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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

#521

Post by mrsalt »

whiddershins wrote: post #484

All I want is a system preference that says ‘allow apps from other sources than the apple App Store.’ And I want that setting to work exactly as you imagine. And then everything else problematic about this debate would disappear.

Being able to get root access to your phone just like you do with a normal computer would also be nice.

We are increasingly losing the right to actually control our devices as time goes on, and it scares me. Especially since you can't really DIY this kind of hardware to remove these protections.

It makes me sad to think there's a pretty a good chance of this lawsuit going Apple's way. Even more sad is the fact that many actually support these ever-increasing walled gardens.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#522

Post by pfranz »

Whatarethese wrote: post #489
CarbyAu wrote: post #430

The problem here is Apples user market capture. Through iOS devices Apple has created a market of users they are the very protective gatekeeper for. Windows PC user market. Not locked down. Though MS has a store you have Steam, EGS, GOG, Origin, UBS etc for games alone. Let alone productivity apps. Android market. Not locked down. Though google play store is the gorilla other stores exist. I like F-Droid. EPICS Unrea…

Having to launch games from 5 different shitty desktop programs is terrible for the user.

I was doing Unreal Engine development on an airgapped machine. I was annoyed to find out it requires the Epic store. There's also no offline install option. I hate updating the app each time I run it, only then checking for an update to Unreal Engine.

I also hate having separate apps for different games. I tend to avoid most of the stores even if I want to play those games.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#524

Post by ifmpx »

NoblePublius wrote: post #519

I am not a lawyer but I’m pretty sure it’s a violation of anti-trust law when Walmart tells me I’m not allowed to set up for free a lemonade stand in the middle of their store.

I'm sure it is if I'm only allowed to shop at walmart for all my food.

I hope Apple looses.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#525

Post by surround »

tommymachine wrote: post #509
0xy wrote: post #505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A PR stunt that consumers and small businesses could benefit from. 30% decimates indie studios and makes some apps fiscally nonviable.

You’re kidding right? You think this is going to make a difference in the cut? The word you’re looking for by the way is “financially”. Fiscally is to do with taxes.

> You think this is going to make a difference in the cut?

I’m confused. Is that not the purpose of the lawsuit?

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#526

Post by oneoff1777711 »

briandear wrote: post #510
0xy wrote: post #505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A PR stunt that consumers and small businesses could benefit from. 30% decimates indie studios and makes some apps fiscally nonviable.

Has it decimated an indie studio? Just curious as to what studios have been decimated.

I’ve got an app in the works which would operate on such slim margins that a 30% cut may very well make it non-viable.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#527

Post by gpm »

bromuro wrote: post #473
mrspeaker wrote: post #46

If I go to the App Store on my phone, and go to my "Purchased" list, Fortnite is still listed there. I wasn't up to date, and clicking on "update" gives the message: "Fortnite" No Longer Available. The developer has removed this app from the App Store. Interesting wording. I wonder if they only have one message for pulled-by-Apple vs pulled-by-dev?

To me it feels just poor wording, like often in the app store.

To me it feels like borderline libel, but I doubt you could prove damages.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#528

Post by m4rtink »

ss3000 wrote: post #518

I wonder why Fortnite doesn't also make a WebAssembly version of Fortnight and deploy it on fortnite.com? Then Apple would get jack shit from any sales there, so they can fight this battle with them while still offering access to the game for Apple users. I'm probably missing some esoteric limitation Apple places on web-based games to cripple this use case.

AFAIK Apple prevents this by forcing every browser app to use the half broken Safari engine that does not implement many modern web APIs and standards.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#529

Post by wruza »

danShumway wrote: post #481
wheelie_boy wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A big part of the value of iPhones and iPads is that you don't have to worry about installing an app that screws up your system and requires a wipe & reinstall. You don't have to worry about viruses. You don't have to worry about spending a lot of time being a system administrator, and just use it. You don't even have to worry about many types of malware, because the system protects you from poorly-behaved applicatio…

How would the ability to sideload apps force you to install apps outside of the Apple store? I'm not forced to use FDroid just because I have an Android phone. People aren't arguing that the app store should go away, just that consumers should have a choice. As an analogy, if I want OEM care for my car, I can get that. It's more expensive, but it offers me strict guarantees about where parts are coming from, and I do…

By that you also give a choice to app makers, some of whom will happily sell you out to bigcorps. Even after switching from appstore to playstore I felt how the latter is less secure than the former. It is unimaginable in the appstore for a gallery app to demand access to your sms and address book. Or that moving items to trash/hiding instead of permanent deletion would require a cloud setup. On android, it seems absolutely normal that even stock apps do that. Calculator may require your geoposition, IR remotes may require the access to your messages. Often it's not just a suggestion, they refuse to work if you do not comply. And that's only the "safe" playstore.

Now imagine that Epic wins the fight, has millions of teens on the fortnite needle and no one to prevent them or some inside bad actor to demand whatever device clearance they want. The same goes for regular apps. I'm sure there are well-intended galleries, calculators and remotes, but they are buried under tons of promoted evil contracts, never seeing neither the light, nor a profit/visibility.

Apple may be a bit greedy with a 30% share, but really acts in interest of its customers by kicking the hell out of arbitrariness.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#530

Post by Phr0ztByte »

ss3000 wrote: post #478
ace_of_spades wrote: post #316

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

The thing is, an open ecosystem that allows users to run any software they want on their devices already exists, including on Apple devices, in the form of the Web. And despite all of its flaws it's the most successful software deployment platform the world has ever seen, to the point where even Apple can't afford to not include it on their platforms when we all know they'd rather not, because it's simply too valuabl…

This is probably the best comment on the subject I have ever read, for whatever that's worth.
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