Apple argues that its opposition to 3rd party App Stores is that with only one App Store offering approved-only apps, it better serves customer’s needs because Apple can oversee security and quality control. That sounds altruistic enough, but if that were genuinely true, Apple could minimise their fees to only cover these costs and no more. Instead, Apple takes a whopping 30% bite of not just the initial app purchase price, but every purchase made in the app. Apple are learning the hard way that the EU Commissioners weren’t born yesterday.
So how would you pay for the ongoing development of developer tools, store infrastructure, backend development and upkeep of the ecosystem, etc.
People seem to grossly underestimate how big a chunk of development, maintenance, and distribution of software Apple provides - as a developer I can just mash together Apple-provided technologies with some business logic and start making money.
And it is this ease of implementation and freeing developers up to just focus on what their app should do vs spending time focusing on how they get to a point where they can make an app do anything that is of value.
So how would you pay for the ongoing development of developer tools, store infrastructure, backend development and upkeep of the ecosystem, etc.
They literally net a billion dollars a week profit just from selling the iPhone itself. On top of that they net another billion dollars a week profit from all their services and other hardware. If you subtract their profit from the App Store, in the unlikely event it was entirely wiped out by competition, they would still have 2/3 of that or about $1.4 billion a week profit after all expenses. They would be just fine, making massive profits off iPhones after all iPhone-related costs, even if they lost the App Store entirely.
Not altruistic but a reality. Apple has very stringent code quality, privacy and security reviews on apps submitted to the app store. I really appreciate what they are doing on that front considering Google just allows any tom dick and harry apps on the playstore. Seriously the amount of shitty and scammy apps on playstore far outnumber genuine and useful apps. I for one would never ever ever use any 3rd party stores when it comes to iOS purely because of how good a job Apple does compared to Google.
Don’t even get me started on the huge pile of crap that is Samsung and Amazon stores. I guess they have spare money to throw away in the development and maintenance of a scam platform.
As to 30% cut of every payment, yes it’s quite monstrous and that needs to change absolutely. But having 3rd party stores is not the solution. Everyone is greedy at the end of the day. Developers won’t offer differential pricing based on the platforms. They’ll keep the pricing the same and keep a higher cut. So for the end users there’s no difference and that’s why app store should always be preferred over any 3rd party stores.
Third party stores are quite helpful though. They’ll keep Cook busy with actually improving the app quality, moderation quality and maybe even annoying ads. There must be an alternative, whether you personally will use it or not. I will.
Probably there should be alternatives. But Android has that and I don’t see any good that came out of it. The experience of 3rd party stores are sub par and I’m being generous. Google is not setting the standards high anyway. All I’m saying is that when Apple is doing a totally good job (I’m a through and through Android user btw, just have developed apps on iOS) there could be a risk of becoming lenient. 3rd party stores drive the pricing model share down resulting in Apple just pulling out necessary resources required to maintain what they are doing today. iOS users can afford the premium and I believe they should get the very best service in that regard. It could go both ways but we already have a use case in Android ecosystem where it’s woefully incompetent which includes the playstore.
The AppStore is full of trash too. Let’s not kid ourselves out.
Is google play store worse? I don’t know I didnt have an android in years.
But I can tell that the AppStore is full of trash.
It’s important to understand that the App Store is stringently regulated (a lot more than the PlayStore. The PlayStore is a joke), particularly regarding privacy safeguards. For instance, Facebook once reported a 50% profit loss due to these regulations. This underscores a key point: if companies or developers could circumvent the App Store and its rules, they certainly would. The consequence? Customers might find essential apps no longer available on the App Store, which benefits profit-driven companies at the expense of the consumer.
The core issue lies in the balance between consumer freedom and the quality of the apps. If Apple were to allow customers greater freedom in sourcing their apps (akin to sideloading on Android), this could potentially lead to a market flooded with apps that are less consumer-friendly.
