Apple Highlights App Store's Role in Discovery, Privacy, and Safety: 'More Than Just a Storefront'

[MacRumors]

Apple has overhauled its About the App Store and Developing for the App Store web pages to focus on several key areas, including discovery, privacy and security, trust and safety, hardware and software, and downloading with confidence.

The new pages highlight a range of relevant statistics and emphasize the importance of trust and security on the App Store.

For over a decade, the App Store has proved to be a safe and trusted place to discover and download apps. But the App Store is more than just a storefront — it's an innovative destination focused on bringing you amazing experiences. And a big part of those experiences is ensuring that the apps we offer are held to the highest standards for privacy, security, and content. Because we offer nearly two million apps — and we want you to feel good about using every single one of them.

Apple boasts that every week over 100,000 apps or updates are submitted and reviewed by an App Review team, which now consists of over 500 experts from around the world. 10,000 accepted apps use Apple's HealthKit, CareKit, and ResearchKit health technologies.

Interestingly, Apple also states that in 2019, the App Review team rejected over 150,000 apps for violating the company's privacy guidelines. This year, the company has removed over 60 million user reviews believed to be spam. Apple says that it has rejected over one million app submissions over an unspecified time period for illegal, unsafe, harmful, or objectionable content. Over two million apps have been removed because they were devoid of needed updates.

Apple is committed to helping developers turn their brightest ideas into apps that change the world. That’s why the App Store helps you from start to finish — to build, test, market, and distribute your products and grow your business. Our marketplace is secure, trusted, and accessible — connecting you to over 1.5 billion devices in 175 regions. The App Store and you. Together every step of the way.

The new developers' page says that 92 percent of iPhones issued in the last four years run iOS 13 and almost 90 percent of apps are reviewed within 24 hours. The page also declares that Apple has paid out over $155 billion to developers since 2008, and over 500 million people visit the App Store each week. 85 percent of apps are reportedly free, and these developers pay nothing to Apple. Over 50% of app downloads come from outside the developer's home country.

Apple notes that a 2019 study found the App Store facilitated over $519 billion in commerce globally, and it supports over 2.1 million U.S. jobs across all 50 states, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy.

Article Link: Apple Highlights App Store's Role in Discovery, Privacy, and Safety: 'More Than Just a Storefront'

 

[canned_tuna_og]

Their library of apps is wonderful. I can't imagine life without Duolingo, Blackboard, Kindle, Khan Academy, HBOMax, Call of Duty, HayDay, etc. What are some of your favorite apps?

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Apple really likes to boast that they paid out X amount while ignoring that they kept 43% of that amount. They paid out $155B? That means they pocketed $66B. What service did Apple do warranting them to collect $66B? They removed 60M user reviews believed to be spam. They charged developers $1100 for each fraudulent review they removed. They rejected 150K apps - at a cost of $440K/rejection, apparently, for the amount that Apple decides to keep for themselves.

Why hasn't MacRumors ran an article on the Coalition for App Fairness, yet? Here's that page:

Home - Coalition for App Fairness

App developers deserve a level playing field The Coalition for App Fairness is an independent nonprofit organization founded by industry-leading companies to advocate for freedom of choice and fair competition across the app ecosystem. Contact Us our vision Lear

appfairness.org

 

[jgassens]

>85 percent of apps are reportedly free, and these developers pay nothing to Apple.

Don't you have to pay $99 a year to have a developer account to post these free apps?

 

[Kkspire]

App Store is the best. Have you seen the other stores from android, microsoft, etc? Haters gonna hate. L

 

[4jasontv]

Apple really likes to boast that they paid out X amount while ignoring that they kept 43% of that amount. They paid out $155B? That means they pocketed $66B. What service did Apple do warranting them to collect $66B? They removed 60M user reviews believed to be spam. They charged developers $1100 for each fraudulent review they removed. They rejected 150K apps - at a cost of $440K/rejection, apparently, for the amount that Apple decides to keep for themselves.

Why hasn't MacRumors ran an article on the Coalition for App Fairness, yet? Here's that page:

Home - Coalition for App Fairness

App developers deserve a level playing field The Coalition for App Fairness is an independent nonprofit organization founded by industry-leading companies to advocate for freedom of choice and fair competition across the app ecosystem. Contact Us our vision Lear

appfairness.org

The world isn’t fair. We don’t need a coalition to point that out.

