How is this good news for consumers? They aren’t going to pay any less, and now they have to put up with different terms and conditions, cancellation procedures, etc. for every subscription service.
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Apple Letting 'Reader' Apps Offer Links for Account Sign Ups Outside of the App Store to Close Japan Investigation
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How is this good news for consumers? They aren’t going to pay any less, and now they have to put up with different terms and conditions, cancellation procedures, etc. for every subscription service.
No, not really. If you read the article this is specifically about reader apps that load in external content like video or music streaming, which wouldn’t include games where you are purchasing in-app goods and services.
Forgive me if I don‘t hold my breath for Netfix, etc. to lower fees paid direct, lulz!
Except nobody is going to force them to do that either. Netflix doesn’t. Over time, all these companies will stop offering the App Store subscriptions because the ability to prevent people from cancelling when they want to is simply too lucrative.
It's totally wrong for the govt to force Apple to do this. It's hard to feel bad for Apple here, but remember, they will always pick the easiest targets first.
What’s next, turning the App Store into a malware fest like the google play store. 🤦♂️
Apple is throwing a bone out there to shut down investigation this time.
Hardly a win for developers but Netflix Spotify etc imo. If Epic wants to win, they still have a long way to go, a way that can go wrong at any moment.
Another thing is will that change apply to Japan only or roll out worldwide. That’d be interesting to know.
Hardly a win for developers but Netflix Spotify etc imo. If Epic wants to win, they still have a long way to go, a way that can go wrong at any moment.
Another thing is will that change apply to Japan only or roll out worldwide. That’d be interesting to know.
It’s amazing to me that somehow so many of us have been brainwashed into thinking that when companies are allowed to do anything they want - when their businesses are not regulated by the law or by a gatekeeper - that somehow this is “good for consumers.”
People have been able to subscribe to Netflix directly for years and yet I have never paid less. All this does is allow for them to advertise it and link to it Which will ultimately allow THEM to profit more, the consumer gets nothing.
the price of Netflix has actually *increased*, by a lot, since they stopped supporting App Store subscriptions.
Exactly.
Netflix stopped offering subscriptions in the App Store in 2018.
With this new change... will they put a link to their website instead of having this notice?
Not to mention Amazon sells digital goods and so on.To everyone saying Epic has won...
"Because reader apps do not offer in-app digital goods and services for purchase, Apple has agreed to let these apps share just one link to their website for "account management" purposes."
Is Fortnite a "reader" app?
I thought the whole point of Fortnite is to sell digital VBucks to buy digital costumes and whatnot?
Speaking of that... I originally thought the term "reader app" was referring to an app like the Kindle e-book store.
It's annoying how you have to leave the Kindle app, go to the Amazon website, and buy your books there. Then return to the app to download them.
But this change doesn't seem to fix that... since Amazon would be selling digital books... and selling digital goods still isn't allowed.
The article states this will rollout worldwide.
It most certainly is a win for consumers
This is simple. As a user, I’m not going to hand over my credit card, DOB, and other information to a potpourri of faceless developers. Use Apple IAP and iOS subscription management, or I’ll choose the developer who does.
Exactly.
Your Netflix subscription price or Spotify subscription price isn't going to drop because of this news.
And speaking of Spotify... will this put a stop to their EU investigations?
Spotify's main complaint was that they couldn't send people from the app to their website to have people purchase their subscriptions there, right?
This seems to solve that.
Now Spotify can focus on why they continue to lose billions of dollars every quarter because music streaming is a horrible business to be in.
They won't be able to blame Apple anymore...
You’re so upset Spotify is winning the war with apple it’s funny.
This is what Apple considers "Reader Apps"
3.1.3(a) "Reader" Apps: Apps may allow a user to access previously purchased content or content subscriptions (specifically: magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video). Reader apps may offer account creation for free tiers, and account management functionality for existing customers.
So obviously this is Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, HBOMax, etc.
This is NOT a substitution for IAP for buying the full version of an app or game upgrade, right?
3.1.3(a) "Reader" Apps: Apps may allow a user to access previously purchased content or content subscriptions (specifically: magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video). Reader apps may offer account creation for free tiers, and account management functionality for existing customers.
So obviously this is Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, HBOMax, etc.
This is NOT a substitution for IAP for buying the full version of an app or game upgrade, right?
Apple up 69 cents afterhours on the news…
The win is for the developers. But I agree with giving consumers the option of a link to the website for account and subscription management.
I just find it funny that Spotify has twice as many paid customers as Apple Music... and four times as many total users as Apple Music.... yet they still take Apple to court complaining that Apple is hurting them.
Spotify are babies.
How? Does any developer who leaves the App Store actually drop their price? This is a win for unhappy developers of **** apps who wet themselves dreaming of the day the government breaks open the seamless and integrated experience I’ve bought into as a user.
Get real. The Playstore scans every app before it is downloaded and installed.
Get real. There have been hundreds of cases of malware making it onto devices from the play store. I posted a link to a dozen different incidents in another thread.