Barnes & Noble Nook iOS App Gains Purchase Links

[MacRumors]

Barnes & Noble has updated its Nook app for iPhone and iPad with a new "buy on BN.com" button that redirects users to the company's website to complete e-book and audiobook purchases (via GoodReader).

The button appears alongside book listings and opens the user's default browser to the corresponding product page on Barnes & Noble's website. After completing the purchase, content automatically syncs to the Nook app and any connected Nook devices.

Previously, iOS users had no clear path to purchase books through the app, often leaving customers confused about how to buy content. The new system mirrors recent updates to Amazon's Kindle app and Spotify, which added similar external purchase options.

The changes stem from a court ruling in the ongoing litigation between Epic Games and Apple. In April, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a contempt order prohibiting Apple from blocking external purchase links or imposing commissions on them.

For over a decade, Apple's App Store guidelines required developers to either use Apple's in-app purchase system with a 30% commission or remove any links directing users to alternative payment methods.

The ruling has enabled e-reader apps to offer more intuitive purchasing experiences, with Kobo also implementing similar functionality.

Article Link: Barnes & Noble Nook iOS App Gains Purchase Links

 

[ikir]

“More intuitive” cmon…

 

[AppliedMicro]

iOS users had no clear path to purchase books through the app

…and now they have.

A clear win for consumers and small(er) businesses.

Certainly more intuitive than that “we wish we could tell you how to purchase, but sadly we can’t” faff.
The concept of purchasing things on app or website and paying with a payment card certainly isn’t foreign to consumers.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Choice is great, regardless of whether the app is objectively/subjectively better for the user.

 

[con2apple]

Open the App Store. What do you see?
Advertisements for mini-games where no progress is possible without spending money. Every month, there's a recommendation for the biggest of these games. Every week, new addictive games are advertised.

Even though it's WWDC, Apple keeps pushing and pushing these games. To get every last cent out of our pockets. So they can keep their 30% of the billions and billions of dollars they make every year. For nothing.

I'm so glad that this de facto monopoly is now being recognized from all sides and that Apple is finally being forced to compete. It can only be good for us customers.
Who knows, maybe the team behind this “recommendations” will then once again recommend some relatively unknown apps.

 

[ifxf]

Can’t wait until Amazon updates their Kindle app.

 

[Felder71]

Today I learned Nook was still a thing.

 

[sw1tcher]

Can’t wait until Amazon updates their Kindle app.

They already did

Kindle App Gets Biggest iOS Change in Over a Decade

Amazon has updated the Kindle app for iOS to include a new "Get Book" button that links users directly to purchase pages on Amazon's...

www.macrumors.com

Amazon has updated the Kindle app for iOS to include a new "Get Book" button that links users directly to purchase pages on Amazon's website, following a recent court ruling that prohibits Apple from blocking external purchase links or imposing a 27% commission on them

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Can’t wait until Amazon updates their Kindle app.

They already (sorta) have. There is now a "Get Book" link that will take you to an amazon page with a 1-click button.

 

[xander49x]

I would like to purchase with in app purchases but I was not given that option, so no it's not customer friendly or useful, they took the choice from customers.

 

[AppliedMicro]

I would like to purchase with in app purchases but I was not given that option, so no it's not customer friendly or useful, they took the choice from customers.

And I would like to purchase with a credit card from the seller, or my Nook membership or whatever.
Which Apple didn’t allow, taking my choices away - not very customer friendly.

And neither would be Apple’s 30% commission - when other payment processors process the same transaction for 3% or less.

 

[Princejb134]

Open the App Store. What do you see?
Advertisements for mini-games where no progress is possible without spending money. Every month, there's a recommendation for the biggest of these games. Every week, new addictive games are advertised.

Even though it's WWDC, Apple keeps pushing and pushing these games. To get every last cent out of our pockets. So they can keep their 30% of the billions and billions of dollars they make every year. For nothing.

I'm so glad that this de facto monopoly is now being recognized from all sides and that Apple is finally being forced to compete. It can only be good for us customers.
Who knows, maybe the team behind this “recommendations” will then once again recommend some relatively unknown apps.

Maybe your right choice is great but I wouldn’t want anyone entering my house and giving rules on what I can do with my house. Competition is great, this is why we have smartphone competitors like android, iOS, BB and windows at one point. If government wants to make platforms in their rules, maybe they should create their our government platform.

 

[xander49x]

And I would like to purchase with a credit card from the seller, or my Nook membership or whatever.
Which Apple didn’t allow, taking my choices away - not very customer friendly.

And neither would be Apple’s 30% commission - when other payment processors process the same transaction for 3% or less.

you have that option now I do not, for all developers that are directing payments outside of apple eco system should give us the option to also use in app purchases.

