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

[dmacmart]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Beaten to death:
The New York Time Quoted Apple:

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.

On my iPhone, I can currently read PDFs in Goodreader that I have purchased outside the App Store. I can listen to MP3s in the iPod app that I have purchased outside the App Store. I can open Excel spreadsheets (though I've never actually bought one) from my email. Dropbox allows access to lots of documents.

Are there any indications that this will change? If not, don't ePubs fall into the same category?

I am happy enough to be able to open Kobo and Kindle books on my iPhone, having purchased them on my computer. Much as having the ability to buy a book ANYWHERE, ANY TIME was really exciting before I got an eReader - in reality I have a backlog of books so I'll actually never run out of reading material. Library books require Overdrive though - but I'm not actually purchasing them ...

[ApK]

Originally Posted by dmacmart

Are there any indications that this will change?

Seriously? This whole thread is about indications that that will change.

The whole passage you quoted is an indication it will change.

Indications are not proof or certainty, though.

Seems like an extreme position, even for a company who feels it can do evil and the more cultish bulk of their customer base will continue to gleefully overpay them for doing it. ("This is GOOD for our customers! No choices means easier decisions!")

Still, couldn't hurt if a few thousand emails get sent to Apple telling them how we feel about the prospect. Even if that is their evil plan, plans do change. Even evil ones.

ApK

[elcreative]

I really don't see the problem... if you don't like it and hate Apple then don't deal with them... if you really want to use Apple then why not wait until we KNOW what's going on rather than rumour, innuendo, Apple's unexplained comments etc... when it's actually clear what everyone is doing then you have a clear target to aim at or find you've been frothing over nothing. Right now, nothing has changed including the complaints and grumbling going round in ever decreasing circles...

Oh and ApK, there are lots of things that are really evil... a company's policies, relating to a bit of tech, don't really make it especially as you can always go elsewhere...

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by ApK

Seriously? This whole thread is about indications that that will change.

The whole passage you quoted is an indication it will change.

Indications are not proof or certainty, though.

Seems like an extreme position, even for a company who feels it can do evil and the more cultish bulk of their customer base will continue to gleefully overpay them for doing it. ("This is GOOD for our customers! No choices means easier decisions!")

Still, couldn't hurt if a few thousand emails get sent to Apple telling them how we feel about the prospect. Even if that is their evil plan, plans do change. Even evil ones.

ApK

Actually I wish for Apple to do that. Will only makes people furious against them.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by elcreative

I really don't see the problem... if you don't like it and hate Apple then don't deal with them... if you really want to use Apple then why not wait until we KNOW what's going on rather than rumour, innuendo, Apple's unexplained comments etc...

'cuz this is a discussion forum, not the CNN newsdesk. You're not the only one allowed to post your opinions.

Oh and ApK, there are lots of things that are really evil... a company's policies, relating to a bit of tech, don't really make it especially as you can always go elsewhere...

I'm talking genuine Evil. Our salesman at the Apple store was actually a shark with a laser strapped to his head.

Yes, I bought an iPod Touch for my wife. But I didn't like it, and I didn't inhale.

ApK

p.s. Speaking for myself, I don't hate Apple per se. I used to LOVE apple (back in the Apple II+ days). I think of this more as an intervention to get them back on the path of righteousness.

[Worldwalker]

What I find interesting in this thread is how few people see Apple as just a company.

There are some who see it as the embodiment of evil, waiting to pounce. There are some who see it as some sort of holy order, never to be challenged or questioned. But there are very few who see it as, quite simply, a company out for its own best interests like every other company, taking neither good nor evil into account, but merely image and profits.

Folks ... this is a corporation we're talking about. They don't have your best interests at heart. They don't have anyone's best interests at heart except for their management and stockholders. And they are not out to be evil because evil is fun -- having fun doesn't make money for the people with a legal right to have money made on their behalf. They're a corporation, no different under the sleek white skin than Microsoft or Hasbro or General Mills. They exist for two reasons: 1) to transfer money from you to them by charging as much as possible for as little as possible, and 2) to continue to exist in order to continue to make money. They're clearly very good at this. They're not good. They're not evil. Good and evil don't even come into their equations.

[elcreative]

Discussion forum yes, but why not discuss facts then decide how to act... and where did I say I was the only one allowed to post? I simply posted an opinion... but it clearly differed from yours so...

And you obviously have no idea as to genuine evil if you can describe a salesman as such...

Originally Posted by ApK

'cuz this is a discussion forum, not the CNN newsdesk. You're not the only one allowed to post your opinions.


I'm talking genuine Evil. Our salesman at the Apple store was actually a shark with a laser strapped to his head.

Yes, I bought an iPod Touch for my wife. But I didn't like it, and I didn't inhale.

ApK

p.s. Speaking for myself, I don't hate Apple per se. I used to LOVE apple (back in the Apple II+ days). I think of this more as an intervention to get them back on the path of righteousness.

[elcreative]

Exactly... a business...

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

What I find interesting in this thread is how few people see Apple as just a company.

