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Apple Discussed 'Punitive Measures' Against Netflix for Dropping In-App Purchases
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Why? If you have you own platform that does not rely on significant use of Apples APIs and the customer starts on the website of the service then Apple currently doesn’t take a cut at all. For instance the majority of Spotify customers came sign up on their site and then download the App to use with their info. Apple makes nothing on those. If they are the result of Apple’s Marketing then they deserve their cut, without having Spotify attempt to cut them out.
Of course they have a right to, it’s their platform. And Netflix has a right to decide they didn’t want to use the IAP mechanism and did so. And Netflix would have the right to pull their app entirely if they wanted. There literally nothing shady going on here, it’s utterly normal dealings between two parties who both have things to offer and are trying to get the best deal for themselves.
Nice logical fallacy there. “They didn’t do X, so just imagine what they DID do (even though we have no evidence of why didn’t do X, or what they DID do)”
No one is forced to buy anything from Apple. If the price is too high, buy from a competitor who offers a lower price (or don’t buy anything at all). There are alternatives to basically every Apple product.
iPhones? Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola…
Macs? HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer…
AirTags? Tile, Samsung
AppleTV? Amazon, Google, Roku
AppleWatch? Samsung, FitBit
People buy from Apple because they product sold is worth the money to them, plain and simple. If it’s not to you, no problem, no one is forcing you to buy it. It’s that simple.
No he didn’t. There was no retaliation. One person in an email ASKED about it and nothing happened. In fact the opposite happened, Apple actively tried to work WITH Netflix to come to a better result for both sides. Ultimately Netflix decided it wasn’t worth it to them annnnnnnnd Netflix’s apps are still available in the AppStore. How is that retaliation exactly?
So you’re paying a subscription for something you don’t use just so Apple gets 30%?
Just because you WANT something doesn’t mean you are entitled to it. Also since when, aside from what Apple has tried to do with IAP and subscription services, has all your subscriptions in one place even been an option? Hint: NEVER
"Apple" doesn't do anything until it has been thoroughly discussed internally, overviewed with lawyers, getting PR/marketing involved and make the official statement (or in this case maybe have their lawyers send the punitive damages notice).
I could be hired as an Apple Customer Service employee and send an email stating "Why don't we just not answer the phones". Doesn't mean Apple has that same thought - I would be fired
💯!
Epic is trying to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs because they think they've got their own goose—although currently they have to feed it more gold then comes out the other end.
Some developers are so used to having a goose around that lays golden eggs they figure any old goose will lay golden eggs. And they'll be BIGGER!
Apple, meanwhile, has become so busy counting the eggs they've stopped taking proper care of the goose.
If Apple loses and is forced to open up iOS, things will go sideways fast. If creating a platform for a profitable apps store was easy wouldn't everyone do it? Oh, wait, they tried. It wasn't. If the MacOS model is "just fine" why didn't developers flock there? It wasn't because there were more iPhones than Macs in 2008. When the App Store launched it was an instant success but the iPhone wasn't nearly as prevalent as it in. So why was the iOS App Store an instant success on a smaller platform than the established Mac platform? Because most of these restrictions were "features" that made monetizing software much, much easier.
Just because I can’t show you a picture of my magical flying unicorn doesn’t mean I don’t have one. You should DEFINITELY assume I do though, that makes the most sense 🤣
BTW, in a court of law, if there is no evidence of something it absolutely doesn’t exist for purposes of the trial. That’s pretty basic.
You actually have to know how to allow installing unsigned apps first, which most people who'd fall for that are likely too dumb to figure out. But then agian, if people want to do dumb things, they're going to find a way regardless. If they're not installing malware they'll be signing up for one of the many insane subscription scam apps that Apple doesn't seem interested in removing, or they'll jailbreak their phone and do some irreversible damage that way.
If we have to cater to the lowest common denominator at all times then we shouldn't have cars or kitchen knives or doors that lock for fear of what the idiots will do.
No, going to far IS going to far. Not almost going to far, that's NOT going to far.
