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Apple responds: we want a cut of Amazon, Sony e-book sales

arstechnica.com

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Re: Apple responds: we want a cut of Amazon, Sony e-book sales

#41

Post by akmiller »

YooLi wrote: post #13

What Apple actually said (emphasis mine): "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." What ars interprets that to mean (emphasis mine): "If an app lets users access content that they purchased via Amazon's website, for example, then that same app must also let user…

"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."

That is exactly the way the Kindle app on the iPhone works. When you click "Get Books" within the app you are redirected to Amazon's website on Mobile Safari where you can purchase the book then return to your app.

With that in mind I don't see how what you are suggesting is any different than what Ars is saying.

Re: Apple responds: we want a cut of Amazon, Sony e-book sales

#42

Post by raquo »

archgrove wrote: post #19

I can make no possible reading of the App Store guidelines that results in this policy - it's clearly new. I guess if Google can't make the Android App Store attractive to developers, Apple sure can. Surely, this cannot be "official" policy, or if it is, it can't be one that lasts more than a couple of weeks. It's not one of those geek-annoying App restrictions that 99% of the iOS target market wouldn't care about ev…

4) Make a webapp. Not perfect, but also an option.

Re: Apple responds: we want a cut of Amazon, Sony e-book sales

#44

Post by warmfuzzykitten »

JunkDNA wrote: post #34
archgrove wrote: post #19

I can make no possible reading of the App Store guidelines that results in this policy - it's clearly new. I guess if Google can't make the Android App Store attractive to developers, Apple sure can. Surely, this cannot be "official" policy, or if it is, it can't be one that lasts more than a couple of weeks. It's not one of those geek-annoying App restrictions that 99% of the iOS target market wouldn't care about ev…

Or possibility number 4: Amazon removes any mention of purchasing books from the app. The way I read the statement from Apple, they are not saying that if developers offer purchasing outside the app, then they must offer in-app purchasing. They are saying that if an app offers purchasing options, those have to go through the in-app purchasing model. It's still pretty crappy, but basically, all Amazon would have to do…

I doubt it. There would still be a non-Apple way to buy books (e.g., through amazon.com).

I hope there is some fair trade law under which Apple can be prosecuted or sued. Apple is, after all, in the book business itself. How does one see this any other way than stifling competition?

Re: Apple responds: we want a cut of Amazon, Sony e-book sales

#45

Post by Umalu »

cletus wrote: post #29

I think we were all afraid of some move like this. Nobody cares about Sony's ebooks. Everybody (me included) cares about Kindle. I can sort of understand where Apple is coming from in this. They provide an ecosystem and apps live within their ecosystem. That being said, I can't see Amazon or any other big player rolling over on a margin of 30%. This is the problem with one fixed margin: it works well for apps and mus…

I too am not happy about losing the ability to read Kindle books on my iPad. But does Amazon allow Apple (and Google and Sony) to sell their ebooks on Kindle? This is shaping up to be a battle of walled gardens. While the gardens battle, Google Books and Android are looking a lot more attractive.

Re: Apple responds: we want a cut of Amazon, Sony e-book sales

#47

Post by jaaron »

cletus wrote: post #29

I think we were all afraid of some move like this. Nobody cares about Sony's ebooks. Everybody (me included) cares about Kindle. I can sort of understand where Apple is coming from in this. They provide an ecosystem and apps live within their ecosystem. That being said, I can't see Amazon or any other big player rolling over on a margin of 30%. This is the problem with one fixed margin: it works well for apps and mus…

30% can be the entire profit margin for electronic content. The apps themselves are free and the provider has to pay a significant chunk back to the content owner (author, label, studio or publisher), leaving a much smaller margin for the retailer. 30% to Apple simply makes iOS unprofitable.

This also extends to subscription services. Do you expect Netflix or Hulu to hand over 30% of subscription revenue? I don't think so.

Re: Apple responds: we want a cut of Amazon, Sony e-book sales

#48

Post by chc »

jws wrote: post #16
drivebyacct2 wrote: post #5

I don't want to seem like I'm overreacting or hating on Apple or anything like that, but this seems to be in a whole new realm of greedy/controlling for Apple. Or is it really reasonable to force apps to use your payment platform? edit: It seems in other threads on the front page that this is likely Sony blowing things out of proportion. Most of the "news" is all speculation and discussion. I suppose we'll have to wa…

The consistent, simple user experience is the key to the platform. I think it's reasonable to require it. I know as a customer I don't want to be hassling with multiple payment accounts. Presumably it is permissible for Sony to bump the price up on in app purchases to cover the 30% "shipping and handling" charge from Apple. I wonder if they can show it as "Apple™ brand Shipping and Handling" on the screen.

You're conflating two different questions — requiring the simple interface for payments, and imposing a fee on purchases. If the goal of this change is to create a consistent, simple user experience, Apple doesn't need to charge a 30% fee to do that. If Apple chooses to force a 30% fee on developers, that is a cash grab, plain and simple. The tax does not improve the UX.

Re: Apple responds: we want a cut of Amazon, Sony e-book sales

#49

Post by jaaron »

naner wrote: post #27
YooLi wrote: post #13

What Apple actually said (emphasis mine): "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." What ars interprets that to mean (emphasis mine): "If an app lets users access content that they purchased via Amazon's website, for example, then that same app must also let user…

Apple said if the app lets you buy books outside of the app, i.e. you click the buy button inside the app and are then sent to the webpage to purchase the book, then the app must also let you purchase the book without leaving the app by using in-app purchases. Okay. But they also said you cannot buy books inside the app unless Apple gets a cut: http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/02/change-in-apple-po... It appear…

It doesn't. It would mean removing a link to the Amazon store, which is stupid. Amazon shouldn't budge on this one. Apple needs to back down.

Re: Apple responds: we want a cut of Amazon, Sony e-book sales

#50

Post by dhyasama »

I have yet to read anything saying the ability to make in-app purchases via the app store must receive equal billing to the ability to make out-of-app purchases. If this is true, then Amazon, for example, could keep their current UI and bury the option to buy through Apple deep within the app where you won't easily find it.
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