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Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

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Re: Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

#111

Post by croshan »

ksec wrote: post #83

I am pretty sure I read something similar before. Probably from Benedict Evans or somewhere else. I think the most important issue from these email isn't the lack of Alternative App Store, IAP, or 70/30 split. It is that Apple Execs has Zero understanding of how other business works especially with respect to Internet or Software Services. They continue to think Netflix as a physical product ( As they often like to c…

I love that quote. To get where you want to be, it may be helpful to build the skills you want, before you need them.

At this point, an organization like Apple is too cemented to easily change. I think you can't learn _everything_ on the job, because some things you'll learn too late. Now, it's more than "a few decades later," and have they really learned how to partner?

Re: Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

#112

Post by [deleted] »

vkou wrote: post #19
djyaz1200 wrote: post #12

Tech companies that reach monopoly scale (like Apple, Facebook, Amazon) should have to disclose all their agreements and honor a "Most Favored Nation" clause giving all companies the same pricing and access as the best negotiated agreement with any one company. This is the most reasonable way I can think of without breaking them up to prevent them picking winners and losers as new opportunities emerge. If you have a…

Sure, but why limit this to tech companies? Let's also apply this to banks, landlords, governments, grocery chains, and employers in general. Why should I not get the best wages, negotiated employment agreement, interest rates, lease terms, and deal with the IRS on taxes that I really don't want to pay as my most successful peer? Banks bend over backwards for their VIP customers, why shouldn't they do the same for me…

[deleted]

Re: Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

#113

Post by drexlspivey »

jw1224 wrote: post #91

I wonder why Netflix don’t want their content to be searchable in Apple’s TV app: > “Since TV App is not going to happen right now, there’s nothing else to get from Netflix at this time” The TV App is actually pretty great — one of the few parts of the Apple ecosystem where the garden walls are very low. I can search for a TV show or film, and even when the iTunes Store has it available, TV still suggests I watch it…

Netflix doesn’t want their content to show up in apple TV search because they don’t want to give access to their user’s data to Apple. It’s a terrible anti-consumer decision and frankly it was one of the last straws that led me back to piracy after many years. All I wanted was a universal search for content instead of having to go into each provider’s app.

I am now using Plex/Sonarr/Radarr and it works flawlessly, a much better ecosystem with open APIs and tons of integrations with tvdb/discord/trakt/opensubtitles etc. Netflix had a good thing going on for a while but they managed to screw it up.

Re: Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

#114

Post by 5faulker »

croshan wrote: post #111
ksec wrote: post #83

I am pretty sure I read something similar before. Probably from Benedict Evans or somewhere else. I think the most important issue from these email isn't the lack of Alternative App Store, IAP, or 70/30 split. It is that Apple Execs has Zero understanding of how other business works especially with respect to Internet or Software Services. They continue to think Netflix as a physical product ( As they often like to c…

I love that quote. To get where you want to be, it may be helpful to build the skills you want, before you need them. At this point, an organization like Apple is too cemented to easily change. I think you can't learn _everything_ on the job, because some things you'll learn too late. Now, it's more than "a few decades later," and have they really learned how to partner?

If they do some major restructuring that is.

Re: Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

#115

Post by zopa »

Dracophoenix wrote: post #84
djyaz1200 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple as of years ago was capturing over 90% of all the margin in smartphones ( https://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/23/apple-captures-record-91-per... ). I'd argue that represents a monopoly in paid smartphones. Our option as users is either buy a phone from Apple or accept what is essentially a free service from Google (you have to buy the hardware)... who are giving that away to solidify their search monopoly. This to me…

90% of global smartphone profits does not mean 90% of devices in the market. It's been demonstrated for years that iPhone users are much more likely to pay for apps. It's possible to be extremely profitable and not have a monopoly on the market because the iPhone isn't just an appliance but a Veblen good as well.

It does however mean Apple has significant market power. Almost by definition: in a very counterfactual perfectly competitive smartphone market, everyone sells at cost and there aren't any profits. Reducing it to monopoly vs. not-a-monopoly is drawing too bright a line.

