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Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

macrumors.com

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Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#141

Post by AwaAwa »

frankjr wrote: post #44

From https://developer.apple.com/support/core-technology-fee/ > First annual install. This is the first time an app is installed by an account in the EU in a 12-month period. After each first annual install, the app may be installed any number of times by the same account for the next 12 months with no additional charge. Okay... > A first annual install may result from an app’s first-time install, a reinstall, or an…

Sounds malicious. I expect their defense to consist of "can't spell 'App' without taking a portion of 'Apple' and therefore ...."

Or maybe that's their hail mary for the next round.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#143

Post by paulcole »

realusername wrote: post #115
paulcole wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are deeply involved. If it’s that bad for developers, drop the iPhone and develop solely for Android. Developers need the iPhone and Apple needs developers.

> If it’s that bad for developers, drop the iPhone and develop solely for Android. That's what I've done personally but that's not something you can ask most companies.

Of course it is something you can ask most companies! Whether they'll do it or not is up to them.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#144

Post by concinds »

rekoil wrote: post #133
MatthiasPortzel wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They’re the same terms as those required for an alternative app marketplace.

Not exactly, looks like there's no requirement to have €1,000,000 in your bank account like you need for alternative app marketplaces.

They dropped that too.

https://www.macrumors.com/2024/03/05/apple-tweaks-eu-app-sto...

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#145

Post by paulcole »

pbmonster wrote: post #114
paulcole wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are deeply involved. If it’s that bad for developers, drop the iPhone and develop solely for Android. Developers need the iPhone and Apple needs developers.

> They are deeply involved. If it’s that bad for developers, drop the iPhone and develop solely for Android. EU: "No."

Yes, that's called having differing opinions and it's not bad. If enough people in the EU agree with this, go for it. If Apple ends up saying that they're willing to abide by the letter of the law and no more, great.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#146

Post by pennomi »

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #125
paulcole wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are deeply involved. If it’s that bad for developers, drop the iPhone and develop solely for Android. Developers need the iPhone and Apple needs developers.

Isn't it that software developers need hardware, and Apple seek to use their position to prevent developers enabling users on their (the user's) hardware without paying a large fee to Apple. Apple already got paid a large fee as manufacturer though Put another way: Devs don't need iPhones, they need users to have freedom to install the apps they choose to on the computing devices those users own; regardless of the th…

It doesn’t affect Nintendo, yet. I suspect that if this legislation is successful, it will expand in scope.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#148

Post by EMIRELADERO »

captainmuon wrote: post #139
Etheryte wrote: post #84

The terms and conditions for web distribution [0] are concerning to say the least. In short, you have to have at least one million first installs annually on iOS to even qualify, in addition to other terms such as "good standing in the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more". I doubt Epic and the like would be considered in good standing as far as Apple is concerned. Also, quote unquote, developers…

That's probably to prevent the most obvious workaround of creating a new shell company for every million users. (Which would be not so ridiculous as it sounds, there is plenty of software you cannot buy directly but only through a reseller. Epic could become a pure b2b shop on paper and sell Fortnite clients to regional distributors, or something like that.) Some time ago somebody made an alternative App Store for em…

> That's probably to prevent the most obvious workaround of creating a new shell company for every million users.

Which would be all around moot because the fee itself is illegal.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#149

Post by jshier »

MatthiasPortzel wrote: post #80

> Be a member of good standing in the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more, and have an app that had more than one million first annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year These are the same as the current requirements to create an alternative App Store. So it sounds like this is a way for developers of a single app to allow users to install just their app. Before this comes into…

Alt stores also require specific insurance, which doesn't seem to be the case here.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#150

Post by dangus »

CaptainMarvel wrote: post #110

My tolerance for Apple's walled garden expired with what they've pulled in reaction to the Digital Markets Act. It's become blatant (to me) they are landlords of their digital empire seeking to squeeze rent from everyone. I wouldn't mind paying for their expensive and yet still-profitable hardware if not for the antics they pull on the software side. Everyone should be able to run whatever legally-obtained program th…

I just wonder how products like game consoles would be viable under a law like this. I assume they would have to cost much more and there would be far less incentive for their development in the first place.

Then again, we are at the end stages of game consoles. Microsoft in particular seems to be considering the idea of not even bothering with hardware. Software is where the money is, Chinese hardware companies can make hardware like you see in the retro handheld scene.

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