 

[doobydoooby]

Yes, its much more than a storefront: Its the only storefront. Its a monopoly, and for monopolies to be permitted to exist in the free world there needs to be a very strong social case for it (e.g. train lines that just wouldn't be built where the payback period is too long for the private sector, or high speed internet infrastructure installation in a sparsely populated area). Apple is to some extent simply a victim of its own success but nonetheless such massive power encourages abuses of power, that's why we break up monopolies. Apple's marketing blitz is just propaganda but until legislators around the global realise that our world no longer respects national borders, global tech can continue to skirt around the edge. The sad thing is when a company such as apple tries to pull the moral high ground, that's really uncomfortable. Let apple keep its store front but if it's as superior as they say then they shouldn't have any problem whatsoever in allowing other store fronts to compete or for app developers to deal directly with their clients.

 

[topgunn]

Why hasn't MacRumors ran an article on the Coalition for App Fairness, yet? Here's that page:

Home - Coalition for App Fairness

App developers deserve a level playing field The Coalition for App Fairness is an independent nonprofit organization founded by industry-leading companies to advocate for freedom of choice and fair competition across the app ecosystem. Contact Us our vision Lear

appfairness.org

Just because you don't like your options, doesn't mean you don't have a choice. There are blatant mistruths on the App Fairness page.

For example, "For most purchases made within the App Store, Apple takes 30% of the purchase price. No other transaction fee — in any industry — comes close."

Let's list other companies that charge a similar fee for similar overhead: Google, Steam, Amazon, UberEats, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, GrubHub, eBay+PayPal, and the list goes on, I am sure.

Another example, "If consumers want to use a modern mobile device, Apple levies a tax that no one can avoid. No competition, no options, no recourse."

Unless the Apple tax now extends to the billions of Android phones out there, this is ridiculous on its face. While I content that Apple and it's ecosystem are superior (in large part due to the App Store and it's walled garden), to say that Android-based phones are not a modern mobile device and that Apple has no competition is being willfully ignorant, at best.

 

[Rogifan]

If Apple has to run a campaign like this then they’re losing.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Privacy #1 priority.

 

[matrix07]

Yes, its much more than a storefront: Its the only storefront. Its a monopoly, and for monopolies to be permitted to exist in the free world there needs to be a very strong social case for it (e.g. train lines that just wouldn't be built where the payback period is too long for the private sector, or high speed internet infrastructure installation in a sparsely populated area). Apple is to some extent simply a victim of its own success but nonetheless such massive power encourages abuses of power, that's why we break up monopolies. Apple's marketing blitz is just propaganda but until legislators around the global realise that our world no longer respects national borders, global tech can continue to skirt around the edge. The sad thing is when a company such as apple tries to pull the moral high ground, that's really uncomfortable. Let apple keep its store front but if it's as superior as they say then they shouldn't have any problem whatsoever in allowing other store fronts to compete or for app developers to deal directly with their clients.

Be careful what you wish for. As a consumer, it will go downhill fast.

 

[GeoStructural]

More than just a storefront: Also a Monopoly.

- We are the only authorized vendor.

- We will take 30 % of your sales.

- You own the device but I still have the power to dictate what you install on it.

- Privacy is a human right, except in China and any other place where we would do anything to not upset the local government and hurt our business.

- We have redefined the words “courage” and “Pro”. Isn’t that fascinating?

- We will negotiate preferential rates with some companies, like Amazon, regardless of the fact that you paid the same developer fee and signed the same agreement.

- We have the power to remove your hard work app from or store without consulting you... and only until a few weeks ago there wasn’t even a formal appeal process.

I do NOT intend to install software outside of the Apple Store, but I do consider their policies and the fact that they are the only channel to do so monopolistic behavior.

Repeat after me: the Google Store does NOT constitute an option, that is an entirely different OS.

 

[4jasontv]

If Apple has to run a campaign like this then they’re losing.

It’s generally ok to defend yourself when selfish people claim things you are proud of are bad.

 

[ruka.snow]

If Apple has to run a campaign like this then they’re losing.

Looks like they are trying to educate all the muppets that think developers getting 70% instead of the 5-30% we used to get is a bad thing.

 

[SW3029]

Apple really likes to boast that they paid out X amount while ignoring that they kept 43% of that amount. They paid out $155B? That means they pocketed $66B. What service did Apple do warranting them to collect $66B? They removed 60M user reviews believed to be spam. They charged developers $1100 for each fraudulent review they removed. They rejected 150K apps - at a cost of $440K/rejection, apparently, for the amount that Apple decides to keep for themselves.

