"All good things must come to an end. Preferably in a humongous explosion."
So I've been using this ebook reader/store app called Kobo. I likes it. The interface is nice and they have a decent selection of books.
The most recent version of the app contains a major change: you can't shop for books through the app itself anymore. Naturally, people are flipping out like it's the end of the world and Kobo is kicking puppies down the street.
Here's the thing. Apple is a harsh mistress. They have a rule that any in-app purchases have to give Apple a 30% cut of the profits. Kobo, like many other similar in-app stores, got around this in a very simple way: you could shop for the book through the app, but when you hit the purchase button it would take you to Safari to finish the deal. So you weren't buying the book through the app itself, but through the Kobo website.
Naturally, Apple saw that loophole, and decided to close it. You're now no longer allowed to have a link in the app take you somewhere else to purchase an item for the app. Kobo had no choice but to take the store out of the app. It doesn't affect what you've purchased, it doesn't change your account, you don't lose any books -- all it means is that you have to go to Safari to shop for your ebooks, instead of only using Safari for the purchase step.
The one-star app ratings have been piling up like crazy, with reviews ranting about the change. Really, people, did you think Kobo wanted to make it harder for you to buy books? Where do you think their money comes from? The change is unfortunate but it doesn't turn a five-star app into a one-star app. On their blog Kobo asks users for their feedback, and suggests that they also give feedback to Apple directly. I don't think Apple's gonna reopen the loophole, but hey. People could at least direct their ire where it belongs.
I dunno, maybe working in the software business has made me more likely to consider the reasons behind apparently poor software decisions. It's frustrating to know a change will make your customers unhappy, but to be unable to do anything about it because it's not even your company's fault.
Edited to add -- I also have to wonder if Apple is trying to reduce competition for iBooks. Personally I think both Kobo and Stanza beat the pants off iBooks, and I would be very sorry to see Apple trying to play favorites instead of improving iBooks so it can compete better.
The most recent version of the app contains a major change: you can't shop for books through the app itself anymore. Naturally, people are flipping out like it's the end of the world and Kobo is kicking puppies down the street.
Here's the thing. Apple is a harsh mistress. They have a rule that any in-app purchases have to give Apple a 30% cut of the profits. Kobo, like many other similar in-app stores, got around this in a very simple way: you could shop for the book through the app, but when you hit the purchase button it would take you to Safari to finish the deal. So you weren't buying the book through the app itself, but through the Kobo website.
Naturally, Apple saw that loophole, and decided to close it. You're now no longer allowed to have a link in the app take you somewhere else to purchase an item for the app. Kobo had no choice but to take the store out of the app. It doesn't affect what you've purchased, it doesn't change your account, you don't lose any books -- all it means is that you have to go to Safari to shop for your ebooks, instead of only using Safari for the purchase step.
The one-star app ratings have been piling up like crazy, with reviews ranting about the change. Really, people, did you think Kobo wanted to make it harder for you to buy books? Where do you think their money comes from? The change is unfortunate but it doesn't turn a five-star app into a one-star app. On their blog Kobo asks users for their feedback, and suggests that they also give feedback to Apple directly. I don't think Apple's gonna reopen the loophole, but hey. People could at least direct their ire where it belongs.
I dunno, maybe working in the software business has made me more likely to consider the reasons behind apparently poor software decisions. It's frustrating to know a change will make your customers unhappy, but to be unable to do anything about it because it's not even your company's fault.
Edited to add -- I also have to wonder if Apple is trying to reduce competition for iBooks. Personally I think both Kobo and Stanza beat the pants off iBooks, and I would be very sorry to see Apple trying to play favorites instead of improving iBooks so it can compete better.