In the end, it was a question, and the exact opposite happened. Apple tried to make it work for Netflix to keep the business as usual and HELP make it better. They choose not to. Which PROVES Epic could have done the same. So figure that.
I think you're comparing *ahem* Apples oranges here. A patent portfolio has a lot of different rules and regs around it. whereas the App Store is something apple developed, produced and offered "membership" into. If you want to be part of that you have to follow their rules. You cant just blindly go into a walk-in store and say "sell my product and give me 100% of the proceeds", the store would never allow that and nor should they.
And if Apple's tactics forces these big developers to leave which in turn forces customers to leave, Apple has two choices.
1. Change their attitude
2. Let the iPhone be so niche or die completely
LOL, you’ve clearly never rented or bought a house then. Or owned a business and rented space for it. Or lived in any society that has taxes 🤣🤣🤣
You think Epic should just get to use everything that Apple built for free? Ok awesome, I’d like to run my business out of your house. You’ll let me do that for free right? I’m gonna use your water and electricity too. Again, for free.
Meanwhile if it’s something you/EPIC don’t need then the answer is simple, walk away. Either the AppStore is worth it to EPIC or it’s not. If it’s not, fine, walk away. Plenty of developers have chosen not to release products on the iPhone.
Nope, not what happened. Apple believed that Qualcomm had violated the terms of the agreement and therefore stopped paying. Epic is the one who violated the terms of the AppStore agreement, they are the Qualcomm in this situation.
Right Click - Open - open anyway. I have some trusted unsigned apps that I need to install on every Mac, and its just that easy.
We have police that helps if people are speeding in cars, if someone is coming at you with kitchen knives, or someone breaks into your house. Yeah things still happen. Just like things still happen on iOS closed system. Doesn't mean we should remove police or remove the walled garden because bad things still happen.
Yes, but for that cut they are typically physically managing logistics, warehousing, warranty processing, returns etc...Apple is literally doing nothing
That's not true. Apple's entire strategy is to build in ecosystem which causes stickiness, to where people feel that there is no choice but to continue to get gouged. When you feel you are in too deep, you get screwed.
No it doesn’t, it’s quite simple:
Apple offers a service and charges a fee for that service
The App developer then decided whether utilizing that service is worth it or not. They are not forced to do it, they have alternatives (Android, web, PC, console) if they choose not to. Plenty of developers don’t developer for iPhone (or for some other platforms).
That’s it, that’s all there is too it.
Those people still have choice. They can walk away at any time. If they “feel” like they can’t that’s on them. The sunk cost fallacy is exactly that, a fallacy. It’s not Apples fault if people are stupid.
If you agreed to a contract where you pay a percent rather than a flat fee, whatever that percent is. Epic agreed to a contract. If it doesn’t like the terms of the contract it can either try and negotiate a better deal (and it might not get one) or walk away. Instead it chose to break the contract intentionally and then try and play the victim. No dice.
No one is arguing Apple can’t change the AppStore model, they are saying Apple doesn’t WANT to and shouldn’t be forced to just because some people don’t like it.
Apple believes (and many of us agree) that their approach offers a better experience than the alternative. And, conveniently enough, customers have the perfect opportunity to decide because it just so happens that Apples competitor (and the bigger owner of the market), Android, offers exactly the alternative that iPhone haters want! Customers have exactly the choice they should ideally have! They can choose between the two different approaches, Apples curated experience or Androids open one. It’s perfect!
Instead though you have a bunch of self entitled folks who believe they should be given whatever they want and Apple should be FORCED to cater to their demands. It’s utterly ridiculous yet here we are.
So Apple should be punished for being better at this than Nintendo/Microsoft/Sony? Yeah no.
They aren’t “trying to have their cake and eat it to”, they are operating a business in a competitive market. If the 30% fee is too high, developers can walk away. If enough do, Apple will have to change their fee. That’s how it should work in a competitive market which, fortunately, the smartphone space is.
At this point anyone who is still using IAP for Netflix would be subscribed for well over a year so its actually only 15%.So you’re paying a subscription for something you don’t use just so Apple gets 30%?