News
Apple forces removal of USB sharing from e-book app
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Tuesday, February 2, 2010
News Category: Apps + Games
Lexcycle, maker of the popular e-book reader Stanza for the iPhone and iPod touch, recently released an update for the app that killed a popular feature, reportedly at Apple’s request. In the App Store release notes for Stanza version 2.1, it states “removed the ability to share books via USB as required by Apple.” Previously, the feature allow users to transfer books in the eReader or ePub formats—the latter being used for Apple’s upcoming iBookstore—to their iPhone or iPod touch using a USB cable. TechCrunch reports that in email correspondence with Lexcycle, Apple indeed demanded the feature be removed, but the company stopped short of explaining why, stating the it was “forbidden from discussing the specifics of our conversations with Apple on this matter.” The timing of the update is curious, as Apple just last week announced its plans to enter the e-book business via its new iBooks app for the iPad and accompanying iBookstore; Lexcycle itself is owned by Amazon.com, which purchased the app developer in April 2009.
Related Stories
- Pulp adds iCloud sync, new Home Page
- WordPress for iOS adds Push Notifications
- Sony launches Music Unlimited for iOS
- Fruit Ninja adds new features and power-ups
- Panic releases Diet Coda
- Apple removes Airfoil Speakers Touch from the App Store
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- Pulp adds iCloud sync, new Home Page
- WordPress for iOS adds Push Notifications
- Sony launches Music Unlimited for iOS
- Apple device poll ends, computing poll begins
- Fruit Ninja adds new features and power-ups
- Apple to sell Nest Learning Thermostat
- Third-gen iPad to launch in Guam, Philippines May 29
- Apple tweaks App Store with Editors’ Choice, Free picks
- Panic releases Diet Coda
- Booq rolls out new Folio for iPad
Recent Reviews
- Pelican i1075 Hardback Case for iPad
- Skinit Skins for iPad (3rd-Generation)
- Spigen SGP Steinheil Ultra Optics Screen Protector for iPad (3rd-Gen)
- ZeroChroma VarioProtect for iPhone 4/4S
- BodyGuardz UltraTough Clear Skins for iPad (3rd-Gen)
- Wrapsol Original + Ultra Hybrid Protective Film for iPad 2/iPad (3rd-Gen)
- iBattz Mojo Removable Power Card Wallet
- dreamGEAR i.Sound Power View Pro S 2.1A Dual Charging Dock
- dreamGEAR i.Sound Universal Power View
- Sena Cases Florence Portfolio for iPad (3rd-Gen)
Recent Articles
- Removing music from iTunes after copying to iPod
- iOS Gems: Farm 123, Facebook Camera, Scribblenauts, Shoot the Zombirds + Virtua Tennis Challenge
- iTunes TV show size totals don’t match actual disk storage
- Consolidating Multiple iTunes Libraries
- Converting Purchased Videos to 1080p HD
- Find My Friends always reports home location
- Creating an iTunes Match library from an external hard drive
- Benefits of keeping apps in iTunes when using iCloud
- Recovering iTunes from an External Hard Drive
- Normalizing volume levels for Voice Memos
1
Well that greatly reduced the value of Stanza for me.
Posted by Toxic Boy on February 2, 2010 at 2:53 PM (PDT)
2
#1: Don’t update Stanza. I was about to do the update, but when I saw that note, I figured I’d put it off indefinitely. It’s not as if they added anything to balance out the lost feature.
Posted by orgel in Falls Church, VA on February 2, 2010 at 3:20 PM (PDT)
3
Could you please stop with the scary conspiracy theory that Apple is out to get its competition.
Ars Technica has a much more rational reason for the changes. The author stated that they were using undocumented, private API’s to access a shared file storage area. Apple is just cleaning up private API use like it has been for a long time now. Anyways, the iPhone OS 3.2 includes a new shared folder scheme.
Like my teachers told me: Don’t believe what people tell you, do some of your own research to figure out the truth.
Posted by Goo on February 2, 2010 at 7:28 PM (PDT)
4
Surely you are in denial about Apple’s motives. Apple has declared war on any and all competition. Just ask the folks at Google and Amazon. Apple wants to accomplish with the iPad what it was able to to with the iPod, and that is to have a virtual monopoly on another medium for digital content. Just when Amazon had broken the hold of Big Pub on the book market (actually forcing it to charge a reasonable price for its content) Apple steps in and screws it all up. Rupert Murdoch meet your new best friend Steve Jobs. Thanks Apple.
Posted by Goo, with all due respect.... on February 2, 2010 at 9:15 PM (PDT)
5
“Just when Amazon had broken the hold of Big Pub on the book market (actually forcing it to charge a reasonable price for its content) Apple steps in and screws it all up.”
Not their fault.
Posted by Luis Velazquez on February 3, 2010 at 6:24 AM (PDT)
6
Apple have also told the makers of PDF reader to do the same.
They said they will put USB transfer back in the next update but for this update its been taken out.
This is my most used app for exactly this reason.
Not happy. Glad i read the update notes before going ahead.
Posted by dave pearce on February 4, 2010 at 2:45 AM (PDT)