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Apple Requiring eBook Apps With External Purchases to Also Offer In App Purchasing
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So what you're saying...
is a lot of people on this thread...
are willing to get in a tizzy...
when they don't know what they are talking about?
Well, this new version of the policy must be an improvement. The previous thread was running 20 to 1 again, whereas this one only has a 6 to 1 negative-to-positive ratio.
Boy, I bet Microsoft is kicking itself for not having thought of this. Maybe they can take a 30% cut of every purchase you make using their OS. Or maybe AT&T can start taking a 30% cut of every purchase you make using their network! Or Toyota can take 30% every time you drive their car to the store. Or your home state can take a cut of every purchase you make while in that state -- oh wait...
Boy, I bet Microsoft is kicking itself for not having thought of this. Maybe they can take a 30% cut of every purchase you make using their OS. Or maybe AT&T can start taking a 30% cut of every purchase you make using their network! Or Toyota can take 30% every time you drive their car to the store. Or your home state can take a cut of every purchase you make while in that state -- oh wait...
Do you know what I am sick of? People like you trivializing the Gestapo. The holocaust was not a trivial matter. Stop abusing language like that.
Hopefully the Android keep supporting OS upgrades too... Like they don't seem to now.
Do you know what I am sick of? People like you trivializing the Gestapo. The holocaust was not a trivial matter. Stop abusing language like that.
The Gestapo had very little to do with the Holocaust. Move on.
+1do you know what i am sick of? People like you trivializing the gestapo. The holocaust was not a trivial matter. Stop abusing language like that.
Still can't see anything said about can developers set different price levels for the same item if bought within or outside Apple's store?
Yeah, the Gestapo had little to do with the deportation of Jews (and other victims) to the concentration camps.
Keep blabbing on.
Could, should, would???? What does it matter? There's this thing called negotiation in business. If Amazon wants to sell books through their iApp, they will negotiate a price and discount structure that works for both of them, or they just won't sell through their iApp. It's that simple.
My guess is the net result will be that Amazon Kindle books will cost less at Amazon then they will through iTunes. I'm also guessing the 30% does not apply here. The 30% cut is for software application sales. Content sales is more than likely handled differently.
Bottom line... what does it matter? You have a choice... use it and stop worrying about how Amazon or whoever will sort out how to do this. They're both big boys and can protect their own sandbox.
I can see both sides to this but Apple being Apple probably don't care about the extra money, It's insignificant to them given the amount of money they already make. On the same token they don't like to be made mugs out of and are inherently weary of becoming dependant on other companies.
I think their issue is just that it's breaking up the users experience. My own experience with the Kindle app mirrors that. If it had in-app purchases I'd have bought books from it because of the wider selection but the break in the experience by sending you out of the web browser, forcing you to register to Amazon and input your credit card details was a step I wasn't willing to take.
If this sort of behaviour is replicated throughout the app store, which I imagine it will be given the way it can circumvent itunes there's little wonder Apple want to put a stop to it.
It is better from a experience point of view. The sticking point I suppose is the cut Apple are asking for and it's something I think they're going to need to be more flexible on.
I think their issue is just that it's breaking up the users experience. My own experience with the Kindle app mirrors that. If it had in-app purchases I'd have bought books from it because of the wider selection but the break in the experience by sending you out of the web browser, forcing you to register to Amazon and input your credit card details was a step I wasn't willing to take.
If this sort of behaviour is replicated throughout the app store, which I imagine it will be given the way it can circumvent itunes there's little wonder Apple want to put a stop to it.
It is better from a experience point of view. The sticking point I suppose is the cut Apple are asking for and it's something I think they're going to need to be more flexible on.
The problem is that we don't know the full implications of these rules.
Amazon's model allows people to pay once for a book and use it on virtually any device.
IAP doesn't normally allow you to access content on other platforms.
It looks like Amazon will have to charge users who buy a book using IAP MORE and they'll end up getting LESS value.
This move by Apple is completely destroying Amazon's ecosystem, because the IAP system is simply incompatible with it.
I care about these things as a consumer because this model is working very well for Amazon. They're selling a lot of books this way, and I have a great deal of flexibility in how I can use them.
I can't see this. If Apple start doing special deals with 1 person then everyone is going to think they should get a special deal.
The only think I think is that the % should change as the price goes up. It costs Apple no extra money to host a $1 app than it does a $100 or $1000 app.
Seems stupid to ask 30 cents from one and $300 from another.
As do nook, kobo, google books, ... tempest, meet teacup.
Sony did something wrong in their app, and Apple called them out on it.
B
Google has their own problems with Oracle and are going to get sued big time
I'm not a lawyer but I do understand the concept of precedent. Apple set a precedent by not enforcing the rule. By changing what is enforced they put the income of many including self publishing authors at harm. Even if the DOJ does not investigate a civil lawsuit and EU government action is very possible.
Quote:
11.2 Apps utilizing a system other than the In App Purchase API (IAP) to purchase content, functionality, or services in an app will be rejected
11.3 Apps using IAP to purchase physical goods or goods and services used outside of the application will be rejected
–Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines
Good Luck with 11.3 in Court. I bought my Kindle reader from my Amazon app on my iPhone4. 11.3 Makes no sense and Apple breaks it's own rule as you can buy Music from your iPhone app and then transfer it to your laptop or desktop.
