NYT: Apple Moves to Tighten Control of App Store

[Daithi]

I have to say that the reporting on this issue is a bit muddled. Furthermore, Apple really should clarify its position.

Was the Sony app rejected because the app running on the iPad allowed purchases of books from Sony's store (i.e. in-app purchases to Sony's store instead of Apple's store)? This is important because the Kindle app doesn't do this. You can't buy books through the Kindle app, but need to use a browser (e.g. the iPad's browser) to buy through Amazon's website. If this is the case then I don't really fault Apple.

Or was the Sony app rejected because the app used content that was purchased outside of the Apple Store, and the Sony app didn't have an "in-app" mechanism to buy the books from the Apple store (i.e. the same as the Kindle app)? If this is the senario then I would be very concerned. I don't currently own an iPad, and if this senario is true then it is unlikely I would ever buy one. I'd also be really ticked off if I did own an iPad and was now facing the loss of the Kindle app.

[petermillard]

Originally Posted by Graham

Here's the relevant statement:
"We have not changed our developer terms or guidelines," Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller told Ars. "We are now requiring that if an app offers customers the ability to purchase books outside of the app, that the same option is also available to customers from within the app with in-app purchase."

So they are saying to Amazon, and everyone else, you need to rewrite your apps to allow purchases through our system so we can take a cut, or we will reject you.

Graham

Really? My reading of that statement is that Apple are saying they need to rewrite the apps to allow the option of purchasing from within the app; if I were Amazon (or anyone else) I'd interpret that option as being in addition to being punted outside the app to make the purchase, no?

[Graham]

Originally Posted by petermillard

Really? My reading of that statement is that Apple are saying they need to rewrite the apps to allow the option of purchasing from within the app; if I were Amazon (or anyone else) I'd interpret that option as being in addition to being punted outside the app to make the purchase, no?

Yes, in addition to. Sorry if that wasn't clear from the way I phrased it.

One way forward would be for Amazon to charge another 43% in app to cover the 30% Apple commission, making it clear that the book was cheaper if bought via the browser option, but then they'd presumably fall foul of the Agency Pricing agreement.

Graham

[MrsJoseph]

Originally Posted by wodin

I love my HTC EVO 4G, but it is exclusive to Sprint. If your near the end of your AT&T contract, it might be worth a look.

THat sounds decent. How is the music & web browsing? How would you compare it to the iPhone? I don't have any other experience with touchscreen phones...

[questionfear]

Originally Posted by Graham

Yes, in addition to. Sorry if that wasn't clear from the way I phrased it.

One way forward would be for Amazon to charge another 43% in app to cover the 30% Apple commission, making it clear that the book was cheaper if bought via the browser option, but then they'd presumably fall foul of the Agency Pricing agreement.

Graham

Actually they could do that. You can charge MORE for a book under Agency, just not less than the floor.

Apple would go apoplectic, but in theory it's totally allowable.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by petermillard

Really? My reading of that statement is that Apple are saying they need to rewrite the apps to allow the option of purchasing from within the app; if I were Amazon (or anyone else) I'd interpret that option as being in addition to being punted outside the app to make the purchase, no?

Yes, I'm reading it that way, too. Short term, it's fine with me as long as I don't pay more and can continue to buy books outside of apps. But this will tip me into switching to Android sooner, rather than later.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

THat sounds decent. How is the music & web browsing? How would you compare it to the iPhone? I don't have any other experience with touchscreen phones...

Web browsing is excellent, and the large screen enhances it. But I don't usually use my phone for listening to music, so I can't comment on that.

The only down side I have is that I would like a little better battery life, but I'm told that that is the nemesis of all smartphones.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

AT&T right now, was giving thought to moving to Verizon or T-Mobile... shoot, if I'm getting rid of my iThing I might even try sprint (my contract will be up soon).

Well At&T will be getting one of if not the most advance and highly anticapted Android phone with the Motorola Atrix coming out in Feb. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have that phone and I have a Droid X.

So you want a suggestion, Yeah the the Atrix. This thing is going to be wild.

[cfrizz]

Ya know all these companies are full of $hit! Apple wants to lock up the market, Sony hardly has any room to talk since they won't change their software to allow B&N purchased epub books to be read on the Sony readers. Amazon wants to lock everyone into their Kindle & bookstore. And the publishers want to price fix & drm ALL BOOKS!

Screw them all! It is just this behavior that pushes me more & more to go to the net for all of my book needs.

I want to be able to purchase my books from ANY damn store I want & to put them on ANY reader/tablet that I have at any given time. If you refuse to accomodate me, I'll find another way to get what I want.

[MrsJoseph]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

Ya know all these companies are full of $hit! Apple wants to lock up the market, Sony hardly has any room to talk since they won't change their software to allow B&N purchased epub books to be read on the Sony readers. Amazon wants to lock everyone into their Kindle & bookstore. And the publishers want to price fix & drm ALL BOOKS!

