http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...020200995.html
Quote:
Last night, I was prompted to update the app to a new version (2.1), and as usual I checked what the changes were. The accompanying message was pretty brief: 'Removed the ability to share books via USB'.
I thought it was an odd update but didn't think much about it, and since I didn't actually use that feature simply downloaded and installed the new version.
Just for your reference: the feature enabled users to transfer books in the ePub or eReader format to their mobile devices using a USB cable.
This morning, we got some tips from people who were angry or surprised about Lexcycle removing the USB sharing feature from the Stanza app. I looked up the app in the iTunes Store and saw that the update notice now read 'Removed the ability to share books via USB as required by Apple'. A glance at the forums on the Lexcycle website revealed that users were quite upset about the removal of the app, with only some suggesting that Apple may have had something to do with it and offering explanations why they would have demanded it.
I asked Lexcycle if and why Apple had requested the removal of the feature from the iPhone app via e-mail and swiftly received a short response, saying that Apple had indeed demanded that Lexcycle remove the feature from Stanza. I requested more information but was subsequently told by Lexcycle was strictly 'forbidden from discussing the specifics of our conversations with Apple on this matter'.
|
Anyone think this is NOT a shot at further locking down competing reading apps headed for the iPad?