Apple Rejects 'Sony Reader' From App Store, 'Kindle' Removal Next?

[spillproof]

I can see Apple's (read: Job's) point, but I think the idea is stupid. I'm using your product, you should be happy with just that. I want control!

What next? iTunes music store purchased music only on iPods.

 

[InfoTime]

Amazon is a merchandising company. Sure they sell kindle hardware now but they and Barnes and Noble really don't compete much with apple. Hardware on the other hand is another issue and Sony is a major apple competitor in the in the computer and hardware space and even some software.

I think you're right. I think Apple's doing this as a beat-down to Sony.

I'm glad that the Kindle app is available. Apple should just ditch their iBooks app and adopt Kindle - then you'd have the best device and the best bookstore together.

 

[xxundrclssherox]

Who else immediately downloaded Kindle from the app store?

Guilty! I downloaded both Nook and Kindle for iPad. I might not have an iPad yet (waiting for the iPad 2) but I'm not going to screw up chances of getting e-textbooks through Nook because Apple is greedy (and couldn't strike a deal w/ textbook publishers, mind you)

 

[Oletros]

Um no. You don't have to be nice to your competitors, or even give them equal (or any) access to your hardware or app store, unless you have "market power," which Apple does not.

Mmmm, no.

Do you think MS was fined in Europe for having a monopoly? No, they were fined for anti competittive practices.

 

[EricNau]

Hmmm... Guess it wouldn't be the end of the world. If one needed to purchase a book for their Kindle (or Kindle app, in this case), they could still do so through Safari and have it pushed to the device of their choosing.

Inconvenient, yes. But the ability is still there.


I'm not entirely convinced Apple is going to do this, however.

 

[Full of Win]

Apple Consumer Electronics is many things.... patently stupid is not one of them. While I'm sure they want to do this, I just don't think their high level of arrogance currently reaches the dizzying heights that would be required to pull such a stunt.

 

[haruhiko]

OK. Steve has just taken his leave for a while, and Mr. Cook is already screwing the company.

 

[WickedRabbit]

$5.00 says that Apple's PR team responds in 2 days and says it's a security risk to purchase outside of iTunes through Safari and no one (because for "some" reason people don't seem to realize that half the stuff Apple says contradicts themselves) notices the irony in the statement in that it means that Apple's Safari has a security flaw.

 

[swarmster]

When, if ever, real details finally show up for what really happened I'm sure it will be a well established rule having been broken and Sony using it as a false alarm for crying wolf about Apple's app store.

I mean, really, how many times has this kind of nonsense come up (independent, unverifiable app store approval claims) and later we find out it was just lies? Way too often.

Yep. The thing is, as long as the tech community remains so gullible and headline-obsessed, there's no reason for these companies to stop. Long after the whole story is out, people will still be saying stuff like:

But either way this become yet another reason not to trust Apple. They keep changing the rules...

 

[GlenL]

How is in-app purchasing in the Kindle/Nook app any different than purchasing from the Amazon/Ebay/AT&T app that lets you purchase items???

I just bought something through the Amazon app. Isn't that considered in-app purchasing?

 

[baleensavage]

I too think there's more going on here than Sony or the NY Times is saying. Many of the most popular apps on the app store use content purchased elsewhere. It sounds like Apple is just clamping down on apps that try to skirt the in-app purchasing fee. Kindle doesn't do in-app purchases, neither does Hulu, Netflix, Farmville, etc. You have to sign up for/pay for them all on the Web. It sounds like Sony was trying to let you purchase from within the app and thus got flagged.

 

[haruhiko]

Ha, ha - so what's next, no buying Apps for your Mac outside of the App store?

We can install Windows on it as the last resort.

 

[Consultant]

Sony reader? Who uses that wannabe platform?

 

[haruhiko]

The question is, does Sony's app allow you to buy content directly from the app or does it exit you to Safari like the Kindle app does? The former has always been explicitly prohibited by the App Store guidelines. If it's the latter case, and you generalize it, then Apple would be rejecting every app that allows you to access any kind of good or service not purchased using in-app purchasing, which seems like an unlikely move.

I have a feeling this will end up being way less of an issue than people are assuming, just like most of the other seemingly unfair rejections in the past.

I think and hope that it's the first case.

 

[haruhiko]

I don't believe this for a second. Sony is well known for spouting B.S. that is completely unfounded. They probably got rejected for using an IN-APP WEBVIEW control to open their store. If Apple was to make this change, randomly, most of the very top rated app store apps would be banned:

Kindle
Nook
(basically every eReader app, even Stanza for accessing Fictionwise)
Evernote
Netflix
Pandora
Skype
Hulu Plus
FarmVille
FT
NYTimes
Dropbox
box.net
(tons of other services accessible via App Store apps of their own and others)

As well as many other similarly purposed apps. There is no way Apple is banning eBooks as reading (of various forms, such as mail, sms, im, twitter, books, articles, documents, notes, etc.) is pretty much the #1 reason to use iPad and iPhone and we all know iBooks is a pathetic performer compared to Kindle.

