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iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

theverge.com

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Re: iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

#61

Post by threeseed »

isodev wrote: post #44
digianarchist wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The likely outcome is that Apple will reduce the 30% to something at least marginally competitive with alternative payment systems.

The entire “store” model needs to go away. Phones are computers now, just let people download and install whatever they want or need.

> Phones are computers now

No one but irrelevant nerds think this. And the market has demonstrated this time and time again.

Most people think of phones as being console-like entertainment devices. And aren't interested in scams, malware, virus checkers etc that are needed in a free for all model.

Re: iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

#62

Post by threeseed »

xp84 wrote: post #27
snkzxbs wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose they can just take them down.

They can, and then they’ll have to face their customers directly with it being exactly clear (even to “normies” who don’t follow obscure tech news like this) exactly whose greedy fingers are taking things away from them. Up till now, situations like Kindle were just weird quirks to most people and most people wouldn’t have been able to tell you why you can’t do this very normal-seeming thing on iOS. If/when Apple tak…

There are plenty of no longer supported apps on people's phones.

No one is blaming Apple for it.

Re: iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

#63

Post by chaosbolt »

paxys wrote: post #59
wmf wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple will change the rules back in seconds if the court decision is stayed. Literally billions are at stake here.

Sure, but customers aren't going to be defending their decision after that like they always do.

Apple is a status brand, customers will still defend their decisions even if they found out that Tim Cook is a real life Sith lord or something of that magnitude.

Re: iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

#64

Post by paxys »

chaosbolt wrote: post #63
paxys wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, but customers aren't going to be defending their decision after that like they always do.

Apple is a status brand, customers will still defend their decisions even if they found out that Tim Cook is a real life Sith lord or something of that magnitude.

No brand lasts forever. Even on HN, a couple years ago every comment even vaguely anti-Apple tax would be immediately downvoted. When the Epic lawsuit was first filed Tim Sweeney was public enemy #1 over here. Now people are warming up to the idea that Apple might be harming consumers and developers with their app store rules.

Re: iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

#65

Post by gjsman-1000 »

lilyball wrote: post #58
gjsman-1000 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This also, long term, could kill the 30% commission. Why, as a developer, would you be stupid enough to launch your app as a paid product on the App Store? Your discoverability is massively impaired, we already knew that. You also give Apple 30% of your cash. Free app + external web purchase = maximum discoverability at 0% tax. When things get more advanced, that web purchase link will be an authenticated URL - meani…

That sounds like an awful user experience. There's no way I'm ever buying a mobile app that requires me to go enter my credit card into a website to pay for it. Cross-platform services can justify this sort of thing (because you're buying a subscription to the service across all platforms), but doing it for what otherwise would be a paid app purchase is incredibly user-hostile.

I think you’re in the minority there - users enter their information constantly for physical items. Nobody raises an eyebrow, let alone calls it hostile.

Also, problem solved, just use Apple Pay on the checkout page. Ironic, but royalty free, and one-click to enable in Stripe.

Re: iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

#66

Post by nik_0_0 »

lxgr wrote: post #34
lb1lf wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does indeed open your web browser and send you to the book's page on the Kindle store. Just checked. (Kindle for iPhone v7.31.3)

Wow, really? That's frustrating. I'd have expected it to actually make the purchase using my card on file with my Amazon account, just like the physical Kindle does.

That one Apple is still allowed to collect fees on (which I'd love to see the provided justification for!).

Per the article: "Apple can no longer collect a 27 percent commission on purchases made outside of apps or restrict how developers can direct users to alternate payment options"

This now allows folks to direct users to alternate methods. Before this the Kindle app would just say something along the lines of "you can't get a book here, please use the website".

Re: iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

#67

Post by gjsman-1000 »

threeseed wrote: post #57
gjsman-1000 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This also, long term, could kill the 30% commission. Why, as a developer, would you be stupid enough to launch your app as a paid product on the App Store? Your discoverability is massively impaired, we already knew that. You also give Apple 30% of your cash. Free app + external web purchase = maximum discoverability at 0% tax. When things get more advanced, that web purchase link will be an authenticated URL - meani…

a) It's 15% for most developers. b) Buying a product through IAP is one click. Versus having to go to a signup page, provide details, enter credit card details, wait for credit card verification flows etc. The drop off in conversions during this can be often greater than 15%. c) Apple's centralised subscription management has been extremely useful and consumer friendly. Versus having to now deal with NY Times style s…

Now calculate the drop off every time someone saw the prompt: “Please confirm your Apple ID password.”

I’m sure it’s substantial over the years. As for point C, I really don’t care, every monopoly has had at least some advantages. We could make this even better by giving Visa a monopoly and having them build a web portal.

Re: iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

#68

Post by paxys »

sundaeofshock wrote: post #40
paxys wrote: post #8

Smart that developers are quickly updating their apps while Apple is still appealing the decision. Once users get used to the added purchase options and cheaper pricing there's no going back, regardless of what the final ruling is.

Why would a developer lower their prices? Most people are not aware that Apple takes a cut of all sales. Further, the app developers have already set their prices to maximize revenue. Also, in instances like Amazon, they have already set a cross-platform price that I suspect they won’t want to touch. Bottom line: I wouldn’t expect many discounts here.

> Why would a developer lower their prices

Plenty of them already do. Google's services (YouTube Premium and others), for example, are $5/mo more expensive if you purchase them via Apple IAP. Spotify memberships are 30% more expensive on Apple. There are countless other examples. They just weren't allowed to advertise the cheaper option on iOS until now.

Re: iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

#69

Post by RandallBrown »

threeseed wrote: post #57
gjsman-1000 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This also, long term, could kill the 30% commission. Why, as a developer, would you be stupid enough to launch your app as a paid product on the App Store? Your discoverability is massively impaired, we already knew that. You also give Apple 30% of your cash. Free app + external web purchase = maximum discoverability at 0% tax. When things get more advanced, that web purchase link will be an authenticated URL - meani…

a) It's 15% for most developers. b) Buying a product through IAP is one click. Versus having to go to a signup page, provide details, enter credit card details, wait for credit card verification flows etc. The drop off in conversions during this can be often greater than 15%. c) Apple's centralised subscription management has been extremely useful and consumer friendly. Versus having to now deal with NY Times style s…

C is my biggest reason I'm not looking forward to these changes.

I love having a single dashboard for all my subscriptions and having an easy way to cancel them.

Re: iOS Kindle app now has a ‘get book’ button after changes to App Store rules

#70

Post by shakna »

threeseed wrote: post #61
isodev wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The entire “store” model needs to go away. Phones are computers now, just let people download and install whatever they want or need.

> Phones are computers now No one but irrelevant nerds think this. And the market has demonstrated this time and time again. Most people think of phones as being console-like entertainment devices. And aren't interested in scams, malware, virus checkers etc that are needed in a free for all model.

Malware and virus protection apps are already among the most installed across both Android and iOS.
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