Quote:
Originally Posted by RockdaMan
There has been a lot of hue and cry over app store policies in the past. They have not yet stunted the popularity or the growth of the platform.
I suspect that the users are content and quiet, and the critics are a vocal non-using minority.
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This thread's been unusual in that a lot of the criticism (if not most) has been coming from iDevice users.
You're right that the average user just gets on with it, and doesn't follow this closely, but the action taken against Sony and the subsequent comments by Apple spokesperson Trudy Miller do reinforce that Apple are insisting that if an app offers outside of app purchases of books, it must also offer in-app purchases through Apple.
Those same average users are clearly more likely to opt for the convenience of in-App purchases unless the in-App price is raised with a clear note that if they buy outside the app it will be cheaper. Assuming that Amazon, Kobo, Sony, B&N and the like don't opt for that route, then it does look as though they will lose what margins they have.
Therefore there is a real possibility that some or all will remove their apps, and choice for the average iDevice user will be reduced. It's a gradual whittling away, but yes, that will, over time, and if extended to other types of media as well *, hit the popularity of the Apple devices.
Graham
* and they are saying it's an existing policy for apps, not specifically eBook store apps, so logically it should be extended to music, movies, TV, news, etc.