Apple will let developers accept payment outside App Store

Post by saurik » Fri, Aug 27, 2021, 6:36 AM UTC

SilverRed wrote: post #38

Grustaf wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But I don’t get it, it has never been forbidden, isn’t that exactly how netflix and all other subscription business do it? Clearly they have communicated about the payment outside the app?

Netflix and spotify dump you on a page which says "You can not continue via the app". They have not been allowed to tell you how you can continue to set up a payment, only that it can not be via the app. Now they can say go to this url to set it up.

Post by commoner » Fri, Aug 27, 2021, 6:42 AM UTC

diskzero wrote: post #21

em-bee wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

but this is what apple originally intended, just phones weren't powerful enough at the time. later firefoxOS did exactly that. and it worked well. its only weak part was the lack of apps in the market.

Has too much time passed for FirefoxOS to become viable again? The latest moves by Apple seems to be changing public sentiment .

Post by spoonjim » Fri, Aug 27, 2021, 7:07 AM UTC

lolinder wrote: post #18

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28323688 Linking this here from the other thread, because the above comment cites the actual court documents, which clear up a lot of confusion I'm seeing on this thread. Apple's concession only applies to communications outside of the app using contact information obtained outside of the app . (Which, yes, was somehow disallowed before.) If your user signed up through the app? To…

Post by p49k » Fri, Aug 27, 2021, 7:28 AM UTC

SilverRed wrote: post #37

dustyharddrive wrote: post #27

This is the worst tech news headline I’ve ever seen. The change the article is referring to is allowing developers to refer to non-IAP payments in communication with users outside the app (the fact that this was disallowed before blows my mind). This does absolutely nothing to change the in-app anti-steering rules Apple has. (edit: for clarity)

This is still a huge step even if not enough. It means that apps like spotify and netflix no longer have to have a screen saying "You can not continue via the app" and nothing more which is terrible UX. "Head to spotify.com to set up a subscription" is much better UI.

Post by chmike » Fri, Aug 27, 2021, 8:15 AM UTC

rambambram wrote: post #49

Thanks Apple, for "letting" me accept payment outside the App Store. Thanks for not watching the streets and not intervening when somebody tries to pay me. All jokes aside, the wording is wrong. Apple does not "let me". I do. And Apple indeed doesn't stop me. In one sentence Apple not only 'backs down', but presents itself as the one who 'lets you'. Well, thanks Apple. :')