No it can't. As Daveoc64 and I have said earlier in the thread. Apple reportedly requires in-app purchases to be at the same price (or lower) than the best price available by any other means.
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Apple Approves Netflix and Kindle Updates Despite New In-App Purchase Rules
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No it can't. As Daveoc64 and I have said earlier in the thread. Apple reportedly requires in-app purchases to be at the same price (or lower) than the best price available by any other means.
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Netflix could do a win-win: only for new subscriber that sign in through an Apple iOS device they can follow apple's model, if the numbers of the 'free' advertisement from apple make sense for them
This.
So as their lawyer in court, you would argue they can't pay Apple for their services, because they already have to pay other people for stuff, so there is not enough left for Apple? You think that argument is going to go over well? Why not take the people they are paying royalties to court?
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How could this apply to Netflix? The iOS app is a free option for people who already have a Netflix account! ...unless Apple wants to quash competition...but Apple rents individual movies, unlike Netflix. What exactly is the definition of a subscription, I mean, don't they really mean periodicals? Or does one have a subscription if they have cable TV?
...in any case, this is where apps like Netflix are different from Nook or Kindle. Netflix iOS app is free access to something already paid for, comparable to a cable TV service iOS app giving access to your cable service already paid for use at home. Ebook apps are for purchasing/downloading individual books. Likewise Newspaper/magazine subscriptions are for "downloading" periodicals not already paid for to receive another way.
What lawsuit? Apple can do whatever it wants. There doesn't HAVE to be a Netflix App for iPhone..
..but there will be.
You are probably right...they do already have the leverage, especially with the recent market share data from Netflix. Your last point is particularly apt...it will probably come down to the definition of SAS ("It depends on your definition of what the word IS, is.").
Yes, I was commenting that I think Apple will change in one of those ways- eventually. I'm aware of how the rules are currently worded
You're absolutely right. Time Warner Cable just released an app that lets you watch live TV on your iPad as long as you subscribe to both cable tv and cable internet through TWC. Is Apple going to start demanding a 30% cut of my cable bill? No... and Netflix is the same thing, imo.
I understand Apple's point of view on the new policy - it's to keep devs from getting around that 30% cut Apple earns. But it should apply only to content (ebook purchases, iPad magazine subscriptions, etc) and not SAS that's already been paid for through a netflix or cable subscription.
A couple things as far as I can see...
1) Wouldn't it be pretty easy to just remove the 'store' link from the apps (like Kindle app)? Most people who have been buying Kindle books probably do it directly at the web site anyway. All that button would be doing, would be linking to the web site, as you don't buy the books through the app anyway.
2) Same for Netflix... the people could create their account before using the app, and then the app would just have a 'log-in'.
So, neither app would really have any issues, even if Apple did really push this. However I'm hoping Apple is smart enough not to push it. I think if Netflix and/or Amazon pulled the apps, the popularity of the iOS devices would take a pretty big ding.
Since there is really nothing else, I suppose I'd have to stay for now, but I'd be horribly miffed at Apple for forcing me to carry both a iPad and a Kindle! I might seriously consider the competing tablets when they come along if that were the case, as carrying multiple devices kind of defeats the purpose.
1) Wouldn't it be pretty easy to just remove the 'store' link from the apps (like Kindle app)? Most people who have been buying Kindle books probably do it directly at the web site anyway. All that button would be doing, would be linking to the web site, as you don't buy the books through the app anyway.
2) Same for Netflix... the people could create their account before using the app, and then the app would just have a 'log-in'.
So, neither app would really have any issues, even if Apple did really push this. However I'm hoping Apple is smart enough not to push it. I think if Netflix and/or Amazon pulled the apps, the popularity of the iOS devices would take a pretty big ding.
Since there is really nothing else, I suppose I'd have to stay for now, but I'd be horribly miffed at Apple for forcing me to carry both a iPad and a Kindle! I might seriously consider the competing tablets when they come along if that were the case, as carrying multiple devices kind of defeats the purpose.
One thing I'm not clear about with this whole subscription model - where an app has in-app purchases via iTunes, am I right in understanding that these are also hosted by Apple (part of their justification for the 30% cut)? If so, doesn't that mean that Apple would have to host a mirror of the entire global Kindle book collection?
While it's true that Apple has given companies several more months to comply, I think an important take away from this app updates is that both Amazon and Netflix have a rather optimistic view of being able to settle this issue with Apple amicably. If there were no further app updates, that would spell problems in the future.
