ibooks Author first taste
Imogen Bertin
CESI members will probably have seen the debates about the end user
agreement (if produced with IBA, Apple don't allow you distribute it
except through ibooks/itunes). My interest was not in paid-for books
but as to whether this might be a good way to content-create for open
educational resources because I figure they will fix the epub/PDF
issues fairly quickly.
1. Yes it's fantastically quick and easy to use, yet with lots of
options for design people, so I think it will be a winner despite many
quibbles.
2. You're basically stuck with Helvetica Neue. It drafts with other
lovely fonts on the Mac but when you preview the book on the iPad it's
Helevetica Neue all the way.
3. If you have material in PowerPoint you will have to buy Keynote to
transfer through before you can get your slides over to include in the
book. Keynote is 15.99 as a standalone app.
4. There are quite a lot of differences (eg bullet characters) between
the app on the Mac and the preview. So preview early and often.
5. It's unclear how you can apply creative commons licenses to it.
6. When you include weblinks, these work fine but there is no "back
button" as such to return to the book. You have to hit the menu button
and select ibooks again to get back to your book. Clunky.
7. You'd better know that all your images etc. are rights free or
creative commons... I think that's the main thing Apple will check for
"free" books.
8. I see on twitter comments that it's apparently poor enough at
maths. I didn't try that myself. What a shame.
9. There is an option to provide accessibility information for
multimedia "widgets" using the WAI-ARIA accessibility standard but it
looks like glorified alt text. Hope I'm wrong.
Love to hear feedback from others. I need to do a lot of tidying up so
I haven't "published" the book chapter as yet, just previewed.
Imogen
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Keith Young
thanks for the walk through of your first use. Bearing in mind that
it's a version 1 product I would see all that as a good start. Just
one point of clarification though about the EULA. Doing a bit of
research on it suggests that non-commercial distribution is just fine:
"If I create a textbook using iBooks Author and then decide to made it
freely available to the world (à la Khan Academy) I can do that
without any restriction. Simple click ‘Export’ within iBook Author and
the resulting file can be distributed by any means I choose and then
loaded in iBooks. The mind boggles at what things may come out of
this.
All Apple is doing with this restriction is saying that if you
directly profit from this free tool and platform that we have created,
then we deserve our cut. Which seems entirely fair to me." David Smith
( http://david-smith.org/blog/2012/01/19/ibooks-author-unprecedented/
)
Regards
Keith
Donal O' Mahony
discovered I need more RAM to upgrade and hence can't access iBook
creator - would love to try it after your comments.
The discussion online on the End User Licence Agreement is heated e.g.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/apples-mind-bogglingly-greedy-and-evil-license-agreement/4360
Thanks Imogen for that first run through
On Jan 23, 3:56 am, Keith Young <keithyo...@mac.com> wrote:
> Hi Imogen,
> thanks for the walk through of your first use. Bearing in mind that
> it's a version 1 product I would see all that as a good start. Just
> one point of clarification though about the EULA. Doing a bit of
> research on it suggests that non-commercial distribution is just fine:
>
> "If I create a textbook using iBooks Author and then decide to made it
> freely available to the world (à la Khan Academy) I can do that
> without any restriction. Simple click ‘Export’ within iBook Author and
> the resulting file can be distributed by any means I choose and then
> loaded in iBooks. The mind boggles at what things may come out of
> this.
>
> All Apple is doing with this restriction is saying that if you
> directly profit from this free tool and platform that we have created,
> then we deserve our cut. Which seems entirely fair to me." David Smith
Seaghan Moriarty
Kindest Regards,
Seaghan Moriarty.
Imogen
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Daniel Hyland
I created an iBooks doc for a LCHL business topic. The potential is excellent. However objective evaluation of the delivery system presents challenges and drawbacks. If anyone would like a sample please pm at daniel...@stcolmans.ie and I'll gladly forward the Dropbox link.
Kindest regards,
Daniel Hyland
Business Department
St Colman's College
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Imogen Bertin
Just putting in a text hyperlink is a bit boring. But if the video you
want to link to is under a standard Youtube license and not creative
commons, I'm not sure what the position is about downloading and
including... A workaround could be to snapshot the video and use that
as a graphic in the iBook, hyperlinked to the video content on
YouTube?
Peter Lydon
PL
Peter Lydon
Keith Young
The YouTube backend stores all videos in H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format, with
stereo AAC audio. The containers used for viewing can be either FLV,
MP4, WebM or 3GP. So embedding iPad compatible versions should not be
a problem. An easy way would be for someone to write and release a
dashcode widget to allow that embedding straight into the iBooks
textbook.
Speaking of the decline and replacement of Flash ... HTML5 is coming
on in leaps and bounds. Command and Conquer, a classic strategy game,
has been rebuilt as a web app in HTML5.
