A study made by the Government Accountability Office in 2005 had reported the cost of the textbook had greatly increased, about twice the inflation rate. The college textbooks are expensive and are actually getting even more expensive. Good thing there is a relief in sight. The web giant Google had recognized this problem and wants to lend a hand by offering e-textbooks through Google Play.
Going to college truly is a memorable experience. It isn’t all fun and games though, because dedication and hard work, sleepless nights, going to classes there and to, not to mention carrying loads of books with you most of the time.
This week, Google Play launches a new feature for renting and purchasing discounted textbooks, as they join the e-textbook revolution.
Students would be granted access to a comprehensive selection of much needed books with a vast variety of publishing partners which tackles just about any subject.
In a blog entry by the director of product management at Google, Scott Dougall stated, “Because your library is stored in the cloud, you have instant access to the titles you need – when you need them – on your Android tablet, Phone, iOS device, and on the Web.” Digital textbooks, merely solves the problem of having to choose which book to bring along, he further implies.
With this helpful tool, the books that you may have carry, could just weigh as much as your portable device.
In addition, renting through this new Google play feature could help save up to 80 percent in comparison to using physical books.
E-books eliminate the typical concerns on physical books such as ripped pages, inappropriate drawings inside, and scribbled-in margins. With this wonderful tool, e-books users can do just about anything on their books: bookmark chapters and pages, search the entire volume, annotate and highlight passages and at the same time have access to dictionaries and Google search engines, and be able to pass it along to the next possible user by the end of the semester.
Google truly have achieved big thing in the field of education. Also, in May of this year, Google has launched “Google Play for Education,” a tool designed to aid teachers to utilize applications, in particular to K-12 students. A systematized tool, depending on the grade level and the subject matter involved, effectively discerns the appropriate application needed.
Google’s contender, Boundless, have also launched their own version of e-books. With the use of your device, it can also be accessed anytime and anywhere, with a $19.66 service subscription. However, their e-books are somewhat carrying the “pre-edited versions,” which may not suit your professor’s standards, understandably because of the company’s promise – a “personalized and enjoyable learning experience without an insane price tag.”
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