Apple's next foray: The textbook market?

Apple earlier today sent out invites to media outlets, asking them to "join us for an education announcement in the Big Apple." As par its standard policy, Apple did not disclose what it will discuss at the event, which will be held at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Earlier this month, Fox's Clayton Morris reported that Apple was planning to hold an education-focused event in New York last year, but the company decided to delay it until 2012. Morris, citing sources, said that the January event would focus on Apple's iTunes University program. The article reported that Apple chose New York for the venue because of its proximity to major textbook publishers.

Apple sleuths also point to the recently-released biography of Steve Jobs, came out in October in which author Walter Isaacson said Apple's former chief wanted to hire prominent textbook writers who would create electronic versions for the iPad. He also said Jobs talked about making them free.

The invite's graphic is black and shaped like an iPad - something many schools are giving to students, complete with electronic textbooks and other online resources in place of traditional bulky texts.

Apple typically holds a few media events a year to announce such products as the iPad, the iPhone and upgrades to its iTunes software.