Subscription Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

Kazaa reborn as iPhone, iPad music service

by Kelly Hodgkins (Sep 20th, 2011)

Several years back, Kazaa shed its roots as a file-sharing service with questionable content and is now a legitimate music subscription service. To expand its offerings, the subscription service recently introduced both an iPhone and an iPad client. Similar to Rdio and Spotify, Kazaa lets you ...

Former EMI boss says Limewire users were major iTunes customers

by Mike Schramm (Jul 26th, 2011)

Douglas C. Merrill used to work for record label EMI, one of the biggest members of the RIAA. He was forced out just a year later, but now he's sharing information from inside the company. And some of that information points to an interesting conclusion about music pirates: they often end up ...

Spotify goes live in the US, iOS app now available

by Kelly Hodgkins (Jul 14th, 2011)

As expected, Spotify went live in the US at 8 am ET. The free service which limits the amount of time you can listen will be available via invites which will roll out gradually starting today. If you don't want to wait, you can grab a paid Spotify plan right now. Subscribers in the US can ...

Five ways for iOS developers to deal with Apple's new subscription guidelines

by Erica Sadun (Jun 20th, 2011)

Over the weekend, Hulu subtly updated its iOS application to comply with Apple's revised in-app subscription guidelines. As Mike Schramm posted earlier, it removed the link on its main sign-in page that allowed users to visit hulu.com/plus to sign up for service. Apple states in section 11.14 ...

Wired, GQ in-app purchase subscriptions launching today

by Steven Sande (May 24th, 2011)

Condé Nast has officially launched subscriptions today for iPad editions of Wired and GQ. The Wired and GQ apps are free, and readers can buy either single issues at US$1.99 a pop or a full year for $19.99 through in-app purchases. The subscriptions automatically renew until you cancel ...

UK newspaper The Telegraph offers subscriptions through iPad

by Michael Grothaus (May 5th, 2011)

The UK newspaper The Telegraph has released version 2.0 of its iPad app. The updated app features a 30-day archive, night reading mode and greater depth of content, including video, picture galleries, graphics and cartoon archives. However, the big feature of the updated app is the pricing ...

Financial Times hopes to avoid iTunes subscription rules

by Mike Schramm (Apr 4th, 2011)

Despite a few objections after Apple announced its subscription setup for iOS apps, the service is underway -- developers and publishers can sell content subscriptions through the App Store, and of course Apple gets a 30 percent cut. One publisher is still holding out: the UK's Financial Times ...

MLB offers free MLB.tv trial during April for buying app

by Mike Schramm (Apr 3rd, 2011)

Baseball season started this week, and things are already off to a rip-roaring start, with the Yankees in first place. My Cubs are, well, losing as I write this (Dempster's grand slam on Friday didn't help my fantasy baseball team, either). We've already reported that the terrific MLB apps for ...

Popular Science has sold 10,000 iPad magazine subscriptions

by Kelly Hodgkins (Mar 31st, 2011)

When Apple introduced its new subscription terms earlier this year, Popular Science embraced this change and introduced subscription-based billing into its iPad-based magazine. Now that six weeks have elapsed, publisher Bonnier Technology Group is happy to report that Pop Sci now has 10,000 iPad ...

TinyGrab declines to sell subscriptions through the App Store

by Mike Schramm (Feb 21st, 2011)

Add another name to the list of developers who are choosing to opt-out of Apple's subscription restrictions lately. Rhapsody and Readability were the first two we posted about, although Readability didn't so much opt-out as get rejected and decide not to play the subscription game. Now, a service ...

Android may save the day for Apple's iPad subscription policy in the EU

by Kelly Hodgkins (Feb 21st, 2011)

There may never be an official "thank you" note sent, but Apple may be secretly grateful for the explosion of Android tablets about to hit the market. Apple is under the watchful eye of both the United States and the European Union's regulatory bodies regarding its new subscription policy for the ...

Google may introduce in-app purchasing to compete with Apple's model (Updated)

by Kelly Hodgkins (Feb 16th, 2011)

Google may debut its new in-app purchasing and subscription system to compete with Apple's controversial model. Similar to Apple, the Google system would let users purchase upgrades and other digital content within an application using Android's built-in payment system, Google Checkout. The new ...

Rhapsody won't sing Apple's subscription tune

by Mike Schramm (Feb 15th, 2011)

Hit the fight bell, because here we go -- Harry McCracken reports that Rhapsody is the first company to pass on Apple's new subscription rules, saying in a statement that Apple's arrangement is "economically untenable." Typically, they say, a Rhapsody subscription only costs them a 2.5 percent ...

Apple's subscription model is boon to consumers, bad for publishers

by Michael Grothaus (Feb 15th, 2011)

As we reported earlier, Apple announced the arrival of new subscription services for apps in the App Store today. According to the press release, subscriptions purchased from within the App Store will utilize the same billing system currently employed for app and in-app purchases. Publishers are ...

Get MacTech Magazine for postage, we'll pick up the subscription fees

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (Feb 8th, 2011)

Are you a Mac tech? You should really be reading MacTech Magazine, my friend. We've arranged with our pals at MacTech Magazine to give you a TUAW-sponsored subscription. Basically, we'll take care of your magazine subscription -- you just pay the postage. For US readers, this is $9.95 for six issues ...