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

[Vizin]

And exactly how can they tell whether I've purchased content elsewhere?

Because presumably this would be a selling point of the app, and it would be quite clear that it was designed to do this.

I'm talking specifically about apps that let you sync content purchased from other sellers (such as Kindle) or use subscription-based service (such as Vonage, Skype, Sirius, etc.) that are multi-platform.

 

[bigwig]

eBooks are already overpriced, being more expensive on average than a mass-market paperback. Often they're about as expensive as a discounted hardback, but without the pleasure and permanency of owning a real, physical book. This move is likely to make them even more expensive, and even less desirable, not exactly the way to get me to switch to buying them.

 

[roadbloc]

Stupid Apple.

 

[kiljoy616]

ha, ha - so what's next, no buying apps for your mac outside of the app store?

yes! :d

 

[iStudentUK]

I am tired for paying high prices for anything other than the app itself in Apple's world. Movies? Over priced. Books? Over priced. TV programmes? Over priced. Audio books? Over priced.

If prices continue as they do then I for one will not embrace Apple's vision for the future. I mean, they are distributing media via the cheapest method possible and yet demand the highest prices.

Their vision is a good one; their greed will be its failure.

Starting to get this feeling as well. I don't mind paying for apps, which the developers choose the price for (although I do obviously look for the cheapest ones!). However, I have purchased maybe 30 songs in 5 years from iTunes, and I have never purchased TV shows, movies etc as they are stupidly expensive and have DRM. Now we have the Mac App Store that, although not the only way to get programmes, may reduce the number of apps available 'in the wild over time'.

I didn't mind Apple's walled-garden approach at first, but now they seem to be erecting guard towers and laying mine fields. Got 18 months left on my iPhone and Android is looking like a real alternative, even if the fanboys deny it.

 

[kiljoy616]

Does this mean that others like Stanza and GoodReader will disappear too?

Good question, they do something similar. But here is the real question to ask, I for one love the ipad and was planing to get the ipad 2 but not so much for reading so I am safe. What really must be asked is it really better to have electronic books if at any time they can be deleted from your system or become unavailable at the whim of a company.

That I know the courts have not really dealt with this yet and if they have its not something that is out in the public domain.

So in some ways we are moving forward but in other things we seem over a little extra cash to be moving backward.

 

[Cydonia]

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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.

Grow up

 

[kiljoy616]

Starting to get this feeling as well. I don't mind paying for apps, which the developers choose the price for (although I do obviously look for the cheapest ones!). However, I have purchased maybe 30 songs in 5 years from iTunes, and I have never purchased TV shows, movies etc as they are stupidly expensive and have DRM. Now we have the Mac App Store that, although not the only way to get programmes, may reduce the number of apps available 'in the wild over time'.

I didn't mind Apple's walled-garden approach at first, but now they seem to be erecting guard towers and laying mine fields. Got 18 months left on my iPhone and Android is looking like a real alternative, even if the fanboys deny it.

Glad to hear one less person on the network but serious does it really mean anything for most. Maybe its just me but video is what I watch when I am on an airplane or out at the dentist office waiting. I for one could not see my self reading a book on an iphone. The ipad is another beast I can see the problem there but do you really think apple will stay the course if their sales on hardware drops even a bit.

Lets wait and see before freaking out what really happens.

 

[flottenheimer]

Now, if Apple would actually start SELLING ebooks and movies from their Dansih iTunes store I wouldn't mind being locked into their eco-system.

People in the US might not know this - but in a lot of countries you can't rent or buy movies and ebooks from iTunes. The only ebooks available are the free ones such as Gutenbergs. And when it comes to movies all you can do is to watch trailers.

So to buy an ebook I need Amazons Kindle app. Somehow they've managed to set up shop.

 

[Nightarchaon]

Badly reported, Kindle app going nowhere as no in-app purchasing functionality.

DONT PANIC, the kindle app is going nowhere.

Anyone actually used kindle app ? it doesn't actually have "in-app" purchasing, it redirects to the safari browser and the online book store, its a really clunky way to buy books but it does bypass apples "in-app" restriction by not actually having any in-app purchasing, all sony has to do is copy this mechanism.

to the author of the article, actually USE an app before scaremongering that it might be taken down, ADHD journalism at its best.

Simples.

 

[Oletros]

DONT PANIC, the kindle app is going nowhere.

Anyone actually used kindle app ? it doesn't actually have "in-app" purchasing, it redirects to the safari browser and the online book store, its a really clunky way to buy books but it does bypass apples "in-app" restriction by not actually having any in-app purchasing, all sony has to do is copy this mechanism.

to the author of the article, actually USE an app before scaremongering that it might be taken down, ADHD journalism at its best.

Simples.

To the author of the post, actually read the post before commenting

The company has told some applications developers, including Sony, that they can no longer sell content, like e-books, within their apps, or let customers have access to purchases they have made outside the App Store.

 

[dannylievens]

should this be true...

than we should claim our money back:
- we (and my customers) use ipad company wide
- we use it to train and make people read books, look at films , read articles, handle mail etc
- none of this content is bought through apple, simply because of apple not selling this content in Belgium (I still do not understand why).
So if apple sold us a computer/ipad to read books, watch films (as they do commercialize so) but make after they sold it, it impossible to use it, then they are in breach...
I cannot believe one is that stupid.

