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Apple unveiled three new tools to compete – take over – the digital education realm through their Apple in Education program: iBooks 2, iBooks Author, and iTunes U.

The iBooks 2 app for the iPad hosts digital textbooks, “an entirely new kind of textbook that’s dynamic, engaging and truly interactive.”  The iBooks Author app allows anyone with a Mac to create Multi-Touch e-books.

An all-new iTunes U app was also introduced today which gives “educators and students everything they need on their iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to teach and take entire courses.” iTunes U will also give users access to the “world’s largest catalog of free educational content from top universities including Cambridge, Duke, Harvard, Oxford and Stanford.” Starting today, this content is provided free to K-12 schools to teach full courses through the app. All three apps are free and available to download from Apple.