I am taking a serious look at XOOM -Apple App Store Policy Fallout Thread

[whooleytoo]

Of course, these subscription rules won't affect you at all. When has a business ever raised prices on consumers just because its costs went up 30% overnight? That would never happen.

Maybe, but then again the iOS marketplace is very price competitive; they might take the hit on their margins rather than lose sales.

In any case I'm neither a content provider - nor a likely subscriber! - so for the moment these changes don't affect me.

 

[maflynn]

Maybe, but then again the iOS marketplace is very price competitive; they might take the hit on their margins rather than lose sales.

Well because its very price competitive, it makes even less sense for providers to take a 30%. That is if its so competitive and their margins are tight, it makes less sense to lose money on each sale because of 30% cut.

Sometimes its cheaper to just walk away.

 

[camelsnot]

the only thing the bloated itunes has over android is the amount of apps and the fact that more apps are developed for iOS first before being ported. If you can stand the "wait" for apps, do it.. I'd recommend it.

 

[FSUSem1noles]

So far I like what I see from the Xoom also... I love the widgets on the home screen, having weather, email, etc, right there without having to go into each seperate app... I reallly wish Apple would do something with incorporating widgets...

 

[maflynn]

the only thing the bloated itunes has over android is the amount of apps and the fact that more apps are developed for iOS first before being ported. If you can stand the "wait" for apps, do it.. I'd recommend it.

The android marketplace is not perfect by a long shot. There's too many malware apps, scams and even google has admitted it has to fix some things.

While there are a lot of apps, people are not buying apps in great numbers. Google created this monster because they benefit from the ads, but for developers they're better off getting income from sales not clicks. Additionally there's too many rip offs, have a great app, there will be one that is a virtual clone. These examples show that its not a great place to develop as its difficult to make money.

For the consumer, the risk of malware is there, so google's hands off approach brings risks to the consumer.

 

[hcho3]

There are only two apps that most people would care about...

Netflix and Kindle.

Kindle is a great app for reading, but I can find another alternative. So, don't matter.

Netflix is just as greedy as apple. I cancelled their service. They have been raising prices for no reason. I hate them.

 

[FSUSem1noles]

There are only two apps that most people would care about...

Netflix and Kindle.

Kindle is a great app for reading, but I can find another alternative. So, don't matter.

Netflix is just as greedy as apple. I cancelled their service. They have been raising prices for no reason. I hate them.

I'm finding it hard to stay with Netflix.. especially due to their delay in getting new releases, 30 days?!?!

I wonder if Blockbuster streaming would work on the Xoom?

 

[maflynn]

I wonder if Blockbuster streaming would work on the Xoom?

I can't see why it wouldn't given the business relationship verizon and blockbuster has. Correct me if I'm wrong, verizon will be selling the xoom with a subsidized price correct

 

[Mitchrapp]

Is 30 days really the end of the world? Netflix is great if you like movies, outside the new releases, and stream only. 7.99 is a bargain.

Can't speak for stream plus DVD.

But in the end I have Netflix on my PS3 so losing it here wouldn't effect me much. That being said, I'm still getting the Xoom .

 

[FSUSem1noles]

I can't see why it wouldn't given the business relationship verizon and blockbuster has. Correct me if I'm wrong, verizon will be selling the xoom with a subsidized price correct

I'm not sure how it's going to work with Verizon, with the Verizon logo plastered all over the damn thing I'd say it's a forgone conclusion they have exclusive rights, whether or not they subsidize it or offer some other deals is anyone's guess at this point... I am certainly going to check it out though..

 

[jclardy]

I'm going to be waiting to see how the main few companies I care about handle it: Amazon and Netflix.

But of course, as a developer I'm not going to be straight up switching, just transitioning to multiple platforms sooner than I was planning to.

 

[FSUSem1noles]

Is 30 days really the end of the world? Netflix is great if you like movies, outside the new releases, and stream only. 7.99 is a bargain.

Can't speak for stream plus DVD.

But in the end I have Netflix on my PS3 so losing it here wouldn't effect me much. That being said, I'm still getting the Xoom .

With a Wife who anxiously awaits a movie to come to blu ray/dvd, yes 30 days is an ETERNITY... so we usually just end up going to blockbuster to rent the movie... hell, I'm paying monthly for Netflix and I don't even know the last time I used it... I did downgrade our plan to 1 dvd just to keep the streaming part active, but heck, I haven't even used that..