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-01/23/command-and-conquer-html5
Regards
Keith
On Jan 23, 9:04 pm, Peter Lydon <peterly...@iol.ie> wrote:
> Or download and convert to .swf and embed - except the whole flash thing....
>
> On 23/01/2012 20:10, "Imogen Bertin" <imo...@ctc.ie> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > I think a big issue for educators is how to link to YouTube videos.
> > Just putting in a text hyperlink is a bit boring. But if the video you
> > want to link to is under a standard Youtube license and not creative
> > commons, I'm not sure what the position is about downloading and
> > including... A workaround could be to snapshot the video and use that
> > as a graphic in the iBook, hyperlinked to the video content on
> > YouTube?
>
> > On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 7:48 PM, Daniel Hyland
> > <DanielHyl...@stcolmans.ie> wrote:
> >> Hi,
>
> >> I created an iBooks doc for a LCHL business topic. The potential is
> >> excellent. However objective evaluation of the delivery system presents
> >> challenges and drawbacks. If anyone would like a sample please pm at
> >>> may also show up in search engines etc.
> >>> Visit the web sitewww.cesi.ie
> >>> Attempts to use the list for commercial purposes may result removal from the
> >>> list.
>
> >> --
> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> >> Groups "CESI-list" group.
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Imogen Bertin
extension for Firefox...) it's the copyright. Most people don't know
about creative commons licensing even though it is an option on
YouTube when you upload, so most use the standard license even for
open educational resources.
2012 resolution: scrupulously revise all graphics in my teaching
slides to ensure they are public domain/creative commons/referenced
clearly etc.
Imogen
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G P Ashe
Keith Young
is welcome. Despite concerns about the EULA, I can see this technology
being another tool (of many) that education uses to democratise itself
and access to knowledge.
Keith
> http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-24/apple-bites-into-core-of-sch...
Peter Lydon
Ah Keith come on.....there's nothing democratising about Apples iAuthor
EULA!...I can't even get iBooks for my Mac..I have to buy an iPad!
Keith Young
iBooks Author is a free download for any Mac running Lion, iBooks 2 is
a free download for any iPad. The Mac is the tool for creation and
distribution of the content, the iPad is the medium of consumption.
Considering that there are more iPads in the world than all other
tablets combined than I'd stick to my assertion that this is a great
way to distribute content.
iBooks Author EULA may have a few errors in the first version, but
look at the spirit of it (and Apple's stated views on education) it's
quite clear the intention. If you make money off the software then you
distribute the content through the iBookstore and pay Apple a cut for
providing the tools, the platform and covering all distribution costs,
if you distribute content freely then off you go and share it for
free. Apple's approach isn't all that different to Adobe (and other
vendors) charging for their studio tools upfront, although they don't
have the same market reach.
Keith
On Jan 24, 7:50 pm, Peter Lydon <peterly...@iol.ie> wrote:
> Ah Keith come on.....there's nothing democratising about Apples iAuthor
> EULA!...I can't even get iBooks for my Mac..I have to buy an iPad!
>
Peter Lydon
That's all fine but don't call it 'democratisation' when it is really
monopolisation. The reason they are making the software free is so they can
charge for the end product which, of course, is more lucrative. Apple is
not in education for some benign, philanthropic ideal. It's pure business.
This is fine.
But if they were interested in education for education's sake, they would
make the software available across all platforms (Android included) and just
charge for it but not the end product. It's fair enough also for them to
'rent' their hosting space but they should not restrict distribution through
other channels. I can sell a paper textbook in Easons. They won't say I
can't sell it in The Wise Owl. Adobe's approach is fundamentally different
in this regard. Adobe doesn't restrict where I can post a Dreamweaver site,
or a Photoshop image etc.
Peter
Imogen Bertin
The restrictions are for paid content. It is unclear as yet what will
happen with regard to free content or whether creative commons
licensing will be allowed. If you can distribute free content eg using
creative commons via other means in addition to iBooks using epub or
slightly modified epub format, then iBooks Author could be
revolutionary for education, in my opinion.
I've been dreadfully wrong before... so don't hold me to it... Free is
never forever but it certainly helps adoption. And I think it's
refreshing to see the commercial option spelled out clearly and
upfront by Apple.
My advice to everyone is: sort out the licensing on any images/media
you use in your teaching. Every time you revise resources,
eliminate/substitute anything you aren't sure is public domain or
creative commons. That way you'll be able to take advantage of the
change however it pans out. Copyright is not going away, and will be
Apple's biggest headache (who's responsible if you included something
you don't have rights to in your iBook even if you are distributing it
FOC?), but you can manage the risk...
Best wishes
Imogen
Peter Lydon
That's all clear. I just have a problem with it. Apple should allow the sale of iAuthored books on other platforms.
I would be tempted to dip into the Apple’s iAuthoring thing (and I do quite like my iMac) - but it would be more ‘open’ of Apple to recognise authors should be able to sell their books anywhere, whether they are typed on a Typewriter or an iPad.
