Amazon reveals new Kindle app for iPad and other tablets

[banjomike]

Any reference to 'duplicate functionality' is irrelevant since the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement, which presumably include the iPad, allows Apple to reject, or first approve and then reject at a later date, any application that meets all their requirements. Apple want rid of something, it will go. They can even remotely kill an app, like Amazon can remotely kill a book.

Here:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/03...-agreement-all

[CCDMan]

Originally Posted by Yoshi 1080

The iBook app is not part of the OS so there is no duplicate functionality.

It is not about some picky definition of "duplicate functionality". That is just the legalese catchphrase that Apple uses to mean "that which competes with Apple". The Kindle CLEARLY competes with the Apple bookstore.

the keynote, Jobs clearly references Amazon's efforts with the Kindle as having laid the foundation for the iPad as an eBook reader. The Kindle is directly targeted, so yeah, it makes absolutely sense to assume that Apple wants Amazon's market share and with it its customers.

Nobody that HAS a Kindle is going to buy an iPad to read books - they have a Kindle. For those that do NOT have a Kindle and want to read books, are they going to spend 2-3 times as much to do so or just buy a Kindle? How does that translate to Apple getting Amazon's market share? The only people who will buy the iPad are those that want it's multifunction capability, only one of which is books.

I agree that they want Amazon's market share, but not for devices, for content, which is where the real money is. They do not get that by allowing Amazon to sell their stuff on an Apple device when the same stuff is for sale by Apple!

Originally Posted by banjomike

Any reference to 'duplicate functionality' is irrelevant since the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement, which presumably include the iPad, allows Apple to reject, or first approve and then reject at a later date, any application that meets all their requirements. Apple want rid of something, it will go. They can even remotely kill an app, like Amazon can remotely kill a book.

Bingo! It is all about what Apple sees as good for Apple. That means they do what they want. Just what that is in this case we shall see. My point is that if you look at other apps that have competed with Apple's own "for sale" items in the past, many if not most have been rejected or removed.

[ChrisC333]

Originally Posted by CCDMan

They do not get that by allowing Amazon to sell their stuff on an Apple device!

But you already can do exactly that. There's an app on my iTouch for Amazon/Kindle, another on my Windows based PC, and yet another on my iMac. They all work just fine. Presumably both Apple and Amazon are big enough companies to employ adults who are capable of talking to each other and negotiating things up-front before investing their time and money building the software and business models?

Why should the iPad be any different?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by CCDMan

Nobody that HAS a Kindle is going to buy an iPad to read books - they have a Kindle.

Well, I wouldn't say this is categorically true. I have a Kindle, and while good for non-fiction books... for technical and reference books it is a bit small.. especially if the books has charts/graphs/source code, etc.

Also, I don't think anyone can say what Apples target market and goals are. We can only assume those things.

BOb

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by ChrisC333

...

Why should the iPad be any different?

Because Apple is now in the bookselling business. What could easily happen is that the amazon/kindle apps are removed from the existing devices.

[conniewilson11]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

"In particular, the Kindle application from Amazon was demonstrated to a Times reporter. It features the ability to slowly turn pages with fingers, much like Apple's own iBooks software."

We all knew this was coming but here is a bit more information on reading software for the iPad. It appears they are building it to rival the iBooks app that Apple will include on every iPad.

Is this good news... certainly for Kindle owners that also want to tote an iPad from the sofa to the pool side lounge chair (assuming you can use the iPad in the sun).

via: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...pple_ipad.html

You can also learn more about it here straight from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000490441

BOb

this is an awesome feature, thanks

[CleverClothe]

Originally Posted by RobbieClarken

I'll bet anyone who claims Apple will reject competing ebook apps US$50 that they wont. My guess is most people who suggest this don't really believe it'll happen and just want to stir up paranoia about a company they dislike.

Right, because making reasonable extrapolations based on past experience is equivalent to spreading mass paranoia.

[DawnFalcon]

Bit over a week and we'll find out, people. Sheesh impatience.

[ChrisC333]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Because Apple is now in the bookselling business. What could easily happen is that the amazon/kindle apps are removed from the existing devices.

Well, it could easily happen that you or I get run over by a bus next time we cross the street too, but that doesn't mean that there's much chance that we will.

Do you think that Apple made the decision to expand into books in the last few weeks? Or is is perhaps possible that they've been thinking about the possibility of such a move for some years?

Do you really think that there would be any commercial advantage in Apple letting Amazon/Kindle run apps on the iTouch and iMac, and go as far as announcing one for the iPad without at some stage ringing them up and telling them that they might run into a conflict a little further down the track?

Kindle for Mac was only released a few days ago. Do you believe that it's actually likely that Apple will give them another week or so and then pull the plug on April 3rd when the iPad hits the stores?

To put it another way, do you think that it's at least possible that Apple and Kindle do talk and that Apple sees that it's in their own interest not to be over-controlling about what can run on the iPad?