Screw them all! It is just this behavior that pushes me more & more to go to the net for all of my book needs.

I want to be able to purchase my books from ANY damn store I want & to put them on ANY reader/tablet that I have at any given time. If you refuse to accomodate me, I'll find another way to get what I want.

I'm not a fan of the darknet at all, but I understand and share your frustration.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

Ya know all these companies are full of $hit! Apple wants to lock up the market, Sony hardly has any room to talk since they won't change their software to allow B&N purchased epub books to be read on the Sony readers. Amazon wants to lock everyone into their Kindle & bookstore. And the publishers want to price fix & drm ALL BOOKS!

Screw them all! It is just this behavior that pushes me more & more to go to the net for all of my book needs.

I want to be able to purchase my books from ANY damn store I want & to put them on ANY reader/tablet that I have at any given time. If you refuse to accomodate me, I'll find another way to get what I want.

Sure, I figure companies are out for themselves. I make my purchases the same way; I'm out for myself. I'll buy from whichever company comes closest to meeting my needs. No company will drive me to steal books, or anything else. If I do that, that will be my responsibility. I don't need others' actions to justify my own behavior.

[Caltsar]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

Sure, I figure companies are out for themselves. I make my purchases the same way; I'm out for myself. I'll buy from whichever company comes closest to meeting my needs. No company will drive me to steal books, or anything else. If I do that, that will be my responsibility. I don't need others' actions to justify my own behavior.

The issue with this is that you buy your iPhone/iPad/iPod touch with the informed decision that the kindle/B&N app will work properly on it. If Apple really goes through with this change in policy, the app may no longer work. This is a big deal and essentially amounts to Apple taking money from you if the device has functionality pulled from you after purchasing.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by Caltsar

The issue with this is that you buy your iPhone/iPad/iPod touch with the informed decision that the kindle/B&N app will work properly on it. If Apple really goes through with this change in policy, the app may no longer work. This is a big deal and essentially amounts to Apple taking money from you if the device has functionality pulled from you after purchasing.

Agreed. I'll leave that to class-action lawyers to argue, though. I'm not OK with this change bigger picture because of that. I wouldn't have bought any tablet without book access. And I'm not gonna keep buying Apple hardware if I hafta wonder what they might try next that might limit my access to books.

Good thing is, Amazon has announced a curated Android app store (no date set yet), and that's what I'm waiting for -- some kinda screening for apps -- because I just want tech to work. I don't want to mess with it. I could if I had to, but I'd rather not.

[MrsJoseph]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

Agreed. I'll leave that to class-action lawyers to argue, though. I'm not OK with this change bigger picture because of that. I wouldn't have bought any tablet without book access. And I'm not gonna keep buying Apple hardware if I hafta wonder what they might try next that might limit my access to books.

Good thing is, Amazon has announced a curated Android app store (no date set yet), and that's what I'm waiting for -- some kinda screening for apps -- because I just want tech to work. I don't want to mess with it. I could if I had to, but I'd rather not.

except I can't mess with the tech - I don't have the skills.

[BuddyBoy]

Well I may have gone a little over the top, but I wrote to Apple to express my displeasure:

I'm writing to comment about your newly announced external content restriction - to wit if an app accesses externally purchased content, the same content must be available for in-app purchase through Apple.

On my current system, that would impact the Kindle app, the Zinio app and the Kobo app. Because of the 30% cut taken by Apple, it would immediately entail up to a 43% price hike if retailers are to maintain profitability - and considering that a number of $9.99 ebooks are sold at thin to negative margins, such a price jump would almost be a necessity.

I can't protest highly enough against this move. If your goal is to turn your products into completely locked down platforms, with no flexibility, not to mention your ridiculous censorship (remember banning Oscar WIlde from iBooks because of a male-male kiss for gosh sakes!) then I will have no choice but to cease using and buying your equipment from this day forward. I will also suspend my firms development of iOs apps (we are registered, paid developers, not that we've submitted anything for sale yet), and, of course, cease all buying through your iTunes store.

I'm sure you're not quivering in your boots, but collectively my business partner and I have purchased six iphones, two ipads, one mac mini, a handful of iPods, countless accessories, easily several thousand dollars in iTunes content and a developers license. I'm a member of the thriving Mobileread community, and I can assure you there are many others like me there who are also reacting with angry dismay over this announced policy, knowing full well what the implications are for reading and other external content applications.

Seriously, does your greed know no bounds? You want to winnow down your users' rights, bringing nothing additional to the table, just to try to squeeze and extort every last dime from your users and vendors. You have finally totally become that which you mocked in your 1984 ad.

I think this may be the final, inevitable push that gets the anti-trust lawyers involved, and my friends, you truly deserve it now.

Too much? I was kind of building up steam by the end, and it had to go somewhere.