Barnes & Noble promises B&N eReader app for iPad near launch
By Donald Melanson 
posted March 11th 2010 12:29PM
posted March 11th 2010 12:29PM
posted March 11th 2010 12:29PM
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Will Apple allow it? I mean its going to take away from their book business now.
@reader1
Seriously.... Apple's going against everything they stand for, here.
Sadly, it's probably not a sign of things to come, as far as music an video markets are concerned.
@Jaylittles531
I think what you meant to say is "It's going to provide more content for their device, which will in turn make more people want to buy it."
Pretty sure that's what you meant to say. You understand that Apple's storefronts are there to make people buy their hardware, right? Does anybody not understand this simple concept?
EVERYONE! DON'T REPLY TO READER1'S COMMENTS!
Serious he's just there to start flamewars because he has no life and nothing he says makes sense. Lets keep the stream of infuriated reply's as a minimum
@Jaylittles531: Of course they're going to allow it. They're going to monetize every app transaction conducted on the device plus profit from the device and related subscriber agreements for wireless.
So much win.
Competition? Ever heard of segmentation? Apple owns the customer that's going to buy and buy large at the AppStore, Amazon, B&N Store, and on and on and on.
Every check out the Android Market? WinMo? Palm? RIM?
So much fail.
@Jaylittles531 Likely, just like they will allow the Kindle app for the iphone/ipad to stay.
because anyone that is invested in those markets will be less likely to buy an ipad if they have to have two devices. But if they can keep using which ever ibook store they want or at least the books bought on the other ones, there goes that point against the ipad.
@Ariel Bender Stop being such a douche bag. It's lame posts like this that tend to paint all apple enthusiasts the same. To all that complain about "Apple Haters" - this is why.
@reader1
I'm sure you're just trying to flame, but just in case other people take you seriously, Apple's iBook application is a nearly exact clone of the "Classics" app available in the iPhone AppStore.
It would make a lot of sense for Amazon to make a decent Kindle App. I'd wager Amazon attempts to make more money off of the book sales than from the Kindle device itself.
@Jaylittles531
This whole thing just goes to show that we (the consumers) are just allowing Apple to set us up for one more big failure. Why are we buying into making Apple the police officer of what we can and cannot put on our devices? Because that is exactly what we are doing when we make iTunes (and devices that only interface with iTunes) the answer.
Didn't we already go down this path with DRM. The content providers told us what we could and couldn't do with that which we bought and then so many of us get screwed when they decided to close up shop and shut down their DRM authentication servers. Now I'm not saying that Apple is going to shut down shop anytime soon but I can see us not always seeing eye to eye on everything. They may not have to shoot themselves in the foot either for that to happen. I mean what happens when something better comes down the pipe and Apple tries to keep us from leaving by turning this situation on us?
Hey, isn't this the way cults work?
@scobb: It's easy when so many posters have got an Apple up their ass about the world as it is and not how they want it to be. There's a reason why analysts are targeting a $250+ share price for Apple, regardless of how many versions of Android are installed on countless BOGO and free phones, especially when Moto is going with Yahoo in China. What's next, Bing running on Android in the US?
@James Sonne
The Classics app is a clone of 10 billion different bookcases.
What was your point again?
@DaveBach
If other device makers insists on similar access to the publishers, then there will be no danger.
Letting one company have all of the cards for content is frankly dangerous.
@Ariel Bender
As a matter of fact I had an Android, Blackberry and WinMo Phone and from my point of view, the iPhone is what suited me best. It just works the way I want it to (as long as its Jailbroken and Unlocked).
But for you maybe something else works better.
By the way this question wasn't about phone brands it was about E-Readers. Think before you type.
@LAY
I'm sorry what company would that be again? Last I checked you didn't have to use an iPad to buy books from Barns and Noble. Wouldn't that automatically mean that there is no monopoly here?
@Jaylittles531 Will Sony allow it?
@BigD145 Ah, wait. Perhaps I'm thinking of the other bookstore... Borders. They're the Sony seller.
@Jack Am sorry, Apple makes more money from contents than from hardware itself, you pay $500 onetime for the hardware, with just 20books, they make that much money back excluding manufacturing cost. The real business is content and not hardware.
Now that's 1 book burning I wouldn't mind seeing.
Really? I thought that Apple wouldn't allow something that is already being done by them on their product....which is why there is no Firefox app.
If they allow this for the iPad could various browser apps be far behind?
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
I guess another e-reader app is not 'duplicating functionality' like another browser app would be, as in this case you will have access to content that you wouldn't otherwise have access to.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
It's different because the iBooks app isn't a nativ app, it's just a regular app on the App Store.
@Chris DPSN Actually there is already a mobile version of Opera Web Browser available in the app store, so Apples process of elimination seems a little hazy - maybe (and hopefully!) we will see both more browsers and more ereader apps in the near future.
