Apple unveiled its new iBooks software earlier today, looking to “reinvent” learning and make good on founder Steve Jobs’ promise to revolutionize education.
During a press event in New York City, Apple’s Paul Schiller showcased the future of iBooks. With iBooks 2, Apple hopes to transform iPads into fully featured textbooks with video, interactive objects and thumbnail navigation, in addition to plain text and pictures, according to Gizmodo.
Quizzes, review questions and an included glossary will be built in to the software, according to reports.
“Clearly, no printed book can compete with this,” said Apple Vice President of Productivity Applications Roger Rosner.
Today’s presentation made no mention of how schools could pay for the new technology, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“Conspicuously absent in Apple presentation (thus far) has been any mention of how schools and students, both often short on cash, will be able to afford iPad-based textbooks,” the Journal deduced. “Even if the books are free or cheap, the device is still pretty pricey.