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You download the app and it doesn’t work

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341–350 of 559 posts

Re: You download the app and it doesn’t work

#341
post #95

Good start with compiling the list .. a couple more .. AirBnb, All airline apps. Maybe they have contracts with the big guys for some lump sum deal, or maybe they are just letting them go as they have to ... We developers already pay for the subscription, WWDC, a shiny iPhone / MBP every couple of years (to test and develop the new features :(, learn a language and sdks just for the Apple world - We Devs need Apple f…

Yea this is probably the best year to introduce unpopular, rent-seeking rules. You'll never be forced to see any of these people in person and the government has enough on its plate to even consider thinking about anti-trust issues. I'm confused why they don't rip the bandaid off and just charge everyone at the same time though. Charging Tesla 30% probably isn't feasible but this seems like an ideal time to introduce…

> Charging Tesla 30% probably isn't feasible but this seems like an ideal time to introduce fees for all companies that are currently allowed exemptions (Netflix, Lyft, Airbnb, Uber, Audible, Airlines etc).

Since cars are physical goods, Tesla COULD freely sell the car in the app using Apple Pay, Credit Card, etc in the app if they wanted, just like Amazon, Walmart and other e-commerce apps do. They wouldn't pay the 30%, just the credit card fee.

Similarly, Lyft, Airbnb, Uber and some Airlines accept ApplePay, Credit Card, etc, all without the 30%, because it's a physical service, not software or a digital product.

Netflix and Audible just don't sell their stuff on the app. It's not an exemption, it's something predicted in the App Store terms: don't link to the signup/sales page. The problem here is that Hey is claiming that they should be allowed to use that rule that Netflix and Audible use.

Re: You download the app and it doesn’t work

#342
post #101

I don't see how Apple can win this one TBH. If Hey isn't offering in-app sign-up, they're in the clear IMO - the precedent for this is well established. So they'll have to either apply the same rules to everyone, or disclose the special treatment for the likes of Netflix, which does exactly what Hey does. But I'm sure folks who defended Amazon banning Kindle books they don't like will just say that Apple is not a mon…

If you have been following these few days threads like these, there were quite a few "interesting characters" who said that if you don't like it, leave and build your own platform x)

Re: You download the app and it doesn’t work

#343

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a bit of a joke to be honest. Hey are trying to market an app on the app store as a 'free' app. Not offering sign up also means they don't have to add the 'offers in app purchases'. So they're advertising the app as free. Even though its $99 a year. Apples 30% cut is obscene and should be less. But Hey are using a 'free' label to market their app.

You're catching some flak here, but I think it's a fair point. It says "free", but all you get for free is... an icon on your home page and a login screen. Apple could solve this by allowing a "Free, account required" descriptor/category for Netflix/Dropbox/etc/etc. So "Free" is a lie, but one many other apps have used beforehand.

Excellent suggestion that would allow both companies to save face.

Re: You download the app and it doesn’t work

#344
post #37

Apple takes a 30% cut of all IAP. Google scrapes info and displays it in widgets above links to the actual content. Google charges trademark holders AdWords ransom to protect searches for their own brands. Amazon kills OSS business models by offering managed OSS services on AWS at an unbeatable cost. Amazon picks off the best performing market place categories with Amazon Basics ‘recommended’ competitors. The list go…

The key difference is that the App store is the only way of running apps on an iDevice outside of rooting it (which for >99% of users means it's the only way of running apps).

Apple needs to be transparent that it's not selling devices, it's licensing devices. Users do not control the devices they own.

Re: You download the app and it doesn’t work

#345
post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t relate to this. Some vendors sell me hardware, and I can bring my own software. Apple sells me more expensive hardware with the software only from their “partners”, which is “curated” and subject to a steep 30% distribution cut. Apple never tricked me into an iPhone believing I could run any random software. I know what I signed up for. Why should I feel entitled to anything else?

