iPad iBooks app US-only, McGraw-Hill absent from Apple event
In unveiling its new iBook application and iBookstore for the iPad, Apple highlighted a number of publishers with which it has content agreements. But those deals, for now, are U.S.-only, and one glaring omission stood out from the list: McGraw-Hill [updated with comments from the publisher].
Apple has begun launching international Web sites to promote the iPad, and the Australian page comes with a small footnote that reads: "iBooks available in the U.S. only."
iBooks is a new application unveiled by Apple Wednesday that features a 3D virtual bookshelf with a user's personal collection. It also contains a link to the iBookstore, which allows users to purchase and download books from a variety of publishers.
"We've got five of the largest publishers in the world that are supporting us in this and are going to have all of their books on the store," CEO Steve Jobs said during Wednesday's keynote. "And we're going to open up the floodgates for the rest of the publishers in the world starting this afternoon."
Highlighted in the presentation were HarperCollins, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan and Hachette Book Group. Many of those companies were revealed weeks ago to be in talks with Apple.
But absent Wednesday was one major publisher that claims to have a part in the iBookstore: McGraw-Hill.
Appearing on television Tuesday, Terry McGraw, CEO of publisher McGraw-Hill, revealed that the iPad would run the iPhone OS and would allow software to be "transferrable" between the iPad and the iPhone.
McGraw's comments came as speculation over the iPad, then simply known as a forthcoming tablet from Apple, was at a fever pitch, less than 24 hours before Apple's planned product unveiling. McGraw also gave the first official confirmation that the iPad would run the iPhone OS, revealing a crucial element of the then-secret device prior to Jobs' presentation.
Update: Contacted by DigitalDaily, a McGraw-Hill spokesperson said the CEO's comments about the iPad were merely speculative, and the company had no prior information on the device.
Some other publications have outright stated that McGraw-Hill was ousted from Wednesday's event due to McGraw's comments. But the company noted Wednesday that Apple featured only the products of trade publishers during the keynote. McGraw-Hill's education programs were never a part of the negotiations.
"(McGraw's) speculative comments about Apple’s pending launch, which he shared earlier in the day in a call with investors, were simply intended to suggest that if the new device were to use iPhone applications, many of our education products would be compatible with the technology and could be made easily available on it," the statement said. "Unfortunately, it seems that many mistakenly interpreted his comments as being more specific to yesterday’s announcement."
The iPad runs iPhone OS 3.2, a new version of the mobile operating system that, for the moment, is iPad-only. On Wednesday, Apple released a new software development kit that allows developers to test their existing iPhone applications or create new iPad-specific ones in a new iPad "simulator."
Apple has begun launching international Web sites to promote the iPad, and the Australian page comes with a small footnote that reads: "iBooks available in the U.S. only."
iBooks is a new application unveiled by Apple Wednesday that features a 3D virtual bookshelf with a user's personal collection. It also contains a link to the iBookstore, which allows users to purchase and download books from a variety of publishers.
"We've got five of the largest publishers in the world that are supporting us in this and are going to have all of their books on the store," CEO Steve Jobs said during Wednesday's keynote. "And we're going to open up the floodgates for the rest of the publishers in the world starting this afternoon."
Highlighted in the presentation were HarperCollins, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan and Hachette Book Group. Many of those companies were revealed weeks ago to be in talks with Apple.
But absent Wednesday was one major publisher that claims to have a part in the iBookstore: McGraw-Hill.
Appearing on television Tuesday, Terry McGraw, CEO of publisher McGraw-Hill, revealed that the iPad would run the iPhone OS and would allow software to be "transferrable" between the iPad and the iPhone.
McGraw's comments came as speculation over the iPad, then simply known as a forthcoming tablet from Apple, was at a fever pitch, less than 24 hours before Apple's planned product unveiling. McGraw also gave the first official confirmation that the iPad would run the iPhone OS, revealing a crucial element of the then-secret device prior to Jobs' presentation.
Update: Contacted by DigitalDaily, a McGraw-Hill spokesperson said the CEO's comments about the iPad were merely speculative, and the company had no prior information on the device.
Some other publications have outright stated that McGraw-Hill was ousted from Wednesday's event due to McGraw's comments. But the company noted Wednesday that Apple featured only the products of trade publishers during the keynote. McGraw-Hill's education programs were never a part of the negotiations.
"(McGraw's) speculative comments about Apple’s pending launch, which he shared earlier in the day in a call with investors, were simply intended to suggest that if the new device were to use iPhone applications, many of our education products would be compatible with the technology and could be made easily available on it," the statement said. "Unfortunately, it seems that many mistakenly interpreted his comments as being more specific to yesterday’s announcement."
