Newspapers Finally Realizing They Don't Have To Use Apple's High Priced Payment Offering, Or Locked Down App Store
from the hello,-html-5 dept
For quite some time now, we've been pointing out that for all the folks pissed off about Apple's very closed nature when it comes to the App Store, combined with it's ridiculously high 30% cut demanded on any in-app content purchases, there would be a growing trend to route around Apple as a gatekeeper, using HTML5 web apps. While such apps can't provide all the features of native apps, they can provide an awful lot. And, to be honest, a large percentage of native apps are really HTML5/javascript/CSS web apps wrapped up and compiled. But as Apple puts more and more conditions on things, people are going to route around the gatekeeper, and it's nice to see some big names realizing this. First up is the Financial Times, which has created an HTML5 web app that can be used on the iPhone/iPad without having to go through Apple's purchase process and without having to deal with Apple's restrictive rules.It may be limited right now, but more and more companies are going to recognize they don't need to go through the gatekeeper here. And as alternative means of distribution and discovery become more popular, the key advantage of the official App Store begin to fade away. I would imagine that over time, Apple may be forced to back down on some of its more ridiculous conditions and pricing, as more players realize that they don't have to go that route.
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Filed Under: app store, apps, control, financial times, gatekeeper, html4, locked
Companies: apple, financial times
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Findability
If I recall correctly, even Steve Jobs had at one time said that the apps would run natively on the Web rather than be downloads. For some reason no one was listening and every one continued to try to get featured in the App Store. Just messed around with that FT app and it's actually pretty nice. Certainly functional enough to serve its purpose.
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Not unexpected
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Re: Not unexpected
I apologize if this seems like a personal attack on you Transbot9, it wasn't meant to be.
If I'm confused at all with this topic, please let me know, but it seems pretty straight forward.
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Re: Re: Not unexpected
Nuh-uh! Steve Jobs invented computers and now "the cloud"! See that "i" in front of "iCloud"? That stands for "invented" by Steve Jobs!
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Re: Re: Re: Not unexpected
I thought Mircosoft had a copyrighted all clouds when they released Windows 95 with that lame splash screen.
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Re: Re: Not unexpected
Virtual Lantastic anyone?
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Re: Re: Re: Not unexpected
Virtual Lantastic anyone?"
I agree but you didn't go back far enough. They just want everyone's computer a slightly more mobile version of a dumb terminal.
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Re: Re: Not unexpected
"The Cloud" is the current "Web 2.0" - a marketing buzzword for general tech concepts that the technologically adept have been doing for years. Web 2.0 was just everyone else figuring out some of the cooler things that can be done with current web software languages (and shiny buttons). The Cloud is currently little more than remote storage, but there is a push for dumb terminal/smart server relationship and platform independence (which is...actually what web already does).
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Re: Not unexpected
Then they (Apple) will be faced with supporting an irrelevant service (App Store), blocking all routing attempts, or adjust to new trends. Take a guess at which one it will be.
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Re: Re: Not unexpected
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So why is everyone missing the real point?
At that point the ipad and iphone are no longer exclusive channels but just one among many.
I can't imagine that apple won't do something about that, let's hope they don't figure it out before it's too late.
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Re: So why is everyone missing the real point?
How soon they forget. Apple was pushing for everyone to do just that when they first released the iPhone. The App Store was a concession to complaints that HTML5 wasn't quite there yet.
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Luckily I came across a new fandangled tablet device by Acer called the "Iconia Tab".
and guess what? They are either android or windows based, are very sleek, light, have optional wireless/bluetooth keyboards, and are cheaper than the ubiquitous crApple brand
Oh and best yet, can work with html5 thereby giving all these news/content publishers an even wider audience who are not locked in by an over-reaching and dictatorial organisation.
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This distinct from a web "magazine" that will require monthly visits to a specific web site from a mobile browser, with a separate subscription and payment process. Repeat for each magazine. Rinse.
I wasn't too sure about Apple's cut with magazine "apps", but Newsstand's automatic one stop shopping approach to mobile magazines is probably worth it in the long run, and really, really hard to beat from a convenience standpoint.
It's going to take a LOT to get people to go outside of the system and subscribe elsewhere...
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Appstore v Web apps
On the issue of the masses going for the Apple system for magazines, I would agree only for the mass-market media. Mainstream media outlets that offer their products this way will get the most customers, but do so anyway. The smaller media outlets generally rely on a smaller, very interested subscriber base. As they are very interested they will certainly make the extra effort. Those smaller outlets then stick with their smaller base, but that isn't likely to change just because they are in the Apple system. The specialists will continue attracting specialists.
ps. I would install a techdirt web app ;)
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By and large, print publishers -- especially newspaper publishers -- are cheap SOB's who have no vision and no ability to innovate. They've entirely screwed up their cash cow industry by dragging their collective feet in adapting to new technologies over the years. They're still extending more effort trying to save the dying print business model while some companies create new information technology resources tha are changing the world. The brave new online news industry would be nowhere without Apple and the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. All modern tablet publications are forks split off from the development of these three popular Apple devices. So, publishers can bitch and moan about Apple's power and influence, but in the end they'll all have to be on Apple devices now and in the future, no matter what alternatives also exist. After all, that's where the innovation that sparked this publishing revolution was born. Besides, the biggest advantages of Apple's App Store are customer security, reliability and convenience -- and these will not fade away.
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Re:
The innovation in publishing revolution happened with the web, before the rise of modern smartphones.
While there are real advantages to having a native app (example, alerts of breaking news) it is equally important to have an outstanding mobile web site. After all, a mobile device user's first experience is probably with your website rather than with your app. They may become informed of your native app from the website. (This also goes for stores like Amazon, and not just for news like CNN.)
Publishers may not have to bitch and moan about Apple's power and influence forever. On Android there is no central app store gatekeeper. Google has Google Market. Amazon has Amazon's Android App store. Rumors are that Best Buy will soon have an Android app store. (Sort of like how multiple stores sell milk or television sets.)
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A case of Apple cutting off their nose to spite their face
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even slicker
Apple is really overreaching on this one.
The only thing that makes them less nasty than MS? They have a nicer GUI and HW. Other than that and they are arguably as bad as MS ever was.
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Re: even slicker
The Kinect has been hacked and messed with for months with some really interesting applications being created. I've not seen a single word of criticism or legal threat from Microsoft on this. With Apple if you dare to sell a screwdriver that would allow people to open up their I-Pod you get sued.
Of course this could be an indicater that MS knows that Apple really stole a march on them. The response is to become more disruptive and to try and find their way back to the top through trying different ideas out for size.
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shame
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Re: shame
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Since the first Macintosh computers - Apple has ALWAYS had this stance. It's not really a surprise. It's the core reason I avoid the company.
The OS and hardware are pretty cool, but the tyrannical attempts of control over customers are very UNcool.
No thanks, I'll continue to pass on anything that company produces. Not because I'm a M$ or Linux fanboi, I'm just a freedom zealot and a rebel. I don't like to be told what to do, in some cases.
At work or in the military - it's one thing. As a customer it's wholly another.
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Misguided
Newspapers should pay Apple and build native apps. Using the wide open and unrestricted Html5/JavaScript/CSS approach is like relying on the public domain. And we all know by now that there is no value in the public domain.
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Re: No one has to be in the app store
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اللغه العربيه
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