That’s precisely why I oppose the idea of sideloading on iOS. Customers who prefer more freedom in choosing where to get their app can opt for Android. However, I value the assurance of consumer-friendly apps that comes with the current iOS model. In the end, allowing sideloading on iOS, like on Android, might ironically result in fewer meaningful choices for consumers.
You’re not forced to buy an iPhone. I like what Apple does.
You need to understand, that there is a general rule in the world, that you can’t have both: maximal freedom and maximal security.
More freedom leads to less security, more security leads to less freedom.
This rule can be applied to everything. Look at USA and Europe. In the USA there is more freedom than in Europe, but less security than in Europe.
And I like the less freedom of Europe more than the more freedom of the USA. Because the live in Europe is more secure and has a higher quality.
The trick is, to find the right balance, between freedom and security. And for me, Apple does a great job to keep the balance.
There is nothing I miss on the iPhone. A sideloading alternative wouldn’t give me any advantages, only downsides.
And if sideloading is important to you, you’re free to buy an Android.
So everyone is happy and can choose between two different OS, with their own quirks. If you force iOS to be similar to Android, we will have less choices.
The PlayStore is very differently to the AppStore. The AppStore has very strict guidelines for developers. Especially when it comes to terms like supporting iPhone UI/UX and hardware features and when it comes to data protection for users.
And for real, the Android apps have a lower quality than iOS apps and are more a mess. There is a lot more chaos around Android apps.
Also the good thing with AppStore is. Apple can force developers to update their apps to the newest iOS versions.
That doesn’t work for Android and you get the problem that some apps don’t really support newer Android versions and the developers are too lazy to update. That leads to people not updating to newest Android versions, because they want to keep the functionality of such apps.
But for the Apple ecosystem it’s important, that as an Apple user you should always be on the latest versions, otherwise the ecosystem will no more run smoothly.
There isn’t even such an ecosystem with Androids and therefor it’s not that important to update to the latest versions.
I buy Apple products, because of the smooth working ecosystem but that also means, Apps need to have a certain quality and have to adhere to guidelines Apple gives to developers.
With sideloading alternative where developers would be no more foced to adhere to thise guidlines, iOS apps will become a mess, they will be lower in quality and less secure and will no more protect your privacy as it is now.
I don’t want this and I don’t understand, why people who want to have a sideloading alternativ not just buying an Android. You’re not forced to buy an iPhone.
Both OS are differently, let to have customer that choice. Why do both OS need to be similar?
Then explain, why for example Facebook is crying to have a massive profit loss on iOS (around 50%), because Apple made new privacy guidelines for developers? The guidline says that there must be a clear opt-in function on iOS to users to accept them to collect their data.
It’s a huge privacy feature. Also developers must tell Apple what kind of data they want to collect from the users. Users then see warnings on the AppStore.
Those are a few examples. But nothing like that exists for Android.
And your phone tracks and keeps a lot more sensitive data of you than a laptop or desktop computer. You also always have the phone with you.
So it’s more important, that a smartphone has stronger protections and security measurements than a normal computer.
I wouldn’t want an iOS concept on my MacBook, but I really want to keep it on iOS.
I really don’t understand what the problems of you guys is. It sounds like, you’re forced to buy an iPhone.
Apple limiting the way apps can be installed on iPhone can be both a security measure and a way to make money.
Personally I hope it stays this way. Forcing the phone to open up cannot feasibly be done without compromising security. Because you have to alter the operating system to make having an app not signed by Apple a valid app under some circumstances. Which means malicious actors now simply have to figure out how to get their third party app on your phone and toggle whatever switch on the phone allows third party apps.
Hopefully Apple keeps their core APIs absolutely locked down
Apple argues that its opposition to 3rd party App Stores is that with only one App Store offering approved-only apps, it better serves customer’s needs because Apple can oversee security and quality control. That sounds altruistic enough, but if that were genuinely true, Apple could minimise their fees to only cover these costs and no more. Instead, Apple takes a whopping 30% bite of not just the initial app purchase price, but every purchase made in the app. Apple are learning the hard way that the EU Commissioners weren’t born yesterday.
