Spotify launched its audiobook business just last month with 300,000 titles, but is now saying that Apple is engaging in "anticompetitive" behavior that is impinging the new business, the company wrote in a blog post. It said that Apple rejected its audiobook purchasing system three times due to a violation of its rules. To comply, it had to hide the price of the audiobooks and do sales outside of the main app via an email link.All of that makes it harder for Spotify to compete, as users can't easily compare prices. "[This] harms not only consumers, but, this time, also authors and publishers who now find themselves under Apple’s thumb." It's also highly inconvenient for buyers used to simply clicking on a link to buy an audiobook.Spotify's audiobooks could have easily been accepted if the company had followed the App Store rules, Apple told The New York Times. "We provided them with clear guidance on how to resolve the issue, and approved their app after they made changes that brought it into compliance," an Apple spokesperson said.Spotify could also have sold its audiobooks through the App Store's purchasing system, but Apple would then take a 30 percent cut — putting Spotify's audiobooks at a considerable disadvantage against Apple Books. "With our Audiobooks launch, Apple has once again proven just how brazen it is willing to be with its App Store rules, constantly shifting the goalposts to disadvantage their competitors," said Spotify CEO Daniel Ek.Spotify is already... Continue reading at 'Engadget'
[ Engadget | 2022-10-26 07:02:10 UTC ]
Paul McCartney will narrate the audiobook edition of his upcoming picture book, Hey Grandude! (Puffin), which is inspired by his experiences of being a grandfather. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-04 02:57:43 UTC ]
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A reader comes to terms with the role audiobooks play in her ability to be more mindful for the sake of her mental health, and considers reading life solutions. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-07-01 10:41:46 UTC ]
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Sweden’s Bonnier has announced a sweeping expansion in Europe of its BookBeat digital service, multiplying by seven times its former reach in terms of markets for audiobooks and ebooks. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson Service Has More Than 50,000 Audiobooks and Ebooks he... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-06-24 12:55:40 UTC ]
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Audiobook streaming service BookBeat has launched in 24 new European markets, making the service available in 28 countries overall. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-24 12:31:26 UTC ]
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A little under two years after its five-season run ended on BBC America, Orphan Black is returning with a bang, and probably loads more sound effects. Fiction publishing startup Serial Box is reviving the beloved sci-fi show this summer as a ten-epis... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2019-06-13 22:51:00 UTC ]
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Angelica Gonzalez used to read about a book a year. Then she discovered the Libby app, which allows anyone with a Los Angeles Public Library card to borrow e-books, audiobooks and other electronic media — for free. Now Gonzalez regularly checks out titles and transfers them to her Kindle.... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-06-12 10:00:00 UTC ]
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You can now use Apple Pay to make purchases from iTunes, the App Store and Apple Books. You can also use it for Apple Music and iCloud storage subscriptions. MacRumors spotted the change in a recently updated support document. The added Apple Pay opt... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2019-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Publishers Association has called for a longer extension to Article 50 after Theresa May’s Brexit withdrawal agreement was voted down for the third time by MPs. Politicians voted by 344 votes to 286 against the government’s deal, meaning Britain is now scheduled to leave on 12th April. The... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission have broken a political deadlock on a new copyright directive to produce a major revamp of copyright rules, for the first time in 18 years. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple on Wednesday promoted a company veteran to oversee Apple Music and said the service had hit 48 million subscribers. Oliver Schusser is now vice president of Apple Music and international content. A 14-year Apple employee, Schusser previously led launches of Apple services like the iTunes... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal
[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2018-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For a picture of what life was like in 2017, look no further than the apps, movies, books, and music that topped the App Store and iTunes charts. This week, Apple revealed the most popular titles that iOS users downloaded over the course of the year. In terms of media, the top choices weren’t... Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2017-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'We trust that the European Commission will take the specific nature of the (ebook) sector into account," says the Börsenverein' Jessica Sänger. The post European Booksellers Cheer as Digital Market Talks on Ebooks and Geo-Blocking appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Philip Jones takes a look at the European Commission's decision on Amazon's back taxes. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon is reportedly on the cusp of being hit with a huge bill in back taxes by the European Commission, worth several hundred million euros. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Talking of 'innovative and affordable solutions to assist schools and universities,' Odilo announces a deal with the European Commission. The post Industry Notes: EC Chooses Spain’s Odilo; Quarto Breaks Off Talks appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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On the European Commission's geo-blocking regulations for ebooks, the Italian, Greek, French, and European publishing associations issue words of caution. The post European Publishing Associations on Geo-Blocking, Ebooks, and the Digital Single Market appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Booksellers Association has welcomed the European Commission’s promise to take a closer look at the unfair trading practices in platform-to-business relationships. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The European Commission is considering a new law to deal with unfair trading practices after deciding further action is necessary to promote fairness and responsibility of online platforms such as Amazon. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Commission ruled last week that booksellers must now fulfill orders from customers anywhere in the European Union. Some fear the shift will force small and medium-sized booksellers out of the ebook business. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German news publishers suing Google for copyright dues under a 2013 law may get more than they bargained for, with implications for readers and newspapers throughout the EU.Rather than rule in their favor, the Berlin court hearing their case has raised doubts about the validity of the very law... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2017-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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