Tag Archives: Amazon

Editorial: Demo Apps On The iOS App Store

Posted on May 23, 2012 by AppleBitch


A new strategy from Amazon lets users try out Android apps from the Amazon app store from within an app, giving users an easy way of finding out whether they want to purchase the full version of the app or not. Given that the iOS App Store has historically not been supportive of this approach, is it time for Apple to take a fresh look at their policies. The iOS App Store now has in excess of three quarters of a million apps available on it, which therefore makes it a pretty difficult task to make a decision to purchase one app over other apps that offer similar functionality.

According to the App Store Review Guidelines, Section 2.9 states that ‘apps that are beta, demo, trial or test versions will be rejected’. This means that it is difficult for developers to offer test versions of their apps for users to try out before they purchase. We’ve said ‘difficult’ and not ‘impossible’ because many can developers circumvent this rule by offering ad-supported free versions of their apps that allow users to test drive the app before purchasing the full version. However, isn’t it time for the App Store to start allowing apps that are full-version, full-featured applications, but are time-limited, to allow users to get a better idea what they will be purchasing?
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Amazon Not Selling New Apple TV Any More?

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Lily


AppleBitch has been informed that Amazon.com has ceased selling new units of the current generation of Apple TV from its own stock, Following on from recent reports that the retailer showed an sharp increase in shipping times for the Apple TV, Amazon.com has removed listings of new Apple TV’s from the shelves of its online store. Consumers looking for the second generation Apple TV device will have to either go elsewhere, or purchase a used or refurbished version.

The news comes as rumors swirl about an imminent upgrade to the Apple TV, with a third generation model potentially set for launch next month alongside the iPad 3. Amazon certainly doesn’t appear to be the only retailer discontinuing the model though as 9to5Mac spotted that other major stores such as Best Buy and Walmart have ‘erased them from existance’.
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Amazon Goes Head To Head With Apple In A War Of Love

Posted on February 2, 2012 by AppleBitch


With Valentine’s Day approaching, you may be in the mood for love. Perhaps you are even looking for a romantic gift to give the light of your life, and you may find that said romantic gift comes in the form of an iPad 2. However, if you are in the Amazon camp then you may have some pretty strong feelings in the other direction, with the Kindle going up against the iPad. Amazon themselves certainly do, and appear to be using the same strategy as Apple in marketing the Kindle over the next couple of weeks.

Both companies are using the opportunity presented by Valentine’s Day with a view to promoting their products as gifts for that special someone. For some time now, Apple has devoted the front page of their online store to extolling the virtues of buying an iPad 2 for a Valentine. Now Amazon has jumped into a remarkably similar stategy as can be seen from the screenshot above which popped into my inbox via e-mail this morning. A tablet enveloped in romance….now, where have I seen that before.
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A Rush Of ‘iPad 3 For Dummies’ Books Appear On Amazon

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Lucy



The French Amazon site, source of a few pre-emptive publications for unreleased Apple devices or software in the past, has posted a bunch of new books related to the unreleased and, as-yet, non existent iPad 3. The books are all in the iPad 3 For Dummies subject area and are apparently designed to give users, who haven’t seen an iPad 3 before, an idea of how to use it properly.

The books are by different authors but have titles like ‘iPad 3 Pour Les Nuls’, which equates to ‘iPad 3 for Dummies’, by Edward Baig with a publication date of March 29, 2012. Others include ‘Auf die Schnelle iPad 3 Ganz Leicht‘ which apparently translates as ‘On The Fly Easy iPad 3′ with publication scheduled for May 2012. There is also ‘Premiers Pas avec Ipad 3 pour les Nuls‘ or ‘Starting with iPad 3 for Dummies’ on April 26, 2012 as well as ‘iPad 3 Step by Step for Dummies‘, by Jolivalt Bernard, also appearing on April 26, 2012.
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‘iPad 3 For Dummies’ Book Release Date Is 23rd February 2012

Posted on December 16, 2011 by AppleBitch



In what could be seen as a rather pre-emptive move, a new book ‘iPad 3 For Dummies’ has appeared for pre-order on Amazon’s French site. The book has a suggested publication date of 23rd February 2012 which, as suggested by previous analyst comments, fits well with the rumored release date of the iPad 3.

