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Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

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Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#141

Post by Hamuko »

AlexMuir wrote: post #50
AYBABTME wrote: post #24

Probably naive question, but couldn't they markup the In-App-Subscription by whatever % of cut Apple is taking? The same is done by restaurants for things like Uber Eat/Postmate: they have their prices on their menu, and a marked-up price on these platforms. downvotes: mind explaining why my naive question is not a worthy contribution/question? or if you just disagree, I'm genuinely interested in understanding what I…

If I recall the terms specifically prohibit different pricing. (You deserved a reply not a downvote!)

Not true and if it was, other apps would be in violation of it.

Dropbox Plus is 11.99€ on the App Store as an in-app purchase and 9.99€ on Dropbox.com

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#142

Post by nrmitchi »

paxys wrote: post #115
embrassingstuff wrote: post #29

From the article > could work within Apple's rules by allowing the app to function as a reader for standard e-mail, while also offering Hey subscriptions This is apple's new stance or is it conventional wisdom for store policy? If only Hey also worked with regular mail all would have been well?

It was a suggestion on how to update their app to comply with the policy - basically offer a free version that's just like any other email app.

I would personally love to see Hey come back with a free Apple version of their service which gives the user a hilariously long @hey.com email address and lets them use it.

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#143

Post by scarface74 »

evan_ wrote: post #135
scarface74 wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn’t say he was onboard with the decision. I am not onboard with the decision. I said it’s a gross exaggeration to think a competent iOS developer couldn’t get in app purchasing working in an evening.

Turning on the Wallet entitlement will take like 10 seconds, I don't know how long it'll take to build the rest of the subscription stuff but probably not a long time. You're ignoring that they are going to have to update all of their backend billing code to support two different billing providers, and design and build a mobile onboarding flow in the app. Then they have to support those things going forward. They obv…

They weighed the option of not having to pay 30% and (understandably) didn’t want to do it. If a company run by the creator of Ruby on Rails can’t do that without spending “hundreds of thousands” of dollars they are grossly incompetent. I doubt that they are.

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#144

Post by Hamuko »

MBCook wrote: post #46

It continues to amaze me that Apple is picking this fight the week before WWDC. We know that the EU is already looking at Apple, and now the US seems to be making noise about it. And they decide to have this fight. I usually understand Apple but this one… eludes me.

Even more bizarre considering Hey is not even publicly available yet. They could have easily deferred this fight without it having any effect on the absolutely miniscule number of new clients that are getting in before the general availability.

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#145

Post by e_y_ »

chrisseaton wrote: post #54
Avamander wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's bullshit, softly put. Google and Microsoft have gotten more heat for doing less monopolistic stuff.

> That's bullshit Can you buy an alternative product and have nothing to do with Apple's store? Yes. They aren't a monopoly. Are they a big player? Yes. But they aren't a monopoly. If you don't like it go somewhere else. Vote with your dollars and impressions.

I'd call it a duopoly, which is not as bad as a monopoly but it's definitely enough to set market prices and arguably should subject them to antitrust scrutiny for anti-competitive behavior.

They have more than 50% of global app sales revenue; Apple's App Store revenue is about 80% higher than Google Play. They also have about 57% of the "premium" ($400+) smartphone market. That has a strong impact on the ability for developers to create and sell apps.

Not to say that Google is innocent either; they've started adopting some of Apple's practices as well. Unless you're a masochist, going outside the Apple/Google ecosystem is not really a viable option.

https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/03/app-revenue-tops-39-billio...

https://www.gsmarena.com/counterpoint_flagship_smartphone_sh...

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#147

Post by Hamuko »

justrudd wrote: post #72
htunnicliff wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is how the Netflix app works.

How so? I'm looking at the Netflix app in the App store right now and it offers in app purchases. I don't have to sign up before using it. I can sign up in the app (I'm assuming based on this screenshot from the App Store - https://imgur.com/a/t6AqwEx ). I already have an account. Not going to jump through hoops to try it out. Edited: added screenshot

>I can sign up in the app

You absolutely can't. The first thing you see when you download the app is a info string telling you how you can't sign up inside the app.

https://miro.medium.com/1*-mAqC-14gV7zNvWdn_SNxA.jpeg

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#148

Post by drewg123 »

ggregoire wrote: post #60

Why does Basecamp refuse (?) to add the in-app subscription? Is it only to avoid sharing their revenues with Apple or are there other reasons? (sorry I'm not that familiar with this topic and didn't follow the whole story)

I suggested this on the other article about this yesterday: They should just offer an in-app subscription for some absurd price ($1000/year, for example).

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#149

Post by drewg123 »

scarface74 wrote: post #140
arnvald wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems that most of the above either offer some features for free or offer in-app purchases: * Spotify offers free tier * Kindle doesn't require buying books, technically you can use it to read documents that you send to your free account * Netflix and Youtube allow to subscribe and pay via app-store I'm not sure about the rest, but it seems that even Netflix and Amazon follow the rules.

Netflix doesn’t allow in app purchases anymore. https://help.netflix.com/en/node/25097 iTunes billing for Netflix is not available to new or rejoining Netflix customers. If you are attempting to create an account on an iOS mobile device, you can sign up on Netflix.com using a mobile browser and will be prompted to provide an alternate method of payment. Neither does Youtube Live. https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/13/21…

This is yet another sure sign that the playing field is not level, and that big companies are treated differently

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#150

Post by gizmo »

chrisseaton wrote: post #54
Avamander wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's bullshit, softly put. Google and Microsoft have gotten more heat for doing less monopolistic stuff.

> That's bullshit Can you buy an alternative product and have nothing to do with Apple's store? Yes. They aren't a monopoly. Are they a big player? Yes. But they aren't a monopoly. If you don't like it go somewhere else. Vote with your dollars and impressions.

As an app developer you can't NOT be in the Apple app store. As a consumer you can simply say no to Apple products. As a business Apple is too big a percentage of your customer base and you're forced to play by their arbitrary and capricious rules.
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