[gracer]

Okay so Apple have announced that an education event will take place in NYC, January 19th – which works out to be January 20th 2am AEDST.

This has me curious and just a bit excited, as it's the first Apple event to kick off 2012.

Any thoughts on what you think the company will unveil? Some reports suggest that this could be the moment when iBooks finally comes to Mac, which, let's be honest, is painfully overdue.

Any other thoughts? Winning guess gets a prize...bragging rights for posting it here first. RRP? Invaluable!

G

[klytia]

I am always up for a challenge, invaluable, even better, my guess......

A Steve jobs legacy to education as a whole, the countless billions and some philanthropy exiting the Jobs household could just be a possibility that the punters wouldn't think of......

Grace, just send on the prize now, I've won the bragging rights being the first post....whether it's right or not......well that's just a minor detail..

Mick

[Stubzee]

I get the impression that technical books and publications will become a major player in the eBooks field. The variation in price between printed and digital form doesn't vary to any great degree.
It will be a an interesting exercise as many technical books are updated on a regular basis.
Gordon

[gracer]

I'm fine conceding the bragging rights to someone else, because my guess is the stuff only found in wildest dreams, where flying pigs run rampant.

I want Apple to announce the opening of its university (campus smack bang in NYC, looking like a futuristic spaceship), where students can attend only by invitation. No fees, because all attendees would be in the genius league, so would technically be an investment on the company's behalf.

The philosophy of the school and its teachings are based on the Jobs legacy – our thoughts run parallel here, Mick.

And the cafeteria food is beyond gastronomical belief.

Also, in my estimation (daydream) Apple would send a letter of invite to me (hand deliverd by Tim Cook himself) offering me a position as an honourary student.

Plausible?

Nup. But one can dream, be foolish and stay that way. Jobs said we could!

G

[arcanedevice]

My guess is that they will announce a deal with a major educational publisher (Pearson?) to have all their books available on iBooks. There will also be a link with major universities for iTunes U tied in somehow.

EDIT: Having given this some thought, I'm almost certain this will be the deal. There are so many benefits for both parties, whoever they may be. Apple get their 30% commission and will no doubt sell plenty more devices, and the publisher(s) remove the 2nd hand market and therefore sell more product. And both can improve their 'green' potential by removing paper...

[JZ]

An interactive white board for schools that can display iBooks and mirror iPad.


jz

[BrianB]

I agree with Arcane, it will be a major deal with a textbook publisher. I used to work for Jacaranda selling textbooks into schools. If it is Pearson, they and all the other publishers are going to be shaking in their boots.