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Netflix is the latest company to try bypassing Apple’s app store

marketwatch.com

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Re: Netflix is the latest company to try bypassing Apple’s app store

#31

Post by iokanuon »

dragonwriter wrote: post #14
orf wrote: post #2

> Epic Games will be launching its hit game Fortnite for Android on its own website, and fans will only be able to download the game there, not on Google Play ... while the setting that blocks third-party installations can be disabled on Android phones. If they are talking about disabling it system wide vs disabling it for a single application, is this not pretty irresponsible? Lots of kids play Fortnite, saying "hey…

> If they are talking about disabling it system wide vs disabling it for a single application, is this not pretty irresponsible? It's not a system wide setting, it's an app-specific setting (that is, it's for the app you wish to be able to install other apps.) Setting it to “allow” for the default browser and leaving it that way is something of an issue, though.

In my experience its only an app-specific setting on Samsung devices. Their phones give you a prompt for disabling the setting "just this one time".

Re: Netflix is the latest company to try bypassing Apple’s app store

#32

Post by akshayB »

Apps stores are work great if you are a small company and can get access to big audience for 30% cut. Apps stores essentially acts like middleman who does payment processing, can advertise and also provides fraud protection. But when you are already a big company like Netflix or Microsoft those benefits essentially just don't add up.

Re: Netflix is the latest company to try bypassing Apple’s app store

#33

Post by 8note »

bepotts wrote: post #10

Apple and Google not only created the device and funded the R & D for the features, but also created the APIs, the tools, the infrastructure, and attracted the (hundreds of millions of) users. The 30% cut they ask of developers is more than reasonable. Want to bypass that cut? Build a web app and make it play well on mobile. If you want to run it on Android and iOS devices, then I don't really see how anyone can say…

But the webapp will still play through apples browser, and apple should still get a cut on all your sales for providing it

Re: Netflix is the latest company to try bypassing Apple’s app store

#34

Post by vorpalhex »

bepotts wrote: post #10

Apple and Google not only created the device and funded the R & D for the features, but also created the APIs, the tools, the infrastructure, and attracted the (hundreds of millions of) users. The 30% cut they ask of developers is more than reasonable. Want to bypass that cut? Build a web app and make it play well on mobile. If you want to run it on Android and iOS devices, then I don't really see how anyone can say…

They uh, could charge for the operating system if they wanted to recoup their costs.

Or, they could have their app store with their 30% cut, and allow other app stores to be available. Google does this, it solves 99% of the problems available, and seems to be an OK balance.

Apple totally disallows this, has a draconian policy, and does everything in their power to make sideloading borderline impossible - oh, and prevents sales of anything through apps, which makes things like the Kindle app useless.

By your logic, your ISP ran all the lines, runs the service, services your modem, and should be allowed to determine exactly what websites you can and can not visit, and if it wants to charge you $50/month to go to Netflix.com then it can.

Re: Netflix is the latest company to try bypassing Apple’s app store

#36

Post by godzillabrennus »

ihuman wrote: post #6

Doesn't this violate the App Store guidelines? > Section 3.1.3(b) Multiplatform Services: > Apps that operate across multiple platforms may allow users to access content, subscriptions, or features they have acquired elsewhere, including consumable items in multi-platform games, provided those items are also available as in-app purchases within the app. You must not directly or indirectly target iOS users to use a pu…

I think Apple would face backlash from too many of their customers if they boot netflix for this.

Netflix is potentially more popular than iPhone as a brand.

I could be wrong but it would be amazing to see it play out.

Re: Netflix is the latest company to try bypassing Apple’s app store

#37

Post by maxsilver »

bepotts wrote: post #10

Apple and Google not only created the device and funded the R & D for the features, but also created the APIs, the tools, the infrastructure, and attracted the (hundreds of millions of) users. The 30% cut they ask of developers is more than reasonable. Want to bypass that cut? Build a web app and make it play well on mobile. If you want to run it on Android and iOS devices, then I don't really see how anyone can say…

"Visa and Mastercard not only created the device used for payments, but funded the R&D for it, widely deployed all of the payment readers, created the entire ecosystem of businesses that use it, support all of this infrastructure (for hundreds of millions of users).

So, a 30% cut of every purchase made using a Visa card is more than reasonable."

Re: Netflix is the latest company to try bypassing Apple’s app store

#38

Post by markkanof »

bepotts wrote: post #10

Apple and Google not only created the device and funded the R & D for the features, but also created the APIs, the tools, the infrastructure, and attracted the (hundreds of millions of) users. The 30% cut they ask of developers is more than reasonable. Want to bypass that cut? Build a web app and make it play well on mobile. If you want to run it on Android and iOS devices, then I don't really see how anyone can say…

But in a case like Netflix the whole ecosystem that Apple/Google have built aren’t providing any value for Netflix. No one discovers Netflix through the App Store. The iPhone is just one more device that Netflix will try to support because customers want to be able to access Netflix on as many different types of devices as possible. This is way different than for example an indie dev building a game that is best enjoyed on a mobile device.

Re: Netflix is the latest company to try bypassing Apple’s app store

#39

Post by microtonal »

jryan49 wrote: post #26
MiddleEndian wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hopefully these kids will be exposed to the idea that they can choose what software they use rather than being limited to a curated store.

They will most likely be scammed into downloading spyware.

Which is a valuable lesson - a lesson in learning to be a rational, critical, grown-up human being. Or we could educate them and it might never happen. Also, let's not forget that many closed system are spyware already.

Many of us became deeply involved in tech because some person (thanks Pat Volkerding!) or organization gave us a system were we could do whatever the hell we wanted.

Re: Netflix is the latest company to try bypassing Apple’s app store

#40

Post by Karishmra1234 »

bepotts wrote: post #10

Apple and Google not only created the device and funded the R & D for the features, but also created the APIs, the tools, the infrastructure, and attracted the (hundreds of millions of) users. The 30% cut they ask of developers is more than reasonable. Want to bypass that cut? Build a web app and make it play well on mobile. If you want to run it on Android and iOS devices, then I don't really see how anyone can say…

I do not agree that 30% is a reasonable cut and do not agree that it should be flat.

In most ad networks the revshare starts at 30/70 and you can always negotiate and get upto 10/90. Mind you this is where the adnetwork is supposed to actively provide infrastructure to serve ad impressions.

Google and Apple are able to get away because of lack of competition and that is where I think the real imbalance lies

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