 

[Mitchrapp]

With a Wife who anxiously awaits a movie to come to blu ray/dvd, yes 30 days is an ETERNITY... so we usually just end up going to blockbuster to rent the movie... hell, I'm paying monthly for Netflix and I don't even know the last time I used it... I did downgrade our plan to 1 dvd just to keep the streaming part active, but heck, I haven't even used that..

Fair enough.

 

[BobVB]

Wait and See

I bought a tablet computer - I would no more expect Apple to get a cut from every e-book I bought than I would on my iMac.

Since we won't know what Kindle, Zinio and the other providers will do until after the launch of the iPad 2 this will, at the least, delay my purchase of an iPad 2. If there isn't a mass exodus of providers I'll stay with the iPad, if there is I will just keep my iPad and shop around for a universal reader tablet with open access to content.

 

[maflynn]

with the Verizon logo plastered all over the damn thing I'd say it's a forgone conclusion they have exclusive rights.

To be honest, I've not followed the xoom all that closely. Just reading stuff about it, no videos or such.

 

[BornAgainMac]

In all fairness, Apple is making it a better experience for the consumer. Maybe charge 10% instead of 30% could be a good compromise. I am glad products like the XOOM could be what is needed to get Apple to make better decisions in the future.

 

[chrono1081]

Apple continues to tighten control. I am a big Apple product user. Everyone in my family has an ios device. But this subscription policy just irks me and makes me wonder about future. I don't want to be locked into Apple forever but they continue to push down that road.

For the first time I am taking a serious look at Xoom. Honeycomb looks great. This is the first time I have looked away from ipad.

Let the fallout begin and the fanboys defend.

I think all threads that say stupid things like "Let the fallout begin and the fanboys defend" should go straight to the wasteland because its written by an obvious troll.

 

[faith4more]

I started this thread. Promise you I am not a Troll. My wife, kids and I own a Macbook pro. 2 ipads, Apple tv, 3 iphones, 1 touch, and several ipods. Heck even got my mom and her sister to buy iphones and macbook Pro's. Have two friends that work for Apple that think I am more of a machead than them. Almost went to work for Apple but bought my own company instead.

Find myself unhappy with the Apple locking everything up even tighter. Get the picture Apple ticking off loyal customers. I buy a device they change or start to enforce stupid policies that affect my experience. I sure don't want to buy more devices and have Apple change things again.

I think all threads that say stupid things like "Let the fallout begin and the fanboys defend" should go straight to the wasteland because its written by an obvious troll.

 

[nomik2]

I started this thread. Promise you I am not a Troll. My wife, kids and I own a Macbook pro. 2 ipads, Apple tv, 3 iphones, 1 touch, and several ipods. Heck even got my mom and her sister to buy iphones and macbook Pro's. Almost went to work for Apple but bought my own company instead.

Find myself unhappy with the Apple locking everything up even tighter.

Don't give in to the fanboys, stay strong and ignore them...

 

[danielveeee]

i sold my ipad, and will be looking into a new tablet.
im going to take a serious look at the xoom,
but ive been spoiled with my apple products that never fail me,
and never lag or crash or anything... i hope thats not a problem on the xoom

 

[faith4more]

Stayin Strong. I am having to join Fanboys Anonymous recovery program.

While the Matrix is nice I want to be free.

Signed,
faith4more
Recovering fanboy

Don't give in to the fanboys, stay strong and ignore them...

 

[ZBoater]

I am a former iPhone 3G/3GS user, but now use a Droid. I bought the iPad because it was the only game in town. Having used both OSes extensively, I can say I am jumping ship to an Android tablet as soon as a decent 4G tablet comes along.

I love iOS, as it is a more polished experience. But I hate the controls. I want to install apps from my hard drive and not be connected to anything. I want to expand my storage with SD cards. I want to connect using a USB cable. I want to spoof my gps location. I want to download files from the internet and manipulate them like I do on my PC. Create folders and directories, unzip files, change the theme/colors, customize the buttons, widgets - I want as much control over my device as I can. Apple doesn't believe in that model. I am not saying they are wrong, its just not my cup of tea. With the ability to customize and change comes instability. Its a fact. And unless you are somewhat techie, that advantage of Android disappears.

