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TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

blog.tinygrab.com

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Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#31

Post by joelhaasnoot »

brownleej wrote: post #15
jarin wrote: post #12

I wonder how this works for apps connecting to APIs that they don't own. For example, if I'm not 37signals and I make a Basecamp app, would it get rejected because I don't have access to their billing API?

Along the same lines, how would this affect an email client that connects to a paid email service? Would be accessing content purchased outside the device?

If Apple really does go so far as to claim that then someone needs to challenge them on it legally, this is going too far. Or maybe we need a $.99 boycot or something, not buying apps.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#32

Post by sorbus »

Bud wrote: post #28
Bud wrote: post #27

Looks like Steve Jobs, or someone pretending to be him, has weighed in with a comment on that page: Steve Jobs Says: February 21st, 2011 at 7:53 pm Hey Guys Work your numbers a little bit and then tell me what you think you are actually losing out on. 30% or 70% towards your bottom-line.

Uh, why is this getting downvoted? It's a purely informational post. Is it not considered relevant if the Steve weighed in? Seems there's a bit of a pattern in these threads of downvoting based on disagreement with the ESP-perceived viewpoint of the poster. Not cool.

One person downvoted you, or at least you were at 0 when I wrote this. If the collective thinks that your post is valuable, it will be upvoted, and will eventually balance out those who think that it is not valuable.

(Disclaimer: I upvoted your original post to 1, while downvoting the post in which you complained about being downvoted to 0, as complaining about being downvoted is explicitly against the guidelines - and you could have edited your original post, instead of responding to yourself.)

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#34

Post by Charuru »

Bud wrote: post #27

Looks like Steve Jobs, or someone pretending to be him, has weighed in with a comment on that page: Steve Jobs Says: February 21st, 2011 at 7:53 pm Hey Guys Work your numbers a little bit and then tell me what you think you are actually losing out on. 30% or 70% towards your bottom-line.

Is it just me or does this comment not make sense?

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#35

Post by chc »

Bud wrote: post #27

Looks like Steve Jobs, or someone pretending to be him, has weighed in with a comment on that page: Steve Jobs Says: February 21st, 2011 at 7:53 pm Hey Guys Work your numbers a little bit and then tell me what you think you are actually losing out on. 30% or 70% towards your bottom-line.

I don't think it's worthwhile to point out every time somebody pretends to be Steve Jobs on the Internet. There's no good reason to even consider the possibility that Steve Jobs is commenting on this company's blog. Steve Jobs is not known to comment on blogs.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#36

Post by stcredzero »

We prefer this method of buying software compared to pesky license keys for a couple of reasons. First of all it reduces piracy, you don’t get many people sharing their login details to an online service.

I thought that the version of in-app purchases that's dependent on a back-end server hasn't yet been hacked.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#37

Post by amargulies »

nickconfer wrote: post #21
marshray wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This feels more like a good marketing attempt by TinyGrab than the real deal. Are you saying their analysis is wrong and the new terms of the Apple store will permit their app? This is an honest question, I totally don't understand Apple's development and distribution model.

I think they are correct, Apple could reject their app based on the TOS. Its unclear whether or not they would. I imagine this will be rather murky for a while for all apps of this sort. What I mean by not the real deal though is that TinyGrab doesn't appear to have much of a presence on iOS devices. Apple could have possibly said, "We need 200 hours of additional programming work from you or we'll reject your app in…

Would you have them continue to use their time developing for the iOS platform despite the changes being accepted or rejected is a function of who they get to review their application and how strictly they follow their own rules? Didn't Apple post the guidelines to avoid this exact situation?

And what if they are small? How many companies had a large user-base from the beginning? Also, while small companies may not be of much interest to the readers of HN, they make up a decent chunk of the world's economy.

Honestly, it feels like they are trying to add to the pressure on Apple to drop this ridiculous cash-grab. If in the process they get some free publicity, all the better for them.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#38

Post by rbritton »

msbarnett wrote: post #7
st3fan wrote: post #2

I wonder if they are right about having to give 30% to Apple in this case. From what I read it sounds like you are only supposed to do that when you allow people to actually register / sign up for the service from the iOS app. If you already have an account and you simply login to use the iOS app as a 'companion' app, there is no Apple greed involved. No?

If you allow people to subscribe outside the app, you also must add functionality to allow them to subscribe through the app, and subscriptions through the latter mechanism will cost you the 30% Apple Tithe. A lot of companies just can't afford to have a group of users who cost the same as everyone else but only bring in 70% as much revenue.

I haven't been able to find it -- does that requirement require that the price be the same for both methods? That is, can you charge in-app users $10 and non-app users $7 so the net is the same?

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#39

Post by Sakes »

"Whatever you tax, you get less of." -- Alan Greenspan

What Apple is doing could easily be compared to a tax. I don't see how anyone could expect to not see a significant number of apps and developers leaving the app store when presented with a 30% loss of revenue from the customers it generates.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#40

Post by armandososa »

rbritton wrote: post #38
msbarnett wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you allow people to subscribe outside the app, you also must add functionality to allow them to subscribe through the app, and subscriptions through the latter mechanism will cost you the 30% Apple Tithe. A lot of companies just can't afford to have a group of users who cost the same as everyone else but only bring in 70% as much revenue.

I haven't been able to find it -- does that requirement require that the price be the same for both methods? That is, can you charge in-app users $10 and non-app users $7 so the net is the same?

Yes, it's a requirement.
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