But you’ve highlighted a major issue in your second paragraph
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0127/1224310800307.html
Peter : )
Keith Young
I think your analysis of the potential is correct. There will be a
large increase in the amount of commercially available content in this
format, but there will be an even larger increase in teacher-generated
content that is given directly to students (for free). To put those
tools into a teacher's hands does, in my opinion, show a commitment to
education.
Teacher's now have one more tool to choose from. Some will go and
purchase studio authoring software to produce resources. Others will
choose to use iBooks author on their Macs to create those resources.
There is still a choice, and it is the teacher's. The ease of use and
simplicity of this software compared to a lot of other software is
what will make the difference.
Excellent advise on sorting out licensing for images etc. The EULA may
in part be due to proposed US legislation (SOPA etc) on copyright
which would place a measure of blame on the medium of distribution as
well as the person who infringed the copyright in the first place.
Keith
Seaghan Moriarty
promoting democratisation or monopolisation will be when and whether they
will allow 3rd party tools to create and display the ibooks format.
So for example:
1. You can view an ibook using any standard technology (eg HTML5)
2. You can create an ibook using tools outside the Apple eco-system
Here's a short MLK inspired pseudo-speech on the subject that I wrote a few
days ago:
https://plus.google.com/103139070956464194789/posts/UNy9DGHDdYs
Kindest Regards,
Seaghan Moriarty
-----Original Message-----
From: cesi...@googlegroups.com [mailto:cesi...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Peter Lydon
Sent: 26 January 2012 20:44
To: cesi...@googlegroups.com
Keith,
Peter
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G P Ashe
Ronan Herron
Ronan
Ronan Herron
| Ronan Herron Information Services Research & Development Officer South Dublin County Council |  |
Email: rona...@gmail.com http://ie.linkedin.com/in/ronanherron | |
|
| |||
Gerry Breen
of an Android App for distribution of their digital books a la Kindle/
Kobo etc. The issue came about as I was about to purchase 30 Motorola
Xoom as a pilot for 2 classes in the school naively expecting both
publishers to have an app for the Android platform. It seems to me
Apple are trying to corner the market and crowd out any other platform/
tablet for students to consume digital content, particularly books.
Edco, did not have any plans to develop for the Android platform at
the time of the discussion but Folens were actively exploring the
option. Only having the content available for Ipad is effectively
forcing the end user to purchase an Apple product which I personally
regard as outrageous and another example of Apple's aggressive anti-
competitive business model and disturbing influence over content
distributors. The Ipad is a great product but it also costs nearly
€500 and Apple simply do not do volume discounts as is the norm for
other manufacturers. Also, usage of the Android platform is growing
rapidly (as a straw poll of smartphones in any post Xmas classroom
will testify). Ownership is Ipads is vastly more common among tech
orientated adults than students and some highly affordable and
perfectly capable Android tablets (Motorola/Sony/Toshiba/Archos)
costing from €200 to €400 are now available and on price alone will
prove more attractive to hard pressed families looking to equip their
children with a replacement for the traditional schoolbag.
The availability of publisher content on Apple only, to me, is anti
competitive, anti choice and anti student. Consumers should not be
forced to buy a €500 device to buy their digital school books.
Ronan Herron
Gerry if there was a "vote up" option on your contribution I'd vote it right up!! good luck with the ed publishers, been haranging them for years snd getting nowhere much (apart from g&m)
John Heffernan
Peter Lydon
http://www.google.com/edu/teachers/index.html
Peter
> For more options, visit this group at
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> Visit the web site www.cesi.ie <http://www.cesi.ie>
Laurence Cuffe
On Jan 26, 5:22 am, Keith Young <keithyo...@mac.com> wrote:
> Peter,
>
> iBooks Author is a free download for any Mac running Lion, iBooks 2 is
> a free download for any iPad. The Mac is the tool for creation and
> distribution of the content, the iPad is the medium of consumption.
> Considering that there are more iPads in the world than all other
> tablets combined than I'd stick to my assertion that this is a great
> way to distribute content.
>
> iBooks Author EULA may have a few errors in the first version, but
> look at the spirit of it (and Apple's stated views on education) it's
> quite clear the intention. If you make money off the software then you
> distribute the content through the iBookstore and pay Apple a cut for
> providing the tools, the platform and covering all distribution costs,
> if you distribute content freely then off you go and share it for
> free. Apple's approach isn't all that different to Adobe (and other
> vendors) charging for their studio tools upfront, although they don't
> have the same market reach.
>
> Keith
>
> On Jan 24, 7:50 pm, Peter Lydon <peterly...@iol.ie> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Ah Keith come on.....there's nothing democratising about Apples iAuthor
> > EULA!..I can't even get iBooks for my Mac..I have to buy an iPad!