And I don't really think iPhones are a Veblen good exactly. Targeted at higher-income buyers? Yes. Valued as much for design as aesthetics? Absolutely. But pretty sure a $500 iPhone would outsell an otherwise-identical $800 iPhone, nevertheless.

Re: Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

#116

Post by zerohp »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #93

I just wish the damn AppleTV apps worked better together. I use AppleTV for all my viewing (which isn’t really that much), and one thing that really annoys me, is the crap quality of the apps; even marqée-brand apps. I’m constantly having to reboot the unit to get out of “lockups.” Wouldn’t be surprised if a big reason that Netflix and Apple don’t play well with each other, is that they can’t code it (as opposed to n…

I've never rebooted my AppleTV aside from updates. Double click the home button on the remote and swipe up to kill an app.

Re: Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

#117

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

zerohp wrote: post #116
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #93

I just wish the damn AppleTV apps worked better together. I use AppleTV for all my viewing (which isn’t really that much), and one thing that really annoys me, is the crap quality of the apps; even marqée-brand apps. I’m constantly having to reboot the unit to get out of “lockups.” Wouldn’t be surprised if a big reason that Netflix and Apple don’t play well with each other, is that they can’t code it (as opposed to n…

I've never rebooted my AppleTV aside from updates. Double click the home button on the remote and swipe up to kill an app.

Thanks for the tip!

Yeah, apps hang all the time. They don't crash, per se, but you can't break out of the screen they are presenting.

Re: Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

#118

Post by emsy »

netcan wrote: post #71
emsy wrote: post #60

The problem here are not the special deals, saurik commented he cut special deals in the Cydia store occasionally the last time this topic came up. The problem is that there is no alternative to Apple when it comes to publishing software and content on the iPhone and that makes these kind of deals unfair.

This is naive, IMO. Even if the app store was run differently, say allowing a competing way of installing apps, Apple still have plenty of fungible power to make such deals. You might have ticked a box to make it technically fair, for some definition of, but that would probably be just cosmetic. IE, app store would still represent most revenue and everyone is in the same position but a few geeks. The "platform game"…

You said it's naive but didn't actually present a reasonable alternative.

Re: Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

#119

Post by mikestew »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #93

I just wish the damn AppleTV apps worked better together. I use AppleTV for all my viewing (which isn’t really that much), and one thing that really annoys me, is the crap quality of the apps; even marqée-brand apps. I’m constantly having to reboot the unit to get out of “lockups.” Wouldn’t be surprised if a big reason that Netflix and Apple don’t play well with each other, is that they can’t code it (as opposed to n…

The Netflix app is especially bad about this. At least on my prior-gen 4K ATV, do a search in the Netflix app and you'll never get out of the search menu. Menu button does nothing, select one of the items in search does nothing because as soon as you Menu out of it, you're back to the unescapable search screen. The only way out is to kill the Netflix app. (This might have been fixed, haven't watched anything on Netflix in a while. Definitely repro'ed a month ago.)

And, BTW, you might not need to reboot to escape a lockup. I don't have an ATV on and accessible, but I'm pretty sure you double-tap the TV/Home button that brings up an Alt-Tab-like view of your running apps. Swipe or arrow left or right to the problem app, swipe up to kill it. It's what I do with the Netflix app way too often, like when I used the search functionality. :-)

Re: Apple execs describe a “unique arrangement” with Netflix (2018)

#120

Post by tornato7 »

jobu wrote: post #97
ksec wrote: post #83

I am pretty sure I read something similar before. Probably from Benedict Evans or somewhere else. I think the most important issue from these email isn't the lack of Alternative App Store, IAP, or 70/30 split. It is that Apple Execs has Zero understanding of how other business works especially with respect to Internet or Software Services. They continue to think Netflix as a physical product ( As they often like to c…

That's interesting. As a developer I've often felt outright hostility coming from Apple developer relations, and maybe it's this lack of a partnership mentality. They generally treat end users really well, but it's like they see external developers as some sort of parasite feeding on their products. In my experience it's difficult to get actual technical help unless you personally know someone internal to Apple.

From Apple's perspective, developers are either creating competing products or products that Apple will eventually compete with. Either way they would rather not help.
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