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Today, during the education-focused media event Apple announced iBooks 2 ^[2], an updated version of its e-book program for iOS devices. This update is a part of Apple’s move into sphere of interactive digital textbooks ^[3], performed in cooperation with several major publishers.

From the description of the iBooks 2 ^[4]:

- Experience gorgeous fullscreen Multi-Touch textbooks designed for iPad

- iBooks textbooks are filled with interactive features, diagrams, photos, and videos

- Tap to dive into images with interactive captions, rotate 3D objects, swipe through image galleries, watch videos in full screen, and more

- Use a finger as a highlighter when swiping over text in a textbook

- Take advantage of Study Cards to help you memorize important highlights, notes, and glossary terms

- Tap glossary terms to see definitions of key topics and concepts without leaving the page

Apple is cooperating with Pearson, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and McGraw-Hill, with three companies now responsible for 90 percent of all textbook sales in U.S. Today Pearson and McGraw-Hill are releasing several introductory titles and more titles are coming soon.

Apple’s initial focus is on textbooks for high schools, with prices at $14.99 or less. Authors can continuously update their content, and students can keep their books indefinitely. iBooks 2 is available for free download on the App Store.

Also Apple released ^[5] iTunes 10.5.3, which allows users to sync new  textbooks with their iPads.

“iTunes 10.5.3 allows you to sync interactive iBooks textbooks to your iPad. These Multi-Touch textbooks are available for purchase from the iTunes Store on your Mac or from the iBookstore included with iBooks 2 on your iPad”.