[Gabriel Beyers]

My books are available on ibookstore through Smashwords, but I'm wanting to sell directly through Apple.  Do I need to have a MAC to download the appropriate software or can I download it onto a PC?  Apple's iTunes Connect isn't real clear.

Thanks.

 

[MosesSiregarIII]

Yep, you gotta have a Mac with a new enough OS to run their iThingamabob.

 

[Gabriel Beyers]

That's what I was afraid of.  Thank you.

 

[Cherise]

Yep, you gotta have a Mac with a new enough OS to run their iThingamabob.

Will an iPhone or an iPad work?

 

[MosesSiregarIII]

Will an iPhone or an iPad work?

I don't think so.

 

[Carradee]

Yep, you gotta have a Mac with a new enough OS to run their iThingamabob.

It's more a new enough processor than OS, actually, but yes, you do need a Mac. An Intel one.

 

[Speaker-To-Animals]

You also need an ISBN and if you're in the US those are ludicrously priced: $125 for one, $250 for a block of 10, $575 in a block of 100. Since Smash only takes a very small percent of the cover price, about 10%, you have to sell a pretty significant number of books before you break even on the ISBN. If you're in Canada disregard because they're free. Lucky you.

My cocktail napkin math:

So take 10% of your cover price, then divide $25 by that number. If you have ten titles and you buy a block of ten, that's the number of copies you need to sell to break even over going with Smashwords.

The math of a single ISBN is dismal. $125/.29= 431. You would need to sell 431 copies on iTunes at $2.99 before going direct made you more money than Smashwords.

Buying a block of 10, you need to sell some combination of 862 copies on 1 to 10 titles on iTunes at $2.99 to break even. That could be one book that sold 862 copies or 10 that sold 86. Given how poor sales are on iTunes compared to Amazon or B&N, that's an awful lot of product to move.

TLDR If your overall sales are below 1000 copies per title, Smashwords will most likely net you more money.

 

[MosesSiregarIII]

Can you not still buy cheap ISBNs through Smashwords? Then use them for iTunes Connect?

 

[Terrence OBrien]

Apple has three general stages of publishing software.

The first is the application. One must apply and be accepted before proceeding. This is web based and can be done with either a Mac or PC.

The acceptance notification includes a link to download the software package necessary to upload. This software can only be run on a Mac.

After uploading the book, one can use a PC to check sales, update prices, etc.

 

[Monique]

Can you not still buy cheap ISBNs through Smashwords? Then use them for iTunes Connect?

Here's what the SW FAQ says about that issue:

Can I use a Smashwords ISBN elsewhere?
We do not recommend this. Smashwords ISBNs are provided as an exclusive service benefit for authors and publishers who utilize Smashwords' distribution services. To use a Smashwords ISBN elsewhere, or to utilize Smashwords as a free vending machine for ISBNs, goes against the spirit of why we make this benefit available to our authors and clients. To do so would also potentially create situations where your book is listed incorrectly. If you plan to utilize an ISBN outside of Smashwords distribution, it's best to go to ISBN registrar and obtain your own.

 

[Terrence OBrien]

For a SW ISBN, who does Bowker register as the owner?