Steve Jobs Biography: On the Development and Launch of iPad

[charlituna]

Nobody bats 1.000.

And yet, despite his free idea not going over, how many articles are we seeing over and over about this or that school switching to iPads to replace paper textbooks.

So really his free thing wasn't needed.

Which reminds me, my nieces both need iPads for school and I promised to pick them up for my sister. Better have Siri put in a reminder for me.

 

[samcraig]

Still, no. This is the only Mac site I hit, since I'm interested in the broad spectrum of technology, not just Macs. Believe it or not, there are plenty of people with internet connections who never saw any of these stories. I know several of them.

Also, dumb decisions by other sites doesn't excuse you.

You're a hypocrite. You say it wasn't unavoidable. Yet you couldn't avoid coming to this site and/or reading the stories. Headlines give enough indication of what's up and if you can't control yourself from reading further - that isn't Arn's fault.

 

[charlituna]

Man, I'm having problems seeing all these stories and reading them and spoiling the book before it arrives. Common, Amazon, get that thing in the mail!!! So many fascinating details, I can't wait.

Well you just lost your fanboy cred.

True fanboys bought it on iBooks to read on their iPads and iPhones.

 

[miles01110]

And yet, despite his free idea not going over, how many articles are we seeing over and over about this or that school switching to iPads to replace paper textbooks.

Exceptions to the norm are usually more newsworthy than "business as usual." Why do you think the press loves Apple in general?

 

[ProwlingTiger]

Well, the book has certainly provided MacRumors with hundreds of possible story posts. If it's a slow news day and MacRumors needs traffic, just flip through the pages and post an excerpt!

The book is out now. Those who want to know about x, y ,z could read the book. MacRumors is writing its own book on a book now.

 

[kas23]

Read it all. But seriously, stop posting bits of it.

For those that have read the book; Walter Isaacson is a B Player.

There's a reason Jobs picked him. Jobs wanted Issac to write his story, not Issac's story about Steve Jobs. Believe it not, due to journalistic integrity or ethical considerations, there are likely some authors out there that would't want to strong-armed by Jobs.

 

[charlituna]

So, Apple gets rights to a whole textbook,

They wouldn't need the rights to a whole textbook. Just a company to write the texts for them. Much of what is in those texts is facts and therefore not copyrighted. Just the presentation of said facts is.

But yes they could break it down into smaller units and when combined with the various journals having a willingness to allow access to individual articles for course packs you could create customized 'textbooks' that would be of more value to the professors and less cost to the students

 

[something3153]

Not arn's problem. As was said before; if you don't want to read it, don't click. It's not that difficult.

Ah yes, the old "I know someone that doesn't know anything about technology" card. Because that obviously excuses your inability to ignore a story on the internet.

I assure you, some of the people I'm talking about know about technology. The portion of the internet that follows Apple rumor sites is smaller than you seem to think. And sure, arn can post whatever he wants. I'm taking issue with his use of the term "unavoidable". It's anything but.

You're a hypocrite. You say it wasn't unavoidable. Yet you couldn't avoid coming to this site and/or reading the stories. Headlines give enough indication of what's up and if you can't control yourself from reading further - that isn't Arn's fault.

Did you miss the part where I said I didn't care because I'm not going to read the book? I have some time to kill. I'm just saying that arn was wrong that finding details about the book was "unavoidable". It really, really wasn't.

However, to both of you, arn's ability to post whatever he wants doesn't invalidate feedback from site users. These stories seem to be bothering a good number of people here. It's something to consider.

 

[kas23]

Well you just lost your fanboy cred.

True fanboys bought it on iBooks to read on their iPads and iPhones.

Or, steal it off one of the many websites hosting it. Oh, did I just say that out loud?

Take a look at the list of the 25 best selling hardcovers or eBooks. Why exactly is this biography the most expensive one out of all? I highly doubt the costs associated with this book are any different than the other 24 best sellers.

 

[charlituna]

States are beginning to enact legislation that mandates that a certain percentage of the curriculum be electronic by "X" date. Some of this has to do with reaction to the sheer size and weight of textbooks that adolescents are dragging around, the other is an attempt to "stay current."

All the kids in my family (well that live here and not overseas) go to the same school. Guess what won over the admins on iPads. It wasn't the cost which right now is actually about the same as what the parents pay for textbooks (private school so we buy everything). It wasn't the notion of staying current or better testing. THAT's why the teachers were calling for them.

Now, Monsignor was convinced by one thing. No more dozen textbooks to drag around means no more having to go to one's locker between every class. No more trips to the lockers means no more kids hanging around in the halls to get up to mischief. Now it's one trip in the morning to drop off your lunch and outerwear. One at lunchtime to pick up your lunch. And one in the afternoon to pick up your jacket. Otherwise, it's straight from one class to the next in a purposeful silence. Monsignor loves it. After 40 years he finally got the quiet he has been screaming about (noise is for outside during recess and lunch)

 

[iChrist]

The story is clearly titled. Maybe don't read the story?

arn

Reader was make suggestion. So rude response.

