Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader uses Safari to bypass Apple's App Store rules
After changes to Apple's App Store policies prompted Amazon to remove a link from its Kindle application to buy new books, the online retailer has launched a new browser-based "Cloud Reader."
The Kindle Cloud Reader works in the Mobile Safari Web browser on an iPad running iOS 4 and up. It's also compatible with Apple's Safari browser on Mac and PC, as well as Google Chrome across a range of devices.
The new Web application allows users to read their Kindle books, and also includes links allowing users to purchase and download new books. Users can also enable an offline mode that allows titles to be read when a connection is not available.
The "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" Kindle Cloud Reader is highlighted by Amazon as having the following features:
The Kindle Cloud Reader works in the Mobile Safari Web browser on an iPad running iOS 4 and up. It's also compatible with Apple's Safari browser on Mac and PC, as well as Google Chrome across a range of devices.
The new Web application allows users to read their Kindle books, and also includes links allowing users to purchase and download new books. Users can also enable an offline mode that allows titles to be read when a connection is not available.
The "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" Kindle Cloud Reader is highlighted by Amazon as having the following features:
Comments
Apple is welcome to their 30%, it is their store after all. Having said that they need to look at their rules, how is someone like Amazon supposed to implement the 30% rule across millions of books that all have different price points!
Now if only some nice jailbreaker could work out a way to add the store link back to Kindle apps.....
EditL Wow! and who said Kindle books are cheaper than iBooks? I just check Game of Thrones on Kindle and it's a buck more than mine.
Edit again: A Clash of Kings is also more expensive than in iBook store.
Kudos to Amazon.
I wonder how many others will follow this route.
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No Firefox?
I may be wrong here, but Chrome and Safari are both webkit based so I would assume it relies on some webkit html 5 implementations that firefox just doesn't have yet. Same probably goes for the lack of IE support too.
I don't like the verbiage in these stories about web apps "bypassing" Apple, Apple has always been in favor of web applications for the iPhone and later iPad, they put their store's rules in place and encouraged people to take the development path that best suited them. Now, that said, I don't agree with a lot of the rules so, I love stuff like this.
Buy a native app and increase your lock-in into iOS (the money would be lost if switching to a different platform), use a web-app and no lock-in exists. That is why Apple prefers native apps. Naturally, for free apps this lock-in does not apply but some apps can switch their business model from paid app to free app + some sort of 'in-app' purchase. Those are the apps Apple would be loth to lose by them converting to web-apps.
The other element is the general platform appeal, any web app is immediately available to all 'tablet' devices (more or less), native apps will first appear on the most popular platform, ie, for iPads, web apps will erode that advantage.
Web Apps were core to iPhone while the App Store SDK was not yet ready
Here, corrected it for you.
I may be wrong here, but Chrome and Safari are both webkit based so I would assume it relies on some webkit html 5 implementations that safari just doesn't have yet. Same probably goes for the lack of IE support too.
Ah I see. And I thought Firefox (4 up) is fully compliant with HTML5.
Ah I see. And I thought Firefox (4 up) is fully complaint with HTML5.
I have some full complaints about Firefox, that's for sure.
Here, corrected it for you.
Nonsense! Web app is fully supported on all iOS devices.
I have some full complaints about Firefox, that's for sure.
Nonsense! Web app is fully supported on all iOS devices.
Does 'supported' not mean what I used to think it meant?
Does 'supported' not mean what I used to think it meant?
Yeah, it's really weird. Noticed the "Download.. Safari below"
Does it just work on iPad?
Edit: I see it only works on iPad. So it's Amazon restriction?
any web app is immediately available to all 'tablet' devices (more or less), native apps will first appear on the most popular platform, ie, for iPads, web apps will erode that advantage.
and by all tablet devices, you of course mean iPad only.
Sorry, but making a web-app does not mean you're not locked into a single platform. Remember all the "web-apps" that would only run on IE6 on Windows?
In fact, even this web-app seems to be locked into WebKit.
Web-apps may be able to replace some apps, but certainly not all apps, especially those that need access to system resources.
in favor of an apple proprietary language that can't be used to make web apps.
How long until apple decides that html5 uses too much battery and drops it
in favor of an apple proprietary language that can't be used to make web apps.
And how can Apple or other company blovk HTML?
How long until apple decides that html5 uses too much battery and drops it
in favor of an apple proprietary language that can't be used to make web apps.
How long until apple decides that html5 uses too much battery and drops it
in favor of an apple proprietary language that can't be used to make web apps.
Heard a rumor of Apple banning Safari on iPad3.