@fromtheyear
iBooks App will be native on the iPad but not the iPhone.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Theres already a Kindle App on the iPhone, and I'm doubting they'll suddenly remove that. Apple also allows Audible.com content, when they themselves sell audiobooks as well.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi - You have the worst Engadget username.
That's all.
@MRCUR it didn't transfer well when they redid the site....
yeah right; It would not be surprising if Apple block that App just like Google Voice.
@henrooo
This is what I was thinking. If they don't block this B&N app, then it goes to show that Jobs truly hates Google.
@Plazmic Flame
He hates a certain Dr. E. S.
It would be nice if there was only one standard e-reader app (which supported all common formats) and you could simply browse different stores (B&N, Amazon) and purchase e-books from anyone.
@One Love
Indeed it would. But that would be about like apple letting you buy music from amazon without side-loading itunes. Only bolero steve jobs would allow that.
@wraith404
er... what? You can buy music from Amazon all you want, on any Apple product, without doing anything with iTunes.
Are you an idiot?
@Jack I believe he means you still have to use itunes to load the music onto you device.
@Jack can you buy directly from your iphone or ipad... that's the point. only amazon gives you the best alternative from your computer, as other music stores require some extra steps.
@JesusFreak
1. No you don't, there's plenty of software that lets you bypass iTunes
2. Why is loading music onto your device through iTunes a problem, and what does it have to do with Amazon?
Apple devices can all play the MP3s that Amazon sells, there is no compatibility issue there. Complaining about the method used to get songs onto Apple devices in the context of buying music from Amazon is flat out stupid.
@Jack
most ppl use and will use itunes... it's the default program
itunes store is all over this program.. can u dl from other stores, programs and even your CDs, yes.. but it takes extra steps
Is there a different mp3 store in the app store... no
@pedmart
That made absolutely no sense. Is your problem that you don't understand how compatible Apple's devices are with other companies' music and/or other media? I'm not sure what your issue is here. Is it just that you don't like iTunes? Because that's just too freakin' bad and nobody cares.
Ha, yeah right...
It will get approved but when you open it it will close instantly and redirect you to the iBook app.
There's already a free kindle app for iPhone/iPod Touch. It'll still run on the iPad, though it'd probably look hideous scaled up. I don't imagine it would take much work for Amazon to increase the native resolution for iPad.
@Kyzgar "It'll still run on the iPad" Um, I'd like to see confirmation on this still. I agree that I think it will, however, when I read "nearly all apps in the app store will work on the iPad" I took it to mean that maybe anything involving a microphone and a certain Kindle app to be the most likely to not be allowed. This app still has to be approved. It'd be nice to hear that ahead of time, but if it wont be I think Apple would like to have the assumption of compatibility to help with their pre-orders.
So between this app, the kindle app and the ibooks app, the iPad will have access to pretty much every book available for any device?
That's sweet
hello nook
goodbye nook
@htd
And goodbye eyesight too after reading a few novels on a back-lit LCD. The iPad is not going to take away customers that buy eInk readers, they have the sense to know the difference.
@wraith404
Yes, because everybody who looks at backlit LCDs are suddenly going blind after two hours of using them.
Oh wait, no they're not. You're an idiot. And I bet you're reading this post on a backlit LCD.
@wraith404 it would be better if there was an e ink device that can bring together all these stores. Adam maybe?
@wraith404 - Thank god someone else gets it. I'm an extremely pleased nook owner. If I buy an iPad it most certainly won't be for reading books.
@Jack Jesus you sensitive little brat!
Reading a book (black text on a white background) is a strain on the eyes regardless of what you use.
That's why any book on the subject always advises people not to read for prolong periods of time on them.
Or let me guess, those people obviously don't know that Apple exists and therefore the problem no longer is an issue?
@Jack
Look, I'm about ready to go for the "report" button if you dont get a frigging grip.
as far as this:
"goodbye eyesight too after reading a few novels on a back-lit LCD."
He is totally right. A 100+ page novel, if you are a dedicated reader will cause some serious eyestrain reading it on an LCD display.
Did he mean you are going to go blind? ((((NO))))
But will you have eyestrain ((((YES))))
Now go take a walk and calm down.
@Jack
Learn some facts first dumbo
@LAY
He said "goodbye eyesight". That doesn't mean eye strain, that means goodbye eyesight. As in, eyesight is gone. No more eyesight. Do you have comprehension issues too?
And only after a few novels? Really? Despite the fact that lots of people look at LED backlit screens for 8+ hours a day, every day, for years on end without going blind? Are you completely delusional?
Keep defending the stupid things people say here all in the name of trying to correct the Apple "fanboys". That's not making you look any dumber or anything. When you defend stupid things, your defense is just as stupid. Try to keep that in mind.