Texas lead. For example it is silly to deny that the original settlers came here for religious reasons. It was in fact a prime motivator and was maintained right through the revolution. Their escape from religious persecution is why the constriction prohibits the government from recognizing and one sect.
Mind you I'm not a church goer and frankly have little time for the religious nuts out there, but it is pretty obvious from reading the constitution and associated documents of the time that the US was founded as a Christian nation. Of course our modern day problem is that this seems to give the religious nut cases the freedom to persecute any and all that aren't like them. Not realizing of course that the nation was founded upon the idea of freedom of religion.
In any event if Texas wants to clean up the educational system all the power to them. There is to much influence from special interest groups now.
yes, but one caution
I agree, and I also would like to see an iBook reader program for the Mac. I also like that the books can be updated, although I do have one concern there, and that is the temptation for revisionist history. I think updates are fine, if I can choose to also retain the original information. If original information is wiped out, that becomes dangerous, particularly with history texts.
I agree, and I also would like to see an iBook reader program for the Mac. I also like that the books can be updated, although I do have one concern there, and that is the temptation for revisionist history. I think updates are fine, if I can choose to also retain the original information. If original information is wiped out, that becomes dangerous, particularly with history texts.
You miss the point. Even the Kindle ebooks are not completely device-agnostic, meaning that they require a Kindle device or the kindle app to be read. If I wanted to read a Kindle book on a Nook reader I would be unable to do it, although the Nook might be a better reader.
The point is, it's obvious every vendor tries to promote his own platform, the problem is that Apple's platform might have the best devices but subpar ebook offerings. Amazon might have the best ebook offerings but subpar devices. Without lock-in consumers would be able to chose the best instead of having to weight which compromise is better. Also, if some other device becomes even better it would be hassle-free to migrate to it.
These kinds of lock-in are due to the fact that companies much rather deter competition with making a switch to the competition an hassle than with superior products (and I do believe an Apple e-paper reader would come out a by-far superior product given that the current models from amazon & friends are pretty cheaply made). With agnostic formats and less of these practices the consumer would win and companies would be forced to compete on the merit of their products alone.
excellent
Thanks for the link. All I can say is that it's about time! Textbooks have had a left bias for years, and have omitted huge amounts of important historical information. It's good to see that it will be put back in.
I agree with every point mentioned in this article, except for two:
"Mavis B. Knight, a Democrat from Dallas, introduced an amendment requiring that students study the reasons the founding fathers protected religious freedom in America by barring the government from promoting or disfavoring any particular religion above all others."
Mavis is mostly right, this type of info should be in the textbook, because that's what happened. You need to present all information relative to things that actually took place in history, whether you like it or not.
"Cynthia Dunbar, a lawyer from Richmond who is a strict constitutionalist and thinks the nation was founded on Christian beliefs, managed to cut Thomas Jefferson from a list of figures whose writings inspired revolutions in the late 18th century and 19th century, replacing him with St. Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin and William Blackstone."
Cynthia is wrong to have omitted Thomas Jefferson. It is okay to add the other people, because they existed and they influenced - they are part of history, but it's not okay to eliminate info about Thomas Jefferson.
Thanks for the link. All I can say is that it's about time! Textbooks have had a left bias for years, and have omitted huge amounts of important historical information. It's good to see that it will be put back in.
I agree with every point mentioned in this article, except for two:
"Mavis B. Knight, a Democrat from Dallas, introduced an amendment requiring that students study the reasons the founding fathers protected religious freedom in America by barring the government from promoting or disfavoring any particular religion above all others."
Mavis is mostly right, this type of info should be in the textbook, because that's what happened. You need to present all information relative to things that actually took place in history, whether you like it or not.
"Cynthia Dunbar, a lawyer from Richmond who is a strict constitutionalist and thinks the nation was founded on Christian beliefs, managed to cut Thomas Jefferson from a list of figures whose writings inspired revolutions in the late 18th century and 19th century, replacing him with St. Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin and William Blackstone."
Cynthia is wrong to have omitted Thomas Jefferson. It is okay to add the other people, because they existed and they influenced - they are part of history, but it's not okay to eliminate info about Thomas Jefferson.
I also think these tools are great. I might even consider making a book myself, although probably mostly for posterity - I'm not a writer, just an average bloke.
