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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

#461

Post by happywage »

aardshark wrote: post #458
happywage wrote: post #380

I have a startup which builds a web-based enterprise product. A year ago we launched a companion app that provides a fraction of the functionality of the desktop application, just enough to help our customers extract the key information they need when they're on the road. All of a sudden a few days Apple decides we have to implement in-app payments. I explained them that this is an enterprise product for an arcane in…

Can you elaborate on this, because this is what I understand (from the point of view of someone who knows nothing about Apple's review process): You can't provide your app at no cost on the App Store. You can't provide your app for a cost on the App Store, if you don't include in-app payments. Or is it the case that you want to allow your customers to make nominal purchases through the app, and Apple say these must b…

>>>>>is it the case that you want to allow your customers to make nominal purchases through the app, and Apple say these must be processed through in-app payments?

Yes!!

Customers will not be bypassing the app store, they're bypassing the in-app payment infrastructure. But Apple want to allow only in-app payments.

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

#462

Post by tomc1985 »

wilsonnb3 wrote: post #417
PhasmaFelis wrote: post #371

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless they've changed it recently, you can install anything you want on an Android phone. You just have to change a setting to allow apps from unknown sources. It takes a few seconds. I believe this is still the only way to get the Humble Bundle app/game installer on your phone. https://www.humblebundle.com/app

Not to mention you can download other app stores to your device if you wish, including Amazon's and FDroid.

Play Store itself behaves similarly to App Store. Android lets you sideload through a separate mechanism, and all Google has to do is remove that switch from Android

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

#463

Post by hajile »

wilsonnb3 wrote: post #426
andyfleming wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IF applied consistently. This is Netflix though. I'll be interested to see how this plays out.

It's a lot easier and cheaper to switch from a $10 a month Netflix subscription to a $10 a month Hulu/HBO Go/Amazon Prime subscription than it is to switch from an iPhone to an Android phone.

Those all have different programming. It's even easier for loads of people to scream at Apple for removing one of their favorite apps.

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

#464

Post by georgeecollins »

ysavir wrote: post #404
sametmax wrote: post #374

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the other hand, Apple controlling the UI means, as usual, they kill other services ability to innovate. But most apple users don't care to have very limited capabilities as long as the core value is here and it's streamlined in the apple experience. Hell, they used a phone without copy/paste for a long time and it didn't bother them.

Companies aren't innovating anymore, though. We've reached the point where we have dominant players controlling the field, and any "innovation" we see has to do only with profit margins.

People are trying all kinds of innovations around streaming video apps, you are just aware of them. I am no expert, but off the top of my head I can think of people trying to create streaming subscription services for horror movies, for esports, for anime.. I'm sure most will fail, but who could have predicted Twitch ten years ago?

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

#465

Post by georgeecollins »

vkou wrote: post #360
gesman wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Building business that solely relies on constant mercy of someone else's platform is an extremely risky endeavor to begin with.

Any business solely relies on the constant mercy of their power and water utilities. For some reason, though, we don't tolerate Seattle City Light choosing to arbitrarily not supply electricity to another company, or Cupertino's water utility charging extortive rates to Apple, just because the latter has deep pockets.

Those utilities are heavily regulated. If they want to change their "terms of service" they have to go through a public commission.

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

#466

Post by realusername »

wilsonnb3 wrote: post #428
realusername wrote: post #413

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the crippled smartphones won the war, there's no real "usable" product for my preferences unfortunately :/.

Can you not install whatever app you want on an Android phone, as long as you enable sideloading in the settings?

I don't really want an app system, I would like a linux-like alternative where I can do a script to cat /dev/gps0 for example to record my location, or just ssh into my phone. I don't like at all the way Android is done.

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

#467

Post by michaelmrose »

s73v3r_ wrote: post #460
michaelmrose wrote: post #305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do have an android phone. I don't think there is any value in having only some workplaces be safe, only some restaurants clean, or only some computers actually owned by their owners.

That's not your call to make, however.

It's the peoples call to make.

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

#469

Post by PhasmaFelis »

tomc1985 wrote: post #462
wilsonnb3 wrote: post #417

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to mention you can download other app stores to your device if you wish, including Amazon's and FDroid.

Play Store itself behaves similarly to App Store. Android lets you sideload through a separate mechanism, and all Google has to do is remove that switch from Android

They could do lots of things, but absent any evidence that they're likely to, it's just wild speculation.

And it's not "sideloading." There's no other local device involved. Once you've flipped the "unknown sources" switch, you just go to a website, download, and install, same as you would on a desktop.

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

#470

Post by tommymachine »

michaelmrose wrote: post #365
tommymachine wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds farfetched.

You don't believe the Chinese government would force companies that want to do business in China to censor things they don't agree with or you have failed to notice the US trying to force companies to use compromised encryption so that they can spy on all communication?

Apple can always threaten to walk away from China if they request something like that. Apple also doesn't play nice with the FBI over those kinds of requests. This fantasy of yours is just getting wilder and wilder
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