>
> > On 24/01/2012 18:46, "Keith Young" <keithyo...@mac.com> wrote:
>
> > > Indeed, anything that gives the ability to publish content to teachers
> > > is welcome. Despite concerns about the EULA, I can see this technology
> > > being another tool (of many) that education uses to democratise itself
> > > and access to knowledge.
>
> > > Keith
>
> > > On Jan 24, 5:59 pm, G P Ashe <gpa...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >> Here's another slant on it
>
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Seaghan Moriarty
Just to add one to Laurence’s list that looks potentially useful: http://vook.com/ Sample book here: https://read.vook.com/read?mode=1&v=crushit
Although the preview uses Flash, the platform/output is HTML5 and AFAIK cross-platform etc.
Kindest Regards,
Seaghan Moriarty
From: cesi...@googlegroups.com [mailto:cesi...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Laurence Cuffe
Sent: 28 January 2012 07:29
To: cesi...@googlegroups.com
G P Ashe
John Heffernan
StephenMcF
I think Apple bashing won't help anyone. Apple have shown that
education is a priority for them and I believe we're all the better
for it and here's why.
Apple don't corner markets, they make markets and consumers make
choices. Consumers make markets. It's called capitalism I think.
The iPad is not just a consuming device. I use it to make videos and
write presentations. Some of my students use it to take notes. I even
use to write, record and distribute music.
If Irish publishers are not developing for Android then ask them why.
Do you think they'll blame Apple? I don't think so.
An iPad will open any number of files and formats so I disagree you
need Apple to make Apple. I do agree with you though that it certainly
makes life easy to be Mac on Mac. I recently moved from a PC and I
bloody love my Mac.
I don't believe that the iPad is cost prohibitive. Yes a netbook is
cheaper but it's also slower, smaller, less powerful and has a
terrible battery life, the smaller screens are a pain and all those
moving parts keeps a support division working hard.
You don't support any of your data with evidence. Please link to some.
Anti competitive? It is the competition. It sets the bar.
Anti choice? No one is forced to buy Apple. As mentioned earlier, ask
your publishers why THEY are being anti choice.
Anti student? Outside of the OLPC it's a device that seamlessly fits
into any education situation be it primary all the way up.
Thanks,
Steve
On Jan 28, 7:29 am, Laurence Cuffe <cu...@me.com> wrote:
> > > EULA!...I can't even get iBooks for my Mac..I have to buy an iPad!
> > > On 24/01/2012 18:46, "Keith Young" <keithyo...@mac.com> wrote:
>
> > > > Indeed, anything that gives the ability to publish content to teachers
> > > > is welcome. Despite concerns about the EULA, I can see this technology
> > > > being another tool (of many) that education uses to democratise itself
> > > > and access to knowledge.
>
> > > > Keith
>
> > > > On Jan 24, 5:59 pm, G P Ashe <gpa...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >> Here's another slant on it
>
> --
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John Hegarty
current state of play and possible future concerns well.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0127/1224310800307.html
jh
> http://groups.google.com/group/cesi-list?hl=en-GB where all messages are archived and are publically available to non members of the list. Messages may also show up in search engines etc.
Stephen McFarlane
Laurence Cuffe
On Jan 29, 2012, at 07:24 AM, StephenMcF <steph...@gmail.com> wrote:
Gerry,
>I think Apple bashing won't help anyone. Apple have shown that
>education is a priority for them and I believe we're all the better
>for it and here's why.
I disagree with this point. Apples interest in education is based on self interest. They have/had a consumer perception problem insofar as Apples appeared to be Different and Quirky and it was much easier for Joe Schmo to buy a dell with which he would be familiar than move to an apple where he would be on his own. Introducing children to Apples machines in a school setting reduces this problem.
>Apple don't corner markets, they make markets and consumers make
>choices. Consumers make markets. It's called capitalism I think.
If you have one distribution channel and one store owner,
its not called capitalism I think.
>The iPad is not just a consuming device. I use it to make videos and
>write presentations. Some of my students use it to take notes. I even
>use to write, record and distribute music.
"GarageBand lets you play Touch and Smart Instruments designed for Multi-Touch that sound just like the real things. Now on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch."
Cool. On a real MAC, a PC, or a Netbbok, I can connect up my MIDI keyboard and play it from there. On the Ipad Iget the same level of responsiveness that I get from the sort of toddler friendly pseudo books that you end up dropping into the bath to make them shut up!
(I agree this comment is pushing the truth a little, but not by much.)
Writing on an Ipad is possible, but it is not good for extended text input. I find even if I want to respond in depth to an e-mail (as now) that I move to a netbook or a desktop machine.
>If Irish publishers are not developing for Android then ask them why.
>Do you think they'll blame Apple? I don't think so.
They will blame Apple if they use apples authoring software and then get sued for distributing their content through other channels.
The link for Embrace, Extend Extinguish in he second article is worth following
>An iPad will open any number of files and formats so I disagree you
>need Apple to make Apple.
