Amazon Spits Delicious Library for iPhone Out of App Store
Amazon, citing new provisions of their API/data terms of use, informed Delicious Library developer Wil Shipley that if he didn't immediately remove Delicious Library for iPhone from the iTunes App Store, they'd remove his ability to use Amazon APIs and data from all of his products, including the long-standing Delicious Library for Mac.
Just when we thought Apple had a hold on mind-boggling app blocking. Sigh.
TUAW quotes the relevant new passage:
(e) You will not, without our express prior written approval requested via this link , use any Product Advertising Content on or in connection with any site or application designed or intended for use with a mobile phone or other handheld device.
So, according to Shipley:
Delicious Library for iPhone isn't coming back as long as we're using Amazon's APIs, unless they decide to make an exception to section 4e.
Which he says he's been told they aren't going to do at this point.
Is this just another big company stumbling around in confusion about new mobile technology and how it's used, ready to rectify it when public outcry makes them aware and uncomfortable. Or is this a sign that Amazon has big plans for this new mobile technology themselves, and they don't plan to share?
There are 13 comments. Add yours.
well, it's amazon... they want to flog the kindle...
my vote is for stumbling.
Make this a twitter trend!!!
Wow. I'm sure glad I downloaded it when I did. The app for the iPhone is what actually made me start using Delicious on my Mac (I purchased it a few months ago).
Idiotic, it's okay for the desktop but not the handheld?
Well, it is their API and data, so they should get to do what they want with it....
One doesn't have to assume that big corporations are either stupid or evil. I suspect that Amazon doesn't have mobile phone rights to some of the functionality available through their API -- selling MP3s, perhaps -- and so they can't allow the API to be accessed from mobile devices.
I hate to say this... but what about Pocketpedia???
It also utilizes Amazon's mobile API.... I guess go & grab that one now...
Wow I can't believe mike overbo actually chimed in on this one I actually believed he became a silent partner or something
glad i finally downloaded this just last week or so. i'd been meaning to for quite a while.
:(
Mike, the problem which this is DL on the iPhone is not using the Amazon API. It syncs the data directly from DL on your Mac, which uses the API to get data.
Amazon are saying you can not use data obtained with the API on a mobile device, not just that you can't use the API.
I don't see this as "stumbling around" or them being evil, they no doubt wrote that paragraph into their terms and conditions for a reason. If Wil Shipley choose to not read the terms carefully or ignore the terms that is not Amazon's fault....not need to always make out the big companies always the bad guys.
Neil, these conditions are new, since DL came out so Wil Shipley is in no way to blame for not reading the terms.
This is no good, we have all been waiting for DL app for a while and now this
I already hav it and I guess it's better than nothing. But we will not get any updates and can't get bugs fixed, so it may end up being unusable as iPhone OS gets upgraded.
Solution, just As amazon bought Stanza, it should have bought DM. It's a great fit and DL already sends users to amzn if they want to buy items in their lib. Or related items.
Also DL is beautifully done and well designed and has a nice brand that can be built on. An acquisition seems like a great way to go about it.
Can you download it from anywhere on the web?