Amazon Updates Kindle App, Removes Kindle Store And Adds Support For Newspapers, Magazines
by Joe White
July 25, 2011
Moments ago, Amazon updated its Kindle iOS application, making a variety of changes. First, Amazon removed the Kindle Store from the app, falling in-line with Apple's in-app policy (which the company appears to be enforcing now). Second, the Kindle app now supports newspapers and magazines (which obviously have to be purchased outside of the application). And third, users of the application can now share quotations from texts with friends, via Facebook and Twitter.
As outlined in the app's release notes, changes made in the latest version (2.8) include:
It really does look like Apple is putting pressure on publishers to adopt the company's in-app purchases polity. As a reminder, this policy forbids publishers from selling content via an external model within the app (this includes linking to a website). Amazon's Kindle application was one of the last resisting this policy. However, it looks like applications are finally falling in-line with Apple's policy, meaning content can only be sold via Apple's in-app model (Apple takes a 30 percent cut of these sales), or not within the application at all. How do you feel about the policy? Let us know in the comments. [Thanks Matt for the tip!]
- This update removes the Kindle Store button from the app.
- Read over 100 newspapers and magazines including The Economist and Reader’s Digest with high resolution color images. Visit the Kindle Store to subscribe to a newspaper or magazine and have each edition automatically delivered, or purchase individual issues.
- Customers who receive newspapers and magazines on Kindle can download recent editions to their iOS devices from Archived Items. Many newspapers and magazines are supported, and more are on the way.
- Share quotes and passages with your friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter while reading.
