I know for a fact that not every single store in the US operates with a 30+% markup. That was a broad statement and all encompassing. Certainly many do and some even more than that, but to claim that all do is simply not true.
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I am taking a serious look at XOOM -Apple App Store Policy Fallout Thread
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I know for a fact that not every single store in the US operates with a 30+% markup. That was a broad statement and all encompassing. Certainly many do and some even more than that, but to claim that all do is simply not true.
I can honestly say I have never thought of it that way. When I think about all I really do on my phone is basic web browsing. Anyways, I give you two thumbs up for this post.
I can honestly say I have never thought of it that way. When I think about all I really do on my phone is basic web browsing. Anyways, I give you two thumbs up for this post.
I have a droidx and use my phone for mostly web surfing, email and of course phone calls. The web browser is awful, I think apple has done a much better job with safari, and the email client is lightyears ahead of what I see on android.
As for apps on the android vs. iOS. There are lot of high quality apps on the android platform. Some equal and surpass whats on iOS, there's just fewer of them. You have more dross to skim off to find the real gold. With iOS there's more high quality apps.
But the problem is Apple is forcing them to offer same price in App store as on their own website. This means apps like kindle could not say okay we want to play in Apples sandbox so we will raise prices on ios but if people come our site they can get a better deal. Apple will not allow it and it will kill some of these content providers business models if they play by Apples rules. Especially in areas where they have to compete with Apple like ibooks. In fact I bet Amazon does not make a 30% margin on selling ebooks.
I want to consume my content from publisher I choose on device I bought (just like my desktop and laptop) without Apple meddling. That is why I am looking at Android.
I want to consume my content from publisher I choose on device I bought (just like my desktop and laptop) without Apple meddling. That is why I am looking at Android.
You'll be surprised how many of us already had Netflix sub watching on our TVs before the iPad came out. So it's just an addition, another way to watch. We're not paying double. Lol.
And what's your definition of old, a few months -- it's not like they have movies just from the 40s and 50s.
The problem, or possible problem with what Apple is trying to enforce, for a company like Amazon is that they are a retailer, not a direct publisher for all of their content. As such, they do not necessarily have the additional mark-up to be able to distribute wholesale their content, giving Apple a cut.
If I were Apple, in situations like this, I would create a separate (lower) category for mark-up on products that are essentially being re-distributed. Of course Apple is a for-profit business and it's in their best interest to try to get their piece of the pie for the sale of products generated through the use of their iOS and devices. This is how business works.
If Apple fails to get companies to sign on to this deal and the amount of content suffers, then Apple may suffer when consumers look outside the ecosystem for what they want. I'm guessing that this is a chance that Apple is willing to take at this point in the game, given they've created the game and the "rules" are what they want to make them be.
Making a switch from one device to another is everyone's prerogative, but shouldn't you wait until you are actually "suffering" from the lack of something you want on one device so you can get it on another?
And for those people who are not part of the manufacturing and sale of a consumer product - a little education: Margins that retailers make vary with product category and by retailer. With a retailer like Costco, their mark-up can be as low as 13%, but won't go much higher than 18%. Most brick and mortar stores shoot for a 50% gross margin on product, but deviate up and down from there (generally electronics have low margins compared to many other consumer products) . Wal-Mart can operate on lower mark-ups, compared to even their closest competitor such as Target, because they have efficiencies in their distribution system, operations, etc that allow them sell more products for less and still be a profitable company.
Many retailers also have back-end deals that can add up to another 20%+ - a number that comes out of the product manufacturer's profit. What manufacturers mark the product up to sell to retailers, or distributors who serve retail, has just about the same type of variance. Do big volumes on a commodity item and you may be happy making 20% gross. Make a specialty product selling in low quantities to a specialty market and you could make 80%+.
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Ok, so people who already have it for something else is a fair game.
And netflix carrying only old movies is not entirely accurate. But you have to admit, it takes a long time for them bring current movies for streaming.. and that sucks for people who uses ipad as their main media device(including tv)
I was preparing for an iPad 2 but I think I'll test the waters with Android and also go for a Xoom. Also I want Flash on a Pad.
I can't support such protection racket business ethics from Apple, not during a recession, not when they are avoiding tax, not when I have a Spotify subscription. This is the straw that broke the camel's back. The iPhone 4 is probably my last Apple consumer product.