> I know what I signed up for. Why should I feel entitled to anything else? It's interesting you'd say that because it's actually not true (I am not accusing you of lying at all - I take your statement at face value!) What I mean is the following: When I buy a phone - no matter the maker - I have deep within me a default assumption that if I want some app, some provider, some service, some feature, on my phone - that…

Apple is not tricking people into buying iPhones, believing every app is available. “There’s an app for that” doesn’t mean “every single app for that is available”. It means there are many apps, all of which found 30% to be acceptable.

If Apple had promised customers that Age of Empires runs on Macs, then they would have a hard time getting Microsoft to give them 30%. But Apple has made not such promise to consumers.

Besides, there’s an email client for the iPhone. If there wasn’t, consumers might complain. If Hey was the only game in town, I’m sure they’d be given a sweeter deal.

Re: You download the app and it doesn’t work

#346

While I agree that Apple should probably relax their rules, this list of "exceptions" is not particularly compelling. The majority of them are companion apps for physical products/memberships for which the rules around in-app purchases do not apply: Tesla, Soho House, Wells Fargo, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, WeWork. Github has a free tier and doesn't require a paying membership to use. Netflix is a digital content app…

Wow it's almost like Apple designed their rules so that most of the key businesses in this world don't pay an insane 30% of their revenue to Apple. Almost like Apple say...doesn't want to discourage important institutions from providing services Apple's customers might expect from iOS. Crazy coincidence. /s

Re: You download the app and it doesn’t work

#347
I really don't understand how so many people cannot understand the simple fact that it's "Fuck you pay us 30% or you won't get on iphones".

It's not "Hey you can use our store for 30% revenue cut and other benefits or you can market/host/whatever else it yourself".

This is what they are comparing it with Google, idc what else shady stuff Google is doing but if I want my app on an android without paying Google a dime I can do so with the obvious disadvantage of not being in the store.

This just doesn't exist with Apple. At all. It's as simple as that

Re: You download the app and it doesn’t work

#348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A store owner is not obligated to give you free placement on their shelves.

What stores take 30% lifetime subscription royalties for products sold on their shelves? Can you imagine if Best Buy required Apple to add "Best Buy Payments" to MacOS so that Best Buy could collect a 30% fee on top of any services subscription that Apple sells to that MacBook user? All for the privilege of selling their products through the BB stores. Apple isn't marking up a product for resale in it's retail enviro…

It doesn’t matter. These are the terms of the store. If Walmart makes clear an expectation that you have to have an office in Arkansas in order to sell an item in their store, then you shouldn’t be surprised when your item is rejected from their store if you don’t build that office. There’s no expectation that you’d have free placement, certainly.

As for your Best Buy example, Best Buy can make that demand, but Best Buy would lose more from not having Apple’s products than Apple would from not being placed on Best Buy’s shelves.

Re: You download the app and it doesn’t work

#349
post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can use Google Chrome, and still use a non-Google search engine. I can use a Kindle, and still read DRM-Free epubs. Yes, all the major tech companies are engaged in rent seeking. But Apple is the only one that says users must either must pay rent or throw away their hardware. The App Store and its policies are not the problem. The App Store is Apple's store, just like Amazon.com is Amazon's store. But the App Store…

I don’t agree with that explanation of the gaming console exception. Modern consoles are actually quite similar to smartphones in the breadth of their functionality. To be consistent I think you’d need to include consoles, most smart TVs and media streamers, and even tech-heavy cars.

Gaming consoles aren't general purpose computers. You're not going to do banking, email your boss, find a lover, or order groceries from them. They're unnecessary leisure commodities.

There are also three major consoles, PC, Steam, and a ton of other ways to distribute games. It's a highly competitive landscape. If you want a phone, you've got only two options.

DOJ, burn the Apple and Google monopolies to the ground.

Re: You download the app and it doesn’t work

#350

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, because you can sideload Android apps. Fortnite for Android isn't in the Play Store, and it definitely exists.

They capitulated and it’s now on the Play Store. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epicgames....

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