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Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

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Re: Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

#391

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone that works at an Unreal Engine shop, you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

As someone that doesn't work at an Unreal Engine shop, I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about

[deleted]

Re: Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

#392
post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would have been more of a victory if Apple followed through with the action, because repercussions would have hit far and wide. Fortnite's entrapment move was powerful because Apple's actions are more exemplary than their threats. Perhaps it's time for some major app makers to have a day or two where they pull their apps.

> Perhaps it's time for some major app makers to have a day or two where they pull their apps. Epic's actions with Fortnite were effectively this. They were aware Apple would pull the app, but that them doing so would give them clear standing to sue Apple for the contract terms. For even a lot of "major" app makers though, pulling their apps off iOS in protest would put them out of business. (Even where Android excel…

If Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, PayPal were all pulled for 2 days at the same time, and then put back up, it would make a huge international stink, global headlines to raise awareness.

Literally Joe Biden would hear about it.

Same day take out an editorial or page-sized ad in the Times.

Apple needs apps as much as apps need them, it just takes enough coordination.

Re: Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

#393

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two points- (1) Presumably Apple wanted to try to send a very quick message to others to not try to make similar moves (and to reassure other developers that Epic wasn't getting a special deal) instead of waiting 30 days. (2) I've said this before and it's important to understand this: just because a contract says Apple can do something (terminate the contract with Unreal Engine), that does not mean they can do it. I…

Per item 1, now would be a good time for every single developer on the app store to revolt in unison. Collective bargaining.

Trust me, Apple does not care. When a company or government with centralized management like that makes a blow-it move, there is an army of people in place to reinforce their decision and attack everyone in opposition so as to maintain their own sense of self worth. You can’t bargain with that.

HTML5 and WASM —and since you will need one for testing anyway, a Pixel 5/4a, S20 Ultra or Note S20 could be fun for learning Android.

Re: Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

#394
post #384

Epic seems to be asserting that access to Apple's developer tools requires a developer account. Since XCode is freely downloadable by anyone, does anybody know which tools they are talking about?

Code signing requires an Apple Developer account. Without being about to sign a package you can't publish to the App Store. You can develop apps for iOS and OS X, and then publish to (a) test device(s) from XCode without one, but that's about it.

If I write an app that includes the Facebook SDK, that doesn't mean that Facebook is involved with submitting my app.

As long as my developer account is valid, Facebook's account doesn't enter the equation when I am submitting an app that includes their SDK in any way I can see.

Can someone shed more light on this?

Re: Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

#395

I'm confused. Why doesn't Apple just use their "Termination for Convenience" clause that lets them terminate any contract with a 30 day notice?

B/c in that case Apple would be doing what the haters erroneously claim they do now: making 100% arbitrary/capricious decisions when it comes to the App Store walled garden. As those of us who target iOS know, they're not transparent, but it's not arbitrary. Thank god. We'd never hear the end of unsolicited opinions about the Touch Bar and HN's annual subscription to the year of desktop Linux.

> it’s not arbitrary

No, they justify ruining some developers based on some criteria that they then justify with the logic that (a) the developer wouldn’t have had any money if it weren’t for Apple to begin with and (b) they “care so deeply” for the Apple “users” that they can’t allow the developer’s life work (or livelihood) to exist and make any kind of unpleasantness available for consumers to choose.

Re: Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

#396
post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now if only the courts would apply the same "sanity" to, say, Uber threatening to fire all its drivers if they're subject to regulation. Not just in california, it's been a repeated thing, they used their employees as leverage when they were threatening to take their ball and go home if Dallas made them do background checks too. The sad part is that Epic's tactics are nothing out of the ordinary for these silicon val…

And now because of the laws making freelance harder, truck drivers who want to stay freelance are having to move out of California and some writers who are doing freelance writing are also finding it difficult. Companies shouldn’t be in the position of offering “benefits” to employees. No sane first world company ties health insurance to your employer.

Companies shouldn’t be in the position of offering “benefits” to employees. No sane first world company ties health insurance to your employer.

It's inexplicable to me that both employers and employees seem mostly fine with the current insanity. Do business owners enjoy having to be health insurance brokers? Do employees enjoy having their insurance provider change every few years and having very little choice in policies?

Re: Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

#397

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But why? What is the benefit of giving up that control?

I don't mean to sound sarcastic or rude - we just don't care. I like messing around with undervolting/fan control scripts on my laptop, but my iPhone is just a tool like a thermostat or toaster oven. There's no benefit to my gaining control.

There is a benefit, though. If there was competition between app stores on the iPhone, the quality and quantity of apps available to iPhone users would increase substantially. App stores would compete on fees, attracting developers, protecting consumers, and so on. Fees would drop, developers would face less cost and friction bringing their apps to the market, app stores would have to innovate to keep protecting consumers. Monopolies cause consumer harm.

The biggest irony of all this is that consumers don't seem to realize the harm Apple is doing, because Apple is busy pulling the wool over their eyes by telling them they are protecting their security and privacy. iOS is a nanny state. Apple maintains a culture of fear among consumers to achieve its business goal, which is to maintain its monopoly position.

Re: Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

#398

I still wonder why so many people buy devices, where the only software you could run has to be approved by the manufacturer. I think we should speak more about this fact, so that people think twice before they buy some device. I only make websites, but I am worried, that at some point, Apple would want me to pay them, so that my website is openable on their devices.

> I still wonder why so many people buy devices, where the only software you could run has to be approved by the manufacturer. Because many of us feel that the alternative (The nightmare that is the desktop PC application ecosystem) would be far worse, especially on a smartphone.

>The nightmare that is the desktop PC application ecosystem

As a former owner of multiple Maemo devices, avid GNU/Linux and FOSS advocate, and user of F-Droid applications when possible, this "nightmare" is a level of control that I dream about having on my phone...

Re: Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

#399

I'm confused. Why doesn't Apple just use their "Termination for Convenience" clause that lets them terminate any contract with a 30 day notice?

B/c in that case Apple would be doing what the haters erroneously claim they do now: making 100% arbitrary/capricious decisions when it comes to the App Store walled garden. As those of us who target iOS know, they're not transparent, but it's not arbitrary. Thank god. We'd never hear the end of unsolicited opinions about the Touch Bar and HN's annual subscription to the year of desktop Linux.

I target iOS–it's certainly not 100%, but Apple's decisions can be very arbitrary and capricious.

Re: Apple ordered to not block Epic’s Unreal Engine, Fortnite to stay off App Store

#400

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can epic develop the engine if they are banned form using Apple development tools.

They probably should have thought about that before they purposely violated their developer agreements...

One might say you have the duty to violate illegal developer agreements.
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