As far we know, no other major recording artist has done this yet, no other artist has told the story of an album like this before.
Atlantic Records has taken an uncommon approach to using Apple’s iBooks Author — touted as a creation platform that will “reinvent the textbook” — by building an interactive ebook for the band Shinedown‘s next album.
The 75-page iPad ebook will be available March 27, coinciding with the Amaryllis album release. The ebook visually tells the story of the multi-platinum rock band’s new songs, creative process and …

Check this excellent tutorial about creating Widgets for iBooks Author and iBooks 2, one of the coolest topics these days.
The ability to embed HTML5 & Javascript Widget within iBooks 2 is the best way to create really cool interactive iBooks.
This is the first of four articles on creating interactive widgets for iBooks Author and the iPad’s iBooks2.
Using DashCode to create an interactive widget (This article)
Creating an interactive widget without Dashcode
Creating a RemObjects SDK client widget
Creating a Data Abstract client widget (Coming soon!)

[Via RemObjects]

Magazine publisher Future has released its first interactive book created with Apple’s iBooks Author tool.
Future says GarageBand for Beginners has been carefully designed m to make the most of the interactive features available on iBooks 2 and iBooks Author.
The book offers tutorials on using Apple’s GarageBand music-making app allows users to create their own music in a quick and easy way.
Ian Robson, Future’s Technology Publisher says: “Our consumers demand the richest possible media experience from our products and with GarageBand for Beginners we’ve once again delivered.
“The Apple iBooks 2 platform …

iPads in classroom?
Time reports about a recent study: iPad 2 helped score better tests results.
Any comment needed?
A new study shows that students who use iPads in the classroom score better in literacy tests than those who don’t. As previously reported, educators in Auburn, Maine began instructing 266 kindergarteners using the iPad 2 this fall, and those who used the tablet scored higher on literacy tests and were more enthused about learning, according to Apple blog TUAW.
We strongly advice you to read this too: Apple’s Textbooks: Undeniably Cool, But Will They …

Just shortly after we reviewed Life on Earth, we found some pretty outspoken article on The Guardian by Matt Britland, head of ICT at Kingston Grammar School.
Following the introduction of iBooks 2 and Apple’s interest into textbooks and iBooks Author, many observers are now arguing how much these tools will help/impact school education.
Matt’s pick?
Is this really the digital revolution that Apple would lead us to believe? Or is simply an update of CD-ROM textbooks on an expensive mobile device? Is this something students will buy into or am I looking …

Provided this is just a preview of the upcoming biology digital textbook, you’ll get a sample chapter “Introduction to Ecology” and a glimpse of (maybe) the best iBook around.
Sponsored by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and Professor Wilson himself, this iBook is so well done you’ll want to learn everything about Biology!

Anyway, besides the topic and content, this 51-pages iBook is one of the very best examples of what can be done with iBooks as an educational tool.
It’s so full of widgets, not just high-quality video, but plenty of javascript …

I guess most of you know very well iBooks Author (along with its potential market), this is Gearlive introductory video about it.
It’s a well-done introduction to all basic features as well as a hint to all iBooks Author potential.