No more access to purchased content

Is this the end of the Logos APP ?

The New York Times reports that Apple has begun rejecting App Store submissions for applications that offer users the ability to purchase content from outside the company's in-app purchasing mechanism. One of the major applications reportedly rejected under this policy change is Sony's Reader application that would have allowed iOS device users to view eBook content downloaded from its Reader Store.

The company has told some applications developers, including Sony, that they can no longer sell content, like e-books, within their apps, or let customers have access to purchases they have made outside the App Store.

Apple rejected Sony's iPhone application, which would have let people buy and read e-books bought from the Sony Reader Store.

Apple told Sony that from now on, all in-app purchases would have to go through Apple, said Steve Haber, president of Sony's digital reading division

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Comments

Mark Barnes

This is bad. TechCrunch's commentary is worth reading: http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/31/apple-reportedly-blocks-sony-reader-app-could-spell-war-with-kindle/

But I suspect Apple will have to back down under pressure. That's what's happened before.

(P.S. - If you can still edit your post - use the more link - you might want to add a question mark to the end of your title!)

Sean McIntyre

This is bad. TechCrunch's commentary is worth reading: http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/31/apple-reportedly-blocks-sony-reader-app-could-spell-war-with-kindle/

But I suspect Apple will have to back down under pressure. That's what's happened before.

(P.S. - If you can still edit your post - use the more link - you might want to add a question mark to the end of your title!)

I am sure that they will back down because it would play into the hands of Android. Good point about the question mark but I cannot edit the title now.

spitzerpl

This is bad. TechCrunch's commentary is worth reading: http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/31/apple-reportedly-blocks-sony-reader-app-could-spell-war-with-kindle/

But I suspect Apple will have to back down under pressure. That's what's happened before.

(P.S. - If you can still edit your post - use the more link - you might want to add a question mark to the end of your title!)

I am sure that they will back down because it would play into the hands of Android. Good point about the question mark but I cannot edit the title now.

If they stuck to their guns, It would definitely be the deciding factor on my future IPad purchase, and a transition to the IPhone when my contract is up. Of course, I would have had to get both past my wife first, But I wouldn't even consider getting them if Android offered me access and Apple didn't.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

Apple has App Store submission tips => http://developer.apple.com/news/ios/appstoretips/ with Dec 7, 2010 entry including link to iTunes Connect Developer Guide - page 134 interesting to read about in-app purchasing.

Currently, Logos does not offer in-app purchasing (all sales done via Logos representatives or web site).

Observation: potential impact for Amazon's "Shop In Kindle Store" button that opens Safari to Amazon's Kindle Store web page.

Keep Smiling [:)]

Sean McIntyre

The key phrase in my post is;

"or let customers have access to purchases they have made outside the App Store"

This would mean that even books purchased on your PC or Mac could not be used on the iphone/ipad.

Donnie Hale

The Logos executive team really needs to weigh in on this ASAP. I've been planning an iPad purchase the moment "v2" is released, and it's almost completely so I can read Logos resources more conveniently.

More reasons why I have such distaste for Apple...

Donnie

Donnie Hale

Nothing definitive yet, but some more comments...

http://mashable.com/2011/02/01/sony-apple-ebook-dispute/

Donnie

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

Nothing definitive yet, but some more comments...

http://mashable.com/2011/02/01/sony-apple-ebook-dispute/

Learned Sony does in-app purchasing on Mac and PC using their Reader Library software => http://ebookstore.sony.com/howitworks/ which would be a violation of Apple's iOS guidance that all in-app purchasing use Apple iTunes.

Keep Smiling [:)]

Mark Barnes

The Mashable article has an update: "Apple spokesperson Trudy Miller tells us, “We have not changed our
developer terms or guidelines. 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.”

This is not necessarily a bad thing, though would require obvious additional programming work from Logos, and would reduce Logos' income if too many people used it. Olivetree work by offering both in-app or website purchasing, and it's very useful.

Will Cornell

I just stumbled upon this book sales dilemma while skimming through tech news blogs and immediately thought of LOGOS. I purchased an iPad based almost completely on the promise of the LOGOS app. I came to the forums and found out the topic is already being covered (good work!). I agree that accomodating apple would require extra programming, but it could open LOGOS up to the "unreached" and actually boost sales. Creative pricing could make full price purchases the only avenue via in-app acquisitions while reduced (regular rate) purchases could continue on site. This would defray the "bite" Apple takes out of the purchase price. Or maybe that is unethical? Perhaps it is best that I am not involved in marketing or sales .

Wes Saad

This is not necessarily a bad thing, though would require obvious additional programming work from Logos, and would reduce Logos' income if too many people used it.

Losing 30% of the purchase price is pretty significant for much of what Logos sells. Logos could up the price of in-app purchases by ~30%. This would not be simple, but it would address the profit issue and it would serve to keep most people buying resources through the website.

If it came down to it, though, I suspect Logos would pull off the iOS platform, and I wouldn't really be able to blame them if they did, though I certainly don't want them to. I defend Apple's right to do business as they please, but I think they are making the wrong choice here. I can see them wanting to prevent people from looking for ways around Apple's in-app sales percentage, but Apple shouldn't penalize companies that have historically used a web-based model for sales.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

Logos could up the price of in-app purchases by ~30%.

Observation: $ 142.86 * 70 % = $ 100.00 (with 30 % cut of $ 42.86). Hence, in-app iPad purchasing needs 42.86 % price increase so Logos (and publishers) would receive same amount compared to $ 100.00 purchase using Logos web site.

Wonder if Apple would allow in-app purchasing Banner Ad: Discounted prices available at web site store, allowing consumer to choose.

Followed AppleInsider article link => http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/01/apple_denies_claim_that_sony_reader_kindle_in_danger_on_ios_app_store.html to Digital Daily => http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20110201/apple-on-sony-reader-we-have-not-changed-our-guidelines/

Keep Smiling [:)]

Mike Childs

Many of the iPhone / iPad apps are intended to use content purchased outside the app. MLB.com is a popular baseball app. To watch video you buy the content on the MLB.com site. The Dishnetwork TV anywhere is another. Netflicks is another. There are lots and lots of them that sell their books, movies, and video on a website.

That is fine with Apple, and they are not about to ban their most popular apps.

The problem Apple has is when the content is sold through the app, and Apple doesn't get a cut. That is what Sony was doing.

Logos will have no problem since their app is about using content we have already purchased, not purchasing content through the app. I think everyone is worked up about nothing.