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Originally Posted by kjk
While some are reporting that the NYTimes using Apple's in-app subscription procedure as vindication for Apple's approach-I'm not so sure, after seeing the pricing, and responses to it online.
I wonder if the NYTimes is playing this a bit passive-aggressively; "we'll be on iOS under Apple's terms, but this is what it is going to cost". Then, when (if) they get disappointing results/adoption rates, they can show that it was, in large part, due to Apple's pricing, and possibly get Apple to re-look at their terms.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kali Yuga
I thought that might be the case as well, except that it's not just iPhones and iPads that pay extra, it's any smartphone and (presumably) any tablet.
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yeah, that is what I got to thinking as I wrote my previous post. It sort of dawned on me that NYT, and of course other periodicals and other content providers which were the buy once and use anywhere sort of model, could use this and the terms for the Apple iTunes agreement to defend the new fees to existing subscribers.
I hope for many it means the added platforms simply will not be attractive anymore if it means having to pay at least twice for the same content. And this goes for smartphones or any device which has dedicated apps. It could be a way for these providers to pretty much charge a "per use" fee by turning each device into a new copy of the information needing an added fee. Sort of like buying one copy of a paper for the office break-room or one copy for each desk even though the people can share the one copy given enough cooperation.
As I mentioned given I am already strongly committed to the Windows platform for business needs I now see no valid value in looking at mobile devices, for me a pocket device and a slate device, running anything but a full version of Windows. No way I am paying a fee to use my already paid for subscriptions for each device. And while I do enjoy make of the sections in the NYT, LAT and a few other papers, I really do not need them.
I might use anything free but won't pay a dime for something I already purchased under the terms of using it on any device I own.
I suspect this is the first real indication of the repercussions of the whole policy from Apple on iOS apps and content being purchased elsewhere or previously. To me it really devalues the iOS platform very significantly. Of course it does the same for any other platform where the content provider decides to charge to use as well. it's just right now iOS is the 800-pound gorilla on portable consumer devices even though the Blackberry seems to really be #1, especially for business customers.