Why hasn't MacRumors ran an article on the Coalition for App Fairness, yet? Here's that page:

Home - Coalition for App Fairness

App developers deserve a level playing field The Coalition for App Fairness is an independent nonprofit organization founded by industry-leading companies to advocate for freedom of choice and fair competition across the app ecosystem. Contact Us our vision Lear

appfairness.org

Yeah buddy. Try again. Care to cite references to where you got those wild numbers from?

1. "Apple really likes to boast that they paid out X amount while ignoring that they kept 43% of that amount." Umm, what? How does 30% get to 43%?
2. "They charged developers $1100 for each fraudulent review they removed." What, they send devs a bill or something? Cite proof to this claim.
3. "They rejected 150K apps - at a cost of $440K/rejection..." Sorry, are you high? They charge devs of rejected apps $440,000 or something?

It's people spouting BS claims about anything they don't like why the world is the way it is in 2020.

Cite reputable evidence for your claims above or go away.

What's that? There is no reputable evidence for your claims?

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

It’s generally ok to defend yourself when selfish people claim things you are proud of are bad.

IDK, this sounds a lot like Exxon's greenwash ads to me. "We're not bad - look at all the money we give to local communities!"

Beating your spouse and kids but talking up how you're the breadwinner and you support them doesn't look great - most people can see through that nonsense and recognize that it's an abusive relationship.

 

[hagar]

Yes, its much more than a storefront: Its the only storefront. Its a monopoly, and for monopolies to be permitted to exist in the free world there needs to be a very strong social case for it (e.g. train lines that just wouldn't be built where the payback period is too long for the private sector, or high speed internet infrastructure installation in a sparsely populated area). Apple is to some extent simply a victim of its own success but nonetheless such massive power encourages abuses of power, that's why we break up monopolies. Apple's marketing blitz is just propaganda but until legislators around the global realise that our world no longer respects national borders, global tech can continue to skirt around the edge. The sad thing is when a company such as apple tries to pull the moral high ground, that's really uncomfortable. Let apple keep its store front but if it's as superior as they say then they shouldn't have any problem whatsoever in allowing other store fronts to compete or for app developers to deal directly with their clients.

It’s not a monopoly because the iPhone is not the only smartphone in town. You can purchase other devices with similar functionality. Developers knew from the start they would have to pay 30%, this is not something new Apple is enforcing. If developers didn’t like it, they should have not started developing for ios, contributing to its success. if developers ignored the App Store 10 years ago, it would be long forgotten.

 

[Cosmosent]

Unless / Until my U.S. Congress forces Apple to release per-Qtr, per-Category "Revenue Numbers" at each Quarterly OR Annual Earnings Release, whatever Apple says about the App Store is just "Marketing Spin" !

There is a reason Schiller, a man with NO software development experience OR experience running a software company, was running the App Store !

He was there strictly to prevent those revenue numbers from getting out !

Is he still running the show ?

Could be !

Does anybody know who currently has responsibility for the App Store ???

This App Dev gives the App Store a D- grade !

Apple has a Complete & Total Stranglehold on App Discovery !

It is a separate issue than Pricing, which gets ALL the Headlines.

Specifically, there are "UN-Discovered Gem Apps" in the App Store, that have NOT yet had their Day in the Sun.

If Apple had the right people running the show there, they would have !

Cook says Apple does NOT have a Monopoly.

Their ability to Control the Narrative proves they do !

Why is the App Store App's "Today" tab flooded with Game Apps & Apple Arcade promos ???

That right there is proof positive !

Why are there NO filters in App Store "search" ???

Cook, the App Store is a shell of what it could be !

Those 500M "kids" who visit the App Store each week are pale in comparison to the number of Adults who could visit the App Store, IFF Apple gets their Act Together !

Release those numbers, that will Force Apple to Get Its Act Together, ASAP !

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Yeah buddy. Try again. Care to cite references to where you got those wild numbers from?

1. "Apple really likes to boast that they paid out X amount while ignoring that they kept 43% of that amount." Umm, what? How does 30% get to 43%?
2. "They charged developers $1100 for each fraudulent review they removed." What, they send devs a bill or something? Cite proof to this claim.
3. "They rejected 150K apps - at a cost of $440K/rejection..." Sorry, are you high? They charge devs of rejected apps $440,000 or something?

It's people spouting BS claims about anything they don't like why the world is the way it is in 2020.

Cite reputable evidence for your claims above or go away.

What's that? There is no reputable evidence for your claims?

Basic math. It's embarrassing you can't do it.

