27th January Update: Please check out my Kindle vs iPad Review based on Apple’s iPad Press Conference.
9 to 5 mac might have just outed a big part of Kindle Vs iPad (or Apple iSlate) – They just wrote that Scroll Motion will be the official eBook Partner for Apple’s iPad.
Adding fuel to the possibility is that ScrollMotion told them they can’t comment till Wednesday.
9 to 5 Mac think Kindle vs iPad will involve ScrollMotion
They had initially written that ScrollMotion will be kicked to the curb as Apple deals directly with Publishers. Now they are writing that Scroll Motion will in fact be made the default eBook App for the iPad.
- 9 to 5 mac wrote a post titled ‘Is ScrollMotion involved with the tablet’ around 11 pm EST on Monday, the 25th.
- The post talks about the possibility that Apple use ScrollMotion as their main eBook App to take on the Kindle.
- The post disappeared and the entire site was down for maintenance. Plus the page was not in any of the caches on any of the search engines.
- Around 2:15 am EST the site was finally up. The post is still there – perhaps it really was maintenance.
Is ScrollMotion really going to be the eBook App of choice for the Apple iPad?
Their note that they cannot comment and will be able to on Wednesday certainly makes it likely.
Why was the site down almost immediately after outing the ScrollMotion information?
TechCrunch think Apple will pull B&N into Kindle vs iPad
TechCrunch claim that Apple is pulling B&N in as their eBook partner -
We believe there is a good chance there will be a Barnes & Noble bookstore built into the Apple Tablet …
… either as one of the showcase apps which launches with the device, powering a new book section in iTunes, or integrated directly into the Tablet’s e-reader.
The two companies are thought to be working closely together, increasing the likelihood that Barnes & Noble will be part of the announcement on Wednesday.
TechCrunch seem to be in love with the notion of Apple and B&N collaborating against the Kindle.
Why would Apple want middle-men?
What possible reason could Apple have for sharing a portion of its profit stream with B&N or ScrollMotion?
Actually, there are a few possible explanations -
- Apple needs lots of ebooks to compete – Kindle vs iPad isn’t quite as compelling if there aren’t a lot of ebooks available for the iPad.
- Apple wants to make a non-Amazon eBook App the default – Amazon already has two eBook Apps in the Apple App Store, Kindle for iPhone and Stanza, and they’re #1 and #4 in Book Apps.
- It’s a stop over measure until Apple has all its book deals done.
- Apple doesn’t want to deal with the hassle that is book publishers and territorial rights and letting ScrollMotion or B&N handle all of that for a 10-15% cut is fine by Apple.
- Apple are making Publishers hand out part of their 70% cut to B&N and/or ScrollMotion.
Perhaps Apple thinks eBooks are important enough to warrant a concerted effort
The biggest reason for Apple to set-up B&N (or ScrollMotion) as an official partner is to take on the Kindle effectively -
- Kindle vs iPad should be equitable on range of titles and for that Apple needs B&N (or ScrollMotion).
- iPad shouldn’t be dominated by Kindle for iPad and for that too Apple need B&N (or ScrollMotion).
Apple is OK letting in an eBook retailer as it strengthens the iPad as it takes on the Kindle and also weakens the Kindle’s position within the Apple iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch ecosystem.
One final twist – What if Apple has bought ScrollMotion?
A comment at 9to5 mac mentions this possibility and it certainly seems likely -
- It’s an eReader App that works.
- It uses a model (one app per book) that doesn’t cut out Apple and is also straightforward for marketing.
- ScrollMotion are a small enough company to integrate quickly.
- Apple do need an eReader App and an eBook company if they get into eBooks.
My money’s on Apple having bought out ScrollMotion.
We’re just one day away from Kindle vs iPad
Tomorrow we get to find out whether all the hype was justified -
- Just how targeted at reading will the iPad be.
- Will B&N or ScrollMotion be the default eBook App for the iPad?
- What will the price be?
- What will the price of ebooks be?
- Is the screen suited to long form reading? Perhaps the screen is PixelQi or Mirasol.
- How many newspapers and magazines will debut as content partners?
- What amazing new user interface will the iPad have?
There’s never been a device with as much hype as the Apple iPad and in a pleasant twist one of its main features is supposed to be reading ebooks.
Will Kindle vs iPad be a grand fight or will it be two completely separate devices that address completely different markets?
Filed under: iSlate Apple Slate Tagged: | kindle vs ipad
It would be super if Apple goes into this with either BN or Scrollmotion. My bet is that Apple will be with Scrollmotion. Those guys were ON STAGE at the big Apple conference last year and have had a great relationship with Apple. This would also cement Apple’s relationship with the innovative individual developers that create great stuff that totally MAKES the iTunes App Store aces above Google and others.
Went wandering thru the Iceberg store for a bit after reading the above and related articles. Compared to the Kindle Store, the offerings are quite meager and rather expensive.
I would like a device that would read whatever file I threw at it, and it is possible that the new Apple offering could get there.
It is unlikely I would start buying books at the prices I saw on the Iceberg Store. Too many are north of $25, which is about my limit for any book other than those that are VERY technical.