 

[markcres]

The greed of Apple knows no bounds!

Radix omnium malorum avaritia !!

 

[Neuro]

News just in

"Apple today announced that they will be enhancing Safari to reject certain websites that allow the purchase of hardware and accessories from stores other than the Apple Store. Apple believes customer experience is paramount and that customer choice is unnecessary."

 

[apolloa]

Wow, Apple is becomming the new Microsoft. Well they have to make those billions and billions some how, screwing over the customer is usually the way it's done...

 

[yodermk]

It's moves like this that make it hard to support Apple. There's no denying they make great products, but at the same time, you hate giving your money to a company that you feel sort of strongarms you. Not to mention the stigma that comes with Apple products that you're a deuche, fanboy and/or idiot.

*Exactly*

I *want* a Mac, but every time I think of buying one, I remember Apple pulling crap like this. (I know, this isn't on a Mac, but it supports the same company.)

I have an iPhone, but my next will be Linux based.

 

[iWolf00]

Does that mean for each $10 I pay for my app, Apple shall have $3?? I don't really care but,,,

I think apple want to protect its itunes from competitors ; in addition, if door left open who could know what will Sony next move.

On the other hand, this will affect everyone, who using third party softwares. I won't be able to personalize my iPad since I am forced to use app from itunes. I don't like it and it ruins my experience with my devices.

 

[mikerr]

I can't believe how much apple has become authoritarian big brother from its 1984 ad.

Who is wielding the freedom sledgehammer now ?

Google ?

 

[Mr.damien]

That's curious. I wonder why Apple seems to swing wildly between opening up and limiting app functionality. What's next, you can't buy stuff from amazon.com using the amazon app because the items don't come through Apple? Unless there is some compelling reason for this new limitation, I think it is a bogus money grab.

App Store policy doesn't accept to use another payment model to buy content in an application.

With Amazon application, you don't buy content for the phone, you buy real objects...

 

[Daveoc64]

Does that mean for each $10 I pay for my app, Apple shall have $3?? I don't really care but,,,

At a basic level yes, although the 30% that Apple takes in this case has to cover a few things (hosting the content, the bandwidth to distribute it, handling transaction fees, managing a billing system, allowing customers to download content again, developing the programs and tools used to both upload and consume content, marketing etc.).

Apple's model is considered to be quite fair (and is now used by Amazon, Microsoft and the Android Market for example) for what they offer. 70% goes to the App/Book publisher and they don't have to worry about any of the above issues and the associated cost.

In this case, Amazon and Sony respectively would be handling all of these costs. When a Kindle user downloads a book to an iPhone, there isn't any cost to Apple.

In case anybody is wondering, for apps that are available on the App Store for free, the developer doesn't have to pay any fees. Apple handles all of the costs as they feel that their platform will benefit from a rich ecosystem of free apps.

 

[Žalgiris]

People often forget that you can get legal troubles not only by having a monopoly but for anticompetitive practices.

Fandroids? Perhaps not, only not fanboys?

Imagine Apple has iBook app on Sony readers. Do you think Sony would be willing to let Apple sell books without Sony getting their cut? I find it hard to believe. Apple just wants to protect it's ecosystem from such things.

Do you think it makes sense to Apple or any other company if someone puts a free app on their store and start selling something "off the grid" redirecting to some page where you fill in your details or where you log in into some system? I think not.

It's a business.

 

[powerphillg5]

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Does that mean that iOS users won't be able to pay bills on their phones or iPads or iPods without the service provider paying 30% in royalties? Or how about amazon or eBay? WTF?

 

[okrelayer]

Amazon with their Kindle App has been a supporter of iPad, and iOS in general since day one. The ability to read books from kindle, iBooks and other manufactures made the iPad a very compelling choice. Taking away that option will really put a damper on things.

 

[Oletros]

Imagine Apple has iBook app on Sony readers. Do you think Sony would be willing to let Apple sell books without Sony getting their cut? I find it hard to believe. Apple just wants to protect it's ecosystem from such things.

Do you think it makes sense to Apple or any other company if someone puts a free app on their store and start selling something "off the grid" redirecting to some page where you fill in your details or where you log in into some system? I think not.

It's a business.

Sony allow on their readers content bought on other stores like Barnes & Noble.

Imagine there is a world outside Apple and their practices

 

[Daveoc64]

Imagine Apple has iBook app on Sony readers. Do you think Sony would be willing to let Apple sell books without Sony getting their cut? I find it hard to believe. Apple just wants to protect it's ecosystem from such things.

Sony's eReaders support books from many different stores. If you don't want to buy them from Sony's store, you can get them from many different places with and without DRM.

Do you think it makes sense to Apple or any other company if someone puts a free app on their store and start selling something "off the grid" redirecting to some page where you fill in your details or where you log in into some system? I think not.

Why doesn't it make sense? Apple is only losing "theoretical" money here. If you buy a book from the Kindle Store, Amazon pays to put it on your phone - not Apple. If Apple's bandwidth or storage was being used then they might have a valid argument.

Apple's in-app purchasing rules are a good idea for some types of content, but they simply can't apply to all business models.