Kobo Strikes Back By Developing Web App

[exfileme]

Kobo is getting around Apple's new rules by creating an HTML5-based version of its popular e-book reader.

Kobo Strikes Back By Developing Web App : Read more

 

[socalboomer]

Go Kobo! Stupid policy of Apple's - just another money-grab.

 

[coldmast]

It does everything including taking 30% profits for "services" that make it's device look better.

I think it would be hilarious if Apple Store Employees started marking 30% gratuity on all purchases or service.

 

[mianmian]

30%, That's apple tax !

 

[dalethepcman]

Here is Apple's logic in a nutshell.

You make a kick but app, Apple agrees to put your app in its stores. It makes an "if you don't have an iphone" commercial featuring your app because its so cool. Apple sees you making millions, it then copies the functionality of your app, and changes its service agreement making it no longer possible for you to make profit from your app by increasing its fee's to higher than your profit margin. You hire lawyers to fight Apple in court, they have more lawyers and bankrupt you and your company in legal fee's.

Thus another Magical feature is born into the iFamily. Apple innovation at its finest.

 

[psiboy]

where are the authorities on this one? Antitrust? Anticompetetive behaviour...

 

[liveonc]

You wanna make it easier for people to purchase e-books, NOT harder. I can't even buy an e-book on my Sony Reader from Sony's American/Canadian site because my credit card isn't American/Canadian! If I wanted to read e-books on a TFT, I wouldn't have bought a Sony Reader. These e-books cost more then apps & I'm not willing to spend money on apps, but I'm willing to spend money on e-books. I can purchase bus/train tickets via SMS, get Angry Birds via Android Market, but if I want an e-book, I'll have to connect my e-Reader to a PC, sync with Reader Library, purchase my e-book via a European site, only to find out that they have in the American/Canadian site, but NOT in the European sites. So I found a PDF scan of a physical book for free, downloaded it, & nobody made money that day!

 

[gm0n3y]

[citation][nom]liveonc[/nom]You wanna make it easier for people to purchase e-books, NOT harder. I can't even buy an e-book on my Sony Reader from Sony's American/Canadian site because my credit card isn't American/Canadian! If I wanted to read e-books on a TFT, I wouldn't have bought a Sony Reader. These e-books cost more then apps & I'm not willing to spend money on apps, but I'm willing to spend money on e-books. I can purchase bus/train tickets via SMS, get Angry Birds via Android Market, but if I want an e-book, I'll have to connect my e-Reader to a PC, sync with Reader Library, purchase my e-book via a European site, only to find out that they have in the American/Canadian site, but NOT in the European sites. So I found a PDF scan of a physical book for free, downloaded it, & nobody made money that day![/citation]
The issue with e-books, which you can't blame Sony/Kobo/Amazon/etc for, is that each book is distributed by different companies depending on the country and the money goes to different companies because of this. Its all about which publisher caries the book where you live. Its an antiquated system in modern times, but that's how it works.

 

[gm0n3y]

HTML5 really is hyping up to be the savior of the platform wars. Once most apps can just be made in HTML5 we can use the same app across all platforms (Windows, OSX, iOS, Android, Linux, Windows Phone, etc) without any interference from the platform itself. That means no Apple tax and no applications can be denied. Its puts the power into the hands of the developers. Since HTML5 is browser based, it should also help protect your device from the app hogging resources, installing malware, etc.