Apple releases iBooks 2 textbook app for the iPad

For those who might have read Walter Isaacson’s biography of Apple’s late co-founder, Steve Jobs, you might recall that Jobs expressed interest in revolutionizing the education industry the same way he did with the music industry. Well it looks like he was serious as Apple announced the launch of iBooks 2 for the iPad which basically introduces the support for iPadd textbooks. These iBook textbooks are said to be “gorgeous, fullscreen textbooks with interactive animations, diagrams, photos, videos, unrivaled navigation and much more. iBooks textbooks can be kept up to date, don’t weigh down a backpack and never have to be returned.”

If you’ve gone to college or university, you’re probably well aware that brand new textbooks cost a fortune, and even second hand textbooks will set you back a fair amount. Well the good news is that according to the iBooks textbook pricing scheme, it seems that a good many of these digital textbooks will set users back around $14.99, although we’re guessing the price will vary depending on the book. Naturally users would require an iPad before they have access to these textbooks. So far some notable publishers such as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, McGraw-Hill and Pearson will be delivering these digital textbooks onto the iBook 2.

The app itself will be a free download from the Apple App Store, so if you think that Apple’s idea of a digital textbook is worth exploring and checking out, download the app today and let us know what you think! [Press release]