Apple takes on textbooks with iBooks 2, iBooks Author and iTunes U app

At a press conference in New York, Apple has revealed its next target: the humble school textbook. It has released iBooks 2, an updated version of the e-reader app that introduces functionality for educational textbooks on iPad. Apple also released iBooks Author, a free self-publishing tool, and, in the final blow of its education barrage, Apple released an iTunes U app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. This gives you instant access to that bumper selection of free educational content from schools around the world.