The iPad is an amazing device that revived a dead market (tablets) and pushed competitors to wake up. But at the end of the day Apple is not about market domination, but about profits, and as long as they can churn out iPods and iPads and make billions in profits, they don't need to cater to a wider audience. And you know what? That's just fine. Competition is good. I may even consider a iPhone 5 if the Xoom tablet is able to meet my mobile computing needs....

 

[jmgregory1]

Anyone who complains about Apple's policies regarding controlling apps and hence the consumer experience must not shop for anything or watch any single channel on tv or drive a car or fly on a plane or eat at a particular restaurant or, or, or.

Every company that sells a product or service is doing the exact same thing. They control the experience and/or the product. Do you go to Target and tell them they should be selling Wal-Mart branded products? Or maybe the better comparison is with cars - if you drive a Honda, you have bought into their eco-system. You can't get a GM engine in it or a MB transmission.

The world is not open and free. Frankly, I like the fact that Apple is editing the store - and there is enough crap on it already that I'm not concerned if I can't get so and so's app that's available on a competing OS. Even the new subscription service is treading into new ground - the way things are today will most likely not be the way they are tomorrow.

Apple isn't perfect, but neither is Google or MOTO or any other purveyor of stuff.

 

[Jcoz]

Anyone who complains about Apple's policies regarding controlling apps and hence the consumer experience must not shop for anything or watch any single channel on tv or drive a car or fly on a plane or eat at a particular restaurant or, or, or.

Every company that sells a product or service is doing the exact same thing. They control the experience and/or the product. Do you go to Target and tell them they should be selling Wal-Mart branded products? Or maybe the better comparison is with cars - if you drive a Honda, you have bought into their eco-system. You can't get a GM engine in it or a MB transmission.

The world is not open and free. Frankly, I like the fact that Apple is editing the store - and there is enough crap on it already that I'm not concerned if I can't get so and so's app that's available on a competing OS. Even the new subscription service is treading into new ground - the way things are today will most likely not be the way they are tomorrow.

Apple isn't perfect, but neither is Google or MOTO or any other purveyor of stuff.

The big difference here is that this is not the mature market that cars and cable are.

The changes and differences could be much more severe. And that warrants concern, as you are BUYING equipment, not leasing it.

I have a direct TV account, and I subscribe knowing what channels I'm getting - is there potential for disputes? Sure D-tv has to negotiate with content providers, but those are extremely small waves and you can be 99% sure of what you are getting....

Buying into iOS right now, particularly with unsubsidized equipment costs like Tablets, is risky business while this all plays out.

When it comes to things provided in any way by third parties, users can simply be far, far more informed dealing with Windows, Macs/OSX and even Android for mobile devices, than newer proprietary closed platforms like QNX, iOS, and webOS.

I'm slowly coming to the realization that Apple was indeed serious in that they do not consider the iPad to be a personal computer, and in the end, even though I love the apple products I've purchased (macbook, iphones, ipods), I'm thinking I need my freedom to install programs to be much closer to my macbook than to my iphone, when it comes to a owning a tablet.

I'll continue to wait and see how it plays out, but moving to a new mobile OS was not what I wanted to do....too bad apple and I seem to be moving in different directions.

Man I would really, really, hate to have to use a different OS on my computer, but for the people who dont like google leveraging personal info, I'm not sure how those same people enjoy apple leveraging them as their personal customer for all programs on their electronic devices.

This is a very new way of dealing with consumer electronics as capable most any computer you have used prior to 2005.

All things told, I'm starting to get the feeling that there will be way more differences in owning a tablet with whatever OS on it than it is owning a phone/PC with whatever OS on it.

 

[whooleytoo]

Well because its very price competitive, it makes even less sense for providers to take a 30%. That is if its so competitive and their margins are tight, it makes less sense to lose money on each sale because of 30% cut.

Sometimes its cheaper to just walk away.

Quite possibly. It depends on how iOS v Android marketshare shapes up. If the iOS continues to hold a large marketshare, then content providers might have little choice but give Apple their cut. If Android grows much larger, it becomes easier for them to walk away and publish on that platform.

Personally, it won't matter much to me as I'm not much interested in the subscription model at the moment. If and when more and more content providers move away from iOS because of Apple's policies, I'll get concerned. But I think Apple is smart enough to see which way the wind blows and change before it becomes a serious issue.