The fact is that Sony is a competitor with Apple. Sony is full of talking heads that don't know what their priorities should be and will blindly jab at competition even while trying to ride their coattails. When, if ever, real details finally show up for what really happened I'm sure it will be a well established rule having been broken and Sony using it as a false alarm for crying wolf about Apple's app store.

I mean, really, how many times has this kind of nonsense come up (independent, unverifiable app store approval claims) and later we find out it was just lies? Way too often.

Yes, this makes more sense!

 

[spotlight07]

What about Netflix? That's a purchase I don't make with my iTunes account. I consider it the most important app on iPad, if Apple starts pulling apps that use outside paid content, it will destroy the app ecosystem. This sounds like a money grab.

 

[Dr McKay]

If this had been Microsoft doing something similar, there would be a dozen comments about how it was a 'clawing act of desparation from a failing company'.

I hate this move, the meagre selection on iBooks ensures I keep using Kindle. Infact just downloaded it to my iPhone too, just in case

 

[JGowan]

Good for Apple. They built it! Why the f&%! should they let others come in and make money through it. That's like saying McDonald's should have to let Burger King set up a small cart to sell burgers in the back of their restaurant -- that's ignorant and so is letting these big competitors come in and sell their stuff through Apple's store!

 

[2992]

Sony reader? Who uses that wannabe platform?

It may sounds amazing for some, but there are people out there using it.
Actually, there are people out there using non-Apple products! Can you believe it?!

 

[Oletros]

Good for Apple. They built it! Why the f&%! should they let others come in and make money through it. That's like saying McDonald's should have to let Burger King set up a small cart to sell burgers in the back of their restaurant -- that's ignorant and so is letting these big competitors come in and sell their stuff through Apple's store!

Funny. Because you're jocking, don't you?

 

[seajay96]

How is in-app purchasing in the Kindle/Nook app any different than purchasing from the Amazon/Ebay/AT&T app that lets you purchase items???

I just bought something through the Amazon app. Isn't that considered in-app purchasing?

No, an in-app purchase is one that would charge directly to your iTunes account. Buying anything on Amazon requires a separate web based account.

 

[JGowan]

Funny. Because you're jocking, don't you?

I wouldn't jock about this.

 

[macduke]

I read on TouchArcade yesterday that after porting PSP and PS3 games for Android, Sony was considering an app for iOS that would allow similar functionality.

Not anymore! Lol.

Apple needs to focus on hardware sales where they make all their money. They also need to improve their actual offerings. iBooks' selection is nothing compared to Amazon, at least from my experience.

The new little black kindle is a slick little device too. My wife kind of wants one and so do I, even though I have an iPad. My primary concern is that as a designer and photographer, many of the books that I read require full color graphics for effect. I'm hoping the rumors about the next iPad being lighter, thinner with a better less-reflective screen are true!

 

[TimothyWalters]

There's a good reason behind this

On the surface this looks bad, but let me walk you through a little scenario:

You're a small company, making cars and selling them as well as other people's cars. When you sell other people's cars, you ask for a cut, since you pay for the fuel, advertise for them, let them sell their accessories in your stores. They give you this cut because you're providing a valuable service, and your customers love how they're treated in your store so are very loyal and trust brands you recommend.

One of the bigger car makers decides to sell one of their custom cars in your store. They give the car for free, so they don't have to pay you anything for access to your loyal clients or for the space their cars take. They can afford to offer it for free because the fuel and accessories for it are only available from their own showrooms, and each car comes with instructions on how to get to their showroom.

Tell me, would you keep "selling" their cars, when it's obvious that they're just a vehicle to get people to go to a competing store?

Now lets look at Apple. They host the apps, they provide the download bandwidth, they advertise, they have the trusted environment, they have the loyal audience. Some companies have worked out that if they give the apps away for free, but include a link to a web site to sell content, they can lure these loyal customers to their stores without giving Apple anything for the service. These greedy companies want 100% of your money, and the ability to get all your details (that Apple protects strongly) by using their own sales portals.

Tell me now if you wouldn't kick Sony and others out of your store for the same behavior!?

Apple offers a lot, and only asks for 30% of an electronic sale that has very little direct cost to the sellers, but still many companies strive to find ways to deny Apple that 30% that they use to keep the store running.

 

[firewood]

web versus in-app

How is in-app purchasing in the Kindle/Nook app any different than purchasing from the Amazon/Ebay/AT&T app that lets you purchase items???

Apple can't control purchases from web sites using web browsers. That's a zillion times bigger than Apple. Amazon is just another huge company selling on the web (as does the U.S. government as well). And mobile Safari is just another web browser. Apple can't restrict what you can use their web browsers to buy without shooting themselves in the foot/head. But once you've purchased stuff from the web, an app is a great way to view it. So Kindle on iPhone is a big win for Apple.

Sony screwed up by trying to sell stuff, not from a web site using a browser, but directly from an iPhone app. That's something that Apple can control. And did.

Stupid Sony.