It’s the middle of January, and that used to be Macworld time. While that once-popular show is no more, that won’t keep Apple from sticking to its usual product introduction schedule.Apple is planning to hold a special press event in New York City on Jan. 19.
So far, the company has only said that it will be focused on education, but has not divulged any key details that could provide valuable insight into what exactly it will say. The latest rumors say Apple could discuss textbooks and their integration into iPads, but until the iPhone maker makes that announcement, there’s no way to know, for sure.
However, over the last year or so, Apple’s events have become a bit easier to predict. Not only does the company now provide clues, but it appears the much-touted secrecy is starting to lose some of its old charm. In fact, more rumors than ever are emerging that actually turn out to be true, despite all of Apple’s efforts to prevent news leaks.
Considering that, and given what we know so far about Apple’s education event on Jan. 19, it might be a good time to discuss some of the things the company will likely discuss at its show.
Read on to find out what to expect from Apple’s Jan. 19event in New York City:
1. Digital textbooks
Let’s get the easy one out of the way: Apple will be showing off support for digital textbooks at its New York City event. All the rumors point to the move, and its decision to go to New York further supports it. At this point, unveiling digital textbooks looks to be a near certainty.
2. iPad talk
Apple’s iPad will, of course,make a showing at the New York City event. Apple will discuss how it can play an integral role in education, and there’s a good chance the company will discuss its strong sales among students. Apple might talk about other products, but the iPad will likely take center stage.
3. Other education-focused announcements
Let’s not believe that Apple will be content to simply talk about textbooks. The Cupertino, Calif., company will also likely discuss its other education initiatives and make a case for colleges and universities to adopt its devices. Textbooks are just the tip of the iceberg.
4. Key stats, of course
It wouldn’t be an Apple event without the company talking up some of its recent sales figures for its products, from iPads to application downloads. Expect to see Apple start out its show with quite a bit of business data. It might be boring for some listeners, but it’s Apple’s little way of taking shots at competitors. It will also provide an early indication of whether or not 2012 will be another prosperous year for Apple.
Forget About Hearing iPad 3 News
5. Forget about hearing iPad 3 news
Apple won’t discuss iPad 3 rumors at all during its Jan. 19 event in New York City. The company will want to focus all the attention on its education efforts and allow the iPad 3 to take center stage another day. From a business perspective, it’s a smart idea, but for those clamoring to get their hands on the iPad 3, it’s a disappointment.
6. Tim Cook’s absence
There’s a good chance Apple CEO Tim Cook won’t be in attendance at the Jan. 19 event. Instead, the company is expected to send Senior Vice President Eddy Cue to announce all the details on its new education effort. The move isn’t all that surprising, considering Cook is taking more of a backseat role in announcements.
7. Schools announcing iPad adoption
Apple likes to bring some partners on stage to help drive the point home that what it’s doing is good for everyone. At its New York City event, there’s a solid possibility it might bring along a few representatives of colleges and universities to discuss the value of iPads and digital textbooks and announce their adoption of those offerings in their operations.
8. Cheaper iPad pricing for students?
This one might be a long shot, but Apple might just try to improve its digital textbook adoption by offering its iPad at a discounted rate for students. It’s not a typical Apple move, but if the company is deeply concerned about getting into the textbook market with ease, it might be the best idea for it.
9. iCloud talk
Although iCloud hasn’t come up in the rumors surrounding the digital textbooks, it’s likely that it will play a role in some way. Will it be used to synchronize comments made on textbooks for others to see? Will it store a student’s page when they want to read some content on their iPhones? There’s no way to know for sure, but iCloud could be an integral component in Apple’s textbook push.
10. Steve Jobs mention as the brains behind the move
Last year, author Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs mentioned the Apple co-founder’s desire to enter the digital textbook space, saying that he could see Apple becoming a “destructive” force in that space. It was an interesting comment, and it underscored his ability to see value in what has become an $8 billion-a-year industry. Expect prominent mention of Jobs to be made at the event and forApple to underscore how important he was in making the deals happen.