The amount Apple paid out (the number they like to tout) is 70%. The amount Apple collected is 30%. 0.3 / 0.7 = 0.43

$155B is how much they paid out. So that means they kept $66B for themselves. The total amount they charged consumers (minus taxes) was $221B... that's what 100% would be.

Apple kept $66B for themselves, for services provided. What were those grand services? They removed 60M fraudulent reviews and rejected 150K apps. $66B / 60M = $1100 per removed review. $66B / 150K = $440K per rejected app.

I'm actually lowballing here, because I ignored the fact that Apple collects developer fees of $100-300 per year per developer.

 

[topgunn]

Basic math. It's embarrassing you can't do it.

The amount Apple paid out (the number they like to tout) is 70%. The amount Apple collected is 30%. 0.3 / 0.7 = 0.43

So, I buy an app for $10. The developer gets $7.00 (70%) and Apple keeps $4.30 (based on your basic math). I now see how Apple is worth two trillion dollars. They are literally creating money.

 

[doobydoooby]

Be careful what you wish for. As a consumer, it will go downhill fast.

That's what the car manufacturer says to justify that you can't get your oil changed at any garage because they lock the mechanism. I'm just picking that randomly but you know what I mean: lack of choice is bad for the consumer, it keeps us locked into one supplier who can then abuse their position. I'm not saying the job Apple is doing is bad, I'm saying that what was valid fifteen years ago has grown into a monster and needs to be opened up. Monopolies stifle innovation and competition and keep prices high. Yes, safety is an important issue and i would hate phones to be riddled with viruses but that's not in itself reason to close the gates permanently, it just means we want the good bits of the app store and not the big brother bits.

 

[SW3029]

Basic math. It's embarrassing you can't do it.

The amount Apple paid out (the number they like to tout) is 70%. The amount Apple collected is 30%. 0.3 / 0.7 = 0.43

$155B is how much they paid out. So that means they kept $66B for themselves. The total amount they charged consumers (minus taxes) was $221B... that's what 100% would be.

Apple kept $66B for themselves, for services provided. What were those grand services? They removed 60M fraudulent reviews and rejected 150K apps. $66B / 60M = $1100 per removed review. $66B / 150K = $440K per rejected app.

I'm actually lowballing here, because I ignored the fact that Apple collects developer fees of $100-300 per year per developer.

LOOOOOOLLLLLLLL. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Whatever you are on, please share.

Actually, please post again. Love to hear more of how you butcher math.

Oh, yeah, this was my favorite: "Apple kept $66B for themselves, for services provided. What were those grand services? They removed 60M fraudulent reviews and rejected 150K apps. $66B / 60M = $1100 per removed review. $66B / 150K = $440K per rejected app."

Those grand services might actually be, you know, things like: servers, energy costs, advertising, legal, development, security, and countless other costs.

LOL. But thanks. I needed a laugh.

 

[hagar]

Basic math. It's embarrassing you can't do it.

Apple kept $66B for themselves, for services provided. What were those grand services? They removed 60M fraudulent reviews and rejected 150K apps. $66B / 60M = $1100 per removed review. $66B / 150K = $440K per rejected app.

Basic economics. It’s embarrassing you can’t do it.

Not only is your basic mathematical premise incorrect, but you also fail to understand you can’t spend money twice. You can’t claim it‘s $1100 per removed review and $440K per rejected app if it’s the same money. Your math and economic insights are all over the place.

 

[4jasontv]

Basic math. It's embarrassing you can't do it.

The amount Apple paid out (the number they like to tout) is 70%. The amount Apple collected is 30%. 0.3 / 0.7 = 0.43

$155B is how much they paid out. So that means they kept $66B for themselves. The total amount they charged consumers (minus taxes) was $221B... that's what 100% would be.

Apple kept $66B for themselves, for services provided. What were those grand services? They removed 60M fraudulent reviews and rejected 150K apps. $66B / 60M = $1100 per removed review. $66B / 150K = $440K per rejected app.

I'm actually lowballing here, because I ignored the fact that Apple collects developer fees of $100-300 per year per developer.

You also priced each as if that one line item was the one they did. That’s like telling a waitress she got paid $100 for taking orders, and $100 for being the food to the table, and $100 for refilling drinks, and $100 for laughing at a stupid joke... when she only brought home $100.

 

[Rogifan]

It’s generally ok to defend yourself when selfish people claim things you are proud of are bad.

Yeah developers trying to make a living while also making Apple’s device is more attractive are selfish. 🙄

Would you own an iPhone if it had nothing but first party Apple apps on it?