Ipads wont do flash.
http://wwww.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/
There are many many educational websites and applications which use flash.
For many other websites which open fine on any other computer, you need to download an app to get the same fuctionality. I'm not talking obscure here, I'm talking facebook, twitter, or even Apple's own web mail which needs a separate program to use the Ipad
>I do agree with you though that it certainly
>makes life easy to be Mac on Mac. I recently moved from a PC and I
>bloody love my Mac.
>I don't believe that the iPad is cost prohibitive.
Neither are Rolls Royces, as clearly many people buy them.
>Yes a netbook is
You can get netbooks with a 10 hour battery life, and if you have a spare battery, you just put it in. The Ipad does not have a replaceable battery, and when recharge cycle time gets short. you will have no easy replacement or repair options.
Slower? read the specs. The Ipad may be faster than some netbooks, particularly older machines, but its not renowned for being a computational power house by any stretch of the imagination.
>the smaller screens are a pain
Ipad 2 245mm corner to corner. Acer Aspire 1 255mm corner to corner.
>and all those
>moving parts keeps a support division working hard.
Drop you Ipad on a tile floor, and (if your lucky) its replacement glass. otherwise replace the machine.
>You don't support any of your data with evidence. Please link to some.
I've tried to do this. In order to be impartial I've quoted
Steve Jobbs and Mac World where appropriate.
>Anti competitive? It is the competition. It sets the bar.
This its what is called a monopoly. Look it up. Ipad content only available through approved channels, "we reserve the right to censor any content of which we do not approve, using our community standards," and remove any apps which might benefit the wider community and possibly a company we are in a snit with. (Apple removed apps made with a flash to apple compatible converter.)
http://www.macworld.com/article/150950/2010/04/adobe_apple.html
The source here is Macworld, not a journal noted for being
anti apple.
>Anti choice? No one is forced to buy Apple.
If I develop an apple based app or text for my class, I may not be forcing my class to buy apple, but it looks like it.
If I stipulate that my entire class will be given Ipads, which the parents association have negotiated a 4 year payback plan for, it looks similar to being forced.
>As mentioned earlier, ask
>into any education situation be it primary all the way up.
I agree with you main point that apple bashing is not constructive, but at the same time I think Hagiographies occasionally need a little ground truth. The impression given is that apples are the only machines with any of these capabilities, and that anything they are incapable of performing in an educational context is not worth doing. Apple is not a company filled with saints and evangelists dedicated to improving the lot of the common man, they are a hard nosed company who are starting to engage in some rather nasty anti competitive practices. Microsoft went through a phase of this and seems to be emerging at this point, I am disappointed to see Apple showing signs of going the same way
I am sorry that this is tending towards a rant, but Apple is a company I care about and has been in many ways a very positive force in our culture I am not comfortable with seeing this change.
All the best
Laurence Cuffe
> > > EULA!...I can't even get iBooks for my Mac.I have to buy an iPad!
>
> > > On 24/01/2012 18:46, "Keith Young" <keithyo...@mac.com> wrote:
>
> > > > Indeed, anything that gives the ability to publish content to teachers
> > > > is welcome. Despite concerns about the EULA, I can see this technology
> > > > being another tool (of many) that education uses to democratise itself
> > > > and access to knowledge.
>
> > > > Keith
>
> > > > On Jan 24, 5:59 pm, G P Ashe <gpa...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >> Here's another slant on it
>
> > > >>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-24/apple-bites-into-core-of-sch...
>
> --
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Peter Lydon
battery life.
http://ie.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_Prime_TF201/
Just one problem...it runs on Android...
" I'm going to destroy Android, because it's a stolen product. I'm willing
to go to thermonuclear war on this"...Steve Jobs
Guess that says it all really.
Peter
Stephen McFarlane
Laurence Cuffe
Hi,
>Laurence, show me a hardware company then that is not based on self interest? It seems you are defining self interest as the faculty to get an income? >Explain your logic. Is Dell then different? Or Flipbook manufacturers?
I agree totaly with you here. (There may be some third world development initiatives that would provide a counter example but they are not germane to our discusion)
>Your comments on the iPad are nonsense.
Fine. cite sources, I did.
>I am a professional musician and performer with over twenty years experience and the iPad meets all my musical needs.
I'm glad to hear it. Less is more and we should not be dependent on technology.
>I can also hook up a MIDI keyboard using iRig. To describe the iPad/GarageBand as a toy is akin to saying Big Blue is a great word processor.
I prefer Garage band on my Imac.
I dont think you have played with big Iron if you describe big blue as a word processor.
>You simply don't understand the power of this thing.
I'm open to learn, I have an Ipad 2, and I teach maths.I find the ipad to be a wonderful niche product with limitations.
>If you don't like typing on an iPad that's an opinion. I love writing on it.