Apple's has gotten a lot of grief for this policy, but I have some sympathy for the difficulty of their position. How do they discourage rip-off apps, such as the ones for little kids who buy (in-app) some cute/colorful/shiny object in a game, but still allow serious businesses like Netflix to continue? I'm not smart enough to define the bright line which distinguishes them, and all gray areas in between.
I don't like where Apple is heading with this, but I guess I can understand where they are coming from. It will give an Itunes streaming service and their Ibooks apps a huge leg up. I assume Kindle and Netflix will just remove any in app purchase ability. That seems like it would circumvent the problem. I don't mind going to Amazon.com to make a purchase.
on the contrary .. what was it the Sony reader or something that did not get accepted for exactly that reason?
You can also interpret Apples announcement as. If you want anything approved from now on, you better follow the guidelines .. everthing previously accepted is good until June/July, after that it will be removed.
Why would te Kindle be OK and the Sony reader not?
T.
PS: Still hoping Apple will change that rule eventually back again.
The only apps that need to comply with this 'rule' are apps that are selling things WITHIN their application.
The netflix app is NOT selling anything INSIDE it's application. Therefore, why is anyone even discussing this with regards to Netflix?
The netflix app is NOT selling anything INSIDE it's application. Therefore, why is anyone even discussing this with regards to Netflix?
Sony attempted to perform direct In-App purchases through their own store. Kindle, on the other hand, redirects users to a web site to preform purchases.
It has been clear that the method of purchasing attempted by Sony was not allowed. IIRC a previous version of Kindle was also rejected for this reason.
The issue is that the new IAP rules would also prevent the Kindle website redirection method. This applies for all new apps and will take effect in July for existing apps. This prevents Sony from resubmitting the App w/o giving Apple the 30% cut.
Another issue is that the new subscription rules. They aren't very clear and depend upon an interpretation of what is meant by SAS (Software As a Service). For example Netflix is apparently exempt despite being a subscription service.
The thread is talking about two issues. In App Purchases and Subscriptions.
Netflix requires a subscription to function. Apple has ruled that if a subscription is required, it must be offered from within the app with a 30% cut taken by Apple. However Netflix is said to be exempt due to it being SAS.
BTW - The current Kindle app does not sell anything either; the Amazon website does. This is a subtle but important distinction that previously allowed Amazon to avoid paying Apple. The new rule forces the purchase inside the App therefore giving Apple a cut.
It's true they don't currently offer anything within their app, therefore they are not in compliance and are in danger of being thrown out of the app store (by some interpretations of the policy). They would be required to make the same subscription offer (or cheaper) in-app, and in addition hand over 30% of that same price to Apple. Unless I'm misunderstanding, which is always possible.
Netflix will just have to increase prices 30% across the board, both in-app purchase and through their other channels. Their quality of service needs a boost anyway. Based on performance issues I was getting there for a while, I think the demand for the services outpaced their resources. I suspect they still need to build up some more infrastructure.
I typically understand the moves Apple makes, but with regard to this specific policy it seems like they are being exceptionally greedy.
I don't agree with that assessment.
My understanding is that Apple doesn't want an App Store where they are spending hosting dollars on FREE applications, and not making any money at all.
Imagine that instead of charging $4 for 'Angry Birds', it's FREE in the App Store, but only a demo. An update to make it the full version could be bought inside the app through Rovio for $4. Apple is getting NOTHING for this.
Apple wants to avoid these type of issues. The App Store would go away completely if this would be allowed to occur, since Apple would lose money on it.
Therefore, I can completely see Apple's point of view here. However, something like a Netflix subscription is a different thing completely. To say that Apple would even think about taking 30% of a Netflix subscription is ludicrous!
Yeah, most of the apps like this are free apps that are basically a courtesy for someone who is already a customer of a given business, like Netflix, TWC, etc. I don't see how Apple can start making demands in a scenario like that.
There is no way on earth that I'd be paying for Netflix if the only place I could use it is on an iOS device. My primary uses are on my computer and in my home entertainment center- the iOS support is just a "nice to have." It sounds like Apple is making a blanket assertion that everyone who installs Netflix on their iOS device is only a paying Netflix customer because of the App Store. That seems pretty ludicrous to me. People become Netflix customers because of all the advertising they do, word of mouth, etc. I doubt that anyone ever hears about Netflix for the very first time by browsing the App Store.