I do think these tools will put some pressures on various parts of the publishing industry, and that's a good thing! As for small publishers, or even large ones, there are two choices - and these choices are what will weed the cruft out of the industry - keep doing business as usual, kicking, fighting, and screaming all the way to your demise, or, adapt.
I think this is a great opportunity for smaller publishers, since they now have access to some of the same tools as the largest publishers. This gives them an opportunity to significantly enhance their quality and capabilities, and publish on a more level playing field. Those that are serious about success will grab hold of the reigns here and run with it.
You need to separate the publishers wishful thinking from reality.
The reality in many states is that students can't be forced to pay their way through public school. Thus the cost of the iPads will have to be picked up by the schools along with the cost of the books.
The most rational approach for schools would be to configure an iPad for a specific grade level and issue it to students at the beginning of the year. Each iPad would be collected again at the end of the year to issue to the following class. I see almost zero chance of annual sales of books flying, there has to be an economic benefit in order for schools to adopt this approach and parents will have zero desire to pay an annual fee to cover the cost of books. Many states are already looking at self publishing to get around the rip off pricing from the big publishers, this will just make it easier for schools to control costs.
So how do you fit an iPad into this structure. Well first an educational discount would be nice. Also you would need a much lower cost for materials, that is "books" and other apps used on the device. Even after all of that you would need to put the iPad to use for more than one school year. There is no doubt Apple will have to struggle to win on an economic point.
Apple does have a few things going in their favor. For one students and parents at all levels are really starting to resist the high cost of "books". What is really bad at the high school level only gets worst post high school. So, at least at the high school level, people are really starting to look at alternatives to the corrupt text book industry. Though often portrayed negatively in the media many states have opted to publish their own standard text books, this driven by economics more than anything.
Well right now I think the trick is to make the use of iPads appear to be less expensive. In fact without the ability to realize a cost savings iPads don't have a chance in hell. The problem is though, what do you do about the poor school districts like the one I grew up in? There a set of books was expected to last five or more years, in fact I went through most of my pre college education with used books and can't remember more than possible two that where brand new. That was K-12.
So like you I'm not sure about this move. Obviously Apple sees a need to get costs down for the materials. The problem is iPads simply aren't cheap enough to hand out new every year. If schools could get free texts, iPads might work in some districts if students keep them for maybe three years. That with a discount from Apple so that the school is spending not more than $150 per year.
Even then many districts could not afford iPads as a replacement for books.
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Issues that access to iBooks won't solve.
The reality in many states is that students can't be forced to pay their way through public school. Thus the cost of the iPads will have to be picked up by the schools along with the cost of the books.
The most rational approach for schools would be to configure an iPad for a specific grade level and issue it to students at the beginning of the year. Each iPad would be collected again at the end of the year to issue to the following class. I see almost zero chance of annual sales of books flying, there has to be an economic benefit in order for schools to adopt this approach and parents will have zero desire to pay an annual fee to cover the cost of books. Many states are already looking at self publishing to get around the rip off pricing from the big publishers, this will just make it easier for schools to control costs.
The cost of books (paper) suitable for higher education isn't trivial either. I'm not sure many are aware of the expense to schools every year for texts. It is significant and frankly iPads in this role will only succeed if there is a real economic benefit to the school. That benefit will only realize itself if the cost of "books" is significantly reduced or eliminated. A years worth of books might cost a school $450 per student if replaced every year at current rates. Obviously schools reuse books from year to year so the average cost is lower.
So how do you fit an iPad into this structure. Well first an educational discount would be nice. Also you would need a much lower cost for materials, that is "books" and other apps used on the device. Even after all of that you would need to put the iPad to use for more than one school year. There is no doubt Apple will have to struggle to win on an economic point.
Apple does have a few things going in their favor. For one students and parents at all levels are really starting to resist the high cost of "books". What is really bad at the high school level only gets worst post high school. So, at least at the high school level, people are really starting to look at alternatives to the corrupt text book industry. Though often portrayed negatively in the media many states have opted to publish their own standard text books, this driven by economics more than anything.
Well right now I think the trick is to make the use of iPads appear to be less expensive. In fact without the ability to realize a cost savings iPads don't have a chance in hell. The problem is though, what do you do about the poor school districts like the one I grew up in? There a set of books was expected to last five or more years, in fact I went through most of my pre college education with used books and can't remember more than possible two that where brand new. That was K-12.
