intric8

Richard Ziade, on Apple’s rejection of Readability’s iOS application:

We’re obviously disappointed by this decision, and surprised by the broad language [cited in the App Store Review Guidelines, section 11.2]. By including “functionality, or services,” it’s clear that you intend to pursue any subscription-based apps, not merely those of services serving up content. Readability’s model is unique in that 70% of our service fees go directly to writers and publishers. If we implemented In App purchasing, your 30% cut drastically undermines a key premise of how Readability works.

Translation: you’re greedy.

Wired’s Gadget Lab on Apple’s strategy for a post-PC world, which they are currently leading:

“A research report published today by DisplaySearch found that sales of the iPad propelled Apple past HP for the No. 1 spot in the “mobile PC” market.”

Literally one day after Apple announced their new subscription model, leaving many content publishers and application developers howling over Apple’s fee structure, today Google revealed a subscription model of their own: One Pass.  Talk about flawless timing.

Google’s blog post about the service says One Pass is:

“…a service that lets publishers set their own prices and terms for their digital content. With Google One Pass, publishers can maintain direct relationships with their customers and give readers access to digital content across websites and mobile apps.

Importantly, the service helps publishers authenticate existing subscribers so that readers don’t have to re-subscribe in order to access their content on new devices.

With Google One Pass, publishers can customize how and when they charge for content while experimenting with different models to see what works best for them—offering subscriptions, metered access, “freemium” content or even single articles for sale from their websites or mobile apps. The service also lets publishers give existing print subscribers free (or discounted) access to digital content. We take care of the rest, including payments technology handled via Google Checkout.”

Cnet has the scoop on the real detail that has everyone excited, however.  The money part:

“Google’s rival service offers two big differences from Apple’s: content providers will get to keep 90 percent of revenue from One Pass sales and publishers will retain control of consumer data.”

This compares to Apple’s 30% cut from purchases from within the App Store – a significant difference.

When One Pass becomes available in more countries, it will surely become an obvious choice for many developers.

Adobe has unveiled CS5.

Question:  Will Apple create their own “Creative Suite” (just like Final Cut is the standard in video production now) and finally cut the cord from Adobe entirely?

How, in the name of all that is holy (no pun intended), did the iPad brand name make it past the brand geniuses at Apple?  And, generally, I do think they are geniuses.

But, as noted by the New York Times, “In the hours after the iPad announcement on Wednesday, ‘iTampon’ became one of the most popular trending topics on Twitter.”  My office-mates and I were already cracking baffled jokes about it while the live Apple Event presentation on Wednesday was still in-progress.

According to the article, it gets even worse for Cupertino’s customers outside the USA.  Apparently the “a” in iPad is literally unpronounceable for a native Japanese speaker.

This must have been an executive decision from the top down.  It should have found itself wrapped in toilet paper and discreetly discarded in favor of common sense.