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Barnes & Noble pulls ebook sales from Iphone app
BOOKSTORE BARNES & NOBLE has launched an update to its Nook for Iphone app which removes the option to buy ebooks directly within the app.
The bookstore chain released version 2.1.2 of its app yesterday, adding a note that said, "You can read any NOOK Book you have purchased on this updated NOOK for iPhone app, however the Shop link has been removed so to buy NOOK Books from your iPhone, open your Safari browser and go to nookbooks.com."
This is an unusual move by Barnes & Noble, as it makes it more difficult for readers to buy its books and removes a valuable feature from its app. It seems unlikely that it would decide to pull the plug on this of its own accord.
So why does it no longer sell ebooks through its app? And why offer no explanation? We think it might have something to do with the fact that Apple wants 30 per cent of in-app sales.
If app makers don't want to pay this hefty sum, which is understandable if their business largely depends on these sales, they have to withdraw. This is similar to how digital news outlets like the Wall Street Journal dealt with the problem of Apple demanding 30 per cent of subscription fees - they simply pulled out and redirected people to their web sites.
Amazon also announced yesterday that it would be pulling in-app sales of its Kindle books due to the policy change. Google also did the same for its Google Books app.
Technically all three players are now complying with Apple's rules, but Apple isn't really any better for it, as it has failed to gain payments for in-app purchases from the ebook sellers.
Users slated Barnes & Nobles' decision to pull in-app sales, with one reviewer on the Itunes store writing, "you are paving the way for Ibooks to be the only e-reader on Iphone."
Perhaps this is Apple's intent, but it might struggle to succeed in the ebook industry if it upsets enough people. Publishers and authors are currently negotiating a major deal with rival Google for the largest ebook store in the world, which could lead to even greater competition between Apple and Google in the ebook market.
We have contacted Apple for comment on this and are awaiting its response. µ
Tags: Apple
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Can you see the handwriting on the wall?
IF you are an Apple fanatic, it won't be long until you can't buy anything to feed your iPod/iPad/iPhone except from Apple. Oh, wait. That's been true from Day One, unless you jailbroke your device, in which case the warranty is void, and Apple will try to brick it next time you connect it to iTunes.
I don't see the loss of ebook readers from the Apple store as a tragedy. After all, Steve Jobs hasn't told his cultists to buy from the other ebook vendors anyhow, so they won't know it's possible.
Sheeple. They're all sheeple.
Why anyone would buy a product controlled by the Apple Reich is beyond me.
I saw yesterday that KoboBooks did this too. I'm thinking it is a unified front from the e-book vendors telling apple where they can go.
Next step is for the content providers raise the price Apple needs to pay for iBook content by 30%.
No Flash, No Ebooks, No HTML5, No real multi-tasking, No side loading = No Thank You Apple
Apple is the AOL of today. Telling users what they want instead of letting them have what they want.
Its why Samsung sells more Android phones that Apple sells iPhones and its why the iPad will fail to Android tablets by the end of the year.
the title says it all.
I'm waiting on Apple's new vacuum, the iSuck. I understand it'll be able to pick things up off of the floor and will revolutionize cleaning. Apple's stock will double.
My mom is a recent Apple gadget-phile. She got herself a Mac a couple years ago, and then an iPod. Now an iPad 2 also, and is thinking of getting an iPhone 5 when those come out. However, she also has a Nook, and greatly prefers reading books on the Nook. She recently came to stay with me for a week and brought all her gadgets. She spent most of her reading time outdoors, with the Nook.
My dad wanted to read something. She handed him the iPad and said "here, open the Nook app." Know what he did? He went down to my library and pulled a book - a paper book - off the shelf.
iBooks won't win until Apple releases an iPaper device.
I'm willing to bet that this change was due to litigation. patent 7,222,078: "Methods and systems for gathering information from units of a commodity across a network."
I hope that the owners of Lodsys are struck by lightening. Scum.