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WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

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Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#11

Post by dylan-m »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #3
mmastrac wrote: post #2

Tweet thread - it looks like Apple is requiring in-app purchases to sign-up for wordpress.com accounts, despite it being an open-source app for any WordPress site: > Heads up on why @WordPressiOS updates have been absent... we were locked by App Store. To be able to ship updates and bug fixes again we had to commit to support in-app purchases for .com plans. I know why this is problematic, open to suggestions. Allow…

This is really sad. On the one hand, sure Apple should be able to make a cut on their app store, on the other hand, they shouldn't be allowed to force apps to do this sort of thing. This will only drive domain prices higher on iOS in order to compensate (in the case of Automattic). If I were in a position where Apple is forcing me to pay a 30% tax, I would literally add "30% Apple Tax" to the check out screen on top…

> On the one hand, sure Apple should be able to make a cut on their app store

Apple makes a cut: they charge developers a not insignificant yearly fee of 99 USD per seat, they sell iOS devices and services at great profit, they happily earn 15-30% from in-app purchases and subscriptions wherever developers choose to use those features, they earn 30% on any apps that choose to be paid, and they reserve the right to set a minimum price if free apps inconvenience them. (But free apps very much do not inconvenience them, ever, and this idea that they do and Apple of all companies is doing all this from the goodness of their hearts is a disease).

The only reason Apple needs more of a cut here is because their shareholders would probably sue them if they stopped.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#12

Post by kuzimoto »

turblety wrote: post #5

I know I really don't matter to Apple, but this walled garden and app store dictatorship is what finally made me move away from iOS to Android last year. I had used Android in the past, but it was with Samsung Galaxy's which where very bloated and awful when compared to Apple. But when a friend told me that Samsung just ruin Android [1] and I should try an actual Google phone, I bought a Pixel and it's honestly great…

> I am very privacy, open-source, freedom orientated

I like to think I am as well. How do you balance this when moving from Apple to Android, where Apple (seems) to be much more privacy-focused and basically at zero for open-source/freedom, where Android is basically the reverse? I think there are ways to make it better (custom ROM, alternative app stores), but you give up a lot of functionality (Play Store, Google Pay, etc.), and I'm not sure you can entirely eliminate all concerns.

I like the freedom of Android, so as long as I understand what I'm giving up privacy-wise I don't mind the trade-off. I have at least tried to make it a little harder for Google, using DuckDuckGo, but I'm guessing it only makes a dent with the other massive amounts of data they can still glean from the various services running on the phone, Gmail, Maps, etc.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#13

Post by swiley »

Does apple want legal action against themselves? This is just stupid.

The conspiracy theorist in me says maybe they’re trying to make the discussion about about payments and not anticompetitive behavior or the attack on FOSS.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#14

Post by kodah »

I've been thinking lately that Open Source, much less FOSS, needs to separate itself from corporate entities entirely. I've seen FOSS/OS communities use proprietary technologies like Slack over Mattermost or IRC, GitHub over GitLab or Gitea, and even as deep as prioritizing native apps over PWA architecture that could've achieved the same things.

I doubt Apple's ignorance over the economics of the matter or how it relates to community relations will become apparent to them, but I think this is a beacon in the night to developers everywhere. Money driven companies will never be more than a tool, much less your friends.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#15

Post by wmf »

bilal4hmed wrote: post #6
Hamuko wrote: post #4

It's quite amazing how hard Apple is pushing this now with all of the extra regulatory eyes on the subject. I guess they're fairly confident that they're untouchable.

They are betting on the fact that arent a majority in any space. Its the best situation for them, then dont have majority market share but make the most revenue. They see Google being split up and therefore being the only game in town.