I honestly can't see any reason to take the 'worst case' scenario viewpoint over this. However, I'm not privy to any behind the scenes stuff, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Chris

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by ChrisC333

Kindle for Mac was only released a few days ago. Do you believe that it's actually likely that Apple will give them another week or so and then pull the plug on April 3rd when the iPad hits the stores?

Seems to be a moot point. Kindle for Mac has nothing to do with Kindle for iPad.

Or, are you saying the fact that Apple allows me to install Kindle for Mac on my Mac as proof that they will allow Kindle for iPad in the app store?

BOb

[ChrisC333]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Seems to be a moot point. Kindle for Mac has nothing to do with Kindle for iPad.

Or, are you saying the fact that Apple allows me to install Kindle for Mac on my Mac as proof that they will allow Kindle for iPad in the app store?

BOb

Proof? Why would anybody think that it proves anything either way?

I'm asking him what he thinks the position is.

It seems to me that some of the posters here simply dislike Apple, for reasons that I don't share. Just as some folks seem to enjoy hating Microsoft. I neither hate nor love either of them, so I don't automatically ascribe negative motives to them. I don't expect evil doings as a matter of course.

Of course, it might be possible that Apple will sell a million iPads, then let out an evil cackle and ban every single app but their own. It just doesn't seem especially likely.

It also doesn't seem all that likely that Amazon/Kindle would develop and announce an app for the iPad if they thought there was a chance that it would be strangled at birth. But I guess Im not really a conspiracy theory kind of guy. I tend to see the glass as half full rather than half empty.

Is there really any basis for believing that Apple will squeeze them off the iPad? Is there some genuine relevant information that I've missed?

Cheers,

Chris

[poglad]

Originally Posted by BooksForABuck

Rather than think of it as a device (the Sony approach), they think of their hardware as simply one (so far the largest) path to market.

Well the Sony devices all use the Adobe Digital Editions software which can already run on multiple platforms, and is not tied to Sony for them to decide what you can do with your books...

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by ChrisC333

Well, it could easily happen that you or I get run over by a bus next time we cross the street too, but that doesn't mean that there's much chance that we will.

Do you think that Apple made the decision to expand into books in the last few weeks? Or is is perhaps possible that they've been thinking about the possibility of such a move for some years?

Do you really think that there would be any commercial advantage in Apple letting Amazon/Kindle run apps on the iTouch and iMac, and go as far as announcing one for the iPad without at some stage ringing them up and telling them that they might run into a conflict a little further down the track?

Kindle for Mac was only released a few days ago. Do you believe that it's actually likely that Apple will give them another week or so and then pull the plug on April 3rd when the iPad hits the stores?

To put it another way, do you think that it's at least possible that Apple and Kindle do talk and that Apple sees that it's in their own interest not to be over-controlling about what can run on the iPad?

I honestly can't see any reason to take the 'worst case' scenario viewpoint over this. However, I'm not privy to any behind the scenes stuff, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Chris

Chris, you are free to believe anything you want. As am I or anyone else. I base my expectations on past behavior. We'll see what the future brings. I'm hoping you don't get hit be a meteor or by a run-away corporation. What I continue to find fascinating and astounding is how Apple fan-boys rally around anything that corporation does good or bad. If I could only figure out that secret I'd be set. It's very much a religion, very similar, one of those intrinsic human/animal nature things is my best guess....hmmm.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Chris, you are free to believe anything you want. As am I or anyone else. I base my expectations on past behavior. We'll see what the future brings. I'm hoping you don't get hit be a meteor or by a run-away corporation. What I continue to find fascinating and astounding is how Apple fan-boys rally around anything that corporation does good or bad. If I could only figure out that secret I'd be set. It's very much a religion, very similar, one of those intrinsic human/animal nature things is my best guess....hmmm.

could you be any more insulting! to be honest both parties have individuals who 'religiously' love or hate what Apple do.

But most people on here choose to take an Apple product because they like the products Apple make!

and choose to when presented with an impossible to know potential choice by Apple not automatically assume that the choice they make will be a bad one!

[CCDMan]

Originally Posted by ChrisC333

But you already can do exactly that......
Why should the iPad be any different?

Because now Apple will be selling books. They have not done that before.

Please be aware that I am neither an Apple hater or an Apple fanboy. I have a half dozen PCs. Two of them are Macs, the rest Windows. I have an iPod touch, but also a Kindle. I would like nothing more than to be wrong and be able to read my Kindle books on the 3G iPad I have on order. I just do not EXPECT to be able to and that was not the primary reason I ordered an iPad.

My point is just that given the general trend of Apple's behavior in the past, it would surprise me if they allow such apps on the iPad. Clearly they have the legal right to ban the apps. Whether it is moral or even a good idea for Apple is the subject of much debate. The real question is will they? We may know as early as a week from Saturday.

Right now all of this talk, mine and that of others, is just speculative guessing. Perhaps entertaining, but certainly not definitive.