You’ve certainly noted availability of new application iBooks in iPad during the presentation of the device. Immediately after the presentation developers of such well-known eBooks as Stanza, ShortBook sounded the alarm because realizing its application Apple automatically “kills” all alternative eBooks. Really, why should users install even free eBooks if there already exists specialized application in the system, which is in addition worked out by the company itself?
Few days ago John Gruber casted light upon this news in his blog Daring Fireball and halfway becalmed hopping developers. Indeed, tracing such well-known products of the company as iPhone and iPod it becomes clear that iBooks must be the program pre-installed in iPad system, similarly to iTunes, iPod, iCal etc. But if you read carefully the product description at the main web-site you will find the following lines:
The iBooks app is a great new way to read and buy books. Download the free app from the AppStore and buy everything from classics to best sellers from the built-in iBookstore.
The cause of this is incomprehensible as it is for a long time known that Apple strives for getting all possible markets under, but many people incline to believe that this is connected with the problem of geographic licensing, as in fact, propagation conditions of printed content in Europe and USA are different. This can be good news for non-American publishers.
Some people point out that iBookstore is so far under development stage and Apple decided to afford an opportunity to buy content in approved stores Amazon Kindle and Stanza (Lexcycle) while they pull up their store as at all events they have a great advertising advantage for their product merchandising.
What is more, having proposed an alternative to users Apple protected itself from all sorts of accusations and causa. All the more so, as most people will be inclined to the native application anyway.