The iPad runs iPhone OS 3.2, a new version of the mobile operating system that, for the moment, is iPad-only. On Wednesday, Apple released a new software development kit that allows developers to test their existing iPhone applications or create new iPad-specific ones in a new iPad "simulator."
Comments
The leak was their consolation prize for not being able to get on the slide that close to presentation.
If Apple isn't distributing your content, your content won't get very far.
Meanwhile I simply cannot fathom why AAPL isn't through the roof!
EDIT:
Random House (15.9% market share)
*Pearson (Penguin) (11%)
*HarperCollins (10.6%)
*Simon & Schuster (9.3%)
*Hachette (6.2%)
Scholastic (5.2%)
Thomas Nelson (4.7%)
Holtzbrinck (4.4%)
Tyndale House (1.9%)
Wiley (1.9%)
So Random House is really the missing piece of the puzzle.
So what major publishers are missing? Is there a list of top publishers somewhere?
EDIT:
Random House (15.9% market share)
*Pearson (Penguin) (11%)
*HarperCollins (10.6%)
*Simon & Schuster (9.3%)
*Hachette (6.2%)
Scholastic (5.2%)
Thomas Nelson (4.7%)
Holtzbrinck (4.4%)
Tyndale House (1.9%)
Wiley (1.9%)
So Random House is really the missing piece of the puzzle.
Indeed. Puts the lack of McGraw Hill into perspective. They probably weren't mentioned because they are not that big.
I think most publishers will see this as a good opportunity, but it's the newspapers who really stand to gain.
If that's what the article is saying then it sounds Arbitrary IMO.
I bet they'll use the excuse that "the UK market isn't ready yet" which is rubbish. It's they who aren't ready.
Probably a snub at the event for breaking the non-disclosure but I doubt Apple would literally drop them as it would lose them revenue.
Meanwhile I simply cannot fathom why AAPL isn't through the roof!
You must not have watched the State of the Union address. The market is far unhappier with the President than it is excited by Steve the Wunderkind.
This REALLY sucks. I was all for the iPad before they decided that the UK doesn't want to read. Nutters.
I bet they'll use the excuse that "the UK market isn't ready yet" which is rubbish. It's they who aren't ready.
Right. I don´t understand this reluctance to open up to other markets. What does ready mean anyway?
That was such an rookie move by a CEO.
or it might be the fact that McGraw hill gets half its revenue from S&P and the comment would be worth more than selling ebooks.
Probably a snub at the event for breaking the non-disclosure but I doubt Apple would literally drop them as it would lose them revenue.
Meanwhile I simply cannot fathom why AAPL isn't through the roof!
Maybe because the reception has been lukewarm?
Right. I don´t understand this reluctance to open up to other markets. What does ready mean anyway?
is this limited by Apple, publishers, or trade laws?
I remember it took a while for apple to get the music industry to allow international sales, and it still is fairly restricted.
but Steve did say that they are engaging international publishing market currently. England will read again!
Probably a snub at the event for breaking the non-disclosure but I doubt Apple would literally drop them as it would lose them revenue.
Meanwhile I simply cannot fathom why AAPL isn't through the roof!
Maybe because the reception has been lukewarm? The market is not as compulsive a fanboy buyers.
Right. I don´t understand this reluctance to open up to other markets. What does ready mean anyway?
Like everything else dealing with the EU is far different then dealing 'at home', even canada has to wait longer for products and features. Hell you still can't watch HULU in canada, it's all about money ... fees / taxes / royalties etc., boys.
Maybe because the reception has been lukewarm?
I sold my AAPL stock in the last week of 2009 for tax purposes, planning to buy it back after the transaction cleared. I had no idea that was going to be the 52-week high and that it would drop 15$/share four weeks later.
and almost forgot the biggest perk would have been carrying around one tablet vs a stack of heavy text books and random novels for my spanish and english classes: broken back vs 1.5 pound tablet
The real questions we should ask here are:
1. will iBooks be available to the rest of the world anytime soon?
2. Will iBooks App be available for download on the iPhone/Touch?
3. What will they cost? We've heard rumor that they will be between $12-$15 each. Amazon sells for around $9.99 and less.
4. Will other e-book formats be supported on the iPad?
Amazon already has a really strong lead on Apple. If they want to start competing, they need an edge that Amazon doesn't. Amazon already has an App for the kindle on the iPhone and Touch. So i'd safely say the Kindle Store is up +2 already.