Quote:
11.2 Apps utilizing a system other than the In App Purchase API (IAP) to purchase content, functionality, or services in an app will be rejected
11.3 Apps using IAP to purchase physical goods or goods and services used outside of the application will be rejected
–Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines
Good Luck with 11.3 in Court. I bought my Kindle reader from my Amazon app on my iPhone4. 11.3 Makes no sense and Apple breaks it's own rule as you can buy Music from your iPhone app and then transfer it to your laptop or desktop.
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So.... who else is bothering to read the contradiction in the rules quoted on the all things d article?
Read 11.3. Yeah. Think about that one for a second.
The only way, say, Evernote could comply with BOTH rules is to make it so any service they offer through the app must be purchasable with in-app purchases (which Evernote allows despite the 30% cut) AND not allow that same purchased service to be used anywhere but on iOS!
If Amazon complied with both rules, any eBooks you bought via the In-App purchase may not be viewed on any version of Kindle besides iOS!
These rules together make in-app purchases pointless for pretty much every app I've ever used it in.
And if Apple suddenly thinks this lock-down is going to make the awful iBooks store more attractive, they are insane. iBooks the reader is great. The store has some of the worst prices around and what's more important is that iOS devices are the ONLY place you can read iBooks purchased books due to (non-standard) DRM.
I love my iOS devices, they are amazingly designed and offer the best software on any platform ever, no exceptions. But eBook reading is more important to me than any single mobile platform. If Apple runs the competition out of town and doesn't remove DRM from iBooks, then I will be forced to switch to some other horrible platform so I can do what I need to do with it. This is the worst reason to have to switch.
All that said, I find it hard to believe that this will stick. It sounds like someone got bored and realized some rules weren't being enforced. This kind of stupidity flared up during Jobs' last ouster as well. This gives me little faith that Apple will be able to remain sane without their fearless leader at the helm. Hopefully when he hears word of this ridiculousness, it will be squashed quickly.
Read 11.3. Yeah. Think about that one for a second.
The only way, say, Evernote could comply with BOTH rules is to make it so any service they offer through the app must be purchasable with in-app purchases (which Evernote allows despite the 30% cut) AND not allow that same purchased service to be used anywhere but on iOS!
If Amazon complied with both rules, any eBooks you bought via the In-App purchase may not be viewed on any version of Kindle besides iOS!
These rules together make in-app purchases pointless for pretty much every app I've ever used it in.
And if Apple suddenly thinks this lock-down is going to make the awful iBooks store more attractive, they are insane. iBooks the reader is great. The store has some of the worst prices around and what's more important is that iOS devices are the ONLY place you can read iBooks purchased books due to (non-standard) DRM.
I love my iOS devices, they are amazingly designed and offer the best software on any platform ever, no exceptions. But eBook reading is more important to me than any single mobile platform. If Apple runs the competition out of town and doesn't remove DRM from iBooks, then I will be forced to switch to some other horrible platform so I can do what I need to do with it. This is the worst reason to have to switch.
All that said, I find it hard to believe that this will stick. It sounds like someone got bored and realized some rules weren't being enforced. This kind of stupidity flared up during Jobs' last ouster as well. This gives me little faith that Apple will be able to remain sane without their fearless leader at the helm. Hopefully when he hears word of this ridiculousness, it will be squashed quickly.
Correction it's not future tense, it's current tense. They are being sued for cutting and pasting Java code into Android, even leaving the permission required comments intact.
im sure apple will make sure that prices can't be higher if that happens - and before you start moaning please do realise that amazon does exactly that in their market place!
im less concerned about poor amazon or sony here - what really annoys me is how apple shuts out independent companies offering great services like issuu ( http://blog.issuu.com/?p=1723 )
You've said it very well. I feel exactly the same way.
For many years I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on Mac Laptops, Desktops, iPods & iPhones. I absolutely loved the company they _were_.
I experienced year after year of fun & excitement when buying their latest products.
Then it all began to degenerate into this arrogant, self centered, greedy machine. The very place they said, as a young company, they would never go.
So here we are. Every move they make is the result of hours of calculated scheming. Dark sinister moves in a very slimy way.
Notice the original post is quoted as from, "All Things Digital".
They are Apples hand picked well groomed mouthpiece, cloaked as a mainstream, trusted source. The mouthpiece of Walter Mossberg, Steve Jobs Bed Partner. The man who gushes praise, worship, and wonderment over Steves every breath.
The two of them, having spent countless hours applying just the right spin on every story involving Apple. The true name of the newspaper should be Steve & Walts Apple Love.
Oh yes. Then it gets worse as Apples agenda is furthered by the third partner of this torrid threesome, David Pogue.
What a team they make. Millions of people worldwide read the tech section of the New York Times, and are influenced by the blog known as "All Things Digital".
Now with Murdoch firmly embedded in the Apple Camp, "The Daily" iPad publication will further Jobs & Apples agenda to turn us all into Apple worshipping lemmings.