I find cut and paste akward on it and the autosugestion/auto correct is annoying. Dragon dictate is only poorly supported. File handeling is rudimentary.
But then again some people prefer using a biro and a sheet of paper.
I dont favor flash, but I disfavour devices that don't suport it.Its not rocket science to do so and the reasons cited by Apple for not doing so are unconvicing. Geogebra on an ipad would be wonderful. Geogebra not on an Ipad is merely frustrating.
>If my Advent Wind hit the tiles from chest height you can be sure it'll be as messy as an iPad;
My thinkpad still booted after traveling for 1/2 a mile and falling from the roof of the car at about 30 miles per hour. I have just dropped this acer aspire one from the same height that the ipad fell, onto the same floor. No visible damage. The Ipads screen is cracked, but not yet broken. The heigth was about 30 cms, significantly less than a fall from a desk would involve.
>irrelevant comment. The fact is that iPads need less maintenance and work better and longer than some netbooks. Some iPad schools don't even have ICT
>Support (in Ireland) and there are no problems.
Fine I'm happy with a new age classroom and everybody sitting on the floor (grin) . Apple sold 32 million Ipads in 2011, and there are "About 47,300,000" results when I enter "Ipad screen replacement" into Google. Go figure, I teach maths.
>It's good to trash these out. Education is getting expensive and we have to keep a keen eye on what manufactures are going with technology, formats, tools >etc. I just can't accept though that the iPad/iAuthor is closing up the options for teachers and students.
My concern is not the technology, but precicely this behavior, which is not what I used to expect from apple. Ipad vs. Netbook, on price, 50% of my students end up watching what the other person is doing. Because less educational materrial is available in my field on an Ipad (due to the flash issue where there are many free apps and websites which use flash) Their educational experience is poorer.
The limitations of the Authoring EULA are discused in
the articles I cited previously, and are also being discused in another
stream here.
>Apple are dominant and will remain so as
long as they continue to make great technological products.
"Apple are dominant" I don't get this impression in the elearning community, or in published research on the use of technology in schools, or in the hits on my educational blog where 94% of users are windows based. I'd be happy to see somer research on this.
>SteveAs we both suggested in previous posts, there is no great advantage to getting into a bun fight over this. I think we should concentrate a little on the areas where the Ipad has an overwhelming advantage over netbooks, specificaly design, and the cool factor. A class are going to be impressed when you present them with Ipads to use, and parents are also going to be impressed that you are a forward thinking and inovative institution.
The devices are not called fondle slabs for nothing. They poses and aesthetic imperitive which says gimme I want one, and this is not to be discounted when you are trying to get a bored group of digital natives to engage.
My 2c.
Laurence Cuffe
Peter Lydon
I’m a teacher. I’ve used computers since 1982. I programmed on Apple IIe back in the day. I have an iMac, a Win 7 desktop and tablet and an Android tablet.
I can tell you quite categorically that the iPad/iAuthor and iBook close up many options relative to the other platforms.
The issue isn’t whether Apple can do what it likes with its stuff. It is that it is deliberately targeting education in this country with what I believe and have some grounds to believe are inflated claims as to the benefits of what it does. It is targeting environments which are ignorant of the option hoping to ‘get in early’, corner the market and tie customers into long term relationships which I believe are not in the best interests of either education nor the children education is supposed to serve.
And when they’ve cornered the market, watch it get a whole lot more expensive.
If anyone from Apple or Apple re-sellers want to jump in and defend, by all means go ahead but bring your research and the ethical answer to the question about why Apple will allow iTunes on PC but not Android.
Peter
There are many many educational websites and applications which use flash.
For many other websites which open fine on any other computer, you need to download an app to get the same fuctionality. I'm not talking obscure here, I'm talking facebook, twitter, or even Apple's own web mail which needs a separate program to use the Ipad
>I do agree with you though that it certainly
>makes life easy to be Mac on Mac. I recently moved from a PC and I
>bloody love my Mac.
>I don't believe that the iPad is cost prohibitive.
Neither are Rolls Royces, as clearly many people buy them.
>Yes a netbook is
>cheaper but it's also slower, smaller, less powerful and has a
>terrible battery life,
You can get netbooks with a 10 hour battery life, and if you have a spare battery, you just put it in. The Ipad does not have a replaceable battery, and when recharge cycle time gets short. you will have no easy replacement or repair options.
Slower? read the specs. The Ipad may be faster than some netbooks, particularly older machines, but its not renowned for being a computational power house by any stretch of the imagination.
>the smaller screens are a pain
Ipad 2 245mm corner to corner. Acer Aspire 1 255mm corner to corner.
>and all those
>moving parts keeps a support division working hard.
Drop you Ipad on a tile floor, and (if your lucky) its replacement glass. otherwise replace the machine.
>You don't support any of your data with evidence. Please link to some.
I've tried to do this. In order to be impartial I've quoted Steve Jobbs and Mac World where appropriate.
