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Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

techcrunch.com

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Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#621

Post by matwood »

FirmwareBurner wrote: post #101
zshrc wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We own this platform, (we built this platform), we make the rules I don't see the issue with this... it's not like they're exploiting an inherited platform like Oracle with (everything), IBM with Red Hat or Broadcom with VMware.

Would you also defend Microsoft of the 90's with the same argument for the similar issue? At least Microsoft had no way of stopping you selling apps for Windows but Apple is a next level of nefarious.

It's hard to compare anything else to MS in the 90's because Windows (and Excel) had 90%+ marketshare. MS was able to strong arm companies into doing what they wanted by threatening to withhold Windows licenses.

The MS case and recently lost Google case are closer to each other than anything going on with Apple.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#622

Post by johnnyanmac »

tracerbulletx wrote: post #492
Zambyte wrote: post #451

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The arbitrary limitations on computers that are obviously general purpose is more clear than the arbitrary limitations on general purpose computers that are marketed as special purpose computers (gaming machines). In reality they're all equally bad.

Gaming consoles are not really special purpose anymore.

They pretty much are. They don't even had facilities that older consoles had like an accessible web browser or custom theming.

Just because they have general computing hardware doesn't mean they are general purpose computers.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#623

Post by lnxg33k1 »

tebbers wrote: post #612
wkat4242 wrote: post #609

Ummm lol. So now sideloading is allowed (with lots of costs associated mind you) and if someone wants to use it Apple will just kick them off the platform? :') So first malicious compliance with all the inflated costs and then they don't even allow people to use it. I really hope the EU will crack down on this BS and force Apple to allow real sideloading. But anyway I've written Apple out of my life a long time ago.

There’s no way the EU allows Apple’s interpretation of the DMA after they did this, Apple really made a mistake here. As you say, how can you be sure that alternative app stores won’t just be booted off by Apple for $REASON?

Made a mistake, why? They either comply right away, or just pretend to be deaf with their own interpretation, make Epic sue them again, pull the situation for a few years keep profiting off developers with their 30% rent, maybe at the end of it the EU will fine them some peanut and the rest is just profit, can’t understand what the mistake is here

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#625

Post by justin66 »

arthurofbabylon wrote: post #481

At first I was surprised Epic's shareholders tolerate CEO Tim Sweeney – Epic had this all wrapped up, they got a large portion of what they wanted, but Sweeney just couldn't help but keep the drama going, at risk of their business. But then I realized that Tim Sweeney owns more than half of Epic. If he wants to risk his company for a fracas/kerfuffle, then that is between him and his minority shareholder.

Literally all of Epic's biggest shareholders are on board with treating the problems with Apple as more than a "kerfuffle." They've attracted quite a bit of investment in spite of the ongoing lawsuits.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#626

Post by 7moritz7 »

dmitrygr wrote: post #594
vlod wrote: post #529

Wondering how this affects Apple employees. Back in the day, working for Apple seemed cool. (Pirate flags on building etc). Previously MSFT used to be (maybe they've turned that around?) the most hated tech company (becz of their very aggressive attitudes to competitors especially Netscape). One thing they didn't FU and is represented by the infamous sweaty Balmer video [0] of him shouting "Developers, developers, de…

From working at apple, I remember that most engineers just work hard to make good hardware and software. I've heard very few mentions of what anyone outside of apple thinks of it

You'd assume making good hardware and software requires outside feedback. "Thoughts", one might say.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#627

Post by ben_w »

johnnyanmac wrote: post #599
scarface_74 wrote: post #579

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s why it’s a Pyrrhic victory. They have access to the EU market which is much less profitable than the US market.

Pyrrhic implies that the battle is over. I see it more as a foothold for a much longer battle. I'm sure North America and Asia aren't ignoring this whole ordeal. It should also be noted that this article specifically talks about Epic's Sweden AB account being banned. It doesn't affect the state of the US account (which may very well be banned anyway).

> Pyrrhic implies that the battle is over

Other way around, "victory" implies the battle is over, Pyrrhic as a modifier implies a victory that inflicted such a devastating toll that it was tantamount to defeat.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#628

Post by matwood »

smoldesu wrote: post #610
matwood wrote: post #586

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> contributes nothing Other than cultivating a base of iOS users spending 7x more than Android users on apps[1]. That sounds like significant value to me and not dissimilar to what the console manufacturers pitch to developers. [1] https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/06/iphone-users-spend-apps/

> Other than cultivating a base of iOS users spending 7x more than Android users on apps[1]. Those iOS users certainly aren't spending 7x more on AppleTV and iTunes albums. It's because of third-parties that Apple can convince users to spend money in the first place. > That sounds like significant value to me and not dissimilar to what the console manufacturers pitch to developers. If console manufacturers had the ha…

Cool, so all the 3rd parties can move to Android and the affluent users will follow. Oh wait.

The problem is assuming that either party is the one providing all the value. Of course the app developers are providing value, but so is Apple.

> If console manufacturers had the hardware margins Apple did, they wouldn't be console manufacturers anymore.

Margins are irrelevant in this discussion.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#630

Post by johnnyanmac »

morcheeba wrote: post #581
zmmmmm wrote: post #546

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a good question. From the EU point of view it may be simply one of scale. If any of those held the amount of market power Apple does, I suspect the EU would designate them Gatekeepers and we would be off to the races. From the games publisher point of view, the console manufacturer is actually adding significant value and taking a fair (or not so fair) margin in exchage. Apple detracts value, contributes nothing…

>the console manufacturer is actually adding significant value and taking a fair (or not so fair) margin in exchage. I don't get this. What does a game console manufacturer do that Apple does not? Both provide hardware, system-level APIs, dev systems, developer support, customers. In the old days, game manufacturers didn't even provide a sales channel. And when you say Apple provides nothing, my above list is pretty…

> What does a game console manufacturer do that Apple does not?

Take it to the other extreme: what does a PC manufacturer do that Apple does not? Why not let Windows close down and take 30% on any program installed on Windows? Or go along with its old plans to enforce only signed Windows Store apps to be installed on Windows 12?

It's ultimately just history and culture. We consider general purpose computing to be open and specialized computing to be closed. Apple wants to keep claiming it's just a phone when in reality it's basically a PC. They even unified their hardware so that Mac and IOS run on the same architecture; hardware and software wise there isn't much a mac can do that an iPhone can't do.

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