Hasta La Gadget!

Google Play recently overtook the Apple App Store in terms of app downloads, but that is not so impressive when the Apple App Store still beats Google Play by a large margin when it comes to profit made from each app sold. Well, what else do we know about Google Play? Earlier this morning, we talked about how Google Play would see the inclusion of Samsung Wallet, in addition to whispers of Google Play Music All Access potentially be included in your Verizon monthly bill. Here is something that ought to make students happy – select textbooks are now available on Google Play, helping you ease the physical stress on your back since it would most probably mean carrying a whole lot less weight than you would with normal printed books.

Starting from this week onwards, you are able to rent or buy digital textbooks from the Books section on Google Play. Google has managed to work with a long list of publishing partners, and they intend to launch a comprehensive selection of higher education titles which will range from science and mathematics to history and English, not to mention just about everything else in between. Since your library is stored in the cloud, never have that sinking feeling again that you left a textbook at home, and without it, you are unable to follow what the heck the lecturer is babbling about. [Press Release]

Textbooks On Google Play Available original content from Ubergizmo.

Boundless has pitched its digital textbook service as the free alternative to expensive college textbooks, but the absence of mobile support and study aids has limited its appeal. The educational startup is addressing both of those issues today. To start, it has launched a native iPhone app that optimizes the web client’s highlights, note-taking and summaries for a smaller screen. The company is also introducing a premium option for students who need a little motivation. Readers who pay $20 per textbook get access to a steady stream of flashcards and quizzes, with notifications to minimize any slacking. Diligent learners can grab both the app and premium upgrades today — at least, so long as they have no qualms with Boundless’ ongoing copyright disputes.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: App Store, Boundless

It was almost a year ago that we first heard about Kno‘s smart textbook metrics system “Kno Me.” Now the software is set to actually launch, and find its way into students’ (and parents’) hands. As a refresher, the system provides analytics on your (or your children’s) study patterns, letting you see how long you have studied for, amount of time interacting with the subject matter, percentage of pages that have been annotated and more. Kno Me is available for all of the firm’s interactive textbooks and launches tomorrow on the iPad, Windows 8 and browser platforms, with Android and Windows 7 coming by the end of the month. Kno Me is free, and will be pushed out via the existing app.

Continue reading Kno launches ‘Kno Me’ interactive textbook metrics, lets you study your studying

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On top of tuition, room, alcohol, board, and alcohol, one of the big costs of going to college is paying for your own personal library of expensive textbooks, whether they’re digital or physical. Californian students can look forward to a bit of a break however, now that the state has set up the first online repository for open source tomes of knowledge. More »

Kno’s tablet textbooks have only ever been available to the college crowd; the younger among us have typically had to get a comprehensive digital education from either the tablet maker’s own solution, like Apple’s iBooks 2, or less-than-integrated options. A new deal for K-12 books is giving the students, if not necessarily the teachers, a fresh alternative. Parents can now rent books for home studying at prices under $10 per title. They’re not state-specific books, but their Common Core roots will keep learners on the same (virtual) page as classmates while adding Kno’s usual 3D, links, notes and videos. Just to sweeten the pot further, Kno says its current catalog centers around a pact with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt — a publisher that hasn’t offered K-12 books on any tablet platform until now, according to Kno. The initial focus is on iPad, web and Windows 7 readers, although Android-loving parents looking for that at-home edge will have to wait until sometime “soon” to leap in.

Continue reading Kno starts offering K-12 textbooks on tablets, scores industry-first deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Filed under: Tablet PCs, Software

Kno starts offering K-12 textbooks on tablets, scores industry-first deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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