Amazon, B&N, Kobo: iOS aps to be pulled in June

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Joykins

They're saying on Dear Author that all the other e-bookstores need to do to comply is remove the purchase now link from the app. Could it really be that simple?

No.
Apple has made it clear (in banning free apps to print newspaper/magazine subscribers) their intent is to block *access* to content not purchased through their system. If you bought it on a PC, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, or Sony reader they don't want you to access it on the iPxxx.

They have clearly stated that any app that accesses content not purchased via them will be dropped. That is why Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, and Last.FM are all at risk. So is OPDS access and Overdrive. It is not "just" iPxxx purchases that bypasses their system, it is also bringing in content from outside without paying them.

Take them at their word, people.

[HansTWN]

To sum it all up, the best thing to do is get rid of those Apple devices. The second best would be to jailbreak them (to make sure that Apple doesn't delete the Kindle&Nook apps remotely) and to side load the content.

I could never see the attraction of buying an Apple device and jumping through hoops to use a device I bought and paid for the way I want to use it. And worst of all -- this is just the beginning. Apple will have a lot more "surprises" like this in store for you.

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

To sum it all up, the best thing to do is get rid of those Apple devices. The second best would be to jailbreak them (to make sure that Apple doesn't delete the Kindle&Nook apps remotely) and to side load the content.

I could never see the attraction of buying an Apple device and jumping through hoops to use a device I bought and paid for the way I want to use it. And worst of all -- this is just the beginning. Apple will have a lot more "surprises" like this in store for you.

ugh, i've never even considered jailbreaking before, but i might have to if it means i can keep my kindle app...

[M0zza]

Originally Posted by wyndslash

ugh, i've never even considered jailbreaking before, but i might have to if it means i can keep my kindle app...

Don't think of it as jailbreaking. More making it work properly.

[Grimm]

Originally Posted by WillysJeepMan

The competition's inability to produce a tablet of equal or greater quality as the iPad for a cheaper price proves that you are incorrect. If Apple overcharged for subpar hardware then it should be a simple matter for Samsung, Motorola, etc. to produce a tablet of comparable hardware specs at a lower price.

That ain't happenin'

But don't let the facts stand in the way of anti-Apple bigotry. There are many legitimate reasons to dislike Apple. There's no reason to make stuff up.

I wasn't talking about tablets, I was actually referring to Macs, try asking for clarification before you get all butthurt about a statement you didn't understand. It really is getting old to see any criticism of Apple immediately dismissed as "bigotry."

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by M0zza

Don't think of it as jailbreaking. More making it work properly.

good point

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by ApK

If you've stripped the DRM from your books, you can convert them to epub (with something like Calibre) and drop them right into iTunes, and read them in iBooks.

You can also email them to your iPhone and open them directly in iBooks that way.

My wife just got an iPod Touch last night, so we've been playing....

ApK

Yeah, that's the kind of thing I meant, although I didn't think of using iBooks. While I like my iPhone, it's important to me not to cave to Apple on this, not to let them use their clout to stifle ebook competition. Of all the ebook merchants, I think they're the one that suits the needs of/understands readers the LEAST--and I spend a lot of money on ebooks. So I would rather hack my own books (even though I am lazy enough not usually to bother stripping DRM) and get them on my phone some other way if they do cut off my apps. (I don't usually buy on the phone anyway--I have a dismaying tendency to click on the wrong links because the screen is tiny, which can lead to accidentally buying the wrong book)..

[Lemurion]

Apple's business model on the iOS side is that they want a cut of everything. It's neither good nor evil, it's just business.

As consumers, it's our job to decide if the benefits of their system outweigh the drawbacks and then go with what best fits our needs.

[tomsem]

I will be so very glad when something actually happens, and there is clarity on this issue. I don't have much confidence in the reporting, or in any of the analysis of it (including my own).

I just wanna read...

[Dopedangel]

Amazon and Co to circumvent this block will need to come out with a web app like google did for google voice.
Anyone that wants to read on an Apple device will be able to. It wont be as complete as a native app but the user will have the option.
I have a feeling apple will bring similar restrictions to MAc app store in a few years. That's the way I see them going forward and I expect Microsoft to follow suit.
It really makes me admire the genius of Google as they saw it coming from a long way off and done their best to undermine it with by giving an option to consumers.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

How about this: Amazon can't afford to pay Apple the 30%. No one can afford it.

How about this: Even if they offered the same deals, the in-app system can't handle more than 3,000 items. Amazon sell over 800k titles. How exactly do you think this will work?

Yes, but Amazon only has to pay 30% on what they sale via in app purchases. Apple doesn't get a dime of anything they sale via their website. Not a big deal. How many in app purchases do people currently make via the kindle app? (Hint the answer is zero) I just don't get the breathless outrage. Apple is offering a standard method of doing in app purchases and subscriptions. As far as I can tell, Amazon is more than welcome to continue doing business as usual.

[M0zza]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Yes, but Amazon only has to pay 30% on what they sale via in app purchases. Apple doesn't get a dime of anything they sale via their website. Not a big deal. How many in app purchases do people currently make via the kindle app? (Hint the answer is zero) I just don't get the breathless outrage. Apple is offering a standard method of doing in app purchases and subscriptions. As far as I can tell, Amazon is more than welcome to continue doing business as usual.

But Apple has stated that Amazon have to allow the user to be able to purchase the book via the Kindle App as well as their website and at the same price. Otherwise no Amazon ebooks on iOS.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Yes, but Amazon only has to pay 30% on what they sale via in app purchases. Apple doesn't get a dime of anything they sale via their website. Not a big deal. How many in app purchases do people currently make via the kindle app? (Hint the answer is zero) I just don't get the breathless outrage. Apple is offering a standard method of doing in app purchases and subscriptions. As far as I can tell, Amazon is more than welcome to continue doing business as usual.

Seriously, how could Amazon and others take that chance? It would be much more convenient for users to buy in-app then to go to Amazon's website. So the danger of that happening would be very great. And for every user that buys in-app Amazon would be losing a truckload of money.

So at this point in the game there are only 3 options:

1.)Apple backs down
2.)Amazon and others pull their apps
3.)Amazon and others increase all their prices by almost 50% (remember, Apple wants 30% off the top, that means 7 USD would become 10 USD!)

I predict that Apple will back down -- though it would be good for everybody (most of all for Apple users!) if Apple went through with it, fell flat on its face, and this would end up really hurting Apple's sales. I think it is time for Apple users to tell the company that you paid for your devices and they belong to you. Or perhaps Apple will start selling usage licenses in the future. Same as DRM for ebooks. I am sure Steve has that idea in the back of his mind already.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

They have clearly stated that...

Nothing in this mess has been clearly stated by Apple.
Until there is an authoritative statement (which normally means from Job's himself), everything is just guesswork at this stage.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Nothing in this mess has been clearly stated by Apple.
Until there is an authoritative statement (which normally means from Job's himself), everything is just guesswork at this stage.

Beaten to death:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...56&postcount=1

The New York Time Quoted Apple:

"[Apple] has told some applications developers, including Sony, that they can no longer sell content, like e-books, within their apps, or let customers have access to purchases they have made outside the App Store [emphasis added].

Nobody has stepped forth to deny this.
It is *exactly* that quote that has Pandora's IPO at risk, Last.fm grumbling, and Euro-publishers in a tizzy.

And Jobs *did* clarify the policy: he said it doesn't apply to software as a service (browsing, aggregation, analysis). It thus applies to everything else.
And everything else includes content, both downloaded and streamed.

That's clear enough to me.
Everybody ellse can believe whatever they choose to believe.

Toddles!