Let's hope the Macs continue to be worth buying as they are my first love.
I can't support such protection racket business ethics from Apple, not during a recession, not when they are avoiding tax, not when I have a Spotify subscription. This is the straw that broke the camel's back. The iPhone 4 is probably my last Apple consumer product.
Let's hope the Macs continue to be worth buying as they are my first love.
Maybe but I guess for me, getting to watch new releases quicker isn't huge deal for me, as long as I get to watch it
Plus I'm a big movie buff, from the 30s to the 21st century so I definitely get my money's worth I bet if Apple does open up Appletv up to apps like hulu plus they will do the same thing they are trying to do in ios devices. I have wondered if they would even allow hulu on Appletv since it directly competes with business model of renting movies etc. For a while I thought even though it competes they will allow it on just like they do other ios devices.
But now I see the sinister plan was to create a toll system. So I think they will allow for Hulu plus etc on Appletv now but will charge a toll. They may not do it yet because they are not a dominate force in the tv arena. But if they ever reach critical mass I bet this is what they do. For "now" they don't toll netflix because they needed netflix to sell Appletv.
Good news is there are and will be plenty of other ways of getting content to TV.
But now I see the sinister plan was to create a toll system. So I think they will allow for Hulu plus etc on Appletv now but will charge a toll. They may not do it yet because they are not a dominate force in the tv arena. But if they ever reach critical mass I bet this is what they do. For "now" they don't toll netflix because they needed netflix to sell Appletv.
Good news is there are and will be plenty of other ways of getting content to TV.
If your iPad is anyone's "main" source for consuming media, thats just really sad. IMO. And they wasted their money for a device they'd use soley for that purpose....
Believe it or not, not everyone lives with TV. Some people choose not to own a TV and the iPad or a similar media device serves as their entry point into the video world. If they're not sad then why should you be?
A HUGE +1
I've owned a Droid Incredible (running 2.2 Froyo) for over a year and my experience with Android has been lukewarm at best. I would caution against "the grass is always greener" type thinking and do some hard research before making a purchase. I find Android to be far less polished than iOS. I consistently run into some headscratching moments with Android, whereas my iPad and wife's iPhone 4 operate without a hitch.
That being said, we all know that Apple products aren't the "be all and end all" of consumer electronics. If you find another product that you are happier with, then best of luck to you.
don't know about that. Honeycomb seems unecessarily complicated to me and from what I"ve seen a bit laggy. Probably because it's bogged down with so much.
But I can see why you might consider it. I'm waiting to make any decision of corse till we see some sort of tangible details of iPad2
But I can see why you might consider it. I'm waiting to make any decision of corse till we see some sort of tangible details of iPad2
I know a lot of people who have cable which is hook up to slingbox and choose to watch wherever they want to(laptop,tablet,phone).
I know a lot of people who don't have tv in the dorm and their main source for media is ipad. I don't think that's sad at all. I think it's awesome.
Consuming media through big TV in living for all the time is so 90s...
I have a buyer for my ipad. So I am going to partially leave the iOS Matrix. I still have an iphone 4 and my daughter still has an ipad.
Honestly, the ipad is so simple it gets boring. I find iOS great for iphone 4 because my expectations are different. However, I want a tablet with some laptop qualities to it.
But the real reason I am jumping ship is the App store policy. At least that is what got me looking elsewhere and I liked what I saw in honeycomb. I am actually glad Apple is doing this now because the more you keep investing in the Apple eco-system the harder it becomes to leave. My belief is Apple will continue to tighten to control and some who would like to leave will have a hard time because they have to much media etc tied to the Apple eco system. By leaving now my investment is lower than it would have been.
Thus I am going to buy the xoom. Honeycomb looks fantastic.
Apple App store policy fallout has begun.
Now fanboys go ahead and tell me how I am going to regret it and come crawling back to Steve.
I am not afraid of Steve.
Honestly, the ipad is so simple it gets boring. I find iOS great for iphone 4 because my expectations are different. However, I want a tablet with some laptop qualities to it.
But the real reason I am jumping ship is the App store policy. At least that is what got me looking elsewhere and I liked what I saw in honeycomb. I am actually glad Apple is doing this now because the more you keep investing in the Apple eco-system the harder it becomes to leave. My belief is Apple will continue to tighten to control and some who would like to leave will have a hard time because they have to much media etc tied to the Apple eco system. By leaving now my investment is lower than it would have been.
