Apple Invites • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple Invites

#351

Post by astrange » Tue, Feb 04, 2025, 10:18 PM UTC

talldayo wrote: post #107

cleverwebble wrote: post #51

I'm in my mid-thirties and most of my friends have ditched Facebook. I didn't really realize this until when I used it to create an event for a house party... I was somewhat surprised that only 2 people out of 15 even saw it. I ended up resorting to good old text message and that worked, but it was tedious. Not sure how popular this will become, but having a social-media-less event invite/broadcasting system would be…

> Not sure how popular this will become Since Apple was too lazy to make it into a standard, it will probably go the way of App Clips. Niche idea, too few users to adopt it and no stakeholders with enough control to make it popular on other platforms.

What would a standard for party invites be?

ics files and CalDAV are sort of an Apple standard.

Re: Apple Invites

#352

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Feb 04, 2025, 10:18 PM UTC

karaterobot wrote: post #321

dkjaudyeqooe wrote: post #275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I think this being an Apple branded service is going to make this appear exclusionary and will mean some people won't participate even if they could. Don't you think that's kind of the point? Do you think having green and blue messaging bubbles was unintentional?

Yes it was intentional, but this is a different case. If a meaningful percentage of people don't think they can attend an event because they don't own an iPhone, that's a big problem for adoption of this product. Whether that will happen or not, I have no idea, but I think that's what the person you responded to was saying.

[deleted]

Re: Apple Invites

#353

Post by nimz » Tue, Feb 04, 2025, 10:19 PM UTC

blueelephanttea wrote: post #298

nimz wrote: post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tested it with a sample event and I don't see any way to RSVP without logging into an Apple account. Maybe I'm missing something?

> I tested it with a sample event and I don't see any way to RSVP without logging into an Apple account. Maybe I'm missing something? You are. I explicitly created a burner email and invited it to an event. When I navigated from the invite email I was prompted to sign in which I declined. It then allowed me to join the event after I confirmed with an emailed code. On joining the event I was able to set my name and se…

The way I tested it was to create Share link, then navigate to it in an incognito window on Desktop and try to RSVP. I am still unable RSVP without login. Perhaps it works without login if you explicitly invite a certain email.

Re: Apple Invites

#354

Post by astrange » Tue, Feb 04, 2025, 10:20 PM UTC

barbazoo wrote: post #147

Mindwipe wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It still requires people to read a text message. It may as well be delivered via carrier pigeon outside the US.

Genuine question, is SMS text delivery unreliable where in certain countries?

Somehow they're unreliable just in the US. I had someone think I was mad at them because when I texted them to hang out it never made it. Had to remember to switch messaging apps.

I think they were on a cheap prepaid plan though.

Re: Apple Invites

#355

Post by 42772827 » Tue, Feb 04, 2025, 10:20 PM UTC

thesuitonym wrote: post #320

john2x wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm still waiting for iMessage to work with Android phones.

iMessage has been compatible with RCS for months now.

Except if you’re on Google Fi, right?

https://isgooglefircsyet.com/

Re: Apple Invites

#356

Post by briandear » Tue, Feb 04, 2025, 10:21 PM UTC

echelon wrote: post #349

astrange wrote: post #344

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This green text thing only happens in the US. Nobody really uses iMessage elsewhere.

It shouldn't be allowed in the US. Lina Khan was going to put a stop to it, but tragically that didn't reach its culmination.

Why? Does the color affect functionality or are we going to pass laws based on feelings?

Re: Apple Invites

#357

Post by canucker2016 » Tue, Feb 04, 2025, 10:22 PM UTC

I think some demographic info can be useful in judging the potential uptake.

Apple iPhone ownership amongst USA teens:

2024: 87%

2019: 83%

2014: 67%

https://www.iclarified.com/95177/87-of-us-teens-own-iphones-...

https://www.pipersandler.com/news/piper-jaffray-completes-se...

https://www.pipersandler.com/news/different-new-cool-accordi...

Smartphone marketshare for iPhone in various countries:

65%: Norway

59%: Sweden/Japan/Canada/USA

49%: UK

30-39%: Germany/Portugal/Italy

other countries are lower from my random sampling of developed countries (South Korea is dominated by Samsung).

Source: https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/norway

Change last part of url to get info for another country

Re: Apple Invites

#358

Post by dboreham » Tue, Feb 04, 2025, 10:22 PM UTC

Brystephor wrote: post #274

PaulHoule wrote: post #254

Even though "... anyone can RSVP, regardless of whether they have an Apple Account or Apple device" I think this being an Apple branded service is going to make this appear exclusionary and will mean some people won't participate even if they could. I see the same risk involved with Apple TV's branding; Apple TV works great on Xbox, on NVIDIA Shield and on PC. I'm sure though there are a lot of people who just decide…

Software engineer here with an android phone. I've never bothered to look into Apple TV because I assumed it'd only be available on Apple devices. Similarly, I saw this post and thought there may be a reason for me to get an iPhone now as I assumed this would be available on apple devices only.

I'm only aware it doesn't need an Apple device because spouse does have an iPhone and was able to set it up on our Roku that way. I still assume that someone in the household does need an iPhone in order to get a subscription, although now I think about it probably that's not true.

Re: Apple Invites

#359

Post by talldayo » Tue, Feb 04, 2025, 10:23 PM UTC

canucker2016 wrote: post #357

I think some demographic info can be useful in judging the potential uptake. Apple iPhone ownership amongst USA teens: 2024: 87% 2019: 83% 2014: 67% https://www.iclarified.com/95177/87-of-us-teens-own-iphones-... https://www.pipersandler.com/news/piper-jaffray-completes-se... https://www.pipersandler.com/news/different-new-cool-accordi... Smartphone marketshare for iPhone in various countries: 65%: Norway 59%: Sweden…

> Creation of invitations requires an iCloud+ subscription.

I really wonder what the uptake is on iCloud+ subscriptions.

Re: Apple Invites

#360

Post by makeitdouble » Tue, Feb 04, 2025, 10:23 PM UTC

PaulHoule wrote: post #254

Even though "... anyone can RSVP, regardless of whether they have an Apple Account or Apple device" I think this being an Apple branded service is going to make this appear exclusionary and will mean some people won't participate even if they could. I see the same risk involved with Apple TV's branding; Apple TV works great on Xbox, on NVIDIA Shield and on PC. I'm sure though there are a lot of people who just decide…

It will feel that way at a distance because it basically is.

To start, it's not a service but an app. Sure there is a web interface, but the focus on the app already sets the stage (which also puts macos only users in an interesting position).

Then non-Apple users probably can only respond when the sales pitch is "to contribute to Shared Albums, and engage with Apple Music playlists"

If I'm not an Apple user there will only be downsides to using this service compared to any other one.