The book, by author Cedric Gallet, is entitled ‘Tout sur mon iPad 3 pour Les Nuls’ and apparently offers 250 questions and answers about the highly awaited, but unannounced, iPad 3. The release date of February 23rd is perhaps speculation on the part of the author and publisher but, given previous rumors concerning the potential launch date of the iPad 3, is worth noting.
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Dumped: Apple TV 2 Price Drop

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Lucy



Amazon have dropped the price of the second generation Apple TV and relabeled it as the 2010 model, prompting folks at 9to5Mac to suggest that a new Apple TV could be on the horizon, perhaps for next year. The price of the second gen TV device has been dropped to $89.99 matching that of Best Buy US (Best Buy Mexico recently gave the Apple TV away free with MacBook Pro or iMac purchases).

While nothing has been speculated recently about a new version of the Apple TV, certainly one of the most wished-for features has to be the upgrading of the picture output to 1080p.  However, and perhaps in addition, the recent speculation surrounding the launch of an Apple branded television could have perhaps set nerves tingling over at Amazon with the price drop a result of that rumor.
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Amazon Begins Removing All References To ‘iPhone 5′

Posted on November 14, 2011 by AppleBitch



Despite the fact that the online retailer Amazon occasionally runs advertisements for non-existent or unreleased products (type ‘iWork 11′ into Google and you’ll see), we’ve been tipped that the online retailer has started removal of all product references to the iPhone 5 on their website. Previously, consumers were able to browse and view a number of accessories available for the iPhone 5, ranging from screen protectors to external cases and bumpers, but these products have now been withdrawn from the UK Amazon site and, we are assuming, the US site will follow suit.
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Crafty: Amazon Opens Up A New Cloud Kindle eBook Reader On iPad

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Chris


Amazon has, in a rather clever move, unveiled a new website termed the ‘Kindle Cloud Reader’ which is essentially a portal to cloud based Kindle books, optimized for the iPad (via TechCrunch).  This allows users to navigate to the site (http://read.amazon.com) using Safari on their iPad and read books that they have purchased in the Kindle format.

The new site essentially circumvents the subscription terms and conditions that were set by Apple which meant that the Kindle app on the iPad could no longer link to the Kindle Store as any purchases made in-app had to go via Apple’s own app retail system, entitling Apple to 30% of the cut. Amazon had previously changed the Kindle app to remove this functionality, but with the launch of this new cloud based web app, are once again taking on Apple’s iBookstore (whilst not breaking any rules).
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Will Amazon Cut A Deal With Apple To Compete With Netflix On Apple TV?

Posted on February 1, 2011 by AppleBitch


Amazon is rumored to be looking to take on Netflix with a video on demand streaming service that would be part of the Amazon Prime membership, according to Engadget. A few days ago, some sharp eyed Amazon Prime customers noticed that a leaked piece of text mistakenly placed on the Amazon website indicated that Prime membership, costing $79 per year, would include unlimited streaming of commerical free movies and tv shows at no extra cost.  The catalogue of media is apparently around 5000 titles in size.  With that type of offering, Amazon may be looking to cut a deal with Apple to squeeze in on the Apple TV.

The Netflix application on the Apple TV is one of its killer features enabling users to access a fairly sizeable library of TV shows and movies which are included in their monthly subscription to Netflix.  Apple also offers its own video on demand but as a rental model where users can rent a movie or tv show for 24 hours, paying for each one that is rented.  It appears that Amazon would be looking to provide an unlimited streaming service, similar to Netflix and the Apple TV would be an ideal candidate to gain market share.
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iBooks Rules All; Apple Rejects Sony Reader App From iOS App Store (Updated)

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Lily


It is being reported by the New York Times that Apple has rejected the Sony Reader application from the iOS App Store due to the fact that the app breaches new subscription requirements that would have allowed users to purchase books from within the app without any revenue going through Apple. While the Sony Reader application is not the only app to be rejected under this criteria, it is certainly the most high profile and Apple may follow suit with other apps such as the popular Amazon Kindle application. 

However, it should be noted that the saving grace for the Kindle app may be the fact that users are directed towards a web browser, in this case mobile Safari, in order to puchase content over the web, rather than using the prohibited in-app purchase method of the Sony Reader.  Given that Apple is rumored to be implementing its own in-app purchase and subscription system in the near future, it is no surprise that they have chosen to go down this route.
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