Apple unveils iTunes U for iPad • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple unveils iTunes U for iPad

#21

Post by frankPants » Thu, Jan 19, 2012, 10:15 PM UTC

redrobot5050 wrote: post #18

unreal37 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does Microsoft charge you a fee to develop and sell an app? No. But once you're locked into the iApps, iBooks, iTunes U, iUniverse - Apple gets its 30% off the top. And no alternatives are allowed.

Uh, yes, Microsoft DOES charge you a fee...it's called "paying out the ass for your tools". What did Visual Studio Enterprise cost last time I looked for a small company (like a start up)? $1600 a pop. More than what's needed for a Mac Mini, an iPod Touch, and a Apple Developer License/Cert. The same tools (XCode) cost $5. (And you'd still have to pay for your hardware/OS on top of that $1600). And that's not countin…

Mircosoft is also working towards launching it's own walled garden with a 70/30 split, from what I hear, due in late 2012. So then, they'll be a double stab

Re: Apple unveils iTunes U for iPad

#22

Post by frankPants » Thu, Jan 19, 2012, 10:18 PM UTC

algorithms wrote: post #4

I think Apple has the potential to change the way we handle information in both schools and hospitals (and of course private practices). Both of these are usually still using outdated Hardware/Software from ~2000 so they will have to be replaced in the near future. I just don't know if it's good for a school to buy into a closed environment, like the one Apple provides.

Well, there's no other alternative at the moment. The only thing students are bound by is the curriculum and recommended texts. I for one, hope Amazon get onto it too. It's just a shame it's always Apple innovating and the rest left catching up. How and why did Amazon not see this as an opportunity years ago? They must sell thousands of text books each year and ship them everywhere.

Re: Apple unveils iTunes U for iPad

#23

Post by frankPants » Thu, Jan 19, 2012, 10:19 PM UTC

tikhonj wrote: post #16

Now we just need iTunes U for Linux... Or better yet, the universities using it should provide the lectures in some open format as well.

So write it.

Re: Apple unveils iTunes U for iPad

#24

Post by baddox » Thu, Jan 19, 2012, 10:31 PM UTC

whatthefish wrote: post #11

davidblair wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The reason Blackboard doesn't have competition is due to the patents they hold. They have made a commitment not to sue free, open source projects, but as soon as you start charging money they are ready to protect their IP rights.

If they can't sue you, then they just buy you. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANGEL_Learning

That's something I suspect Apple doesn't have to worry about.

Re: Apple unveils iTunes U for iPad

#25

Post by ctdonath » Thu, Jan 19, 2012, 11:26 PM UTC

frankPants wrote: post #22

algorithms wrote: post #4

I think Apple has the potential to change the way we handle information in both schools and hospitals (and of course private practices). Both of these are usually still using outdated Hardware/Software from ~2000 so they will have to be replaced in the near future. I just don't know if it's good for a school to buy into a closed environment, like the one Apple provides.

Well, there's no other alternative at the moment. The only thing students are bound by is the curriculum and recommended texts. I for one, hope Amazon get onto it too. It's just a shame it's always Apple innovating and the rest left catching up. How and why did Amazon not see this as an opportunity years ago? They must sell thousands of text books each year and ship them everywhere.

Like Kodak, Amazon was making too much money off the analog format to seriously consider a move that would kill the current cash cow. Dabble in the digital alternative, yes, but ready for massive game changes from near-unexpected competition and overnight adoption by customers, not so much.

Re: Apple unveils iTunes U for iPad

#26

Post by Samuel_Michon » Thu, Jan 19, 2012, 11:46 PM UTC

unreal37 wrote: post #9

ceol wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't most schools already buy into Microsoft's closed environment?

Does Microsoft charge you a fee to develop and sell an app? No. But once you're locked into the iApps, iBooks, iTunes U, iUniverse - Apple gets its 30% off the top. And no alternatives are allowed.

"Does Microsoft charge you a fee to develop and sell an app?"

If you want to sell your mobile app in Microsoft's Marketplace, then yes. They charge the same as Apple does in the iOS App Store.

If you want to sell your desktop app in Microsoft's Marketplace, then yes. They'll charge the same as Apple does in the Mac App Store.

If you want to sell a desktop app outside of Microsoft's Marketplace, then no, that's free. Just like it is on the Mac.