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We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

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Re: We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

#111

Post by Someone1234 »

This blog post is worth a read REGARDLESS of if you think the app itself is a good idea (i.e. VPNing all of a user's traffic to track/block social media usage). There's a lot more here than the app itself/complaining about Apple.

For example they talk about getting their first users, techniques they tried for growth (ads, influencers, etc), and revenue streams. All matters of keen interest to anyone considering a startup/app.

I happen to agree with Apple on squishing this app. But I still find the blog worth while.

Re: We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

#112

Post by busymom0 »

wysifnwyg wrote: post #101
busymom0 wrote: post #49

This is some super click bait and borderline deceitful blog. Apps on iOS are sandboxed so you can't access data about other app's launch and usage. These apps were using MDM profiles to get that usage data. This also meant that the user's internet data was going through these third parties which is a pretty big privacy issue. Plus having MDM profiles gave these third parties enormous access to the user's device setti…

I don't think I saw MDM mentioned anywhere on this blog. Yet, it's that key detail that made all the difference. I know there's a lot of functions that Apple restricts developers from accessing, but it's usually for a good reason.

Yea, same way as the original hit piece written by NYT few months ago didn't even have a single mention of VPN or MDM.

Re: We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

#113

Post by scarface74 »

TuringNYC wrote: post #97

I know Apple is less known to do this, but was there any approach from Apple for an acqui-hire your group and help develop a more strategic product from within Apple?

Apple’s implementation doesn’t intercept all of your communications.

Re: We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

#114

Post by larkeith »

busymom0 wrote: post #49

This is some super click bait and borderline deceitful blog. Apps on iOS are sandboxed so you can't access data about other app's launch and usage. These apps were using MDM profiles to get that usage data. This also meant that the user's internet data was going through these third parties which is a pretty big privacy issue. Plus having MDM profiles gave these third parties enormous access to the user's device setti…

It's especially weird to claim Apple is eliminating competition when it's replacing subscription-based apps (from which Apple gets a significant portion of the revenue) with a free feature. What are Apple supposed to be competing with, themselves?

Re: We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

#115

Post by chronial »

busymom0 wrote: post #49

This is some super click bait and borderline deceitful blog. Apps on iOS are sandboxed so you can't access data about other app's launch and usage. These apps were using MDM profiles to get that usage data. This also meant that the user's internet data was going through these third parties which is a pretty big privacy issue. Plus having MDM profiles gave these third parties enormous access to the user's device setti…

My understanding is that they were providing a VPN that did the tracking and blocking, without gaining any access to the actual device. I don't see how this article is related to MDM profiles or Apple's press release.

Am I missing something?

Re: We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

#116

Post by moftz »

threeseed wrote: post #70
totaldude87 wrote: post #2

This is the story of almost every other indie App developer with a good app idea/implementation , either you will be bought or destroyed. (or rake in millions when you can to sustain for few more months)

You can also become Instagram, WhatsApp or one of the many other multi billion dollar companies. Or does that not fit your narrative ?

Instagram and Whatsapp were bought by Facebook.

Re: We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

#117

Post by chronial »

opencl wrote: post #51
HeavenFox wrote: post #19

May I say the title should be taken with a grain of salt. From the article: > A month before being removed from the App Store, the app raked in ~$45,000 in revenue. This means the product was operating at a $500,000 annual run rate. It's an extrapolation, from the first month.

It's an extrapolation from the last month which was the highest revenue they achieved and roughly estimating from the chart total lifetime revenue was ~$200K.

It seems like a fair estimate to me, especially given the fact that were growing but didn't extrapolate any growth.

Re: We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

#118

Post by dang »

babyslothzoo wrote: post #7
jrvxo wrote: post #4

As an end user, am I happy that Apple took your idea and built it in the OS, stripped of ads, premium features, tracking and analytics, etc? Yes, yes I am.

You sound like a pleasant person.

Please don't do personal attacks on HN, even if you sense schadenfreude. It doesn't help, and only makes this place worse.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

#119

Post by ubersoldat2k7 »

Two things I see here:

Apple didn't copy their app, they copied Android's.

Second, the VPN thing is shaddy AF. I understand this is a workaround but shit, they could be doing some nasty stuff with MITM attacks. No wonder Apple took it down once it was clear how it worked.

Re: We launched an app with $500k annual revenue, and then Apple copied it

#120

Post by lostmsu »

scarface74 wrote: post #39
hestefisk wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree with the sentiment here. Whilst I have all the deepest sympathies for the guy, it does seem like a hack to tunnel it through a VPN to get it working. One could argue, the right approach would be if Apple opened up the hooks to measuring app usage for any 3rd party app, but I don’t think that will happen any time soon.

You would actually trust a third party app to track your usage? Apple actually had to lock out Twitter and other apps from logging what other apps were on your phone for analytics.

Not only I've done it for years, it was also social, e.g. my friends could see it. The app doing that used to be called Wakoopa, now defunct.

IMHO, it was great!

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