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Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

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Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#331
post #290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft already does exactly this on console. When will we see the Google Stadia game streaming app on the XBOX? Does Microsoft really not take a cut of VBucks bought on the Microsoft store? This is just three big corporations fighting over their respective slices of the pie, if you think any of this is being said or done for your benefit I’m sure Epic has a plentiful supply of really tasty Koolaid for you. But no…

> Microsoft already does exactly this on console. I never thought about it like this. It could be viewed differently because the Xbox is a game console and the iphone is a general handheld computer, but perhaps it should be illegal to restrict users installing software on your device by any means they choose, though there's no reason for you to support those means.

Microsoft was dragged through court for it's aggressive browser install on windows back in the day. Now everybody is getting rich off apple stock and there's not much incentive to hold them to the same standard. They even started with a monopolistic policy - if it's duplicating functionality they'll remove it from the app store. People keep buying iPhones because they don't care.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#332

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even worse. Imagine millions of people knowing this and still buying these inferior phones.

A more stable, frequently updated platform with decent hardware offerings and the fastest chips on the market does not amount to inferior phones.

I'm not sure about any of that. Android phones are ridiculously diverse, from overpowered "gaming" behemoths to tiny ones like Unihertz Jelly.

But in the end I guess what matters more is whether you want a single person to control what you view or not, like when they banned James Joyce because of an illustration of a man skinny dipping.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#333
post #290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft already does exactly this on console. When will we see the Google Stadia game streaming app on the XBOX? Does Microsoft really not take a cut of VBucks bought on the Microsoft store? This is just three big corporations fighting over their respective slices of the pie, if you think any of this is being said or done for your benefit I’m sure Epic has a plentiful supply of really tasty Koolaid for you. But no…

> This is just three big corporations fighting over their respective slices of the pie Yes, this is how capitalism works. The companies can be started by virtuous, far-sighted dreamers, like Steve Wozniak, Larry Page and John Lennon, but then they get infused by money from venture capitalists and investors who just want ROI. Once they hire more than 5000 people, the edges of the company are not controlled by dreamers…

Steve Jobs was at the heart of Apple as a distribution monopoly.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#334
post #290
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.

Microsoft already does exactly this on console. When will we see the Google Stadia game streaming app on the XBOX? Does Microsoft really not take a cut of VBucks bought on the Microsoft store? This is just three big corporations fighting over their respective slices of the pie, if you think any of this is being said or done for your benefit I’m sure Epic has a plentiful supply of really tasty Koolaid for you. But no…

i’m not sure it’s fair to equate a general computing platform to a game system

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#335

You could argue about Apple's rights, or citizens' free speech rights, or consumer rights, under existing law. It would be an interesting discussion because I think it's a lot more complicated an issue that most people appreciate. But really why not talk about how we think things should work on platforms like iOS? What should the law be? What protects essential human rights, encourages creativity, and allows business…

Let‘s take the example of an autonomous car. Would you also argue that you have the right to run any software on it? Looking a bit further down the line toward a society with more prevalent and powerful AI there will need to be some kind of certification that the software you are running is safe. It will be almost impossible to enforce this without the help of device manufacturers who will be mandated to only run saf…

I think the line is “does this harm a human who does not consent.” Regulating autonomous vehicles? Apple being able to reject apps that steal user data? Both within reason.

But rejecting simply because it lets someone pay in an alternate manner crosses a line.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#336
post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is also a security vulnerability: one decision by Apple, or by a court of law in a far-away country, and an app is gone from your phone. You lose access to the data held by this app. Easy, reliably DoS -- and the user has no means of fixing this vulnerability, other than rooting the phone and hacking around. Which is made ever less feasible.

In this case, was the Fortnight app removed from phones or was it just removed for new downloads from the app store? It sounds like the latter but the article is unclear.

The article actually is clear:

"As of right now, those who have already downloaded Fortnite on iOS are still able to access the game; only new downloads are disabled as a result of Apple pulling the game from the App Store."

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#337
post #290
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.

Microsoft already does exactly this on console. When will we see the Google Stadia game streaming app on the XBOX? Does Microsoft really not take a cut of VBucks bought on the Microsoft store? This is just three big corporations fighting over their respective slices of the pie, if you think any of this is being said or done for your benefit I’m sure Epic has a plentiful supply of really tasty Koolaid for you. But no…

Not really true until physical goes away (which we're pretty close to...)

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#338

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

FWIW, actually Sony doesn't demand a 30% cut of all revenue from any company that makes an app for their store. You can have subscriptions to non-Sony services, and Sony doesn't see a dime. Sony doesn't demand a cut of Netflix subscriptions, for example, despite having a Netflix app available for download. Similarly, it doesn't get a cut of Spotify revenue either. For PlayStation you pay the Sony tax for the convenie…

Sony doesn't demand a cut of Netflix subscriptions, for example, despite having a Netflix app available for download. Similarly, it doesn't get a cut of Spotify revenue either.

Well, neither does Apple seeing that neither Netflix (for new customers) or Spotify allow in app purchases.

Sony actually often pays developers to develop for their store (e.g. PubFund [1]),

So does Apple - Apple Arcade.

Could Fortnite have in app purchases for the game consoles and bypass the stores?

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#339
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.

The only reason Microsoft and Apple don't do that in their desktop OSs is because they were products of their generation. They will probably will never have to do it anyways, because the marketshare of mobile will continue to grow as desktops slowly die. Eventually all major platforms will take a share.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#340

For those who are arguing that Apple should allow third party developers to have their own marketplace without Apple taking a cut, should: - Ebay allow for a third party marketplace to exist without them getting a cut? -PayPal, chase, stripe allow third party developers to offer up their own payment services without the respective companies take a cut? Also by the same token, Amazon is a monopoly by taking a percenta…

you’re comparing hardware to software which i don’t think is fair.

apple creates the marketplace, the OS, and the hardware.

it’s a much more complex issue which is more analogous to if windows required all users to use internet explorer, which we know is monopolistic.

there’s also much more friction switching software like stripe than hardware like your iphone

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