O line magazines/corporate greed.

I was just trying to download my latest copy of AP onto my Galaxy Tab through Zinio, a digital magazine app, when I got a message saying "This version is no longer supported. Please update." But there is no update available!! Zinio have just made an exclusive deal with Apple, who skim 30% of all subscriptions and insist the app is not available on any other tablets. I have four annual subscriptions, one of which I paid for less than a week ago, which I can no longer download. Zinio suggest using Windows, which is not why I bought the Tab. The Dell Streak was also just released with this app, and I am guessing it's just stopped working on that, too. Strangely, Zinio's website says it will soon be available on Android, but it was, and now it isn't.

I find it exraordinary that they would block existing users from downloading paid subscriptions, especially when they quite happily let me sign up. I also find it exraordinary they would agree to a deal like this with Apple when they already have clients on other platforms. And no, i won't be buying an iPad, or any other Apple products.

Apple are not insisting in anyway that any subscriptions signed up to whilst using their products are exclusive to their products. To suggest so is wrong.

If Zinio want to sign an exclusive for business reasons, thats up to them and I suggest you direct your anger in their direction.

On a different note, Android 3.0 (you know, the one that is designed to run on tablets, not 2.2 or 2.3 which you have on your Tab which Google states shouldn't even be in a tablet) is out and available to all manufacturers to put in their products, so maybe when it says to update, this is what they actually mean. This strangely enough is where you might actually find out where the corporate greed is.

Where is the 3.0 update for the Tab? When will it get it? Will it even get it at all or will they not bother as they are releasing a new 3.0 product instead and expect you to upgrade to that? At least every iPad owner on the planet can get every update, for free at the moment, the very second it's available.

The idea with subscriptions on the iPad is to ensure a seamless customer experience, I believe you have just experienced the opposite of that. Is this because Zinio now have the avenue to sell their subscriptions through the App Store the reason for this? One product to support with at least 17 million units sold instead of a multitude of products in a very fragmented market with not that many units in the hands of customers? Seems like an easy decision for Zinio to make.

Are you aware of the recent developments in subscription licensing?

On Monday the Readability app got knocked out of the iTunes store. In justifying this Apple pointed to the following clause in their guidelines:

11.2 Apps utilizing a system other than the In App Purchase API (IAP) to purchase content, functionality, or services in an app will be rejected.

You can read more about that case here: http://blog.readability.com/2011/02/an-open-letter-to-apple/

This decision appears to have caused mayhem in a number of places, with a large number of content/service providers suddenly alarmed that their business model had been destroyed. It is quite possible that Zino were panicked into this move due to the Readability decision.

Of more enduring impact is likely Apple’s imposition of new terms for publishers of subscription based content that a) Apple will charge a 30% flat rate commission on iTunes sales and b) no similar subscriptions offered outside the iTunes store may undercut pricing therein.

I trust you are not seriously suggesting this move is designed to ensure a “seamless customer experience”. Indeed it is another flagrant anti-competitive move from Apple, that in effect denies publishers’ rights to set pricing in discrete distribution channels according to their cost structure.

I give it 9 months before this gets binned, one way or the other.

That's correct Shaky. And as a result for the four subscriptions I have, one of which I paid for only a week ago, Zinio have stopped delivering content. Meanwhile the Android app for Zinio will still let me purchase magazines but not download them. After filing a complaint online they suggested that I get the ipad app or use my pc! I am appalled that they have agreed with Apple and their monpolistic demands at the expense of all the customers already signed up through Android.

If you subscribed with a credit card, you might get a refund because the goods are not delivered. Worth a try.

@ Shaky, best read readability's latest tweet


Which is exactly my point, that is not a seamless customer experience.

If you have an itunes account and sign up to a subscription, you click buy, type in your password and done.

Or the other way of doing it which 11.2 above stops.

Search for subscription

Click buy

Enter your name

Enter your address

Enter your credit card number.

Set up yet another username & password, then........ you get the point.

So, yes I am aware of the latest developments in subscription licensing, wether I agree with it or not is not even my point. As a consumer, this option is fantastically easy to use. Not only that I will never have to see differing price points elsewhere, which is something the average customer does not agree with or understand, which makes it even easier.

You may see this as anti-competitive, and maybe it is, but customers will love it without even knowing? Why? Price is the same but easier than buying it direct. This increases customer service and increases customer experience which sells more product

As for the cut that Apple makes, most publishers will love the idea of keeping 70% of the revenue. A quick search shows that I can be a Zinio affiliate myself and earn a 30% cut, which means that Zinio makes more than 30% which is a higher cut than Apple. This will make Apple their biggest 'affiliate' and I'm sure they will make much more money this way. If Zinio sells their subscriptions from their website they keep 100% of revenue.

The iPad has put circa $10billion onto Apples bottom line in 10 months, more than anyone could ever predict, so, are you still a short seller of Apple stock?

Well I for one am glad I never bought into the Apple cult. Over-priced and over-hyped. The iPad doesn't even run flash and doesn't take memory cards: the Macbook Air is an over-priced netbook.

Zinio by the way have just released the block on my Android app, temporarily or not remains to be seen. I just had a reply from them saying that due to an unusually high volume of customer service requests they may take up to 48 hours to reply.

Anyway I am off to Thailand for 2 weeks. Can't wait!

Yup, same here. i-Bollox

Apple products are great. They are aimed mainly at people with a fear of , or no interest in technology and how it works. Their user interface is the main selling point. They are a triumph of marketing over value.
However they do indulge in anti competitive practices.

I,however, being a tight arse, prefer to pay a quarter to a third of the price for an equivalent product with a slightly more demanding user interface.

Bah, what a load of cobblers. Zinio totally screwed you over, so now the last 3 posts are all blaming Apple. Clearly it's all Apple's fault!

Unlocker I wouldn't even bother

Yeah, you're right, I shouldn't!

So very, very, true.

You get your news from Gizmodo? A gadget blog? You should quote something from Engadget as well, it would increase your credibility

I also remember you bragging about how you were a 'short seller of Apple stock' last year. I notice Apple stock is now at about $330-340, up about $100 per share in the last 12 months. Are you bankrupt yet? Or was that yet another case of you being economical with the truth?

I'm not sure why this has resurfaced now, but do at least be courteous to each other. Thank you.