Apple to Reshape Textbook, Newspaper, and Television Industries

The WSJ says Steve Jobs is betting the Apple Tablet can reshape textbooks, newspapers, and television much the way his iPod revamped the music industry.

Here are the key points from the article:

● Apple focused on the role the tablet could play in homes and in classrooms. It envisions the tablet as a device that can be shared by multiple family members.


● Apple has been exploring e-book technology, looking for how this content can be presented differently.

● The company has talked with The New York Times Co., Conde Nast Publications Inc. and HarperCollins Publishers and its owner News Corp., which also owns The Wall Street Journal, over content for the tablet

● Negotiations have been taking place with television networks such as CBS Corp. and Walt Disney Co., which owns ABC, for a monthly TV subscription service

● Apple is also working with videogame publisher Electronic Arts Inc. to show off the tablet's game capabilities


● Jobs has a longstanding strategy of devising new ways to access and pay for quality content, instead of reinventing the content.

● Apple was discussing with the New York Times how it could charge for news through iTunes

● Apple has put significant resources into designing and programming the device so that it is intuitive to share. Experiments include the ability to leave virtual sticky notes on the device and for the gadget to automatically recognize individuals via a built-in camera.

● In October, Apple sent representatives to the Frankfurt Book Fair

● Apple pitched media companies on a "best of TV" subscription service to television networks where customers would pay a monthly fee for on-demand access to programs from a bundle of participating TV networks. Apple reportedly is looking to access four to six shows per channel

● Apple is planning a web-based version of iTunes that it could launch as soon as June

Apple is rumored to launch the much anticipated tablet at media event on January 27th.

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