So like you I'm not sure about this move. Obviously Apple sees a need to get costs down for the materials. The problem is iPads simply aren't cheap enough to hand out new every year. If schools could get free texts, iPads might work in some districts if students keep them for maybe three years. That with a discount from Apple so that the school is spending not more than $150 per year.
Even then many districts could not afford iPads as a replacement for books.
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Issues that access to iBooks won't solve.
They can't (and don't think they are) claim ownership of the intellectual property, that's still yours. The exclusivity is about the Format of the book, not its Content. The iBooks Author FAQ page explains it:
"How can I distribute my work?
You can publish your book to the iTunes Bookstore; you must choose to sell your book or offer it as a free download. You can also export your book from iBooks Author as a PDF, text, or iBooks document for you to distribute outside the iBookstore." (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5071)
Again, they are not claiming ownership of your content, and if you save it as a different format than ibooks you can sell it somewhere else. In my case, if I chose to publish a book through iBooks I would surely first go to my country's (Mexico) author rights office and register the content so I can only distribute the Content of my book within my own country.
Just search around for it, people already figured out how to install it on non-Lion OS.
And that'll solve your problems and you'll NEVER have to install Lion
Gary
Man people are dense here.
No where has Apple said hat they own your IP. This is complete ignorance on your part. All they have said is that you can't make use of Author to make money on its output elsewhere. Further that is only the iBooks output of the program.
No where has Apple said hat they own your IP. This is complete ignorance on your part. All they have said is that you can't make use of Author to make money on its output elsewhere. Further that is only the iBooks output of the program.
You really don't know what you are talking about.
This will set it straight to those who thought that the iBooks won't be able to be sold anywhere else. The iBooks in the "book" FORMAT (iBooks) won't be able to be sold anywhere else, so that means you could just export as PDF.
Where do you get that even if you use PDF export that you'll be able to sell it elsewhere? You still created it with their iBooks Author.
It specifically says "If you charge a fee for any book or other work you generate using this software (a Work), you may only sell or distribute such Work through Apple"
It does not exclude PDFs, it says "book OR other work you generate"
Gary
@Wizard
Did the math, assuming schools keep iPads for 4 years at a time they still save ~33% the cost of regular text books (estimated price of $60, which I believe to be a low estimate) kept for six years at a time.
This also assumes after the first set of iPads bought (Which is a little less than half the price of completely replacing all the regular textbooks), they change out 1/4 of their iPads every year after.
The only problem I see is the iBook store not having all the books the schools need. Even then, they would still probably save money only having to buy a small percentage of real textbooks.
Did the math, assuming schools keep iPads for 4 years at a time they still save ~33% the cost of regular text books (estimated price of $60, which I believe to be a low estimate) kept for six years at a time.
This also assumes after the first set of iPads bought (Which is a little less than half the price of completely replacing all the regular textbooks), they change out 1/4 of their iPads every year after.
The only problem I see is the iBook store not having all the books the schools need. Even then, they would still probably save money only having to buy a small percentage of real textbooks.
non issue
I understand your concerns, but let's look at some things:
1. We (US) don't live in a democracy, we live in a Republic.
2. Costs of the textbooks hasn't necessarily shifted from community to student. What has happened is that the student is now able to acquire the text themselves, but there is nothing stating that the school *can't* pay for said texts.
3. Access to texts now seems more unfettered than before. In the past, you could only get a text from your school, and only the one they want you to have. Schools will probably still require certain texts, but if you want to study something different on your own, it will now be available to you.
4. The entry cost to this system really isn't that high. A single printed textbook (soon to be a thing of the past) is expensive - I've seen textbooks anywhere from $45 - $179. You buy a few of those monsters, and you've already spent as much or more than an iPad.
5. iPads are available via many avenues, including programs that provide technology for underprivileged folks in society. If you haven't noticed, many, many schools are buying iPads for student use. It seems likely that schools who adopt iBooks will be providing the iPad, since they would have been buying printed books anyway.
6. Schools that have purchased laptops or iPads have had really good results as far a breakage/damage is concerned. They've held up really well. Students also tend to treat them better than paper.
