NYT: Apple Moves to Tighten Control of App Store

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

No one is making users use iOS and no one is making the businesses sell their wares on iOS.

The problem is that they are moving the goalposts after the fact and once these other companies have already helped to make the ipad more appealing to potential buyers.

If all that ended up being left on the ipad as far as service-related apps after this change was itunes, ibooks and a few magazine publishers then it would be a much worse piece of hardware than it was before this change and regardless of how much you continue to white knight apple's position that would not be a good thing for us as customers, which should be the primary concern of anyone not actually employed by apple.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

You can only install apps from outside the iTunes store if you jailbreak your iOS device. Not really open, to me.

Not really the definition of open and not really true about apps either.

[vaughnmr]

I wasn't aware you could get apps outside iTunes. Where do you go?

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

lol!

*Karma!*

[carld]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

Not really the definition of open and not really true about apps either.

So you're saying you can install apps (and I don't mean web apps) on your iPad without jailbreaking it? That goes against everything I've read on the subject.

[RockdaMan]

http://bit.ly/gvmkyH

[lotrfan]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

Not really the definition of open and not really true about apps either.

No it is not, however it is way closer than iOS to being open.

Regarding this whole service charge, you are right that they have a right to charge for a service whoever forcing publishers and others to use their services after these not being required for so many years is wrong (since iPhone not just iPad). Apple forgets that what makes the iPad and iPhone compelling are the apps. For some this service may be good but for others it won't. I have never considered owning an apple device for many reasons but mainly for their way of doing business and this just confirms it.

Android may not be open from the strict definition but it is far more accessible than apple and like someone else said, that is what made Windows beat Apple as the dominating desktop OS in spite of being on inferior hardware and being an inferior software.

[Horemheb]

Originally Posted by lotrfan

If I am wrong in my view please correct me.

Please, do not feed the Apple sales rep / agitprop agent with answering his outright propaganda material. It only gives him excuse to copy other propaganda material and/or other sales writings from Apple.

[Horemheb]

Originally Posted by Piper_

So does "other" mean "some unidentified products sold" or "all other products sold".

You are right. This line gives away more than Apple wanted to confirm at this point. Apples's intentions are obvious anyway. To cling on an existing business and suck out money from it without giving the slightest added value to it. That's what it is about.

[RockdaMan]

New York Times:

Publishers say their objections are less about the steep revenue split than the lack of data. But publishers who sit out Apple subscriptions will be bypassing a huge embedded base of not only iPad users, but also the very people who have already shown a willingness to pay for content. It’s worth pointing out that publishers are already in the business of selling products to consumers they have no data on: it’s called the newsstand. Cosmopolitan and People know nothing about the millions who buy their magazines at retail stores, and that doesn’t stop their respective publishers from making a ton of money there.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/bu...pagewanted=all

[saoir]

Originally Posted by HarryT

So if I use my Dell laptop to buy things on-line, you presumably also believe that Dell are entitled to a cut?

The logic of this position eludes me; what has the device manufacturer done which "entitles" them to a share of purchases made using that device?

You don't use Dell's online processing and sales system. Dell don't manage and also service the subscription, managing the delivery of new content and acting as a toll booth.

If Dell did all of those things then yes they would be entitled to a cut.

[susan_cassidy]

There is no reason that apps need Apple to "manage and service" the subscriptions. Direct wi-fi or 3G access is all that is needed, from the provider of the subscribed material. Apple is trying to force people to use their in-app services, when there is no need to. Subscription and ebook deliveries are working fine now, with no help from Apple required.

[Horemheb]

Originally Posted by saoir

Dell don't manage and also service the subscription, managing the delivery of new content and acting as a toll booth.

Nor does Apple. Apple does not do ANY of it for Amazon and B&N subscriptions. Not one bit more than Dell does for Amazon and B&N subscriptions. Those are managed by Amazon and B&N. Yet Apple wants money from that business even if it provides NO added value whatsoever.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

Apple is trying to force people to use their in-app services

People want to because it's fast and easy and it protects their privacy.

Anyone who has been near an iPad will tell you that the chances of people leaving that one-tap purchase environment to trundle over to a publisher’s Web site are tiny.

As a bone to media providers, consumers could be asked to share information with publishers. That is what happened when I signed up for a subscription to Popular Science. “The developer would like your name, e-mail, and zip code so they can send you messages about related products in accordance with their privacy policy.” Gee, let me think about that. Umm, no thanks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/bu...pagewanted=all

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by Horemheb

Please, do not feed the Apple sales rep / agitprop agent

Now that Zynga has released a copy of Words with Friends for my Android device, I'm back to my scrabble-ing ways. I'm keeping a list of interesting words I've seen, and I've added "agitprop" to it.

Thank you.