App Updates for HTML5 Apps • Hacker News Board

Re: App Updates for HTML5 Apps

#21

Post by saagarjha » Sat, Sep 07, 2019, 4:05 PM UTC

writepub wrote: post #19

saagarjha wrote: post #16

Note that this probably has less of an impact than you’d think: > Apps may contain or run code that is not embedded in the binary (e.g. HTML5-based games, bots, etc.), as long as code distribution isn’t the main purpose of the app, the code is not offered in a store or store-like interface, and provided that the software (1) is free or purchased using in-app purchase; (2) only uses capabilities available in a standar…

> as you don’t try to sell things through it Why? Why does Apple insist on playing middleman, if not for totalitarian control over all commerce on the platform? How is this not monopolistic anti-trust behavior?

I’m not providing my opinion on Apple’s policies; I’m just surfacing them because the linked article doesn’t make them clear.

Re: App Updates for HTML5 Apps

#22

Post by brlewis » Sat, Sep 07, 2019, 4:18 PM UTC

writepub wrote: post #19

saagarjha wrote: post #16

Note that this probably has less of an impact than you’d think: > Apps may contain or run code that is not embedded in the binary (e.g. HTML5-based games, bots, etc.), as long as code distribution isn’t the main purpose of the app, the code is not offered in a store or store-like interface, and provided that the software (1) is free or purchased using in-app purchase; (2) only uses capabilities available in a standar…

> as you don’t try to sell things through it Why? Why does Apple insist on playing middleman, if not for totalitarian control over all commerce on the platform? How is this not monopolistic anti-trust behavior?

Is anything stopping people from going all-in HTML5 and not even worry about having a presence in the app store?

Re: App Updates for HTML5 Apps

#23

Post by scarface74 » Sat, Sep 07, 2019, 4:28 PM UTC

writepub wrote: post #19

saagarjha wrote: post #16

Note that this probably has less of an impact than you’d think: > Apps may contain or run code that is not embedded in the binary (e.g. HTML5-based games, bots, etc.), as long as code distribution isn’t the main purpose of the app, the code is not offered in a store or store-like interface, and provided that the software (1) is free or purchased using in-app purchase; (2) only uses capabilities available in a standar…

> as you don’t try to sell things through it Why? Why does Apple insist on playing middleman, if not for totalitarian control over all commerce on the platform? How is this not monopolistic anti-trust behavior?

The above statement is not correct. You’ve always been free to sell non digital goods through the App Store. For instance, you can buy anything through the Amazon app that is actually shipped to you.

Can you set up your own independent shop in Walmart and sell stuff?

Re: App Updates for HTML5 Apps

#24

Post by scarface74 » Sat, Sep 07, 2019, 4:30 PM UTC

saagarjha wrote: post #21

writepub wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> as you don’t try to sell things through it Why? Why does Apple insist on playing middleman, if not for totalitarian control over all commerce on the platform? How is this not monopolistic anti-trust behavior?

I’m not providing my opinion on Apple’s policies; I’m just surfacing them because the linked article doesn’t make them clear.

You’re free to make a web app as long as you don’t try to sell things through it.

The clarification made it less clear. You’ve always been able to sell physical goods through the App Store.

Re: App Updates for HTML5 Apps

#25

Post by oceanstone » Sat, Sep 07, 2019, 4:36 PM UTC

brlewis wrote: post #22

writepub wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> as you don’t try to sell things through it Why? Why does Apple insist on playing middleman, if not for totalitarian control over all commerce on the platform? How is this not monopolistic anti-trust behavior?

Is anything stopping people from going all-in HTML5 and not even worry about having a presence in the app store?

Sadly, Apple almost seems to purposefully keeps mobile Safari buggy for HTML5 apps. You might think, why not install Firefox or Chrome on iOS then? Well, turns out Apple only allows those apps to use an outdated version of Safari as their browser engine.

Here's a regression that appeared in iOS 10, which affects HTML5 games. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/37808180/disable-viewpor...