I understand your concerns, but let's look at some things:
1. We (US) don't live in a democracy, we live in a Republic.
2. Costs of the textbooks hasn't necessarily shifted from community to student. What has happened is that the student is now able to acquire the text themselves, but there is nothing stating that the school *can't* pay for said texts.
3. Access to texts now seems more unfettered than before. In the past, you could only get a text from your school, and only the one they want you to have. Schools will probably still require certain texts, but if you want to study something different on your own, it will now be available to you.
4. The entry cost to this system really isn't that high. A single printed textbook (soon to be a thing of the past) is expensive - I've seen textbooks anywhere from $45 - $179. You buy a few of those monsters, and you've already spent as much or more than an iPad.
5. iPads are available via many avenues, including programs that provide technology for underprivileged folks in society. If you haven't noticed, many, many schools are buying iPads for student use. It seems likely that schools who adopt iBooks will be providing the iPad, since they would have been buying printed books anyway.
6. Schools that have purchased laptops or iPads have had really good results as far a breakage/damage is concerned. They've held up really well. Students also tend to treat them better than paper.
Let me start with a positive. Anything which makes education more engaging and rewarding will ultimately benefit students and institutions alike. This tool/application makes an inroad into that arena, so well done Apple.
However, when you start to delve deeper, you can see that really the impact of iBooks Author is actually vastly diminished by Apple's own restrictions.
If you have to sign over exclusivity, how does this benefit anyone but Apple. You write and publish a book, surely if it's good enough for the education systems, it should be read by as many people as possible and in multiple formats (print included). Why limit the distribution to the ipad? Kindle books can be read on a whole array of competitor platforms, surely that's the ideal model?
Charging $14.99 or under is a great headline rate, but 30% of that goes to Apple. What about the author and publisher and their massive investment in time and money to get the book written? Some books cost more, because they actually cost more to get written. Apple set an arbitrary rate, which diminishes that process and the value of the content, and allows them to deliver what they see is a great headline purchase price. Content is almost certainly going to suffer to meet that price point. A more comprehensive version will undoubtably end up in another form (print maybe).
Also what about existing published works - Apple will need those authors to sign up, otherwise their scope and reach is going to be pretty weak. Not everyone is enamoured by digital print (I've not mentioned glossy screens), some authors and publishers simply won't comply. What impact does that have on the curriculum? Some content digital, some printed? It's not going to be ipad utopia that's being hailed any time soon.
Is this content going to be subject to the same editorial process and peer scrutiny as traditional print? Sounds as if I can write a book and have it published with absolutely no oversight. Who does that benefit?
Let's just say the content is absolutely of the highest standard, limiting it to a costly Apple only device is a complete contradiction of the public education. The vast majority of education budgets and students wouldn't be able to afford the ipad, so this is not really going to make the massive impact something like itunes did.
It's great to see the direction of travel of technology, however starting that journey in such a restrictive and exclusive way isn't really going to see that vision truly realised.
What Apple might actually end up doing is shining a light on the more open and cost-effective digital solutions already offered by competitors. I am very sure that outside of the Apple marketing this will be merely a blip.
However, when you start to delve deeper, you can see that really the impact of iBooks Author is actually vastly diminished by Apple's own restrictions.
If you have to sign over exclusivity, how does this benefit anyone but Apple. You write and publish a book, surely if it's good enough for the education systems, it should be read by as many people as possible and in multiple formats (print included). Why limit the distribution to the ipad? Kindle books can be read on a whole array of competitor platforms, surely that's the ideal model?
Charging $14.99 or under is a great headline rate, but 30% of that goes to Apple. What about the author and publisher and their massive investment in time and money to get the book written? Some books cost more, because they actually cost more to get written. Apple set an arbitrary rate, which diminishes that process and the value of the content, and allows them to deliver what they see is a great headline purchase price. Content is almost certainly going to suffer to meet that price point. A more comprehensive version will undoubtably end up in another form (print maybe).
Also what about existing published works - Apple will need those authors to sign up, otherwise their scope and reach is going to be pretty weak. Not everyone is enamoured by digital print (I've not mentioned glossy screens), some authors and publishers simply won't comply. What impact does that have on the curriculum? Some content digital, some printed? It's not going to be ipad utopia that's being hailed any time soon.
