According to a string of reports, Apple has recently blocked updated versions of certain iPad magazine applications from the App Store, for no apparent reason. Interestingly enough, each rejection has always been of an app adding a subscription service - with one such example being
Time Inc.'s
Sports Illustrated iPad application.
The application, as
AppleInsider reports, had been updated to allow for subscriptions. However, Apple denied this new version access to its elitist App Store in a move that has left Time Inc. feeling understandably disgruntled.
And, what's more, Time has apparently been "going nuts" in an attempt to get Apple to say
yes to their proposed subscription plans. Indeed, as Peter Kafka (of
MediaMemo) states: Time Inc. doesn't have an explanation as to why these updates have been rejected, "presumably because they can’t get one from Apple itself."
Maybe it's just that Steve wants to control every aspect of the App Store, and isn't prepared to hand over even a smidgen of power to anyone else. Who knows?
Interestingly enough, some iPad apps in the App Store do charge users directly.
The Wall Street Journal and
Kindle are examples of these. However, the popular (and oft-demonstrated) newspaper app,
The New York Times, is also subscription-less - adding further mystery to this very strange situation.
