ComiXology, a wildly popular iOS app underwent some very controversial changes over the weekend after being acquired by giant online retailer, Amazon, that has quite a few people upset. The major change has come in the form of the large inconvenience now being pushed on to customers through changes in their in app purchase system. The simple touch and buy system that was in place was now changed to a new form of login, redirecting you to a web browser page that requires additional information, some argue that this may infringe on the ability to simply impulsively buy comics and the additional time might make people second guess whether or not they really want to spend their money on that particular comic. Long time comic book writer, Gerry Conway, wrote an article detailing his personal outrage and the threat posed by this change and raises quite a few good points about why this is a touch decision. While this may prove to be beneficial in the future as well as for Amazon profits, it strikes at the impulse to just click and purchase and read immediately on your iPad. ComiXology also ran into a few road blocks while being held to Apple's stores content policies which also lead to their decision to head in a different direction. While I have tried the app out myself, I've never been a huge fan of any sort of E-reading alternatives but can completely understand customers frustration in this sudden change. This seems like a company taking a big gamble and hoping that their loyal fanbase will continue to buy at the rate that they were and expand, only time will tell if this will hurt their profits or if they will continue to hold on to the biggest web app for comics.
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