 

[z3r0]

Scary...

Michael Cera Totally Looks Like Young Bill Gates
http://cheezburger.com/View/2673762816

Young Steve Jobs Totally Looks Like Ashton Kutcher
http://cheezburger.com/View/1345309440

 

[charlituna]

Exceptions to the norm are usually more newsworthy than "business as usual." Why do you think the press loves Apple in general?

The catch here is that the continued stories are showing that in fact this electronic texts notion is becoming the norm, rather than the exception. And not just with grade school kids. Which is really what makes it newsworthy.

Steve had this crazy idea of putting free textbooks on the iPad to actually create the same situation that is happening despite having to pay for the content.

 

[miles01110]

The catch here is that the continued stories are showing that in fact this electronic texts notion is becoming the norm, rather than the exception. And not just with grade school kids. Which is really what makes it newsworthy.

Except they're not becoming the norm anymore than Macs are becoming the norm. You are talking about 5-10% market share for electronic textbooks, which does not qualify as "becoming the norm" in any sane person's definition of the expression. Your entire argument is based on a false assumption.

 

[mrkgoo]

I couldn't agree more. It's like reading Macspoilers.com now. I was dying to buy the book, but all this coverage has ruined it for me (on all sites). Now I wonder if it's a waste of money since so many of these damned bloggers can't help themselves.



No, but these passages ARE taking up huge chunks of the main site. Every few hours. Every day.

On another note, however, I wish I could just reach out and slap all those people that wrote Steve complaining about the iPad. Morons, all of them.

On the same note, I wish I could reach out and slap all the people that wrote macrumors complaining about the posted stories.

It's not a big deal to see excerpts, and they don't completely ruin the book. Books and stories are more than just the information in them. You would think Apple fans would understand this.

Not to mention some people probably do appreciate the news and info.

 

[Aldaris]

The story is clearly titled. Maybe don't read the story?

arn

Props Arn,

The book is in the public domain and readily available. It's gone public, if you want to avoid spoilers great, avoid the mac enthusiast sites and blogs. Truth is there are lots of tidbits about what Steve thought made him tick, about insights on design and bringing it to all the world, not just one class or another. If amazon has not mailed shipped your copy, head on over to iTunes and download it, and then keep your paper back in pristine condition.

I would dare say there is a lot in the book that has come down apples pipeline, and some that will still trickle down in one form or another making chapters and paragraphs news worthy to a point.

 

[caseymahoney]

I agree

The battery in the IPad is bad. I will miss Steve jobs.

Casey Mahoney

 

[sn]

who needs to buy the book when you've got macrumors!

 

[Mattsasa]

Arn,

I really do appreciate the posts about Steve's Bibliography,

Please continue to do so when interesting things arise, and ignore the people on this thread complaining about spoiling the book

 

[rdowns]

Arn,

I really do appreciate the posts about Steve's Bibliography,

Please continue to do so when interesting things arise, and ignore the people on this thread complaining about spoiling the book

Biography, not bibliography.

 

[gbnz]

The story is clearly titled. Maybe don't read the story?

arn

Fair point... though I think it's a shame that Mac rumors don't let you know the story contains spoilers. The odd tid bit here and there is all sweet but come on. This is really becoming like the annoying friend who lets you know all the good bits in a movie when they have seen it and you have not... it's even more frustrating when you are both watching the film. I'm reading the book and being blown away ... maybe let folk enjoy it .

 

[CrackedButter]

Steve Jobs admits he doesn't know what's been written about him. Jobs didn't strong arm him in anyway.

Actually it reads like Issac's story of Steve Jobs, just like iCon does except Issac's book benefits slightly from SJ's perspective which is inserted here and there.

There's a reason Jobs picked him. Jobs wanted Issac to write his story, not Issac's story about Steve Jobs. Believe it not, due to journalistic integrity or ethical considerations, there are likely some authors out there that would't want to strong-armed by Jobs.

 

[you people smh]

Perhaps we should consider not publishing "spoilers" from the Jobs biography on the front page of the site.

Some may actually enjoy reading the book and discovering the contents on our own.

Post it in another thread and mark is Jobs Biography Spoilers.

Please don't continue to ruin the reading experience by blasting it on the front page of the site!

Thanks for your consideration!

Yeah MacRumors. Come on. You're ruining it for everybody. especially people like me who want this book more than anything in the world yet refuse to pay an extra 7 dollars to get it in my hands the minute it came out. You expect me to have self-control and not click on a link to get the scoop you provide? HOW DARE YOU!!!

 

[Tofaha]

i've been avoiding all these stories from the book, mine shipped today so i'l find out whats in it without all these book leaks lol

 

[arn]

There's a reason Jobs picked him. Jobs wanted Issac to write his story, not Issac's story about Steve Jobs. Believe it not, due to journalistic integrity or ethical considerations, there are likely some authors out there that would't want to strong-armed by Jobs.

ya, as crackedbutter said, if you'd read the book, you'd know that's not true. Jobs was very hands off of the content. He only wanted to have a say about the cover.

arn