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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

#411

Post by hu3 »

askvictor wrote: post #342
hu3 wrote: post #321

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Android's let's you download the app from any website. No questions asked. And the app can charge you without giving Google a single dime. For example I can go to itch.io and download this game directly to my phone: https://majorariatto.itch.io/pureya

Not quite no questions asked - you first need to enable a setting, then get through the warnings. That said, Android comes with an ability to install other _App Stores_

Well yeah it warns me that applications from other sources can be harmful and points me to the settings that allows me to run it.

Which is fair and reasonable. I wouldn't want my non tech savy parents to run apps by misclicking links. But I do want the freedom to run whatever I feel like on the devices I paid for.

I can't imagine being told what I can and cannot run on my $1400 android device. I'm an adult, thanks for treating me like one.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#412

Post by karmelapple »

pmcollins wrote: post #296
mapgrep wrote: post #198

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…

What if you take the App Store to an extreme? Say, the App Store is so successful that iPhones and Macs are almost free -- paid for by the lifetime expected amount Apple will make from any and all apps sold on those devices. Would this be bad for the consumer? I feel like this is Apple's perspective: the app store subsidizes devices and helps consumers. OTOH, the thing about Epic is I think they're incredibly generou…

Alas, iPhones still make a healthy profit for Apple, so any cut from software isn’t subsidizing hardware for consumers today.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#413

Post by ab_testing »

nojs wrote: post #102
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 fear that macOS is going this way. The amount of hoops to jump through to run third party apps seems to grow with every release.

Yup that is the ultimate goal - to increase software and services revenue. That is what is mandating push to A chips in macbooks. Once the A chips are mainstream, then Apple will require companies like Adbobe, Intellij and even Microsoft to pay them 30% if they want the privelge of running their apps on MacOS.

Want to run Photoshop, IntelliJ or Outlook, 30% of what you charge is going to Apple.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#415

Post by dannyw »

chipotle_coyote wrote: post #389

One of the biggest hurdles in trying to take antitrust action against Apple, I suspect, will be in proving that App Store policies cause harm to consumers rather than developers. There seem to be HN-favored narratives of "iOS users would rise up against the walled garden if they only understood" and "iOS users are too stupid and sheeplike to understand and rise up," but there is a more prosaic narrative of "iOS users…

Epic Games can argue that a cheaper price results in more demand, ie more profits for them even if the unit price is the same.

But I don’t think they need to argue that. The cornerstone of US antitrust law is cheaper prices for consumers. This example demonstrates that.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#416

Post by artur_makly »

my 7yr old son just came up to me super excited to see some mysterious trailer when he ran the app today. He thought he was about to see some cool new upcoming mod and instead he had to watch their propaganda campaign to Free Fortnight.

As a parent, having to be forced to explain to your 7yr old son the dark-side of gaming/technology is not something I was prepared to do as a bonding event this fine evening.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#417

Post by jtsiskin »

jaeming wrote: post #99

... the developer on Thursday implemented its own in-app payment system that bypassed Apple’s standard 30 percent fee. ...1,000 V-bucks, which is roughly equivalent to $10 in-game Fortnite currency, now costs just $7.99 if you use Epic direct payment instead of the standard Apple payment processing. Normally, that amount of currency costs $9.99. Epic says, in this case, customers keep the extra savings, not the compa…

Even if they did pass the savings to the consumer completely, they would still likely make more money as more people buy it. This effect is much larger than the $1 they gain

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#418

Post by toast0 »

quwert95 wrote: post #66
eggbrain wrote: post #29

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…

Funny you mention Sony -- Linux support on the PS3 turned into a big deal. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OtherOS ) Historically, other game consoles could be used a "general purpose computing devices," such as the Sega Dreamcast with Windows CE and the Nintendo Famicom (which is short for Family Computer).

> Sega Dreamcast with Windows CE

Afaik, there was never a Windows CE general purpose environment for the Dreamcast. Sega supported game developers using Sega's 100% propriatary OS or using Windows CE as embedded OS. Either way, the OS would ship on the disc, and isn't a lot more than a kernel and libraries.

Of course, BSDs and Linux were ported to the Dreamcast at some point, as with anything that can boot user provided code and has enough ram.

The dreamcast did have a web browser, and keyboard and mouse, but without significant local writable storage, would make a lousy general purpose computer.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#419

Post by ekianjo »

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.

Epic is famous for buying exclusive rights for games to make people play on their store. I hope they like eating their own food now.
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