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Apple

Spotify Pulls Audiobook Purchases From iOS App After Apple Blocks Updates (theverge.com) 33

Posted by msmash from the no-country-for-non-apple-apps dept.
An update for Spotify's iOS app released Thursday had a big change for its audiobooks vertical -- and not for the better. The app no longer indicates how you can buy any of the audiobooks in its store, posing a major roadblock for its new business. Now when you go to make a purchase, the app displays a mostly empty screen saying, "Want to listen? You can't buy audiobooks in the app. We know, it's not ideal." There's no indication of where you might be able to buy the book. From a report: The update follows a statement from Spotify on Tuesday in which the audio streamer accused Apple of "choking competition" with its app rules for audiobook purchasing. It is worth noting that Apple also sells individual audiobooks through its Books app, which can be purchased in-app. When Spotify's audiobooks feature launched a month ago, users could not buy titles directly in the app, but they could tap a button that would email them a link to purchase the book on the web. Once the purchase was made, the title would become available for listening in the app. Now, users have to go to Spotify's audiobooks hub in a web browser or through the desktop app in order to make a purchase.
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Spotify Pulls Audiobook Purchases From iOS App After Apple Blocks Updates More

Spotify Pulls Audiobook Purchases From iOS App After Apple Blocks Updates

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  • The cheese has moved. (Score:4)

    by Frobnicator ( 565869 ) on Thursday October 27, 2022 @12:32PM (#63003257) Journal

    Apple had a great model that worked well when it was small. When they were a small fish in a big pond they could implement whatever rules they wanted, they were a power to themselves, they had far more freedom.

    Then they grew. They became a marketplace, they became the environment. When they are the gatekeep for the environment, they have different rules to prevent marketplace manipulation and monopoly abuse.

    It seems the only way the company will learn will be from lawsuits and/or important players leaving. There is an ever-increasing number of both.

    • ...and/or important players leaving. There is an ever-increasing number of both.

      While I admire your optimism I don't think anyone of significance is going anywhere.

  • Since Spotify can't turn a profit (no, one quarter of financial handwaving is not a profit) they will be raising prices on users [marketwatch.com].

    So like many other companies who are raising prices just because they can [cbsnews.com], Spotify will be adding to the rise in inflation.

    You're welcome.

  • Can't buy eBooks from bookreader apps except for iBooks. And Google has started doing the same thing. I have to go to the browser to buy books for my reader on both platforms now.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by Xenx ( 2211586 )
      It's not a can't on the dev's part. It's a choice not to. Not to say I blame them for the choice, it's just a matter of understanding the situation. They don't want to pay Apple/Google a cut. I do believe they deserve a cut of the profit, in some capacity. Where/when/how much are questions that aren't really relevant to this particular message, but obviously both sides want what is financially best for them.

      • Then why bother putting your software out there on Apple? If you can't make a sale, why bother? Just put your stuff on the web and be done with it. At least you'll get something that way rather than having to put a message saying sorry Charlie. Not today.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Xenx ( 2211586 )
          Because people want to use the app. The point of the message being vague, and just saying you cannot buy in the app, is because Apple won't let you just tell them to go buy it on the website. By specifically saying you cannot buy it in the app, it implies you can buy it elsewhere without actually saying it.
      • 30% isn't a cut. It is gouge.
        They should get 3% and market value of bits moved. And only if they move the bits. I better have the ability to move my own bits. And have my own payment processing.
        They can eat the cost of the store themselves if they want everyone on it. They also better make it open, clear, and transparent.

        Stop defending bad practices just because "HOORAY CAPITALISM"
        • Comment removed based on user account deletion

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Xenx ( 2211586 )

          Stop defending bad practices just because "HOORAY CAPITALISM"

          I didn't defend their practices, if you actually read what I wrote.

        • Same with any Kindle book you borrow from a library - you have to go to Amazon after check-out in order to download the book to your Kindle. Pain in the posterior.

      • Re:It's been like this for eBooks forever (Score:5, Interesting)

        by MachineShedFred ( 621896 ) on Thursday October 27, 2022 @04:34PM (#63003957) Journal

        Apple could solve this forever by just changing their cost model to an a la carte model - 5% for payment processing, 15% for access to their CDN for block storage and artifact delivery, etc. Spotify isn't using Apple's CDN for delivery of the audio - they have their own content delivery network for that. They're just forced to use Apple's payment processing for in-app purchases, but having to eat the whole meal anyway.

        It's fucking horseshit and I hope the FTC starts looking into this for both Apple and Google, because it's a god damn racket.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Xenx ( 2211586 )
          Oh, I absolutely want it to be sorted out. I get where the 30% comes from, but it's archaic. It just wasn't relevant to the clarification I was making.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by mjwx ( 966435 )

          Apple could solve this forever by just changing their cost model to an a la carte model - 5% for payment processing, 15% for access to their CDN for block storage and artifact delivery, etc. Spotify isn't using Apple's CDN for delivery of the audio - they have their own content delivery network for that. They're just forced to use Apple's payment processing for in-app purchases, but having to eat the whole meal anyway.

          It's fucking horseshit and I hope the FTC starts looking into this for both Apple and Google, because it's a god damn racket.

          The problem with that is for most transactions, the payment processing (credit card fees, erm... they get paid by the merchant, not you, before someone starts with "but my card gives me cashback and I don't ever pay a fee", what you think the bank is giving you free money) is going to eat up most of, if not all of the 29p they take from any 99p transaction. All the other services are so cheap they are practically being given away, so paying for what you use isn't really a viable option.

          30% on 99p is like

      • No, it's that they can't. If they choose to list something on the app store, it will be 27% more expensive than it needs to be. Are you willing to buy anything for 30% more? A music album / ebook that costs $20 in Apples own store, on Android, on Web... MUST cost $26 in app. Unless you suggest they take a loss each purchase?

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Xenx ( 2211586 )

          No, it's that they can't.

          No, it's literally not. It's because they choose not to. I'm not siding with Apple/Google on pricing, or wanting to talk about it. But, that doesn't change the fact that the devs very much have a choice in the matter. They've chosen not to include it, because the cost is too high.

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by gazorg ( 53987 )

          IIRC, Apple prohibits having higher prices in the Apple store than outside. So they demand a 30% cut of the earnings if you sell through their store.

      • They don't want to pay Apple/Google a cut.

        Right because it's purely for payment processing, if they offer the product/service for free then Apple/Google don't demand a fee because the only difference between the free version and the paid version is the payment processing.

  • With Audible (Amazon) you could never buy a book within the app. I think only recently they let you use credits you bought online already to then purchase a book within the app. Apple is desperate to maintain their monopoly on in-app purchase on iPhones.
    • Even better than prepaid credits is loans, the user runs up a tab then you get interest from the loan and apple gets nothing when you make the user go-online to pay off the loan! win-win

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      With Audible (Amazon) you could never buy a book within the app. I think only recently they let you use credits you bought online already to then purchase a book within the app. Apple is desperate to maintain their monopoly on in-app purchase on iPhones.

      At least for Apple, it does have a rather interesting unintended side effect - it makes for a stunningly consistent user interface. If users buy stuff from outside the app for every app.

      Though, I suppose I'm undecided which way is better. Just having a reade

      • Most, if not all Android apps don't ask for credit card info. That's what Google Pay is for, and has been for just about as long as the Play Store has existed.

        Did you really think that every android app is asking for credit card numbers for in-app purchases? Sheesh.

  • should stop being anti competitive. This 30% surcharge on everything through e-stores needs to stop.

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