Re: App Updates for HTML5 Apps

#26

Post by writepub » Sat, Sep 07, 2019, 4:38 PM UTC

brlewis wrote: post #22

writepub wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> as you don’t try to sell things through it Why? Why does Apple insist on playing middleman, if not for totalitarian control over all commerce on the platform? How is this not monopolistic anti-trust behavior?

Is anything stopping people from going all-in HTML5 and not even worry about having a presence in the app store?

Better user experience. Certain things are better, faster, etc. as a native app.

Apple's policies are rooted in totalitarianism and greed. As both developers and consumers we shouldn't be enabling them.

You really should be asking the reverse, what motivated Apple to block software from running freely on their phones. After all, their marketing campaign for a whole decade was how secure their non-locked-up Mac was compared to a PC, so we know security isn't the driving force here

Re: App Updates for HTML5 Apps

#27

Post by writepub » Sat, Sep 07, 2019, 4:46 PM UTC

scarface74 wrote: post #23

writepub wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> as you don’t try to sell things through it Why? Why does Apple insist on playing middleman, if not for totalitarian control over all commerce on the platform? How is this not monopolistic anti-trust behavior?

The above statement is not correct. You’ve always been free to sell non digital goods through the App Store. For instance, you can buy anything through the Amazon app that is actually shipped to you. Can you set up your own independent shop in Walmart and sell stuff?

So generous of Apple to allow the sale of physical goods, despite having no involvement in the sale or production process. We all need to take a moment to count the blessings our benevolent smartphone overlords have bestowed on us.

Re: App Updates for HTML5 Apps

#28

Post by vbezhenar » Sat, Sep 07, 2019, 4:49 PM UTC

writepub wrote: post #19

saagarjha wrote: post #16

Note that this probably has less of an impact than you’d think: > Apps may contain or run code that is not embedded in the binary (e.g. HTML5-based games, bots, etc.), as long as code distribution isn’t the main purpose of the app, the code is not offered in a store or store-like interface, and provided that the software (1) is free or purchased using in-app purchase; (2) only uses capabilities available in a standar…

> as you don’t try to sell things through it Why? Why does Apple insist on playing middleman, if not for totalitarian control over all commerce on the platform? How is this not monopolistic anti-trust behavior?

Apple wants to earn more money by taking a cut from your transactions. Few people are ready to share their profits unless forced to do so. It's not monopolistic behavior, because Apple does not hold a monopoly in any market.

Re: App Updates for HTML5 Apps

#29

Post by writepub » Sat, Sep 07, 2019, 4:55 PM UTC

scarface74 wrote: post #24

saagarjha wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not providing my opinion on Apple’s policies; I’m just surfacing them because the linked article doesn’t make them clear.

You’re free to make a web app as long as you don’t try to sell things through it. The clarification made it less clear. You’ve always been able to sell physical goods through the App Store.

What exactly is Apple's role in the sale of digital goods? You made a comparison to selling via Walmart, which is a false equivalency.

The app store can easily work like podcasts aggregating RSS feeds from developers, it's just that Apple has forcefully inserted itself into the transaction

Re: App Updates for HTML5 Apps

#30

Post by scarface74 » Sat, Sep 07, 2019, 5:05 PM UTC

writepub wrote: post #29

scarface74 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re free to make a web app as long as you don’t try to sell things through it. The clarification made it less clear. You’ve always been able to sell physical goods through the App Store.

What exactly is Apple's role in the sale of digital goods? You made a comparison to selling via Walmart, which is a false equivalency. The app store can easily work like podcasts aggregating RSS feeds from developers, it's just that Apple has forcefully inserted itself into the transaction

The entire premise of the App Store, permissions and sandboxing is that users should be able to download anything from the App Store willy nilly and know that it won’t do the same type of invasive crap that can happen on Windows and Macs.

The App Store is not a flea market. Podcasts can’t install malware, eat battery life, invade privacy, etc.

I’m very careful about what I install on my personal computers. I install all sorts of crap on my iOS devices with some type of assurance about knowing what they can and can’t do.