What is iTunes U?
Apple developed a program called iTunes U to assist with education, which Apple announced May 30, 2007. This program allows universities to distribute content to their university communities and the world. iTunes U content is accessible through an iPhone, iPad, PC or Mac.

Content on iTunes U appears in many forms. It is compatible with MP3, PDF, ePub, and Quick Time. This range of compatibility allows many forms of media to be distributed, such as: maps, lectures (audio or video), lab demonstrations, syllabi, lecture notes, pictures, or maps. Content on ePub is compatible with many other e-readers. The content is also compatible with most screen readers for the visually impaired.

Over 800 universities throughout the world are using iTunes U, including Yale, Stanford, and Oxford. Universities may choose to distribute their content to only students, faculty, and staff. A university will get its own customizable site that will allow members of the university to log in, thus providing password security. Different levels of security can be set, so that professors have more control than students, etc. However, a university also has the option of allowing the content to be viewable by anyone in the world. They may also choose to do both, with some content only accessible by students, faculty, and staff.

Other educational entities are also adding content to iTunes U. Many of these entities are known for their educational merit. Some of these entities are PBS, the New York Library, and the Public Radio International.
Students can choose to download or stream one item at a time, or they can subscribe to a course. Once subscribed to a course, new content will download automatically as it becomes available. Content the university uploads on iTunes U, is usually free to their students. Students may also view eBooks using iTunes U.