Apple Rejecting All e-Book App Store Submissions?

Wow, this is crap. Apple is getting really outta control with their over control.

Apple Tablet = Ebook reader

An Apple tablet would definitely be an eBook reader to complete with the Kindle. No question about it. Making eBooks available through iTunes would be simple.

I wonder if this is the individual ebook applications or the larger things like Stanza. I don't see a problem with the collective apps; but the individual ones are a bit annoying, especially now that they have in-app purchases. The stand alone apps just clutter the store like crazy.

But at the same time, I can see their right to make the stand alone applications. The eBooks that are there are typically the books that have gone public, so the authors of the application are within their rights.

Will reserve outrage until I find out more details.

Apple have lost their minds. Someone needs to smack the App Store reviewers upside the head.



--DotComCTO

Wow. So, Classics (a major performer, among many others) is about the be pulled....just wow.

samarks said:

An Apple tablet would definitely be an eBook reader to complete with the Kindle. No question about it. Making eBooks available through iTunes would be simple.

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...which may be why they're banning the competition.

i think they are rejecting the "single book" apps, not things like Stanza, Classics and Kindle.

(personally i am unsurprised by this.. i have often wondered whether or not those apps were legit)

So my kindle app will still work right?

bbotte said:

So my kindle app will still work right?

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probably. even if they remove it.. they probably won't "remove" it from your phone.

hell, i still have netshare on my phone. after multiple restores.

Apple made a news splash when they kicked out that dev who was copying hundreds of copyrighted materials and putting them into tons of iPhone apps. Now they seem to be using that as justification for blocking all new eBooks. What are the chances that existing eBooks will be pulled? Will they be denied approval if they submit updates to their eBook apps?

Will the iBook Touch rule the eBook space?

Steve Jobs...do you believe people read now?

bbotte said:

So my kindle app will still work right?

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I'm a little concerned about eBook stores as well. Will this have any effect on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Shortcovers? Or is this just about reader apps that require the user to supply their own eBooks like Stanza?

bbotte said:

So my kindle app will still work right?

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It should. I just downloaded the app from iTunes not 10 seconds ago.

Apple are showing themselves to be spectacular control freaks, or perhaps even bigger control freaks than we already knew.

**** them and their store. If you value being able to do and buy what you want for your phone, look elsewhere.

You're just going to get tied in a screwed over the more time passes.

m3coolpix said:

Wow. So, Classics (a major performer, among many others) is about the be pulled....just wow.

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Yeah, though I don't like the developers of that app, it is popular and was even featured on an Apple commercial on TV!

I guess the Kindle app is going bye bye now too.

And to think that the iPhone was the #1 ebook reader even when compared to the Kindle. Kinda makes this decision very unusual, even for Apple.

/vjl/

MacRumors said:

Apple's policy appears to extend even to developers who are able to prove that they do in fact hold the rights to the content being submitted and to e-book reader applications providing no direct content of their own.

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runeasgar said:

i think they are rejecting the "single book" apps, not things like Stanza, Classics and Kindle

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The bolded text would suggest otherwise, wouldn't it?

This is bad. Very very bad. Far, far worse than the GV fiasco.

Wow, the rejections are getting pretty bad...

This needs to stop!

I suspect this may be in response to the legal actions by various individuals and companies against the distributors of eBooks.

(The recent 1984 Amazon fiasco, and then the suit by the student against Amazon, for one.)

The authors guild of America has not embraced eBooks, many publishers and authors have been slow to embrace digital distribution in the same way the RIAA and MPAA have been slow to accept digital distribution of music and movies. With the sue happy mentality of some of these individuals, it is no wonder that Apple may be backing off this market if they have to spend an inordinate amount of time and money defending themselves against possible legal action. I would think just one or two lawsuits would be enough to wipe away any profit from sales...

Then again...
Upon clarification this may not be what is being implied...
It occurs to me, based on the recent story posted here: https://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2009/08/05/banned-app-store-developer-auctioning-off-business/ that Apple may be banning eBook applications that people are selling that include books in the public domain. When I look in the Books section of the App Store, most of the books listed for sale are available for free from sites like projectgutenberg and googlebooks. These are all apps that sell for $.99, the developer does not in fact "own" the rights to any of these books nor do the devs bring much, if anything of value, to the reading of the book beyond what other dedicated eBook readers like eReader and Stanza bring. As "pretty" as Classics is, every single book in that application is available as a free download. I think Apple is perfectly in their right to remove these apps (and I would be glad to see them go, myself) in the interest of protecting consumers from, shall we say, "Predatory Developers" who take advantage of unknowledgeable customers.

Another solution would be to inform customers that the book is in the Public Domain and can be downloaded and read for free in other eBook readers but I really think that solution is impractical.

I think, we just have to face the fact, that Apple is in house cleaning mode right now and with the explosion of applications in the store, we have seen unscrupulous developers trying to take advantage of unsuspecting customers by selling them apps that do nothing but provide them content (books, photos, etc) for which they do not own the rights to and for which the content can be had for free. It may be time to remove the chaff?

With all the conspiracy freaks out there I dunno..Maybe ..just maybe there are a lot of companies/people that hold IP rights starting to jump at Apple about the DMCA and Apple is trying to clean up the store.

Or Apple is truly an evil empire out to get everybody.

Yep.

Tablet (or their portables) will be pushing the eBook market very very very soon. With force. Apple knew it stumbled over it's own stupidity when Kindle came out and proved eBooks were worth a market. And, let's be honest, haters: an iTablet from Apple would beat the crap out of the Kindle in most ways.

Wait and see. In about 6 weeks we should find out about the tablet, or else it is again pushed back or rejected from hitting market. If Apple doesn't push the tablet for the new school year in August, I think they have lost their minds.

OK, it's official: Apple is making their own e-book reader, possibly the rumored tablet.

This is becoming extremely scary. Apple should just reject their own iPod App too because I have tons of ill-gained mp3s in it.

runeasgar said:

i think they are rejecting the "single book" apps, not things like Stanza, Classics and Kindle.

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Not so. The dev of the app that was rejected provides additional info here:

http://alexmak.net/blog/2009/08/06/the-most-ridiculous-app-store-reject-ive-ever-seen/

--DotComCTO

i personally don't think apple is going to enter into the ebook market. we'll find out soon enough though

Wow, Apple. People like to have CHOICES!