gail from maine wrote:
"None of the book applications out there work that way - not Amazon/Kindle, not Banrnes & Nobel Nook, none of them. They keep you ENTIRE purchsased library in the Cloud, so you have access (when connected to Wifi) to your many, many books that you have lined up to read over the next sevaral years.
You then selelct the ones you want to have on your devide right now, and you download those only. Then, you just don't even have to click on teh "Cloud" option if you just can't stand to be overwhelmed by such a vast array of potential reading material.
What, exactly, is the problem?
And oh, by the way, you can delete a device from iCloud at any time by deleting the iCloud account off of the device....how hard is that?
What, exactly, is the problem?"
GB
WWell, I'm rather disappointed with your comment on this VERY TROUBLING "Content Control" ISSUE! You state that none of the most used mobile book apps also don't have the option to allow the user THE RIGHTS to delete, remove (permanently) their purchases, whether from within the book app, the Cloud, or from iTunes. So, this justifies ANY such app from denying the user the option to control what content takes up valuable, LIMITED space...free though it may be. My opinion is that Apple is JUST as CRIMINALLY ABUSIVE, as Microsoft and Google are, to their members by taking the away the choice to control what they want to do with their purchases.
So "What, exactly, is the problem?" I'll tell you, speaking on behalf of a vast majority that feel the same way I do. These mega-monstrosity companies in the personal computer and mobile/information/social media/data storage industries, to name but a few of the MAJOR technologies that people around the globe are FORCED to use, for lack of commercial competition, are helplessly dependent on, and victimized by. Why? Because these companies are corrupt by their own power and financial dominion to the point where they are not governed by ethical standards nor judicial checks and balances. That's my answer to your unfriendly (to be kind) "What, exactly, is the problem?"
I also have issue with your demeaning reference to "And oh, by the way, you can delete a device from iCloud at any time by deleting the iCloud account off of the device....how hard is that?". I'm going to be a little snotty here, cause I'm hopping mad. God forbid that anyone actually used this incipid suggestion as yet ANOTHER useless and ignorant "resolution" you offer, for the consequences of deleting a device from iCloud has several immediate native sub-routines when executed. Syncing with other devices - gone! Not all devices are in perfect sync with all devices, meaning a vast amount of backed up data was just erased. Yeah, it can be recovered, but only for a VERY short time period. Not many users are aware of how syncing works, and that iCloud syncing already is inundated with problems that developers have to fix.
MY response to the original question of how can one delete purchased books from the Cloud, from iTunes Purchase History and/or from the book app directly is this: It's very difficult, and unless you have developer skills or know how to read source files from a website (which is hard to read even with some experience in programming), hiding your iCloud books from being visible in your book app of choice is the best resolution I can offer, being an ethical and responsible person.
I'm not entirely sure if you can delete the books from the Cloud this way, but I will offer the steps that makes what is in the Cloud much higher chance of user-control options. If I'm wrong, no harm done because it won't DO anything unintended. From a desktop computer, go to www.icloud.com, and sign in. You do NOT have to download the Cloud app to your hard drive, but you can if you wish. From the website, once signed in, you will see all the native apps the Cloud backs up and stores your content in, by category. Open (click on) iBooks and you should see your entire backed up purchases an/or sites you opened in iBooks (as PDFs), etc. I believe you can delete content right there.
Another option is to go straight to iTunes library on a desktop computer, and make sure you select all categories to display (Music, Apps, Videos and Books). Select the option to also show Cloud content. Unfortunately, if it's not downloaded to your library, in order to PERMANENTLY delete content, you have to download EVERYTHING that has a cloud symbol next to it. Once it's "in your library", you CAN delete it, but make sure you select the option to permanently delete it when the confirmation window opens. Doing this makes it disappear from the cloud AND your purchase history. You will have to buy it again if you decide you want it back.
I hope I was helpful, in any way, and in any measure. I'm RARELY logged in but you can email me at my AOL addy.
Good luck and remember one thing: you have control over one thing only. You control how you choose to react, feel, perceive and your attitude. This is true of EVERYTHING you experience, PERIOD. Even things we don't have control over, like being rear-ended, getting cancer when you chose not to smoke, drink, eat fatty foods, and exercised faithfully; whether you're betrayed, lose a loved one, become impoverished, etc, etc. I'm sorry if I intruded by sharing info that has nothing to do with the question posed; I don't have much opportunity to make a difference in the way people think and feel, so whoever reads this is fortunate, for I've learned people don't want this kind of help.
Renée Wenker