Does this seem early, or what? Apple’s iBooks team has begun emailing publishers notifying them that iTunes Connect will be shutdown for the winter holidays December 21st to December 28th. Presumably the holiday also applies to developers apart of the App Store review process. Last year Apple set-aside December 22nd – December 29th for what we imagine is some much needed RNR.
As many of you know, the iTunes Connect holiday is a yearly tradition — a time where apps and books will not be updated and price changes will be locked. Apple recommends that changes aren’t submitted during this time.
We strongly recommend that you do not schedule any pricing changes in iTunes Connect that would take effect between December 21 and December 28, 2012. Pricing changes scheduled to take effect during this date range will not be reflected on the iBookstore and your book will become unavailable for purchase.
We also recommend that you do not schedule any books to go live during the shutdown. Releases scheduled with a start date between December 21 and December 28, 2012 will not go live on the iBookstore until after the shutdown.

In a separate email that we anticipate will be sent out in November aimed at App Store developers rather than book publishers, Apple will more than likely warn “attempting to schedule app updates or price changes from December 29 through December 29 may result in an entry being unavailable for purchase,” like it did last year. Apple further added in its email today, ”To accommodate these holiday shutdowns, we are adjusting our deadlines for books launching in the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and the winter holiday.” Apple has set the following deadlines for publishers:
In its email, Apple further notified that its corporate offices will be closed November 17 to Sunday, November 25 and for the winter holidays from Saturday, December 22 to Monday, January 31. Employees are probably happy about the extended Thanksgiving holiday that Tim Cook awarded earlier this week. You can read the full email below: Thanks, Scott!
Apple’s corporate offices will be closed for Thanksgiving from Saturday, November 17 to Sunday, November 25 and for the winter holidays from Saturday, December 22 to Monday, January 31.
To accommodate these holiday shutdowns, we are adjusting our deadlines for books launching in the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and the winter holiday.
Thanksgiving Delivery Deadlines
Launch Date Book Deadline
11/19—11/20 Friday 11/9
11/26—11/27 Friday 11/9
Winter Holiday Delivery Deadlines
Launch Date Book Deadline
12/24—12/25 Friday 12/7
12/31—1/1 Friday 12/7
In addition, iTunes Connect will be temporarily shut down from Friday, December 21 to Friday, December 28, for the winter holidays. During this shutdown, the following functionality will be unavailable:
Access to iTunes Connect.
The validation or delivery of any books or updates.
Additionally, the following will be delayed:
Releases scheduled to appear on the iBookstore for the first time.
Pricing changes scheduled through the interval pricing system in iTunes Connect.
We strongly recommend that you do not schedule any pricing changes in iTunes Connect that would take effect between December 21 and December 28, 2012. Pricing changes scheduled to take effect during this date range will not be reflected on the iBookstore and your book will become unavailable for purchase.
We also recommend that you do not schedule any books to go live during the shutdown. Releases scheduled with a start date between December 21 and December 28, 2012 will not go live on the iBookstore until after the shutdown.
Regards,
The iBookstore team