Amazon, Google Cave To Apple, Drop In-App Buttons 307
CWmike writes "Amazon bowed on Monday to Apple's newest App Store rules, and removed a link in its iPhone and iPad Kindle apps that took customers directly to its online store. The move was required to comply with new rules designed to block developers from evading the 30% cut that Apple takes from in-app purchases. In February, Apple CEO Steve Jobs laid down the law. 'Our philosophy is simple — when Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30% share,' said Jobs in a statement released Feb. 15. 'When the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100% and Apple earns nothing.' Rhapsody updated its iPhone app last week to, among other things, remove the in-app subscribing link. Also on Monday, Google complied with Apple's new rules when it re-released Google Books — which had been yanked from the App Store — minus an in-app purchasing button."
Re:Cave? (Score:1, Interesting)
Apple makes about 30% profit on their devices. They make 30% profit on apps sold through the app store. Would it really f'in kill them if they let someone else make a buck? What, having the highest market cap of any technology company is not good enough for them?
Apple runs the app store (like the regular iTunes store) at near break even levels. [citation [cnn.com]] They do it because it sells hardware, not out of any altruism, but claiming Apple's percentage on app sales is exorbitant shows an ignorance about what percentage online retailers normally charge and about Apple's particular numbers. If anything you should be upset that they charge so little and thereby undermine the ability of competitors to get started in the market.
Now, Microsoft looks like like a gentle giant compared to the Apple.
There is certainly a lot of PR to that effect, and it seems like the "in thing" among some people to espouse such opinions. In my opinion, that just demonstrates one's ignorance about MS's business practices. Maybe MS finally figured out effective marketing for their brand image.