Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#31

Post by reissbaker » Thu, Aug 13, 2020, 8:22 PM UTC

s3r3nity wrote: post #16

lordleft wrote: post #6

Imagine if Microsoft did this on PCs. a) prohibiting the installation of non-windows store software (sideloading) and b) insisting that all purchases done via apps give them a 30% cut. I think this is a ridiculous practice on the behalf of Apple.

Imagine if Microsoft only had 14% global market share.* [*] https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share

iOS market share in the US — which certainly is something US courts would care about — is nearly 60%. https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/united-sta...

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#32

Post by lopmotr » Thu, Aug 13, 2020, 8:22 PM UTC

lordleft wrote: post #6

Imagine if Microsoft did this on PCs. a) prohibiting the installation of non-windows store software (sideloading) and b) insisting that all purchases done via apps give them a 30% cut. I think this is a ridiculous practice on the behalf of Apple.

It's only ridiculous if it's not good for their business. Maybe Microsoft is the one being ridiculous by leaving money on the table and not having a closed ecosystem.

If your complaint is that it's bad for the app developers or users, then that's different, and maybe deserves criticism but not ridicule.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#33

Post by grawprog » Thu, Aug 13, 2020, 8:22 PM UTC

pier25 wrote: post #24

Findeton wrote: post #13

I don't think this should be regulated at all. Apple should be able to impose their rules in their systems. Let's be clear about this, if people are choosing to buy these black-box closed handheld computing devices, there are consequences that come with that choice.

I disagree. The model makes sense for a console, as it's a very specialized device. A smartphone or a tablet are much closer to a general computing device. How many times has Apple said the iPad is a laptop replacement?

I disagree it makes sense on a console.

Phones can be used to:

-communicate

-consume media

-browse the web

-play games

Consoles can be used to:

-play games

-consume media

-browse the web

-communicate

I fail to see the difference to be honest.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#34

Post by AnIdiotOnTheNet » Thu, Aug 13, 2020, 8:22 PM UTC

infinityplus1 wrote: post #21

Findeton wrote: post #13

I don't think this should be regulated at all. Apple should be able to impose their rules in their systems. Let's be clear about this, if people are choosing to buy these black-box closed handheld computing devices, there are consequences that come with that choice.

Plenty of people have no idea what they are getting into when they buy Apple devices as a status symbol.

Yeah, so let's impose our will upon them. For their own good!

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#35

Post by sedatk » Thu, Aug 13, 2020, 8:25 PM UTC

eggbrain wrote: post #29

lordleft wrote: post #6

Imagine if Microsoft did this on PCs. a) prohibiting the installation of non-windows store software (sideloading) and b) insisting that all purchases done via apps give them a 30% cut. I think this is a ridiculous practice on the behalf of Apple.

I mean, couldn't we just replace Microsoft->Sony and PC->Playstation and the argument falls apart a bit? > Imagine if Sony did this on Playstation. a) prohibiting the installation of non-PlayStation games and b) insisting that all purchases done via their store give them a 30% cut. Many platforms are like this -- and many also have the majority marketshare. Is this a call to redefine what platforms can and cannot con…

Arguably, Microsoft also does it on Xbox.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#36

Post by ClumsyPilot » Thu, Aug 13, 2020, 8:26 PM UTC

eggbrain wrote: post #29

lordleft wrote: post #6

Imagine if Microsoft did this on PCs. a) prohibiting the installation of non-windows store software (sideloading) and b) insisting that all purchases done via apps give them a 30% cut. I think this is a ridiculous practice on the behalf of Apple.

I mean, couldn't we just replace Microsoft->Sony and PC->Playstation and the argument falls apart a bit? > Imagine if Sony did this on Playstation. a) prohibiting the installation of non-PlayStation games and b) insisting that all purchases done via their store give them a 30% cut. Many platforms are like this -- and many also have the majority marketshare. Is this a call to redefine what platforms can and cannot con…

There is a distinction between a general purpose computing device and a gaming console. I depend on my computer for important aspects of my life, not just entertainment.

I perceive capricious behaviour like this ad a threat to my liberty and well-being.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#37

Post by dpkonofa » Thu, Aug 13, 2020, 8:26 PM UTC

rvz wrote: post #15

lordleft wrote: post #6

Imagine if Microsoft did this on PCs. a) prohibiting the installation of non-windows store software (sideloading) and b) insisting that all purchases done via apps give them a 30% cut. I think this is a ridiculous practice on the behalf of Apple.

Even worse. Imagine if the World Wide Web was not open and you had to go through a closed WWW like AOL and websites were "under review" by the providers and would take a 30% cut of your revenues or clicks on your web app or subscription service and websites require going only through that provider. Thank goodness that wasn't the case.

That's a little silly as an example because AOL was exactly like this back in the day and had curated channels. You could still access external sites if AOL was your ISP as well but anything inside of the AOL application was reviewed by AOL.

Also, the web is not even a great analogy period since it wasn't created by a private company. Apple created their phones, their App Store, they maintain it, and they provide the infrastructure for it. That's nothing like the internet.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#38

Post by mulmen » Thu, Aug 13, 2020, 8:27 PM UTC

infinityplus1 wrote: post #21

Findeton wrote: post #13

I don't think this should be regulated at all. Apple should be able to impose their rules in their systems. Let's be clear about this, if people are choosing to buy these black-box closed handheld computing devices, there are consequences that come with that choice.

Plenty of people have no idea what they are getting into when they buy Apple devices as a status symbol.

Please. Whatever strawman you are trying to construct is missing the point.

I do not buy Apple products as a status symbol. I buy them because they work. I won't even say the products are good, there are a lot of things I'd like to see change. But they are the best thing on the market for getting my work done.

My laptop and phone are my hammer and workbench. The iPhone and MacBook are far and away the best product for the work I do, which is not iOS or MacOS development. They're simply the best general computing solution on the market right now.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#39

Post by dpkonofa » Thu, Aug 13, 2020, 8:27 PM UTC

seniorsassycat wrote: post #27

lordleft wrote: post #6

Imagine if Microsoft did this on PCs. a) prohibiting the installation of non-windows store software (sideloading) and b) insisting that all purchases done via apps give them a 30% cut. I think this is a ridiculous practice on the behalf of Apple.

Web browsers are apps, e-commerce is in-app purchasing. App stores get 30% of Amazon. Come to think of it, why are web browsers excluded from the in-app fee?

Because the rules of the App Store say that the apps that get charged the fee are those who rely on the purchases or payments as their primary function. Browsers have a different primary function.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#40

Post by ultrarunner » Thu, Aug 13, 2020, 8:27 PM UTC

Seirdy wrote: post #18

rvz wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even worse. Imagine if the World Wide Web was not open and you had to go through a closed WWW like AOL and websites were "under review" by the providers and would take a 30% cut of your revenues or clicks on your web app or subscription service and websites require going only through that provider. Thank goodness that wasn't the case.

It could be the case if AMP grows dominant; given the market share of Google Search, it could be enough to create a controlled (er, "curated") web in a similar spirit.

We're closer than we have been in a long time to something like Google deciding to license Blink or Chromium. There are some good reasons that couldn't happen (yet), but what a world that would be.