There are some who see it as the embodiment of evil, waiting to pounce. There are some who see it as some sort of holy order, never to be challenged or questioned. But there are very few who see it as, quite simply, a company out for its own best interests like every other company, taking neither good nor evil into account, but merely image and profits.

Folks ... this is a corporation we're talking about. They don't have your best interests at heart. They don't have anyone's best interests at heart except for their management and stockholders. And they are not out to be evil because evil is fun -- having fun doesn't make money for the people with a legal right to have money made on their behalf. They're a corporation, no different under the sleek white skin than Microsoft or Hasbro or General Mills. They exist for two reasons: 1) to transfer money from you to them by charging as much as possible for as little as possible, and 2) to continue to exist in order to continue to make money. They're clearly very good at this. They're not good. They're not evil. Good and evil don't even come into their equations.

[tubemonkey]

Apple could easily settle this with a statement, but they choose not to. Therefore, this must be a trial balloon and they're judging how much negative feedback they'd get if implemented.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

What I find interesting in this thread is how few people see Apple as just a company.

There are some who see it as the embodiment of evil, waiting to pounce. There are some who see it as some sort of holy order, never to be challenged or questioned. But there are very few who see it as, quite simply, a company out for its own best interests like every other company, taking neither good nor evil into account, but merely image and profits.

Folks ... this is a corporation we're talking about. They don't have your best interests at heart. They don't have anyone's best interests at heart except for their management and stockholders. And they are not out to be evil because evil is fun -- having fun doesn't make money for the people with a legal right to have money made on their behalf. They're a corporation, no different under the sleek white skin than Microsoft or Hasbro or General Mills. They exist for two reasons: 1) to transfer money from you to them by charging as much as possible for as little as possible, and 2) to continue to exist in order to continue to make money. They're clearly very good at this. They're not good. They're not evil. Good and evil don't even come into their equations.

That's fundamentally wrong. Companies are run by people who make decisions. Those decisions can be good or bad, or even evil.

A company can make money by serving the best interests of their customers and doing good work for their communities, or they can make money by breaking safety laws, and dumping poisons into the water supply.

"Evil" in Apple's case is hyperbole, but decisions that make them money can be and sometimes are absolutely good or bad, and it's perfectly legitimate and potentially effective to tell a company 'we like your products, but if you don't change your policies, THEN we will shop elsewhere.'

ApK

[ApK]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Apple could easily settle this with a statement, but they choose not to. Therefore, this must be a trial balloon and they're judging how much negative feedback they'd get if implemented.

I hope you're right. We should start giving them that feedback.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by elcreative

And you obviously have no idea as to genuine evil if you can describe a salesman as such...

He had a FRICKIN' LASER BEAM ATTACHED TO HIS HEAD!

No? Nothing? OK. Maybe you didn't see that movie.
See, that was a joke. But yes, it was so subtle I can see how you could think I was actually claiming Apple is genuine evil, like, what, the KKK or the Dark Lord of the Sith?

Yeah.
Oh, speaking of movies (and totally not related to anything else), I just found this clip on You tube. This was a great movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW_jvLbAqMg

ApK

[MrsJoseph]

Originally Posted by ApK

He had a FRICKIN' LASER BEAM ATTACHED TO HIS HEAD!

No? Nothing? OK. Maybe you didn't see that movie.
See, that was a joke. But yes, it was so subtle I can see how you could think I was actually claiming Apple is genuine evil, like, what, the KKK or the Dark Lord of the Sith?

Yeah.
Oh, speaking of movies (and totally not related to anything else), I just found this clip on You tube. This was a great movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW_jvLbAqMg

ApK

[Andrew H.]

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.

No, it's a huge deal because Amazon's profit margins are just under 5%. I doubt that B&N or other booksellers have better margins.

Meaning that Amazon & Co. would lose 25% on every book they sold through iOS. And yet to have an app on an iDevice, they would be required to both have in app purchases and to not charge more than they charge for purchases through the website.

A policy that would have the effect of causing Amazon to pull the Kindle App is kind of a big deal.

[altworld]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

What I find interesting in this thread is how few people see Apple as just a company.

There are some who see it as the embodiment of evil, waiting to pounce. There are some who see it as some sort of holy order, never to be challenged or questioned. But there are very few who see it as, quite simply, a company out for its own best interests like every other company, taking neither good nor evil into account, but merely image and profits.

Folks ... this is a corporation we're talking about. They don't have your best interests at heart. They don't have anyone's best interests at heart except for their management and stockholders. And they are not out to be evil because evil is fun -- having fun doesn't make money for the people with a legal right to have money made on their behalf. They're a corporation, no different under the sleek white skin than Microsoft or Hasbro or General Mills. They exist for two reasons: 1) to transfer money from you to them by charging as much as possible for as little as possible, and 2) to continue to exist in order to continue to make money. They're clearly very good at this. They're not good. They're not evil. Good and evil don't even come into their equations.

It is amusing though that Apple have become Big Blue of their breakout 80's TV commerical
Arigato,
Nick Davis