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Apple and Google Face Growing Revolt Over App Store ‘Tax’

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Re: Apple and Google Face Growing Revolt Over App Store ‘Tax’

#11

Post by scarface74 »

cjoelrun wrote: post #5
dijit wrote: post #2

If steam can charge 30%, why can’t Apple/Google?

You can release an executable that can run on Windows, Linux, or OS X without Steam. You can't release an executable that can run on iOS or Android without going through the App Stores.

How well did that work out back in the day? I am much more willing to trust that an app can’t do anything crazy on iOS because of the sandbox, on a PC, not so much.

Also the friction of buying is lower. I’m not going to put my credit card information in every random website. I will keep a credit card on file with Apple and just use my fingerprint to authorize the purchase.

Re: Apple and Google Face Growing Revolt Over App Store ‘Tax’

#12

Post by Spivak »

cjoelrun wrote: post #5
dijit wrote: post #2

If steam can charge 30%, why can’t Apple/Google?

You can release an executable that can run on Windows, Linux, or OS X without Steam. You can't release an executable that can run on iOS or Android without going through the App Stores.

Nothing is stopping you from downloading and installing software from a website on Android. There's an argument to be made that nobody actually does that, that shops can't afford not to publish in stores, and therefore it's not a real alternative, but then it would equally apply to Steam where a lot of people exclusively purchase games.

Re: Apple and Google Face Growing Revolt Over App Store ‘Tax’

#13

Post by hellzbrinx »

codefined wrote: post #7
cjoelrun wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can release an executable that can run on Windows, Linux, or OS X without Steam. You can't release an executable that can run on iOS or Android without going through the App Stores.

I must admit I don't know about Apple, but you can download APKs for Android that are equivalent to an executable.

I don't know on recent iOS versions, but you could on previous versions with some security workarounds. If only GBA4iOS worked consistently...

Re: Apple and Google Face Growing Revolt Over App Store ‘Tax’

#15

Post by baybal2 »

Well, see once an app becomes more important than its platform, the platform has reasons to worry.

Recent exodus from apple app store over in app purchases began with Tencent strongarming Apple to let them run their own in app payments under a threat of them quitting.

It doesn't require one to be a brilliant thinker to ask "if Tencent was allowed to, why can't I?"

Re: Apple and Google Face Growing Revolt Over App Store ‘Tax’

#16

Post by ben_jones »

ObsoleteNerd wrote: post #10

Doesn't Valve take 30% from games on Steam? But they're complaining Apple taking 30% is too much? I also don't really think the Apple/Google fee is that unreasonable. Considering the resources, tools, marketplaces, tutorials, payment processing, all the other All dev stuff they provide in general. Yes if your app goes big, they make a lot of money. But for every big app there's something like 9 that fail completely (…

I don't know if you have a "fair" argument here. Who needs that 30% more Apple or an independent app developer? Though the same could be said for Valve, at least it's the purpose of Valve where apple sells computing devices not software as their core enterprise.

Re: Apple and Google Face Growing Revolt Over App Store ‘Tax’

#17

Post by dragonwriter »

cjoelrun wrote: post #5
dijit wrote: post #2

If steam can charge 30%, why can’t Apple/Google?

You can release an executable that can run on Windows, Linux, or OS X without Steam. You can't release an executable that can run on iOS or Android without going through the App Stores.

> You can't release an executable that can run on iOS or Android without going through the App Stores.

You absolutely can release Android apps without going through any app store, and if you go through an app store, it doesn't have to be Google's. There are different pros and cons for Google's store, handset maker’s stores (e.g., Samsung has their own), other stores (e.g., Amazon's), and direct distribution of your own apps without a store.

Re: Apple and Google Face Growing Revolt Over App Store ‘Tax’

#19

Post by tonyedgecombe »

ObsoleteNerd wrote: post #10

Doesn't Valve take 30% from games on Steam? But they're complaining Apple taking 30% is too much? I also don't really think the Apple/Google fee is that unreasonable. Considering the resources, tools, marketplaces, tutorials, payment processing, all the other All dev stuff they provide in general. Yes if your app goes big, they make a lot of money. But for every big app there's something like 9 that fail completely (…

30% seems a lot when BlueSnap/Avangate/FastSpring provide most of the same services for 6-8%.

Of course Apple would argue that they are connecting you to their customers. When there are a million apps in the store I'm not sure how true that is.

Re: Apple and Google Face Growing Revolt Over App Store ‘Tax’

#20

Post by javagram »

ObsoleteNerd wrote: post #10

Doesn't Valve take 30% from games on Steam? But they're complaining Apple taking 30% is too much? I also don't really think the Apple/Google fee is that unreasonable. Considering the resources, tools, marketplaces, tutorials, payment processing, all the other All dev stuff they provide in general. Yes if your app goes big, they make a lot of money. But for every big app there's something like 9 that fail completely (…

Valve takes 30% of direct sales through steam but allows developers to generate and sell separately steam keys where they get a 0% cut, as I understand it. For instance when you buy a game on humble bundle and get a steam key for it, valve makes nothing off that transaction.

Unless Apple and google start allowing sales outside their stores I don’t think steam is comparable.

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