iBooks will not be the only bookstore option on the iPad: Amazon has revealed that it will release a Kindle e-book application, and Barnes & Noble has also planned its own software for Apple's new device.
I'm glad Barnes & Noble and Amazon are going to be on there as well. A nice healthy bit of competition between the book vendors will hopefully mean lower prices for us.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrandersoniii
For a company that works to make their products as easy to use as possible... I am perplexed that they did not include this as pre-installed software. Especially, since the iBookstore can only be accessed through this App. I guess I had read that before - but I am surprised they did not keep the bookstore within the iTunes eco-system.
I would guess that this has been caused by the iBook app not being finished when they started manufacturing the thing.
I would guess that this has been caused by the iBook app not being finished when they started manufacturing the thing.
I sure hope so. You can click on a PDF and it will open in Preview. I don't see why Preview can't be made to work with EPUB, DRMed or otherwise, or just offer another app to do it. i also hope that iPhone OS v4.0 will also book reading on the iPhone/Touch.
For a company that works to make their products as easy to use as possible... I am perplexed that they did not include this as pre-installed software. Especially, since the iBookstore can only be accessed through this App. I guess I had read that before - but I am surprised they did not keep the bookstore within the iTunes eco-system.
You can bet the decision was driven by differing international copyright and publishing laws.
I sure hope so. You can click on a PDF and it will open in Preview. I don't see why Preview can't be made to work with EPUB, DRMed or otherwise, or just offer another app to do it. i also hope that iPhone OS v4.0 will also book reading on the iPhone/Touch.
It will be interesting to see if Apple try to get book reading on all the devices they can, much like Amazon are pushing Kindle apps for loads of other devices and making money on selling the content.
Putting the books onto the iPhone would seem like a fairly obvious thing to do in my opinion, though you could also see an argument to release a Windows app to allow books to be purchased from iTunes for that, much like they do with music. I doubt the Windows application would happen, but it'll be interesting to see how they develop the business model.
You can bet the decision was driven by differing international copyright and publishing laws.
Well, I am not so sure. Since a couple of hours the iPad-ready version of the Kindle app is available in the App Store internationally - I have just downloaded it in Germany. And there is no German Kindle store, German Kindle customers from here have to buy from the US store and pay in USD. Actually I have to go through the Kindle US store to subscribe to my local German newspaper (whose headquarters are located less than 500 ft away from my home). And I can legally buy US titles from the Kindle store as well.
No idea why Apple does restrict that for now, but I do not think they are bound by different laws than Amazon.
Still, they should be optional. I would remove all the music, photo and video apps from my iPod touch if I could... I've got a Mac for that.
I think it would also help change the perception of the "Apple Walled Garden" where all is controlled by the Mighty Jobs™.
Those are much more useful apps that most people want. The ones I'm talking about are the type that Apple eliminates from the app store from time to time because they don't do much.
But with any app not considered essential, sure, I would back them being removable as long as that doesn't cause problems for the way the device functions.
I'm not sure about the walled garden though. Apple has maybe18 apps. That's in a sea of more than 170,000. If there's a wall, it's an awful long one, because all of those apps are inside.
What perplexed me most is I can buy any books from Kindle but I just can't do that even if I have iPad. All just because I don't live in the US. It's almost like Apple didn't want my money.
But thank Abster2core for the link. I'll try to see if I'll succedd to have an US account.
I really don't understand why people blame Apple for these problems.
Don't you understand that it's the companies in your own country that's the problem? Do you think that Apple doesn't want to sell there? It's licensing issues that prevent the sales, as well as royalty payments.
Possibly some day, there will be a worldwide licensing authority, and then these problems won't exist.
Well, I am not so sure. Since a couple of hours the iPad-ready version of the Kindle app is available in the App Store internationally - I have just downloaded it in Germany. And there is no German Kindle store, German Kindle customers from here have to buy from the US store and pay in USD. Actually I have to go through the Kindle US store to subscribe to my local German newspaper (whose headquarters are located less than 500 ft away from my home). And I can legally buy US titles from the Kindle store as well.
No idea why Apple does restrict that for now, but I do not think they are bound by different laws than Amazon.
Of course it's licensing!
Are you forgetting that the Kindle has been around for almost three years? They have the licensing issues taken care of, mostly. Amazon has been selling books for a long time overseas, and has relationships with publishers over there. Apple doesn't. The iPad isn't even available out of the USA yet, and already people are complaining?
This is the same problem Apple had with the music store. And the movie and Tv store. It will take time.
Don't forget the trouble the various music publishers got into last year in the EU for forcing Apple to license through different stores in each country.
