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Barnes & Noble Nook iOS App Gains Purchase Links

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Barnes & Noble has updated its Nook app for iPhone and iPad with a new "buy on BN.com" button that redirects users to the company's website to complete e-book and audiobook purchases (via GoodReader).

barnes and noble ios app
The button appears alongside book listings and opens the user's default browser to the corresponding product page on Barnes & Noble's website. After completing the purchase, content automatically syncs to the Nook app and any connected Nook devices.

Previously, iOS users had no clear path to purchase books through the app, often leaving customers confused about how to buy content. The new system mirrors recent updates to Amazon's Kindle app and Spotify, which added similar external purchase options.

The changes stem from a court ruling in the ongoing litigation between Epic Games and Apple. In April, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a contempt order prohibiting Apple from blocking external purchase links or imposing commissions on them.

For over a decade, Apple's App Store guidelines required developers to either use Apple's in-app purchase system with a 30% commission or remove any links directing users to alternative payment methods.

The ruling has enabled e-reader apps to offer more intuitive purchasing experiences, with Kobo also implementing similar functionality.

Top Rated Comments

con2apple Avatar
con2apple
11 months ago
Open the App Store. What do you see?
Advertisements for mini-games where no progress is possible without spending money. Every month, there's a recommendation for the biggest of these games. Every week, new addictive games are advertised.

Even though it's WWDC, Apple keeps pushing and pushing these games. To get every last cent out of our pockets. So they can keep their 30% of the billions and billions of dollars they make every year. For nothing.

I'm so glad that this de facto monopoly is now being recognized from all sides and that Apple is finally being forced to compete. It can only be good for us customers.
Who knows, maybe the team behind this “recommendations” will then once again recommend some relatively unknown apps.

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Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppliedMicro Avatar
AppliedMicro
11 months ago

iOS users had no clear path to purchase books through the app
…and now they have.

A clear win for consumers and small(er) businesses.

Certainly more intuitive than that “we wish we could tell you how to purchase, but sadly we can’t” faff.
The concept of purchasing things on app or website and paying with a payment card certainly isn’t foreign to consumers.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cateye Avatar
cateye
11 months ago

They should just add the 30 percent of the Apple tax to the product price.
Add the 30% Apple Tax and an additional 20% Stupid Tax for anyone willing to pay that much more for no legitimate reason other than brand idolatry.

"But but... safety!" So you never make any purchase anywhere for any reason other than the App Store? Really? If so, then you're allowed to argue you must have IAPs through Apple as an option for "safety." If not, you've undermined your own argument and exposed it as the concern trolling that it is.

Every day that the App Store gets one step closer to being spun off from Apple, or becomes one of many freely-selectable competing App Stores under no influence of Apple, is a win for everyone, whether they realize it or not.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
P
platinumaqua
11 months ago
Good. It doesn't make sense that content that are portable across platforms like ebooks has to go through Apple's IAP. It should work like purchases of physical goods.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
sw1tcher
11 months ago

I would like to purchase with in app purchases but I was not given that option, so no it's not customer friendly or useful, they took the choice from customers.
No choice was taken away when they (and Kindle) never offered in-app purchases to begin with.


3rd paragraph:

Previously, iOS users had no clear path to purchase books through the app, often leaving customers confused about how to buy content. The new system mirrors recent updates to Amazon's Kindle app and Spotify, which added similar external purchase options.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
WarmWinterHat
11 months ago

Maybe your right choice is great but I wouldn’t want anyone entering my house and giving rules on what I can do with my house. Competition is great, this is why we have smartphone competitors like android, iOS, BB and windows at one point. If government wants to make platforms in their rules, maybe they should create their our government platform.
My phone is my house, not Apple's. I'm not renting.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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