Dive Brief:
- Apple's new release of iOS 9.3 for iPad and iPhone has generated positive feedback thus far, with some lauding changes regarding how the devices are utilized in classrooms.
- Some of the new features include a data location mechanism that protects student privacy but can recover a lost device, the ability to individually configure devices for students, and the ability to pick what apps appear on home screens — all previously spotlighted in a January preview.
- Furthermore, educators are able to see what individual students are working on at any time with a new app called "Classroom."
Dive Insight:
With the new operating system generating applause from educators, Apple is certainly making strides in its efforts to recover market share from Google's Chromebooks. Still, the iPad, with its sizable pricetag and more delicate hardware, has a long way to go in catching up to that more affordable and durable laptop alternative. The Chromebook has successfully saturated the ed tech device market, though a FutureSource report released last month revealed that while it is still the most popular device in U.S. classrooms, Microsoft leads ed tech sales worldwide.
On top of iOS 9.3, Apple recently announced it had acquired ed tech startup LearnSprout, a move widely viewed at boosting its education competitiveness with a potential move into classroom data analytics.
