Apple’s press event in New York City on Thursday 19 January will apparently focus on tools for creating ebooks.
This is according to unnamed sources speaking to Ars Technica.
“The current state of software tools continues to frustrate authors and publishers alike, with several authors telling Ars that they wish Apple or some other vendor would make a simple app that makes the process as easy as creating a song in GarageBand,” read the publication’s 16 January posting. “Our sources say Apple will announce such a tool on Thursday.”
In the battle for e-publishing supremacy, Apple faces a formidable competitor in Amazon, whose Kindle franchise – which includes ebooks – has proved a decisive hit with consumers. On top of that, education is a potentially lucrative segment for any company that can place its products in the hands of thousands or even millions of students; were Apple to make a significant play in that area, it stands to reason that Amazon and other companies would quickly follow with initiatives of their own.
If Ars Technica’s report proves correct, then Apple could be aiming at an arguably bigger target than the textbook market.
Easy-to-use tools and digital distribution could affect the publishing industry in ways reminiscent of the music industry over the last decade or so. In addition, while such tools could give thousands or even millions of people an outlet for expressing their vision to the larger world, the copyright and revenue issues rocking the music industry suggest that any such paradigm shift will come with its own share of controversies.
Over the past few years, Apple has demonstrated that it can seize an advantage when it pushes a new model for an industry well ahead of other competitors. The only question – besides what it will unveil on 19 January – is how long it will take for those rivals to respond.
HP revenues beat analysts' expectations as commercial PC sales return to growth after two-year post-pandemic…
Meta Platforms finds influence network focused on Gaza war that for first time uses generative…
Former OpenAI board member gives fullest description to date of events that led to surprise…
BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust dethrones decade-old Grayscale investment vehicle to become world's biggest Bitcoin fund,…
Kevin O'Leary, investor and host of reality programme Shark Tank, launches crowdfunding effort to gauge…
Former Bankman-Fried top lieutenant Ryan Salame given longer sentence than prosecutors had asked for over…