I didn't notice when this happened, but apparently iPhone now has over 50% of the US phone market.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#17

Post by rstat1 »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #3
mmastrac wrote: post #2

Tweet thread - it looks like Apple is requiring in-app purchases to sign-up for wordpress.com accounts, despite it being an open-source app for any WordPress site: > Heads up on why @WordPressiOS updates have been absent... we were locked by App Store. To be able to ship updates and bug fixes again we had to commit to support in-app purchases for .com plans. I know why this is problematic, open to suggestions. Allow…

This is really sad. On the one hand, sure Apple should be able to make a cut on their app store, on the other hand, they shouldn't be allowed to force apps to do this sort of thing. This will only drive domain prices higher on iOS in order to compensate (in the case of Automattic). If I were in a position where Apple is forcing me to pay a 30% tax, I would literally add "30% Apple Tax" to the check out screen on top…

>I would literally add "30% Apple Tax" to the check out screen...

I've heard from other iOS devs in a similar bind that Apple forbids you from doing anything to recover the 30% cut they take.

You either just have to eat it, or make your prices 30% higher everywhere.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#18

Post by dshep »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #3
mmastrac wrote: post #2

Tweet thread - it looks like Apple is requiring in-app purchases to sign-up for wordpress.com accounts, despite it being an open-source app for any WordPress site: > Heads up on why @WordPressiOS updates have been absent... we were locked by App Store. To be able to ship updates and bug fixes again we had to commit to support in-app purchases for .com plans. I know why this is problematic, open to suggestions. Allow…

This is really sad. On the one hand, sure Apple should be able to make a cut on their app store, on the other hand, they shouldn't be allowed to force apps to do this sort of thing. This will only drive domain prices higher on iOS in order to compensate (in the case of Automattic). If I were in a position where Apple is forcing me to pay a 30% tax, I would literally add "30% Apple Tax" to the check out screen on top…

You would actually need to raise your original price 43% to cover Apple's 30%. And yeah I agree, I am surprised more Apps don't take this approach. But perhaps it is discouraged somehow.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#19

Post by nico_h »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #3
mmastrac wrote: post #2

Tweet thread - it looks like Apple is requiring in-app purchases to sign-up for wordpress.com accounts, despite it being an open-source app for any WordPress site: > Heads up on why @WordPressiOS updates have been absent... we were locked by App Store. To be able to ship updates and bug fixes again we had to commit to support in-app purchases for .com plans. I know why this is problematic, open to suggestions. Allow…

This is really sad. On the one hand, sure Apple should be able to make a cut on their app store, on the other hand, they shouldn't be allowed to force apps to do this sort of thing. This will only drive domain prices higher on iOS in order to compensate (in the case of Automattic). If I were in a position where Apple is forcing me to pay a 30% tax, I would literally add "30% Apple Tax" to the check out screen on top…

pretty sure you have to offer the same price as on your website if you offer IAP. it’s one more of the developer unfriendly move of the developer program, alongside that you cannot even hint that you can purchase or subscribe somewhere else.

Re: WordPressiOS Locked by App Store

#20

Post by YetAnotherNick »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #3
mmastrac wrote: post #2

Tweet thread - it looks like Apple is requiring in-app purchases to sign-up for wordpress.com accounts, despite it being an open-source app for any WordPress site: > Heads up on why @WordPressiOS updates have been absent... we were locked by App Store. To be able to ship updates and bug fixes again we had to commit to support in-app purchases for .com plans. I know why this is problematic, open to suggestions. Allow…

This is really sad. On the one hand, sure Apple should be able to make a cut on their app store, on the other hand, they shouldn't be allowed to force apps to do this sort of thing. This will only drive domain prices higher on iOS in order to compensate (in the case of Automattic). If I were in a position where Apple is forcing me to pay a 30% tax, I would literally add "30% Apple Tax" to the check out screen on top…

> If I were in a position where Apple is forcing me to pay a 30% tax, I would literally add "30% Apple Tax" to the check out screen on top of the regular fees to make consumers aware

If you don't know that, it is not allowed to sell for more in iOS than in your site, and the app will get banned for attempting that, forget about displaying 30% apple tax to the users explicitly.

Edit: Heard from somewhere, likely not fully correct.

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