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Amazon's 'Kindle' App Updated to Remove Direct Kindle Store Links
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You are merely setting up a straw man that Apple is indeed strong-arming actors off of their platform. The fact that Amazon decided to update their app and continue to support iOS demonstrably proves that they have not strong-armed Amazon off of the platform.
The fact that I just spent $150 via amazon.com on my iPad for reading content on my iPad proves that it is possible for the two companies to reach an amicable settlement in this issues.
Just as Amazon may or may not decide to become a platform, Apple has the right to change the manner in which they conduct business. Developers are then faced with the question of whether or not they want to continue developing for iOS. Amazon has clearly decided to stick with the platform.
Only those that are ideologically opposed to iOS are raising a fuss over this issue.
We can discuss a counterfactual where Amazon pulls Kindle from iOS, but its a moot point since it has not happened.
Actually, they didn't "change" the rules. They started enforcing the rules.
Your vehement argument that Apple is a big bully is cracking me up. It's business, kiddo. Amazon isn't sitting in the playground nursing a black eye. They couldn't work out terms that both sides were happy with, so they went with option B, which is to make people do what they've BEEN DOING ALL ALONG - purchase via browser. I repeat... you have NEVER been able to purchase books in-app with the Kindle app.
Why should they?
Amazon is not trying to be all things to everyone like Apple is and there is no legal precedence that would compel Amazon to do so.
Apple didn't have to open it's app store to other developers, they CHOSE to do so.
Amazon can choose not to.
Do you actually use the link in the Kindle app or are you merely protesting for ideological reasons?
Apple strong armed Amazon to eat less money because now it is harder for people go buy new books instead of being cut off of iOS.
Amazon should of stood its ground and forced Apple to do something. These is pretty insane by Apple.
To your Kindle??? (not Kindle app, but an actual Kindle e-reader?)
I must try that. What do I do, just connect Kindle to computer, open up iTunes, and then what?
So you'd want to wait for developers to actually pull out before we start questionning Apple's policies ? Because as it is, developers are already starting to remove features...
This is a tug-o-war match. Apple is trying to see how far they can go without having 3rd parties pull out. 3rd parties don't want to pull out yet, because simply removing functionality isn't hurting their business yet.
When iOS becomes too big a bother to support, they will pull out and that's when Apple will know they went too far (the initial rules were in that territory, hence why they were changed).
And Apple has the right to choose to change how it conducts business fully knowing the risk of developers pull out of the platform.
Clearly Apple made a decision and Amazon has made their choice about whether or not to continue supporting their platform.
Given that consumers can still purchase content via Amazon, like they always have been able to, for Kindle on iOS, why is this a big deal?
And in doing so, they have gained a great deal of value for their devices. "There's an App for that" wouldn't be possible without the 3rd party developers. The relationship is symbiotic and to claim Apple has more claim to riches in this than the 3rd parties is ludicrous.
If Apple doen't get any compensation for putting together the platform how come that the iOS devices are not free and Apple is making record profit selling them?
in-app is one thing. Apple rule changed included then linking outside of the App. Hell the rule in Jan were even worse.
30% for a bill pay system is a rip off no matter how you cut it. All the other cost must be supported by the dev. Credit cards on the high end only take 5%
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
"There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men."
Lord Acton
![170px-John_Acton%2C_1st_Baron_Acton_by_Franz_Seraph_von_Lenbach.jpg]()
"There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men."
Lord Acton
Why should Apple be compensated for doing nothing at all ? The Link wasn't using any Apple infrastructure in an unpaid way by Amazon. The iOS frameworks allow for you to write buttons that open links in Safari, this is paid for by the 99$/year fee and the 30% cut taken on your application's price.
Apple's policies were questioned for months about this and we are now seeing the results of said policies.
When Apple sets up a new set of rules then it is worth re-litigating this issue, but at the moment it appears that the new policies stated earlier this year have been dealt with amicably by both Amazon and Apple.
Ah, I thought we were talking about the iOS platform. I don't know if you can add mobi books to the physical Kindle.
Personally, I don't think it's the 30% as much as they want the customer data directly. Selling through iTunes they don't get the customer name and I'm sure this is what they're more upset at.
The 30%... who cares.... that's just normal distribution.
BTW... this is not another "dickish move".... it's the same move as before.
I don't think we can speculate one way or another how the removal of a link to a web browser had demonstrably hurt the Kindle platform. Should iBooks gain significant leverage over Kindle in the next year we might be able to state that, but until that point you are merely speculating based on your pre-conceived notions.
Because Bezos didn't like, was so difficult for them, I don't know. Android apps also doesn't have IAP and Google doesn't ban it.
The fact is that in january Apple stablished that any app which can sync content bought outside the app must provide IAP system and this rules wasn't before.
If I remember the article that was posted right here on MacRumors... they reinterpreted the already existing language to include links outside of the app. Now see, to me that's a "who cares" kind of thing. I don't care if I have to go look up a link on my own. I realize there are people who think that's a big deal.
And for what it is worth, I do think 30% on an in-app purchase is too high. But, it's Apple's store - they can do what they want. And since I prefer to purchase my books on Amazon anyway because I like to browse them first and check out the reader reviews, etc., it's not a problem for me.