Thus I am going to buy the xoom. Honeycomb looks fantastic.
Apple App store policy fallout has begun.
Now fanboys go ahead and tell me how I am going to regret it and come crawling back to Steve.
I am not afraid of Steve.
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Apple isn't requiring that content providers sell their ware solely through the App Store, only that they also make it available there for the same price that its offered elsewhere. They are still able to sell it outside of Apple's ecosystem for the the same price, sans Apple's 30%. That means that if Amazon sells a book for $10, buying through Amazon gives Amazon $10. Buying through the Kindle App will cost you $10, give Apple $3, and Amazon $7. But it doesn't mean you can't still buy it at Amazon say, from your computer and sync later.
If you have such a huge problem with Apple taking their cut for hosting the apps, processing payments, etc., continue to purchase your content elsewhere.
If you have such a huge problem with Apple taking their cut for hosting the apps, processing payments, etc., continue to purchase your content elsewhere.
And for the obvious reason that if a Kindle book is $9.99 through Amazon directly that Amazon doesn't set a purchase-deterring price of $29.99 through the iPad's Kindle App.
No publishers have left iOS because of this policy yet and so because they possibly might in the future you are moving to Android. Sounds more like you already wanted to go andriod and this just gave you a reason. Just seems odd to switch on what might but hasn't happened.
and after you buy a bunch of apps and media through android you will have just as hard a time ever leaving them you would with iOS. Both the android and iOS ecosystems are the same in this respect. They want you to buy a bunch of stuff from them and then have a hard time leaving because you have an investment.
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That doesn't make the least bit sense. The app store fallout from the subscription revenue? Why should that make you, the consumer, leave... it only makes the experience better for the consumer. The potential fallout is if all the devs leave iOS (like hulu, netflix, amazon etc). If this were to occur the app ecosystem would be crippled causing consumer dissatisfaction causing the users to leave.
You really can't leave now as a result of that. That's not rational. Unless you are predicting that Hulu, netflix etc will enivitably all leave prior to this summer, in which case you are protecting yourself from digging yourself further into the apple ecosystem. But I seriously, seriously doubt this is going to bite the consumer. either a) most of the devs will bit the bullet, b) apple will submit to some compromise, or c)apple will be ordered to change based on legal reasons. option d) all devs leaving and the app ecosystem crumbling on top of it self, is not going to happen. I can almost guarentee it
edit: and even if netflix, hulu, amazon etc leave, we already have the apps on our device. the only problem would be no more updates.
Trolling...
Fath4More... Why did you start this thread if you are not trolling? No one in this forum cares what computer, phone or tablet you (or I) buy.
I have ALWAYS considered a "troll" to be a person that starts a thread for one of several main reasons - 1) lonely and looking for digital human interaction, even if it is someone yelling at them online.. 2) they want a good laugh while people get worked up over their staged comment(s) or 3) they are genuinely anti-(insert product name here) and start the flame war out of spite.
Faith4More, i'd bet $5 you fall into one of those 3 choices, so you fit my own idea of a troll just fine. Lets not have you pretend you did not start this thread planning it from the beginning for whatever reason you saw fit...
That being said, Mr. Troll, I encourage you to exercise your right to buy WHATEVER computer, phone or tablet that works best for your income, your technical needs or your moral/ethical compass. That's what is great the about choices we have nowadays with technology. But you are still a thread troll in my book.
Fath4More... Why did you start this thread if you are not trolling? No one in this forum cares what computer, phone or tablet you (or I) buy.
I have ALWAYS considered a "troll" to be a person that starts a thread for one of several main reasons - 1) lonely and looking for digital human interaction, even if it is someone yelling at them online.. 2) they want a good laugh while people get worked up over their staged comment(s) or 3) they are genuinely anti-(insert product name here) and start the flame war out of spite.
Faith4More, i'd bet $5 you fall into one of those 3 choices, so you fit my own idea of a troll just fine. Lets not have you pretend you did not start this thread planning it from the beginning for whatever reason you saw fit...
That being said, Mr. Troll, I encourage you to exercise your right to buy WHATEVER computer, phone or tablet that works best for your income, your technical needs or your moral/ethical compass. That's what is great the about choices we have nowadays with technology. But you are still a thread troll in my book.