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Audiobooks on Spotify

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Re: Audiobooks on Spotify

#221

Post by alimov »

earth2mars wrote: post #216
nerdjon wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is 100% how I feel. Too many of these companies have dark patterns for canceling your subscription (or hoping you forget you have one) that I actively stay away from most services that I can't just use an IAP with. This is largely thanks to all of this being consolidated in a single UI where with just a couple clicks (without ever needing to open the app and dealing with their marketing or 20 questions) I can ca…

Quoted post unavailable.

> Your reply looks like "tell me you work for apple without telling you work for apple" or "tell me you are apple fanboy without telling you are one".

Why are you making this so personal?

Re: Audiobooks on Spotify

#222

Post by infogulch »

adrr wrote: post #220
firloop wrote: post #8

As a consumer, I’ve actually come to prefer in app purchases. I love when a subscription is available on IAP because for something like a newspaper, I know that I can cancel it with a couple of taps instead of having to fill out some long retention form or call someone.

Apple could just mandate IAP but also allow the app publisher to offer their own methods. It would force competition in pricing. IAP fee ultimately is passed to the consumer. Companies need to make their margins.

This is clearly the best option. Apple would be pressured to reduce their prices and/or increase the app store value, app publishers would be incentivized to not use sleazy subscription cancelling practices.

Re: Audiobooks on Spotify

#223

Post by esnowrackley »

I just wish I could buy and download copies of audiobooks, that's still how I listen. It's a trope on here to talk about walled gardens, but I was surprised by how difficult it's been to find audiobooks outside of Audible.

Re: Audiobooks on Spotify

#224

Post by bitexploder »

esnowrackley wrote: post #223

I just wish I could buy and download copies of audiobooks, that's still how I listen. It's a trope on here to talk about walled gardens, but I was surprised by how difficult it's been to find audiobooks outside of Audible.

I have found private torrent groups that have amazing collections. Beyond that, yeah, pretty much just Audible.

Re: Audiobooks on Spotify

#225

Post by etchalon »

throwaway46829 wrote: post #186
threeseed wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple does produce value though. They built the platform that allowed Spotify to even exist. And then they built the distribution channel that directed customers to Spotify. No different to Spotify itself.

Spotify also adds value to the iPhone, before the App Store it was pretty but kind of useless. Make them give both options, people can decide whether easy cancellation etc. is worth 30%, Apple can make up any losses it needs to continue the platform from the iPhone sales price (or they can charge for App Store access or whatever, we should make them allow third-party stores/sideloading regardless), people can then de…

The iPhone before the App Store was exactly the same as all of the other phones on the market at the time, none of which were useless.

Re: Audiobooks on Spotify

#226

Post by antartica »

Yeah, I mean... Maybe Spotify is right, but the fact that Daniel Ek puts it like Apple is the big bad company against a small and poor one... I can't stand the fact that they're playing the victim while they are also being greedy and not sharing enough of the revenues with artists.

Re: Audiobooks on Spotify

#227

Post by onphonenow »

earth2mars wrote: post #216
nerdjon wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is 100% how I feel. Too many of these companies have dark patterns for canceling your subscription (or hoping you forget you have one) that I actively stay away from most services that I can't just use an IAP with. This is largely thanks to all of this being consolidated in a single UI where with just a couple clicks (without ever needing to open the app and dealing with their marketing or 20 questions) I can ca…

Quoted post unavailable.

Then choose a different phone.

Apple clout let’s it literally force companies to allow easy subscription cancellation because apple handles it. I never have to worry.

Then they can force apps not to cross track (sorry Facebook)

Re: Audiobooks on Spotify

#228

Post by onphonenow »

earth2mars wrote: post #217
firefoxkekw wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This so much, specially when I think of my parents and older love ones, 30% is nothing compared to being in the wild west of dark patterns. Reputation have a price, Apple may not be perfect but I can trust that they aren't going to deceive my parents or make their life more difficult when trying to use technology. At least personally, I would much rather pay a bit more than opening the door to cheaper prices at cost…

We should have regulation on dark patterns. Not paying 30% more abs giving more power to monopoly. Why is it so hard.you can literally sue companies for dark patterns and hey more money.i did that once with ATT and got more than they said I owe them for dark subscribing to tv when i only wanted internet. I didn't had to spend a single penny nor visit any court.all out of court settlement. You make them accountable fo…

We have regulations. If you think the cops enforce spam calls and texts, think again. Or the millions of scam calls and other blatant internet fraud.

I don’t get iMessage spam. Period. That alone is valuable. Politicians who make these regulations continue to spam me and there is no way to block them with a do not call list.

Apple is so valuable in part because they do enforce some rules.

Re: Audiobooks on Spotify

#229

Post by akshaybhalotia »

I have a slightly larger issue with the lock-in mechanisms of such "purchases". Whether I pay through Apple IAP or directly to Spotify, I can access the audiobook only on Spotify. No where else. I can't import that audiobook to another player. I can't lend it to a friend. I can't trim the parts I like and share them or listen to them independently.

Moreover, when contracts between such platforms/marketplaces and publishers go south, I'm usually left holding an empty bag cos all of the content is removed from the platform without any refunds. (Happens frequently with game stores.)

Last I checked, that's not how a "purchase" is supposed to work. Take an example of, say, an actual book. So am I ... "subscribing" to a book now? Doesn't seem like it cos I can't cancel it and get a refund. So what exactly is this model? What am I paying for?

Re: Audiobooks on Spotify

#230

Post by crackedbassoon »

AlwaysRock wrote: post #215
roody15 wrote: post #210

Wait you have to “buy” the audio book in addition to the monthly fee? hmmm no thanks. Just my take but I don’t want click to purchase stuff coming to Spotify. In my opinion this a fail. I already purchase a family plan for 15$ a month .. last thing I need is tap and click add on purchases.

Digital Audiobooks are becoming more and more of a racket. Amazon recently removed the ability to buy an audio book for a $ amount. You can only buy a credit and exchange that for a book. This means that you might be buying a new $30 book for 1 credit or a $3.25 book for 1 credit. It's incredibly frustrating and only exists to trick readers into overspending on books.

I don’t understand this comment, do you mean Audible? I buy audiobooks with cash there all the time. I just checked and you can still do that.
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