451–460 of 513 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
But there are other Smartphone platforms with their own store, correct? I don’t know why people feel it’s their undeniable right to be able to provide an app to iOS users.
It should be an undeniable right that I can use other app stores with my iOS device.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Paynent processors are entirely irrelevant to this discussion, given app stores do far more than just payment processing. Not for in-app purchases they don't, which is why I specifically called that one out. The game provides all the UX there to find & purchase the items, the game "delivers" the resulting purchased goods, etc... All the app store does in that case is facilitate payment. No different than, say, Squa…
The store facilitates discovery of your app, secure installation of your app, world wide distribution of your app, and offers customers a safe, trustworthy, consistent and easy to use purchasing system complete with refunds, subscriptions cancellation for all purchases. One of the biggest developer benefits is Apples app reviews process. While not perfect for devs, it helps ensure customers feel safe buying my apps f…
Discussion of Apple topics here on HN almost always gets reduced to the argument that Apple is not a monopoly, so what they are doing is OK. I want to present an alternative viewpoint. It's not a monopoly issue, it is an anti-competitive issue. In Canada, we have three major cell carriers. None of them has a monopoly, or anything close to it. None of them has even 50% market share. You can have a 10 GB smartphone pla…
I think I have a better analogy: Apple operates a market with a significant portion of economic activity in several industries / verticals, yet it sets its own rules and even is party to transactions. That's basically the definition of a black market. Black markets are useful in some circumstances, but when they grow too big they have to be regulated and taxed. A lot. Good for Epic.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 10 GB smartphone plan for $75 Wow. In France it's the reverse: during promotions, you can get 70GB for €10. Out of promo, it's €15-€20 at low cost operators, and €35 at traditional brands.
Yeah, I spent half a day walking around phone stores in Vancouver trying to find a couple of GB pay as you go sim (expecting it to cost $10-20). Turns out they don't exist in Canada.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Would you be willing to pay a 30% "Apple" fee on all transactions because what Apple is doing prevents companies from passing on saving to consumers.
Companies pay 30% of an employee's salary to strealine their hiring efforts - doesn't seem far fetch to me to expand that payment pattern to a consumer level where one is paying 30% on transactions and in return receiving a streamlined process for discovering, managing and reversing them through a centralized gateway. Again, not that I agree with this...just playing devil's advocate here. I don't want to pay 30% on a…
There isn't a lol big enough
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'll defer to Epic's official court filings to make the argument for a monopoly for me. I'm not an expert on such topics, and it would be out of turn for me to speak more on it. "Apple monopolizes the iOS App Distribution Market". https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/apple-complaint-734589783.pdf
How do they reconcile that with the fact that it's possible to side load apps on iOS? Apple might monopolize the Apple App Store Distribution Market, but is that relevant to the legal argument?
I don't think that it's a good argument to make that anyone can do it, because it does require _some_ technical knowledge in order to do it. I'd make the argument that if it's not accessible to everyone, then I don't think it's a viable replacement for an app store.
To lean on F-droid as an example on the Android side, outside of the initial installation of F-droid(which can be done from your phone), you can easily browse F-droid and install apps.
I don't think it's as easy to sideload apps on iOS. I haven't done it in years(since my jailbreak days), but I remember that you needed to be on a Mac and needed xcode to do it. It's probably updated now to make it a bit easier, but from a quick Google it looks like you need to download a separate program in order to do it. It looks like other ways to sideload apps requires some abuse of developer certificates to make it work.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple and Google are both charging 30% fees and together, they own almost the entire smartphone market. It is harming consumers due to the higher costs this 30% is imposing on transactions. Whether it is illegal or not is up to the court to decide. But as a customer, I would like to complain about this and state my dissatisfaction. Perhaps if enough people do it, they will change their behaviour. Also as a voter, I w…
Why? They provide a great service to consumers - a store to get applications easily. They provide a great service to devs - a store to get consumers to see and buy their products. Why is 30% unfair? A company charging a certain percentage for something is neither unfair or anti-competitive. You need to develop your argument further.
This is the same as with store owners who have to hand over part of their earnings as danegeld to some gangs controlling their neighborhood. They also pay happily for a great "protection" service. Would be a pity if something happens to your nice store (or app, in Apples case)!
I don't get how anyone who stands up for freedom of information, a free internet and a fair economy can still own an iPhone without developing schizophrenia..
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think I have a better analogy: Apple operates a market with a significant portion of economic activity in several industries / verticals, yet it sets its own rules and even is party to transactions. That's basically the definition of a black market. Black markets are useful in some circumstances, but when they grow too big they have to be regulated and taxed. A lot. Good for Epic.
Except for it to be a black market illegality needs to be established and it isn't clandestine - the rules are freely available and there are other markets (android) available for apps. This is a poor analogy. I am still waiting for a real argument on HN as to what Apple is doing that is anti-competitive or illegal. Still have not found one.
Apple and Google are engaging in obvious tacit collusion. QED.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'll defer to Epic's official court filings to make the argument for a monopoly for me. I'm not an expert on such topics, and it would be out of turn for me to speak more on it. "Apple monopolizes the iOS App Distribution Market". https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/apple-complaint-734589783.pdf
How do they reconcile that with the fact that it's possible to side load apps on iOS? Apple might monopolize the Apple App Store Distribution Market, but is that relevant to the legal argument?
replied to another thread.... ok am going to put a highly objectionable comment. I buy stuff on apple store because its easy and SAFE. That safety point is more important than ever, if there was no app store or lets say having 10 other app stores , i wont have the same level of confidence and heck i wont even be spending any dollars out there. Over to Apple's 30 % cut, i dont know whats the call here, to make it 0%?…