Apple has formally sent an invitation to the media and will hold a new product conference at the Lane Technical College Prep High School in Chicago, USA, on March 27. This is since 2012, Apple once again held a product launch conference for education. Apple will announce a cheap version of iPad at this conference and publish a series of new educational software.
Apple founder Steve Jobs has used take the education market as one of its target markets. But in recent years, Apple has developed more products for the mass market and more profitable products. Google and Microsoft have taken advantage of cheap notebooks and tablets to occupy the education market. Data from research firm Futuresource Consulting shows that in the United States, from kindergarten to high school, Apple accounts for only 17% of mobile computing device shipments, while Google Chromebook and android tablet account for 60% of the market, and Windows PCs account for 22%. Although the total sales of Mac and iPad account for less than 20% of Apple's hardware, students and teachers are the key markets for future purchasing power. This press conference indicates that Apple will re-emerge the education market.
Although the demand for the tablet PC market is still weak, Apple hopes to attract more young people through cheap iPads. In recent years, Apple has released many versions of the iPad and revised its own tablet strategy. According to Apple's financial report, its iPad business has resumed growth after experiencing multiple recessions. IDC data shows that in 2017, the tablet market shrank by about 7%, but Apple iPad shipments grew by 3%, accounting for one-tenth of the market share.
In addition to the cheap iPad, Apple is also developing a cheap version of the MacBook, the price may be less than 1,000 US dollars, positioning similar to the MacBook Air. MacBook Air hasn't changed much since 2010. The outside world once thought that Apple gave up this product line. For the education market, cheap laptops may be more attractive than iPads, and Apple is likely to update its low-cost Macbook.
In terms of software, Apple currently offers a series of educational-related software. For example, the Classroom application can help teachers directly manage and assign tasks to students' Apple devices. There is the iTunes U application where teachers can publish homework and distance courses directly online. Students can use them to complete assignments and take exams.