Yeah but most app developers make more money from iOS than Android.
That’s not relevant. This is looking at 3rd party app stores on iOS.
So how would you pay for the ongoing development of developer tools, store infrastructure, backend development and upkeep of the ecosystem, etc.
People seem to grossly underestimate how big a chunk of development, maintenance, and distribution of software Apple provides - as a developer I can just mash together Apple-provided technologies with some business logic and start making money.
And it is this ease of implementation and freeing developers up to just focus on what their app should do vs spending time focusing on how they get to a point where they can make an app do anything that is of value.
They literally net a billion dollars a week profit just from selling the iPhone itself. On top of that they net another billion dollars a week profit from all their services and other hardware. If you subtract their profit from the App Store, in the unlikely event it was entirely wiped out by competition, they would still have 2/3 of that or about $1.4 billion a week profit after all expenses. They would be just fine, making massive profits off iPhones after all iPhone-related costs, even if they lost the App Store entirely.
Okay cool, them making tons of money on iPhone sales doesn’t mean they should run the App Store at a loss though
They are actively selling hardware. That is how they do it. They need people to make stuff for their hardware.
If there were no third party Apps people wouldn’t use the computers
Not altruistic but a reality. Apple has very stringent code quality, privacy and security reviews on apps submitted to the app store. I really appreciate what they are doing on that front considering Google just allows any tom dick and harry apps on the playstore. Seriously the amount of shitty and scammy apps on playstore far outnumber genuine and useful apps. I for one would never ever ever use any 3rd party stores when it comes to iOS purely because of how good a job Apple does compared to Google.
Don’t even get me started on the huge pile of crap that is Samsung and Amazon stores. I guess they have spare money to throw away in the development and maintenance of a scam platform.
As to 30% cut of every payment, yes it’s quite monstrous and that needs to change absolutely. But having 3rd party stores is not the solution. Everyone is greedy at the end of the day. Developers won’t offer differential pricing based on the platforms. They’ll keep the pricing the same and keep a higher cut. So for the end users there’s no difference and that’s why app store should always be preferred over any 3rd party stores.
Third party stores are quite helpful though. They’ll keep Cook busy with actually improving the app quality, moderation quality and maybe even annoying ads. There must be an alternative, whether you personally will use it or not. I will.
Probably there should be alternatives. But Android has that and I don’t see any good that came out of it. The experience of 3rd party stores are sub par and I’m being generous. Google is not setting the standards high anyway. All I’m saying is that when Apple is doing a totally good job (I’m a through and through Android user btw, just have developed apps on iOS) there could be a risk of becoming lenient. 3rd party stores drive the pricing model share down resulting in Apple just pulling out necessary resources required to maintain what they are doing today. iOS users can afford the premium and I believe they should get the very best service in that regard. It could go both ways but we already have a use case in Android ecosystem where it’s woefully incompetent which includes the playstore.
The AppStore is full of trash too. Let’s not kid ourselves out.
Is google play store worse? I don’t know I didnt have an android in years.
But I can tell that the AppStore is full of trash.
If the Apple App Store is best for the customer, then the customer can choose to use it.
You’re making a logical error!
It’s important to understand that the App Store is stringently regulated (a lot more than the PlayStore. The PlayStore is a joke), particularly regarding privacy safeguards. For instance, Facebook once reported a 50% profit loss due to these regulations. This underscores a key point: if companies or developers could circumvent the App Store and its rules, they certainly would. The consequence? Customers might find essential apps no longer available on the App Store, which benefits profit-driven companies at the expense of the consumer.
The core issue lies in the balance between consumer freedom and the quality of the apps. If Apple were to allow customers greater freedom in sourcing their apps (akin to sideloading on Android), this could potentially lead to a market flooded with apps that are less consumer-friendly.