Are you forgetting that the Kindle has been around for almost three years? They have the licensing issues taken care of, mostly. Amazon has been selling books for a long time overseas, and has relationships with publishers over there. Apple doesn't. The iPad isn't even available out of the USA yet, and already people are complaining?
This is the same problem Apple had with the music store. And the movie and Tv store. It will take time.
Don't forget the trouble the various music publishers got into last year in the EU for forcing Apple to license through different stores in each country.
Well, I say it again. Amazon does not have any agreements for the Kindle with the publishers here. They do not sell German, or other EU, books on the Kindle. You can buy a Kindle from Amazon in e.g. Germany, but the only books you can buy are original US titles from the US Kindle store - there is no local store. You can resell foreign language books which have not been published by a local publisher freely - and that is exactly what Amazon is doing. A licensing requirement, as for movies and music, does not exist in this particular case. I was just questioning why Apple is not doing the same - a lot of people here would buy original US titles. And there are several titles in other languages in the Gutenberg Project, there is no licensing need for any of them.
Well, I say it again. Amazon does not have any agreements for the Kindle with the publishers here. They do not sell German, or other EU, books on the Kindle. You can buy a Kindle from Amazon in e.g. Germany, but the only books you can buy are original US titles from the US Kindle store - there is no local store. You can resell foreign language books which have not been published by a local publisher freely - and that is exactly what Amazon is doing. A licensing requirement, as for movies and music, does not exist in this particular case. I was just questioning why Apple is not doing the same - a lot of people here would buy original US titles. And there are several titles in other languages in the Gutenberg Project, there is no licensing need for any of them.
Amazon would need to have a license from those publishers here to sell books from here, there. They would also need permission from publishers there if they sell the same books, even though it would be in their native language. Apple obviously doesn't have those deals yet.
Comments
iBooks will not be the only bookstore option on the iPad: Amazon has revealed that it will release a Kindle e-book application, and Barnes & Noble has also planned its own software for Apple's new device.
I'm glad Barnes & Noble and Amazon are going to be on there as well. A nice healthy bit of competition between the book vendors will hopefully mean lower prices for us.
For a company that works to make their products as easy to use as possible... I am perplexed that they did not include this as pre-installed software. Especially, since the iBookstore can only be accessed through this App. I guess I had read that before - but I am surprised they did not keep the bookstore within the iTunes eco-system.
I would guess that this has been caused by the iBook app not being finished when they started manufacturing the thing.
I would guess that this has been caused by the iBook app not being finished when they started manufacturing the thing.
I sure hope so. You can click on a PDF and it will open in Preview. I don't see why Preview can't be made to work with EPUB, DRMed or otherwise, or just offer another app to do it. i also hope that iPhone OS v4.0 will also book reading on the iPhone/Touch.
For a company that works to make their products as easy to use as possible... I am perplexed that they did not include this as pre-installed software. Especially, since the iBookstore can only be accessed through this App. I guess I had read that before - but I am surprised they did not keep the bookstore within the iTunes eco-system.
You can bet the decision was driven by differing international copyright and publishing laws.
I sure hope so. You can click on a PDF and it will open in Preview. I don't see why Preview can't be made to work with EPUB, DRMed or otherwise, or just offer another app to do it. i also hope that iPhone OS v4.0 will also book reading on the iPhone/Touch.
It will be interesting to see if Apple try to get book reading on all the devices they can, much like Amazon are pushing Kindle apps for loads of other devices and making money on selling the content.
Putting the books onto the iPhone would seem like a fairly obvious thing to do in my opinion, though you could also see an argument to release a Windows app to allow books to be purchased from iTunes for that, much like they do with music. I doubt the Windows application would happen, but it'll be interesting to see how they develop the business model.
You can bet the decision was driven by differing international copyright and publishing laws.
Well, I am not so sure. Since a couple of hours the iPad-ready version of the Kindle app is available in the App Store internationally - I have just downloaded it in Germany. And there is no German Kindle store, German Kindle customers from here have to buy from the US store and pay in USD. Actually I have to go through the Kindle US store to subscribe to my local German newspaper (whose headquarters are located less than 500 ft away from my home). And I can legally buy US titles from the Kindle store as well.
No idea why Apple does restrict that for now, but I do not think they are bound by different laws than Amazon.
Still, they should be optional. I would remove all the music, photo and video apps from my iPod touch if I could... I've got a Mac for that.
I think it would also help change the perception of the "Apple Walled Garden" where all is controlled by the Mighty Jobs™.
Those are much more useful apps that most people want. The ones I'm talking about are the type that Apple eliminates from the app store from time to time because they don't do much.
