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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

#81

Post by madeofpalk »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #38
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.

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…

> Why, as a developer, would you be stupid enough to launch your app as a paid product on the App Store?

Higher conversion rate.

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

#82

Post by bigyabai »

madeofpalk wrote: post #80
redczar wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I buy the security and privacy argument. I don’t want to deal with anyone other than Apple for refunds, cancellations, etc. I don’t trust anyone else to make these things easy.

It would be great if the market could figure out this.

They have, on the Mac.

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

#83

Post by madeofpalk »

digianarchist wrote: post #43
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…

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

Many companies would never use Apple's IAP regardless of the cost because companies want a direct relationship with their user for things like refunds and trials and other stuff.

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

#84

Post by dmitrygr »

mmastrac wrote: post #23
dmitrygr wrote: post #14

App Store revenue was a significant source of income for Apple. Money that paid for development of iPhone and iOS. I don’t know what sort of idiotic thinking it takes to imagine that they won’t need to find another way to recapture that money. It will probably come in the form of higher costs for development licenses, or hardware. For example, absolutely nothing stops them from charging you for using the SDK. No one…

The billions of dollars in cash beg to disagree with you. I don't think they are hurting for money.

Nor am I. But if my boss cuts my salary I’ll still fight back.

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

#85

Post by paxys »

redczar wrote: post #71
makeitdouble wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They might, but they'll have lost the "it's for consumer's good" battle through and through. 4 years ago some people were still swallowing the security or privacy argument, and users didn't understand what they were missing. This time any of these facades will be broken to death.

I buy the security and privacy argument. I don’t want to deal with anyone other than Apple for refunds, cancellations, etc. I don’t trust anyone else to make these things easy.

No one is forcing you to move away from IAP and subscriptions. Just ignore the link that takes you to the web. And be ready to pay a 30% premium for your convenience, because that is what Apple has priced it at.

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

#86

Post by madeofpalk »

what wrote: post #49
geoffpado wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They could also implement that independent of the injunction, which applies to steering rules. They actually can't, not with the latest ruling that unlocked this Kindle change. Apple annoyed the judge enough with their shenanigans that she shut this down, too. The ruling reads (emphasis mine): "Effective immediately Apple will no longer impede developers’ ability to communicate with users *nor will they levy or imp…

They can just charge you per install or update over some threshold. Which wouldn’t be a commission on off-app purchases.

It cannot be overstated just how furious the judge is with Apple. I cannot imagine the judge will tolerate anything that undermines the spirit of the ruling.

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

#87

Post by goosedragons »

threeseed wrote: post #62
xp84 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I think it'd be a bit different if Kindle, Spotify, Netflix and co. all suddenly stopped working/got worse.

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

#88

Post by techjamie »

threeseed wrote: post #51
digianarchist wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is anyone confident that Apple will win on appeal? By the effort developers putting into payment-flows I would say they aren't, but depending on the volume it could be purely for short-term gain.

Courts don't care about the amount of effort developers are spending to take advantage of the window before an appeal has been ruled on.

I think the implication that is being made here is that the other companies have examined their odds, and determined that the odds are good enough that they would dedicate the resources.

Which, presumably, means their legal teams examine the case and think that the appeal won't succeed.

Though there is always the possibility that it was relatively inexpensive to implement, and the increased sales in the meanwhile during the legal battle will outweigh the cost of changing it.

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

#89

Post by redczar »

paxys wrote: post #85
redczar wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I buy the security and privacy argument. I don’t want to deal with anyone other than Apple for refunds, cancellations, etc. I don’t trust anyone else to make these things easy.

No one is forcing you to move away from IAP and subscriptions. Just ignore the link that takes you to the web. And be ready to pay a 30% premium for your convenience, because that is what Apple has priced it at.

Obviously. I was merely demonstrating that some people like buying through the App store.

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

#90

Post by asadotzler »

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…

b) Apple Pay on Stripe seems a pretty low friction experience for web purchases. My app has a "buy" button that pops up a Safari window with an Apple Pay button the user clicks. Sure, it's an extra click but I doubt it's a slam dunk that the extra click is going to consistently cut conversions by 15% (or 30% for big outfits.)
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