Amazon's Kindle app for iPad has dropped its in-app store links
The Kindle app’s iTunes listing now has a majority of ‘one star’ reviews alongside negative reviews lamenting the loss of the store link.
Users have described the updated, link-less app as “defunct” and “a big step backward”.
Other Kindle app users have made use of the reviews facility to denounce Apple’s policy and to insist that they won’t – as some suggest the iPad maker was hoping – defect to its iBooks store.
However some reviews highlight the lack of IT-awareness of many users who are seemingly unaware the link merely redirected them to Amazon’s website which remains accessible via the iPad’s web browser.
A number of app users have expressed confusion about how they can continue to purchase titles to read in the app.
That confusion is mirrored on Amazon’s support forums where users who have heard about the change have expressed concern about what it means for their Kindle devices or apps for other mobile platforms.
Staff employed by Kindle rival Kobo have complained that Apple’s rules even prevented them from explaining why store links have been removed from apps.
Kobo’s own iTunes listing has largely avoided negative ratings and has far fewer negative reviews though a post on its own blog, since removed but currently available via Google’s cache, attracted high levels of criticism directed towards Apple.
Whereas Apple have made there position clear regarding in app store.
Apple do not just own a device, they also own an operating system and that to me is the main difference. If the other competitors decided to develop OSs; then perhaps we could see the logic in Apple rejecting the use of in app stores. But as we know this is not the case. The iOS is on the same level as Windows and Google. Whether it be a mobile device or not makes no difference.
So by this reckoning, Windows should only allow us to read LIT files purchased from Windows ereader bookstore.
It simply does not make any sense. This is about promoting fairness when it comes to making choices when purchasing ebooks. By allowing Apple to continue to ruthlessly dominate ebooks on their OS and devices damages customer experience if customers cannot be given that choice.
People will have to decide for themselves in the long run.
Note that Apple iBooks can only be read on Apple devices. Yes, I have one now, but why should I be bound to have an Apple platform forever, especially when Apple is not playing fair? I for one have deleted my iBooks app.
I am aggravated on so many levels about this. I bought iPhones and iPads partically because of the apps! Now a android user (even a Blackberry user!) will have a better experience and options with book purchasing than I will. And I’m uncomfortable buying any Kindle or Nook books since the app could disappear, should Apple impose new rules. The sad part is that I would have loved to see iBooks take market leadership with a kicking app. But the selection is very poor, the interface is in-flexible, it’s slow, prices are higher and it’s basically the weakest of the major providors. I thought Apple gained market share by innovating the better product? Why aren’t more people complaining? Personally, I hadn’t followed the story until the button went away. But now, won’t developers start investing more in android platforms where the environment is friendly to development? Just astonishing that Apple is willing to downgrade the user experience and functionality functionality of their devices (over 200 million out there) to gain market share. Shame on Apple. Why don’t they improve their reader app instead. Didn’t we go through this with music already?