Why+iDevices?

=__** Work in Progress **__= =__The Ecosystem__= Many mobile platform industry analysts are using the term "ecosystem" to refer to the technology in context. Like a natural ecosystem, a mobile device ecosystem includes the environments in which the devices are used, the behavior capabilities (apps and OS) in those environments, and how the devices actually interact with the environments.

Using the mobile device ecosystem model, we can also compare the users, the developers, the development tools, the App Stores (and other App distribution channels), the 3rd-party accessory markets, and other factors contributing to the relative benefit of different mobile platforms in the K-12 environment.

__iOS__

 * iOS 7 accessibility options for low-vision/blind, hearing loss, guided access, motor; including switch-only and keyboard-only
 * standardized inter-app data communication for music, games
 * iOS 7 new features for device and app management
 * [|TechCrunch]
 * [|TUAW]

__ **The Apps** __ Current (1st-quarter 2014) surveys show that there are just about as many Android apps as iOS apps (somewhere around a million each, depending on where you decide to ignore low-quality apps). **Attractive for developers**


 * low entry costs (time, $)
 * just enough sandboxing
 * active and rich open-source community
 * many free APIs
 * powerful development tools for code and resources (design, art, sound)

Curated App Recommendations and Reviews
many K-12 and SpEd specialized web sites with expert, professional contributors

App lists for Common Core
@http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/07/10/7-must-know-apps-for-common-core-skills.aspx There are about 4X more app curation and review sites for iPad than for Android

__ **The Hardware** __

only 4 devices to support many choices for accessories (including scientific instruments and sensors), cases, mounts

__Alternatives__
Asus Transformer Book T100 - If you need software (like Kurzweil 3000 or Dragon NaturallySpeaking) that runs on Windows, this is a great little convertible tablet. @http://www.asus.com/in-search-of-incredible/us-en/asus-transformer-book-t100/