>Anti competitive? It is the competition. It sets the bar.
This its what is called a monopoly. Look it up. Ipad content only available through approved channels, "we reserve the right to censor any content of which we do not approve, using our community standards," and remove any apps which might benefit the wider community and possibly a company we are in a snit with. (Apple removed apps made with a flash to apple compatible converter.)
http://www.macworld.com/article/150950/2010/04/adobe_apple.html <http://www.macworld.com/article/150950/2010/04/adobe_applehtml>
> Visit the web sitewww.cesiie <http://www.cesi.ie/>
Neal McQuaid
a sign that people are excited, and obviously looking for a solution/
idea about e-books and tablet/electronic usage.
If all Apple does is shake up the publishing industry much as they did
with the music industry, they'll have succeeded (and remember that
most music is now sold without DRM after starting out in the opposite
fashion - if purchased from a legitimate source). If Apple offers a
solution that indeed pushes the publishers to get their act together
and develop for new platforms, it'll be a success in my eyes. There's
always the opportunity to open up as they go.
Having being 'locked' into Windows for years, I'm not too concerned
with moving to another similar setup, especially if they provide a
better experience!
On Jan 27, 5:18 pm, Peter Lydon <peterly...@iol.ie> wrote:
> Wow! Look! Free Stuff!
>
> http://www.google.com/edu/teachers/index.html
>
> Peter
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > The problem with educational publishers is that they are off the same block as
> > the new paper industry. They are willing to innovate at the slowest possible
> > speed. I spent part of my summer examining digital editions of US history
> > textbooks and it was not great. Creating a pdf of your content is not really
> > transformative. Best examples I can think off the top of my head is the
> > Dynamic Learning from Hodder Education* which I have seen on a number of
> > occasions at SHP.
>
> > Best job make your own or even better get your students to do it.
>
> > John
>
> > *Disclosure: I have been asked to blog on the Hodder History blog in the near
> > future.
>
>
> >> Gerry if there was a "vote up" option on your contribution I'd vote it right
> >> up!! good luck with the ed publishers, been haranging them for years snd
> >> getting nowhere much (apart from g&m)
>
> >> On Jan 27, 2012 7:33 p.m., "Gerry Breen"
> >>> may also show up in search engines etc.
Gerry Breen
My point was more about the lack of availability of an android
alternative from publishers at present (publishers read these
blogs.....hence this post to encourage them) and I found your reply
condescending and smartarsed due to your misinterpretation that I was
Apple bashing (I use an Imac at work............and I just LOVE it).
The implication in your post that Apple are brilliant and lovable and
everything else is shit is typical. Android will grow as more children
use the platform on phones and the price of tablets drops further.
Having different products available for different consumers is not a
new business model...............it's called marketing I think.
It's great that you love your Mac and thank you for the sales pitch
for the Ipad but Apple are interested in education so they can sell
Ipads as is any business. Being a teacher of Business for 18 years I
would hope I know a little about capitalism .....Apple make
markets...consumers make markets..?????.
As for my lack of evidence based "data" (take it easy Stephen, this
is a blog, not the IMF) the figures for the growth of Android are in
the business pages of any weekly newspaper so it's hardly obscure as
are the availablility of apps for Android, but just to head off
another over sensitive reaction, here's a link for you (http://
www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=pressreleaseviewer&a0=5167).
Good luck with the Apple PR job application.
PS...I'd love an Ipad, but I can't afford one.
Ronan Herron
If I had a bankroll, which I haven't, I be looking to harness some of the really creative thinking going on here and create software that generates content as well as iBooks Author and examine a revenue stream which is fair and equitable and leaves ed content open. It is possible,... as you mentioned in your post iTunes started by selling drm protected (read handicapped) music but moved to a drm free model when they had enough clout to push Big Content in that direction.
On the Microsoft thing, people who know me know I'm a bit of an open source nut/zealot, but I'm increasingly coming round to the idea that Microsoft may well have been more open all along that they've been given credit for. After all they created on ecosystem that allowed lots and lots of software, good and bad, to flourish, and they have also, belatedly admittedly, moved towards open standards. Perhaps my newfound goodwill towards Microsoft is partly down to the fact that they no longer represent as much of a monopolistic threat as they once were - they real competitors in the classroom space are iOS and Android, not Windows 7, 8 or whatever. Ultimately, cost and openness, to my mind, dictates that Android will win.
But having said all that, I'm more that a little worried that Microsoft Ireland's Eduaction Lead has been seconded to the Dept Education to make a recommendation on Cloud for Schools. Clearly the infrastructure of choice, as evidenced by the number of working installations, is Google Apps plus Moodle.
.... well that's my tuppence worth anyway....
Ronan
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Attempts to use the list for commercial purposes may result removal from the list.
Seaghan Moriarty
Nice overview Ronan.