 

[AppliedMicro]

you have that option now I do not

…and neither did you have that option before, did you?

Barnes and Noble now have the choice of what payment/transaction system they’re offering - and they’ve made use of that choice.

but I wouldn’t want anyone entering my house and giving rules on what I can do with my house.

Neither do Barnes & Noble, Epic games or Spotify want anyone else imposing rules on what they can do (which payment methods to accept) with their apps houses.

If government wants to make platforms in their rules, maybe they should create their our government platform.

If Apple wants to act like a government that governs their place (with taxes, rules and censorship laws on what’s morally or commercially acceptable and what’s not, as well as auditing requirement), maybe they should found their own country.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Maybe your right choice is great but I wouldn’t want anyone entering my house and giving rules on what I can do with my house. Competition is great, this is why we have smartphone competitors like android, iOS, BB and windows at one point. If government wants to make platforms in their rules, maybe they should create their our government platform.

My phone is my house, not Apple's. I'm not renting.

 

[sw1tcher]

I would like to purchase with in app purchases but I was not given that option, so no it's not customer friendly or useful, they took the choice from customers.

No choice was taken away when they (and Kindle) never offered in-app purchases to begin with.


3rd paragraph:

Previously, iOS users had no clear path to purchase books through the app, often leaving customers confused about how to buy content. The new system mirrors recent updates to Amazon's Kindle app and Spotify, which added similar external purchase options.

 

[atoqir]

you have that option now I do not, for all developers that are directing payments outside of apple eco system should give us the option to also use in app purchases.

I agree, then all parties would be happy.

They should just add the 30 percent of the Apple tax to the product price.

Then you have the choice of payment provider and you can choose if the in app purchase is worth the extra costs.

 

[platinumaqua]

Good. It doesn't make sense that content that are portable across platforms like ebooks has to go through Apple's IAP. It should work like purchases of physical goods.

 

[cateye]

They should just add the 30 percent of the Apple tax to the product price.

Add the 30% Apple Tax and an additional 20% Stupid Tax for anyone willing to pay that much more for no legitimate reason other than brand idolatry.

"But but... safety!" So you never make any purchase anywhere for any reason other than the App Store? Really? If so, then you're allowed to argue you must have IAPs through Apple as an option for "safety." If not, you've undermined your own argument and exposed it as the concern trolling that it is.

Every day that the App Store gets one step closer to being spun off from Apple, or becomes one of many freely-selectable competing App Stores under no influence of Apple, is a win for everyone, whether they realize it or not.

 

[CaptFuzzyBuns]

Today I learned Nook was still a thing.

I came here to say the exact same thing haha

 

[atoqir]

Add the 30% Apple Tax and an additional 20% Stupid Tax for anyone willing to pay that much more for no legitimate reason other than brand idolatry.

"But but... safety!" So you never make any purchase anywhere for any reason other than the App Store? Really? If so, then you're allowed to argue you must have IAPs through Apple as an option for "safety." If not, you've undermined your own argument and exposed it as the concern trolling that it is.

Every day that the App Store gets one step closer to being spun off from Apple, or becomes one of many freely-selectable competing App Stores under no influence of Apple, is a win for everyone, whether they realize it or not.

I wasn't talking about me. I will always use the cheapest option available and I am a huge proponent for open markets.

But this option would be great for the die hard brand loyalists that only want to use the most expensive payment system out there. They should be able to if they choose, but they should pay for it themselves and not the developers, if they offer cheaper alternatives already.

 

[cateye]

I wasn't talking about me. I will always use the cheapest option available and I am a huge proponent for open markets.

To be clear, I was using the royal "you." Did not mean or intend to single you out as an individual advocating for a lack of payment options and apologize if it came across that way. I think we're on the same page, and I agree: A product that costs $10 should be $10 on FooDeveloper's website and $13 on the App Store.

 

[AppliedMicro]

But this option would be great for the die hard brand loyalists that only want to use the most expensive payment system out there. They should be able to if they choose

If Apple wants to serve their die hard brand loyalists, how about they license their own books and operate their own ebook store - rather than freeloading from Barnes and Noble’s?

Oh wait… that’s exactly what they’re doing. And it already comes pre-installed on the most popular smartphone platform (in the U.S., that is), thereby giving Apple an (IMO unfair) advantage in the ebook market.

Requiring Nook customers to register an account for a competitor’s (Apple’s) store only tilts the playing field further to Apple’s advantage and leads to imbalanced and unfair competition on the market for ebooks.

Apple Music and iTunes on Windows weren’t required to use a Microsoft account for in-app payment either.