Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew H.
Right...but not just free apps from the publisher, but free apps from the publisher that are only free to people who have a paid print subscription.
In other words, the NY Times app will remain free because it's free to everyone. Only apps which are free to print subscribers, but not available to others, or not free to others, are going to be banned.
And I sort of sympathize with Apple on this, since publishers are essentially avoiding paying Apple by charging for the app outside of the app store.
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew H.
This would only be an issue if the dropbox, etc. app were free to subscribers, but not free to non-subscribers. Since the dropbox app (the only one with which I'm really familiar) is free to everyone, this policy isn't implicated.
They are entitled to receive pay from publishers because they are offering a service that the publishers want. Publishers are free to not have an ipad app, to have a free ipad app, or to have a paid iPad app. The only thing they can't do is have an app that is free for users with outside subscriptions but not for other users.
Only if you think that "buy one, get one free" offers are really free. The app is not "free" because you can't get it without paying something. Subscribers don't have to pay anything *extra* for the app, but they can't get the app unless they pay something. Non-subscribers either can't get the app, or can't get it for free.
|
I think you are confusing the issue.
The issue is not that there is one App in the app store that Subscribers have access to for free and others have to pay for it.
It is either the same price to everyone paid or free. Apple does not allow you to give away free access to a paid app (Except for testing and review and that is a very limited number and not the topic of discussion here)
What newspapers and many sites do is that they allow subscribers to have access to additional online content, and they can use that login info in the app (Usually free) to access that content. That's it. Some offer some content free to non subscriber other offers none. The app is the same price for all. The subscription just give you access to additional features. Also in most cases to subscribe, you need to sign up directly with the publisher.
What I understand from the original story is that Apple is saying that Publishers can no longer offer their existing subscribers access to content through an app, free or otherwise. Any access to premium content has to be paid for through Apple. The publisher can not bundle online / app access to their content with their print edition, or have a subscription system outside the app store if they want to offer content inside an app.
As such the anology I made to Dropbox, etc still holds, as while the dropbox app is free, paid subscribes get access to some additional features (Mainly additional storage) in their dropbox account which are accessible through the app.