Similarly, I won’t get dragged into any emotive arguments about Apple’s motivation. One result, no matter what the motivation, is that education publishing is now seriously disrupted – and that’s a good thing.
Re Microsoft involvement – It’s pretty strangIt seems outrageous that the DES might expect someone from Microsoft to advise on the best objective solution. Sounds very closed to me …
It might be that this Microsoft person researches and recommends a Google file storage platform with facilities such as Moodle – which is similar to what Berkeley researched and found latterly when they left Microsoft’s platform for Google: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-12-23/tech/30547371_1_google-apps-google-products-migration - and then again, it might not ;)
Kindest Regards,
Seaghan Moriarty.
From: cesi...@googlegroups.com [mailto:cesi...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ronan Herron
Sent: 30 January 2012 11:15
To: cesi...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [CESI List] Re: ibooks Author first taste
I very much echo what you're daying Neal - I've found following this thread to be fascinating and I'm similarly enthused that at least Apple have managed to shake things up and get teachers who are passionate about the creation of open content talking.
Ronan Herron
Ronan
Gerry Breen
Totally agree,
We've had Moodle here for several years and Google Apps since 2011 and
both are developing nicely. Wouldn't fancy having to swap platforms
given all the work thats already gone in.
On Jan 30, 11:15 am, Ronan Herron <ronanh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I very much echo what you're daying Neal - I've found following this thread
> to be fascinating and I'm similarly enthused that at least Apple have
> managed to shake things up and get teachers who are passionate about the
> creation of open content talking.
>
> If I had a bankroll, which I haven't, I be looking to harness some of the
> really creative thinking going on here and create software that generates
> content as well as iBooks Author and examine a revenue stream which is fair
> handicapped) music but moved to a drm free model when they had enough clout
> to push Big Content in that direction.
>
> On the Microsoft thing, people who know me know I'm a bit of an open source
> nut/zealot, but I'm increasingly coming round to the idea that Microsoft
> may well have been more open all along that they've been given credit for.
> After all they created on ecosystem that allowed lots and lots of software,
> good and bad, to flourish, and they have also, belatedly admittedly, moved
> towards open standards. Perhaps my newfound goodwill towards Microsoft is
> partly down to the fact that they no longer represent as much of a
> monopolistic threat as they once were - they real competitors in the
> classroom space are iOS and Android, not Windows 7, 8 or whatever.
> Ultimately, cost and openness, to my mind, dictates that Android will win.
>
> But having said all that, I'm more that a little worried that Microsoft
> Ireland's Eduaction Lead has been seconded to the Dept Education to make a
> recommendation on Cloud for Schools. Clearly the infrastructure of choice,
> as evidenced by the number of working installations, is Google Apps plus
> Moodle.
>
> .... well that's my tuppence worth anyway....
>
> Ronan
>
> > the list.
>
> --
>
> Regards
> Ronan Herron
>
>
>
> *Email:* ronanh...@gmail.com
> ...
>
> read more »
Janice Conway
really interesting to transfer my notes from Keynote across to iBooks
- I'm keeping an eye on the copyright issue but luckily I'm teaching
science and biology - so a lot of the diagrams I can draw myself so
there would not be any copyright issues there...
To be honest, I'm actually excited about the potential of
this...considering that most students have iPods and iPhones now...and
a few have MacBooks or at least have access to laptops (iBooks author
allows you to export the whole thing as a pdf for those who are
windows based laptops) - it's exciting to give another method of
learning..for too long, there has been so much emphasis based on paper
that it's nice to be able to offer other options to students..between
the podcasting and now the iBooks combined with digitial books from
publishers - multiple learning styles can be addressed without much
hassle from the side of the teacher...
On Jan 27, 10:18 pm, Peter Lydon <peterly...@iol.ie> wrote:
> Wow! Look! Free Stuff!
>
> http://www.google.com/edu/teachers/index.html
>
> Peter
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > The problem with educational publishers is that they are off the same block as
> > the new paper industry. They are willing to innovate at the slowest possible
> > speed. I spent part of my summer examining digital editions of US history
> > textbooks and it was not great. Creating a pdf of your content is not really
> > transformative. Best examples I can think off the top of my head is the
> > Dynamic Learning from Hodder Education* which I have seen on a number of
> > occasions at SHP.
>
> > Best job make your own or even better get your students to do it.
>
> > John
>
> > *Disclosure: I have been asked to blog on the Hodder History blog in the near
> > future.
>
>
> >> Gerry if there was a "vote up" option on your contribution I'd vote it right
> >> up!! good luck with the ed publishers, been haranging them for years snd
> >> getting nowhere much (apart from g&m)
>
> >> On Jan 27, 2012 7:33 p.m., "Gerry Breen"
> >>> may also show up in search engines etc.
G P Ashe
http://groups.google.com/group/cesi-list?hl=en-GB where all messages are archived and are publically available to non members of the list. Messages may also show up in search engines etc.