But with any app not considered essential, sure, I would back them being removable as long as that doesn't cause problems for the way the device functions.
I'm not sure about the walled garden though. Apple has maybe18 apps. That's in a sea of more than 170,000. If there's a wall, it's an awful long one, because all of those apps are inside.
What perplexed me most is I can buy any books from Kindle but I just can't do that even if I have iPad. All just because I don't live in the US. It's almost like Apple didn't want my money.
But thank Abster2core for the link. I'll try to see if I'll succedd to have an US account.
I really don't understand why people blame Apple for these problems.
Don't you understand that it's the companies in your own country that's the problem? Do you think that Apple doesn't want to sell there? It's licensing issues that prevent the sales, as well as royalty payments.
Possibly some day, there will be a worldwide licensing authority, and then these problems won't exist.
Well, I am not so sure. Since a couple of hours the iPad-ready version of the Kindle app is available in the App Store internationally - I have just downloaded it in Germany. And there is no German Kindle store, German Kindle customers from here have to buy from the US store and pay in USD. Actually I have to go through the Kindle US store to subscribe to my local German newspaper (whose headquarters are located less than 500 ft away from my home). And I can legally buy US titles from the Kindle store as well.
No idea why Apple does restrict that for now, but I do not think they are bound by different laws than Amazon.
Of course it's licensing!
Are you forgetting that the Kindle has been around for almost three years? They have the licensing issues taken care of, mostly. Amazon has been selling books for a long time overseas, and has relationships with publishers over there. Apple doesn't. The iPad isn't even available out of the USA yet, and already people are complaining?
This is the same problem Apple had with the music store. And the movie and Tv store. It will take time.
Don't forget the trouble the various music publishers got into last year in the EU for forcing Apple to license through different stores in each country.
I've downloaded iBooks already. But I cannot connect to the books selection at the iTunes store. I see a placeholder.
I can't believe Apple wouldn't let us download books in advance of getting the device. After all, we can download iPad apps with no problem.
I just want to have it all loaded up the minute I bring it home.
So where do I go to download books (from Apple), before I get my iPad? I can't seem to find anywhere to buy/download books at the iTunes store.
Well, it looks as though iBooks is the front end. Which makes sense given that it's unbundled.
Of course it's licensing!
Are you forgetting that the Kindle has been around for almost three years? They have the licensing issues taken care of, mostly. Amazon has been selling books for a long time overseas, and has relationships with publishers over there. Apple doesn't. The iPad isn't even available out of the USA yet, and already people are complaining?
This is the same problem Apple had with the music store. And the movie and Tv store. It will take time.
Don't forget the trouble the various music publishers got into last year in the EU for forcing Apple to license through different stores in each country.
Well, I say it again. Amazon does not have any agreements for the Kindle with the publishers here. They do not sell German, or other EU, books on the Kindle. You can buy a Kindle from Amazon in e.g. Germany, but the only books you can buy are original US titles from the US Kindle store - there is no local store. You can resell foreign language books which have not been published by a local publisher freely - and that is exactly what Amazon is doing. A licensing requirement, as for movies and music, does not exist in this particular case. I was just questioning why Apple is not doing the same - a lot of people here would buy original US titles. And there are several titles in other languages in the Gutenberg Project, there is no licensing need for any of them.
So where do I go to download books (from Apple), before I get my iPad? I can't seem to find anywhere to buy/download books at the iTunes store.
I've downloaded iBooks already. But I cannot connect to the books selection at the iTunes store. I see a placeholder.
I can't believe Apple wouldn't let us download books in advance of getting the device. After all, we can download iPad apps with no problem.
I just want to have it all loaded up the minute I bring it home.
I will repeat. You need to have the app installed on the iPad to see and buy books from the new iBookstore.
Well, I say it again. Amazon does not have any agreements for the Kindle with the publishers here. They do not sell German, or other EU, books on the Kindle. You can buy a Kindle from Amazon in e.g. Germany, but the only books you can buy are original US titles from the US Kindle store - there is no local store. You can resell foreign language books which have not been published by a local publisher freely - and that is exactly what Amazon is doing. A licensing requirement, as for movies and music, does not exist in this particular case. I was just questioning why Apple is not doing the same - a lot of people here would buy original US titles. And there are several titles in other languages in the Gutenberg Project, there is no licensing need for any of them.
Amazon would need to have a license from those publishers here to sell books from here, there. They would also need permission from publishers there if they sell the same books, even though it would be in their native language. Apple obviously doesn't have those deals yet.
Good post. I appreciate it
Don't count on it
Yet another example of how none of us know anything and so making statements like you do can come back and bite you in the ass.