Apple Tablet to Redefine Print?

Apple is in talks with several media companies to negotiate content for a new device, according to Gizmodo.

The site has learned that Apple is looking to load up iTunes with print content from several major publishing houses across different media.

Apparently, Apple contacted the NYTimes about putting their publication on the new device (ie tablet). The R&D labs at the paper have long been working on a version meant to be navigated without a keyboard or mouse.


McGraw Hill and Oberlin Press have been working with Apple to move textbooks to iTunes since at least July, according to another Gizmodo source. The benefits here to Apple are enormous. Students pay on average well over $1000 a year on textbooks. Significantly cheaper eTextbooks would offset the cost of an Apple Tablet, perhaps completely.

Apple also had executives from a large magazine group present their ideas on the future of publishing. It's presumed that more talks took place after the initial presentation.

Gizmodo believes that Apple will initially offer only basic translation of texts to the tablet; however, the long term goal is to have content created specifically for the device. This content would combine audio, video, interactive graphics and more.

Finally, a high level source has confirmed the rumors of an announcement around January 2010.


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