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"Apple also allegedly told Sony that the app couldn't access content purchased on other Sony Reader devices, which is where most of the outrage was focused" -

"Apple also allegedly told Sony that the app couldn't access content purchased on other Sony Reader devices, which is where most of the outrage was focused" - I think this is a big problem. If I have bought the book from amazon I should be able to read it everywhere isn't it?

raganwald 16y ago
See: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2166728 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2166728
YooLi 16y ago
Apple's official response: "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." It's talking about purchasing from inside the app, not access content that you purchased somewhere else.
- lwhi 16y ago
  Not quite. Another way of describing this; if the content is available for sale outside of the app .. it can't be accessed within the app, unless it's also available for sale via Apple's store.
  - YooLi 16y ago
    What? Read their statement again. "...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.." It says if the app lets you purchase books from somewhere that is not the app, the app should also let users purchase through the app. Apple said nothing about "content...can't be accessed within the app, unless it's also available for sale via Apples store." There was nothing said about what content can and can't be accessed.
    - lwhi 16y ago
      But if you extrapolate: 1) All possible electronic commerce is likely to utilise web-based technologies. 2) In Amazon's case, they used a mobile website to allow sale of their e-books. 3) If Apple is going to state that directing the user to a mobile website to purchase a book, constitutes an 'in-app purchase' - where is the line drawn? 4) Will app developers be able to advertise any alternative methods of purchase, within their apps, without also allowing purchase via the Appstore? My guess is, no; they'll simply deny the app in question access to the marketplace - which will prevent users from viewing any externally bought content, that can't also be bought via the Appstore. In-effect Apple are holding these developers over a barrel.

raganwald 16y ago

See: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2166728 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2166728

YooLi 16y ago

Apple's official response: "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." It's talking about purchasing from inside the app, not access content that you purchased somewhere else.

lwhi 16y ago
Not quite. Another way of describing this; if the content is available for sale outside of the app .. it can't be accessed within the app, unless it's also available for sale via Apple's store.
- YooLi 16y ago
  What? Read their statement again. "...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.." It says if the app lets you purchase books from somewhere that is not the app, the app should also let users purchase through the app. Apple said nothing about "content...can't be accessed within the app, unless it's also available for sale via Apples store." There was nothing said about what content can and can't be accessed.
  - lwhi 16y ago
    But if you extrapolate: 1) All possible electronic commerce is likely to utilise web-based technologies. 2) In Amazon's case, they used a mobile website to allow sale of their e-books. 3) If Apple is going to state that directing the user to a mobile website to purchase a book, constitutes an 'in-app purchase' - where is the line drawn? 4) Will app developers be able to advertise any alternative methods of purchase, within their apps, without also allowing purchase via the Appstore? My guess is, no; they'll simply deny the app in question access to the marketplace - which will prevent users from viewing any externally bought content, that can't also be bought via the Appstore. In-effect Apple are holding these developers over a barrel.