That’s precisely why I oppose the idea of sideloading on iOS. Customers who prefer more freedom in choosing where to get their app can opt for Android. However, I value the assurance of consumer-friendly apps that comes with the current iOS model. In the end, allowing sideloading on iOS, like on Android, might ironically result in fewer meaningful choices for consumers.
But it’s not for apple to decide what’s best for the consumers. The consumers decide what’s best for them. Apple is not government.
You’re not forced to buy an iPhone. I like what Apple does.
You need to understand, that there is a general rule in the world, that you can’t have both: maximal freedom and maximal security.
More freedom leads to less security, more security leads to less freedom.
This rule can be applied to everything. Look at USA and Europe. In the USA there is more freedom than in Europe, but less security than in Europe.
And I like the less freedom of Europe more than the more freedom of the USA. Because the live in Europe is more secure and has a higher quality.
The trick is, to find the right balance, between freedom and security. And for me, Apple does a great job to keep the balance.
There is nothing I miss on the iPhone. A sideloading alternative wouldn’t give me any advantages, only downsides.
And if sideloading is important to you, you’re free to buy an Android.
So everyone is happy and can choose between two different OS, with their own quirks. If you force iOS to be similar to Android, we will have less choices.
Android already proves that your point is moot
No!
The PlayStore is very differently to the AppStore. The AppStore has very strict guidelines for developers. Especially when it comes to terms like supporting iPhone UI/UX and hardware features and when it comes to data protection for users.
And for real, the Android apps have a lower quality than iOS apps and are more a mess. There is a lot more chaos around Android apps.
Also the good thing with AppStore is. Apple can force developers to update their apps to the newest iOS versions.
That doesn’t work for Android and you get the problem that some apps don’t really support newer Android versions and the developers are too lazy to update. That leads to people not updating to newest Android versions, because they want to keep the functionality of such apps.
But for the Apple ecosystem it’s important, that as an Apple user you should always be on the latest versions, otherwise the ecosystem will no more run smoothly.
There isn’t even such an ecosystem with Androids and therefor it’s not that important to update to the latest versions.
I buy Apple products, because of the smooth working ecosystem but that also means, Apps need to have a certain quality and have to adhere to guidelines Apple gives to developers.
With sideloading alternative where developers would be no more foced to adhere to thise guidlines, iOS apps will become a mess, they will be lower in quality and less secure and will no more protect your privacy as it is now.
I don’t want this and I don’t understand, why people who want to have a sideloading alternativ not just buying an Android. You’re not forced to buy an iPhone.
Both OS are differently, let to have customer that choice. Why do both OS need to be similar?
I’m sorry mate, you’re too far gone
Then explain, why for example Facebook is crying to have a massive profit loss on iOS (around 50%), because Apple made new privacy guidelines for developers? The guidline says that there must be a clear opt-in function on iOS to users to accept them to collect their data.
It’s a huge privacy feature. Also developers must tell Apple what kind of data they want to collect from the users. Users then see warnings on the AppStore.
Those are a few examples. But nothing like that exists for Android.
And your phone tracks and keeps a lot more sensitive data of you than a laptop or desktop computer. You also always have the phone with you.
So it’s more important, that a smartphone has stronger protections and security measurements than a normal computer.
I wouldn’t want an iOS concept on my MacBook, but I really want to keep it on iOS.
I really don’t understand what the problems of you guys is. It sounds like, you’re forced to buy an iPhone.
No more baby mode, now we can have porn apps
Epic admitted in court that the 15% cut they take on their App Store doesn’t even cover their costs and they’re losing money on it.
Those things are not mutually exclusive.
Apple limiting the way apps can be installed on iPhone can be both a security measure and a way to make money.
Personally I hope it stays this way. Forcing the phone to open up cannot feasibly be done without compromising security. Because you have to alter the operating system to make having an app not signed by Apple a valid app under some circumstances. Which means malicious actors now simply have to figure out how to get their third party app on your phone and toggle whatever switch on the phone allows third party apps.
Hopefully Apple keeps their core APIs absolutely locked down