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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

#381

Post by zarzavat »

addicted wrote: post #163
rekoil wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They would make money hand-over-fist if they did all of that.

And before the Apple fanbois come and tell you how Apple is a multi trillion dollar business so they know what they’re doing, a reminder that Apple didn’t want the App Store in the first place, and wanted 3rd party apps to be web apps. It was the popularity of unofficially created apps running on unlocked original iPhones (which led to many unlocking their iPhone) that convinced Apple to create the App Store.

Apple didn’t really want 3rd party apps to be web apps. The infamous “just build web apps” was a stop-gap measure while they were building the App Store.

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

#382

Post by fsniper »

charcircuit wrote: post #367
ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #278

50 cents an install over 1 million downloads? Every year? Is Apple trying to get fined? They're not even hiding the fact they're maliciously complying. For one, this makes deploying a free app on an alternative store (that becomes popular) simply impossible? I highly doubt that was the EU's intent. Usually with malicious compliance you can at least see the logic for a future legal case. Here, if they were trying to l…

>For one, this makes deploying a free app on an alternative store (that becomes popular) simply impossible? You can monetize it with in app payments or ads such that wealthy people subsidize other users. If the app is from a nonprofit they can get the fee waived.

This is asking some wealthier users to subsidize Apple, not other users.

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

#383

Post by fauigerzigerk »

Someone1234 wrote: post #236
fauigerzigerk wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This makes no sense. All that Apple would have to do to close this loophole is to count installs per group of associated companies or developer accounts.

You make it sound trivial to unmask shell companies, when even governments struggle with it currently.

It makes no sense for app vendors to behave like crime cartels or sanctioned regimes in order to avoid a 30% fee. The margins are not high enough. It's fraud. Executives could go to jail.

Also, this whole web of companies would have to distribute the same set of apps, which would make it relatively easy for Apple to spot. Contrary to a prosecutor, Apple doesn't have to prove anything. They just close the accounts without recourse if they have any suspicion. End of story.

And the app vendor would have to forego the benefit of accumulating reviews under one name. Or they could have the opposite problem, users gravitating to one of the clones that ranks highest. How would they make sure each clone has no more than 1 million users?

This is no way to run a company. It's totally bonkers.

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

#384

Post by tombert »

It baffles the mind that having exactly one marketplace with rent-seeking level fees that neither users nor developers can opt out of doesn't violate some kind of antitrust law in the United States.

Though it looks like the EU iPhone users are only in a marginally better position.

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

#385

Post by themoonisachees »

charcircuit wrote: post #367
ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #278

50 cents an install over 1 million downloads? Every year? Is Apple trying to get fined? They're not even hiding the fact they're maliciously complying. For one, this makes deploying a free app on an alternative store (that becomes popular) simply impossible? I highly doubt that was the EU's intent. Usually with malicious compliance you can at least see the logic for a future legal case. Here, if they were trying to l…

>For one, this makes deploying a free app on an alternative store (that becomes popular) simply impossible? You can monetize it with in app payments or ads such that wealthy people subsidize other users. If the app is from a nonprofit they can get the fee waived.

Or, and hear me out on this, maybe I want to make useful apps that don't data mine their users and I also would like not to take donations. This is a valid want to have (and I honestly can't believe you would suggest to 'just' sell out your users) and it would take a single app getting popular (or apple just straight up lying, I would have no way of verifying their count) to wipe out all of my capital.

It's 'nice' that there exists options to pay for the fee, but realistically the fee shouldn't exist, and it is also illegal.

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

#386

Post by ggreer »

bloppe wrote: post #372
ggreer wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What applications are necessary to call it a general purpose computer? A web browser? A self-hosted development environment? I don't think there's a bright line between what applications a Playstation or Xbox has versus what a phone has. And it's not like the iPhone is the only phone you can get. If Apple is restricting such a core component of our lives, you can simply buy non-Apple products.

It's not about how you might use the device. it's about how people actually use them. Maybe a dozen ppl have ever used the browser on a PlayStation. When you lose your phone, on the other hand, it literally feels weird to go about your day without one. Right now you have a "Hobson's choice", but if you could ditch the iPhone while still keeping access to iMessage and iCloud, wouldn't you?

I don't really care about iMessage or iCloud. Yes the blue text looks nicer and the quality of images in messages is a little better, but it's not a deal breaker if I'm messaging an Android user. I have less than a gigabyte of stuff in iCloud and I don't know how it got there.

I use iPhones because they're smaller than Android phones. Would I like it if Apple still made phones in the form factor of the iPhone 4 or 5? Absolutely. Should the government force Apple to do that? Probably not.

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

#387

Post by planb »

verticalscaler wrote: post #340
onlyrealcuzzo wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

~20% of Apple's total earnings (not revenue) could come from the App Store: https://deepwatermgmt.com/apples-app-store-is-an-important-p... When you look at the multiple on services - the App Store could easily be >40% of Apple's total market cap. They're going to stick their fingers in their ears as long as they can to defend that. You don't give up the golden goose. You defend it.

That's a bit of an exaggeration financially. I think Apple is afraid 100% of their market cap depends on the App Store, just not so directly. Phones are "done". Geese don't live forever. Switching away is hard. In the not too distant future a $99 no brand phone will be equivalent to the iPhone experience for 80% of use cases, modulo the camera. If apps are just web apps and run on whatever hardware, Apple will need t…

That’s why I hope they compete hard in the AI-in-your-pocket space. Seems like they got the hardware talent to make that happen (software-wise I’m not so sure, but at least it sounds like they focus a bit more on that now the car project is dead). I want Apple to win by selling expensive devices, not by collecting 30% fee on minors gambling for loot boxes.

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

#388

Post by [deleted] »

rmbyrro wrote: post #258
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…

It's sad to see Apple adopting kind of an Oracle way of business. "Kind of"... They were screwed by Microsoft in the past. And now they're the ones screwing every single small and mid-sized software shop everywhere. When will we stop buying their products?

[deleted]

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

#389

Post by Almondsetat »

m_a_g wrote: post #227

I wonder why the EU is pushing Apple this hard, and not the other gatekeepers. For example, Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo consoles should now support an external store.

It seems disingenuous to compare video game consoles with smartphones

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

#390

Post by arminluschin »

TillE wrote: post #303
m_a_g wrote: post #227

I wonder why the EU is pushing Apple this hard, and not the other gatekeepers. For example, Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo consoles should now support an external store.

> other gatekeepers Because they are not "gatekeepers", a term defined by the DMA which focuses on specific sectors. Also the video game ecosystem is pretty healthy these days, with nearly every major game available on Windows at launch or a few months later. As a matter of market competition , letting you hack your game console or smart TV or whatever just isn't that relevant.

Following your line of argument, isn’t the app ecosystem the healthiest of all, with nearly every major app available on Android and iOS?
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