Is this content going to be subject to the same editorial process and peer scrutiny as traditional print? Sounds as if I can write a book and have it published with absolutely no oversight. Who does that benefit?
Let's just say the content is absolutely of the highest standard, limiting it to a costly Apple only device is a complete contradiction of the public education. The vast majority of education budgets and students wouldn't be able to afford the ipad, so this is not really going to make the massive impact something like itunes did.
It's great to see the direction of travel of technology, however starting that journey in such a restrictive and exclusive way isn't really going to see that vision truly realised.
What Apple might actually end up doing is shining a light on the more open and cost-effective digital solutions already offered by competitors. I am very sure that outside of the Apple marketing this will be merely a blip.
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Why the whining?
So far, here's what I've surmised from yesterday's textbook announcement. Apple have got iBooks 2, which is completely compliant with the ePub standard. So you can buy any ePub book and read it on iBooks. Alongside this, Apple has provided free of charge an iBook creator, which can create amazingly rich text books. Apple have then said that if you want to publish this iBook Author created book, it has to be done in iBooks.
They didn't say that they owned the words or the pictures. Simply that if you use their software, they have the right to take a 30% cut in sales, if you use Apple's distribution, payment and delivery system. So what's stopping me from taking the words that I type and the images that I create and putting them together into a Kindle compatible format and submitting it to Amazon?
Am I the only one here that thinks it's reasonable for a company to get a cut of sales for your creation, if they are providing the platform, the distribution, the storage and delivery and the collection of money?
So far, here's what I've surmised from yesterday's textbook announcement. Apple have got iBooks 2, which is completely compliant with the ePub standard. So you can buy any ePub book and read it on iBooks. Alongside this, Apple has provided free of charge an iBook creator, which can create amazingly rich text books. Apple have then said that if you want to publish this iBook Author created book, it has to be done in iBooks.
They didn't say that they owned the words or the pictures. Simply that if you use their software, they have the right to take a 30% cut in sales, if you use Apple's distribution, payment and delivery system. So what's stopping me from taking the words that I type and the images that I create and putting them together into a Kindle compatible format and submitting it to Amazon?
Am I the only one here that thinks it's reasonable for a company to get a cut of sales for your creation, if they are providing the platform, the distribution, the storage and delivery and the collection of money?
This is a real issue, students are effectively being ripped off by publishers.
There is a lot of ignorance here about education departments doing their own texts and the involvement of the religious right, the problem is that takes focus off why these initiatives where started in the first place. Simply put school districts are rejecting the spirialing cost of books that never really offer much new. As you note you have to advance in education significantly to be dealing with bleeding edge concepts.
So iPad and iBooks offers a way around the head lock the big publishers have on educational materials. That is if schools can find a way to deal with the cost of iPads.
In the end I could see K-12 students using a mix of texts published for free by various state educational departments. Apple will likely support this strongly as it provides leverage for the sale of iPads. This could effectively destroy the K-12 paper text book market in short order. In the end it doesn't take a lot of effort to keep a mathematics or physics text book up to date for high school students. Great literature is already widely available for free. Big publishing was likely pulled into the mix to make people feel good while content becomes more freely available. Because to be honest I don't see school districts paying for an iPad plus a suite of $15 books every year for every student. Even if students hept the iPads for a number of years beyond 1 I still don't see districts being willing to pay for new books every year.
There is a lot of ignorance here about education departments doing their own texts and the involvement of the religious right, the problem is that takes focus off why these initiatives where started in the first place. Simply put school districts are rejecting the spirialing cost of books that never really offer much new. As you note you have to advance in education significantly to be dealing with bleeding edge concepts.
So iPad and iBooks offers a way around the head lock the big publishers have on educational materials. That is if schools can find a way to deal with the cost of iPads.
In the end I could see K-12 students using a mix of texts published for free by various state educational departments. Apple will likely support this strongly as it provides leverage for the sale of iPads. This could effectively destroy the K-12 paper text book market in short order. In the end it doesn't take a lot of effort to keep a mathematics or physics text book up to date for high school students. Great literature is already widely available for free. Big publishing was likely pulled into the mix to make people feel good while content becomes more freely available. Because to be honest I don't see school districts paying for an iPad plus a suite of $15 books every year for every student. Even if students hept the iPads for a number of years beyond 1 I still don't see districts being willing to pay for new books every year.