K-NFB Reading Technology, developer of Blio, a multimedia-optimized e-reading software, has released a much-anticipated version of Blio for Apple iOS devices. And in acknowledgment of Apple’s new policy requiring in-app purchases on its devices, Blio’s new software for iOS devices does not provide any kind of link to the Blio e-bookstore.
Readers can download Blio for their iPads, iPods and iPhones from the Apple App store beginning today. However, Blio also appears to be among the first new software releases for iOS devices to reflect Apple’s new policy prohibiting the practice of allowing third-party apps to by-pass Apple’s in-app purchasing system and its 30% commission on sales. Typically iOS apps from retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble and others have included a link that opens a new web browser that takes the consumer out of the app to their own mobile-optimized retail web site to make their purchases. Apple had instituted a soft deadline of June 30 requiring that purchases on its devices must be made through the Apple in-app purchase system.
In a release announcing Blio for Apple devices, K-NFB and its partner Baker & Taylor, said, “Due to Apple’s new policy regarding purchasing products within an app downloaded from the App Store, the app does not provide a link to the Blio store. iPad, iPhone and iPod users can use their devices to purchase books by visiting http://mobile.blioreader.com.”
Developed by technologist Ray Kurzweil and his company K-NFB Reading Technology, Blio can display books in full color with their original print layouts, illustrations and photos. Blio supports video and offers read-along Text-to-Speech functionality and more. Through a partnership with Baker & Taylor, Blio has launched an e-bookstore and the e-book software is being pre-loaded on a wide range of personal computers and mobile devices.
The software has already been released for Windows 7 OS computers. Once they have downloaded Blio for iOS, Readers who have already purchased titles in the Blio format can download their e-books to their iPads, iPods and iPhones.
K-NFB founder Ray Kurzweil said, “Blio brings books to life by offering the most engaging, flexible and interactive reading experience you can find enabling readers to engage with their passions in a whole new way.”
