Haha, no one is buying an audiobook from Spotify because of Apple. This is just rent seeking pure and simple. Disgusting.
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Apple Rejected Spotify's App Update Adding Audiobook Support
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And in some ways, it is. This is an empirical statement -- not a speculation; you need only read a few of the articles on Android malware to see the obvious downsides of sideloading.
The real question is not whether or not it's bad... it's whether or not enabling sideloading would be worse than what we have now. It will certainly introduce the possibility of sideloaded malware and spyware that would never have made it into Apple's walled garden -- but in theory, it would probably also reduce the chances that malware purveyors even bother to try to enter by way of the garden gates... so users can be warned that they're putting themselves at risk by leaving the garden themselves. Maybe.
Interestingly, it occurs to me that sideloading would also impact the entire iOS "jailbreak" community, because they won't have to find ways to break through the walls, so they'll largely just redirect their attention to releasing products via sideloading. Which probably means fewer eyes seeking out iOS vulnerabilities. Is that good or bad?
So, there is some ambiguity over what a future will look like, with iOS sideloading. And with various worldwide government entities attempting to intervene and force Apple to permit sideloading... I suppose it's only a matter of time before we'll find out.
dang they want access to all the platforms but not pay. Got it.
100%. This is outrageous. The fact that I can buy Apple Music on my iPhone but not Spotify without Apple taking a significant cut was already completely unacceptable on Apple's part.
I would love emulation on the new ATV4K3, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon.
They approve it, then disapprove it…? Hardly fair. This will only give more scope to Spotify’s EU complaint. You can’t have a button in the app to request an email, how pedantic is that.
Amazon and Apple Strike Deal for Prime Video In-App Purchases and Subscriptions
Amazon has pulled a reverse Netflix.
daringfireball.net
As it says, if you don't have a card on file, it'll make you do an in app purchase instead, which would result in a 30% fee. But since Amazon doesn't support Apple Pay, practically everyone already has a card on file anyway.
Who the hell are Apple to not allow an app developer to to add a feature to their app? They’ve not broken any rules or anything.
I never quite understood why Spotify doesn’t just add the 30% to their in-app prices on top of their “actual” subscription fees like every other app does?
Next to everyone I know is subscribed to some kind of service or app and we all know there’s nearly always one price when paying directly in the app and another, lower price if you jump over on the company’s own website and pay there.
The users unaware of this will pay the extra 30% that goes directly to Apple and the rest go to Spotify dot com and pay there sans Apple’s additional fees.
Spotify loses all its traction if appears more expensive over Apple Music when buying a subscription as an in-app purchase?
By now, nearly everyone who has dipped their toes into paid music steaming knows that Spotify is $9.99/month -surely most would look at a $12.99 and know it’s unusual and quickly check Spotify.com or ask google prices?
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Yes. They have to charge a higher price in their iOS app that Apple charges to sign up for Apple Music in the Music app.
Spotify u use apples business premises to distribute ur content. So Apple has the right to a share of ur income. It’s like if u sell ur products on someone’s shop so u also have to give the shop owner a cut
Apple and Spotify are once again feuding as Spotify attempts to break into the audiobook market, reports The New York Times. Apple has reportedly rejected Spotify's latest app update three times in the last month.
Over the years, Apple and Spotify have had a long running dispute over Apple's App Store policies, with multiple public conflicts over app and subscription fees and app rejections due to Spotify's attempts to skirt the up to 30 percent cut that Apple takes from purchases.
Apple says that Spotify is again trying to get around its App Store rules, and the Cupertino company claims that Spotify's audiobooks update is not in line with guidelines that cover how apps can communicate with users about purchasing options outside of the App Store.
Apple last year agreed to an App Store rule change that allows developers to use communications like email to share information methods about payment options that are available outside of an iOS app, but Spotify is running into issues attempting to implement this feature. With the rule change, Spotify wanted to direct customers to buy books online to listen to in the app, rather than giving Apple a cut of its audiobook sales.
Apple apparently told Spotify that it can send customers emails about online purchases, but Spotify is not able to offer a button inside of the app to request emails. The feature was designed with Spotify's legal team involved, and Apple initially approved the update in September, but later reversed course, rejecting subsequent updates.
Spotify designed a nine-step process for purchasing an audiobook, which involved a customer tapping on an audiobook and seeing a screen with a lock over the play button. Pressing on the play button provided customers with a page where they could request information on how to buy a book through an email, and the email offered up a link to purchase the book.
According to The New York Times, an Apple spokesperson said that Apple does not have objections to audiobooks in the Spotify app, but Spotify cannot circumvent the rules around web addresses and language encouraging customers to make purchases outside of the app.
After the multiple rejections from Apple, Spotify released a version of the app that removes information about how to purchase an audiobook from the Spotify website, which Apple did approve. Spotify now informs users that there is no option to buy an audiobook in the app. "We know it's not ideal," says Spotify in the app text.
Spotify in 2019 filed a regulatory complaint with the European Union over Apple's App Store practices, and it maintains an anti-Apple "Time to Play Fair" website. Spotify has continued to meet with European regulators, but the case has not concluded as of yet. Spotify has also sided with Epic Games in the Epic Games v. Apple legal battle, and it participates in the "Coalition for App Fairness" alongside Epic Games, Tile, and others who are unhappy with Apple's "anti-competitive" policies.
Article Link: Apple Rejected Spotify's App Update Adding Audiobook Support
Because Apple Music would become much more attractive, nobody would pay 30% more to listen to the same music. 30% does not apply to Apple and that’s anticompetitive.
Regarding other Apps that adds 30% on top, yes they do and it kinda works out, but just because Apple is not trying to compete in that App/Game category, otherwise Apple would have an anticompetitive advantage in that App category, too.
This is simple, more platforms = better payouts. It is not like they have to stick to just one streaming platform.
What do Music Streaming Services Pay Per Stream (And Why It Actually Doesn’t Matter)
Music streaming is now the primary source of revenue for the recording industry — and the per-stream payout rates is a hot topic amongst the music professionals. Well, here's why the average per-stream payout is actually a flawed metric.
Fair enough.
As long as Apple accepts that they distribute their products services in the EU and the European Commission have the right to ban their business practices as do any other government where Apple trade.
When others are forcing you to promote out of store purchases....
I agree. I'm annoyed because Apple won't allow game streaming apps onto the App Store, unless each game is installed individually. WTF?
The iPad, iPhone, and M1 Macs+nVidia GeForce Now (or XBox Live) would be an amazing, seamless experience device to device, but NO. Apple doesn't want them in their store. Whatever. The stupid "put web app on home screen" isn't a good experience, IMO.
What do Music Streaming Services Pay Per Stream (And Why It Actually Doesn’t Matter)
Music streaming is now the primary source of revenue for the recording industry — and the per-stream payout rates is a hot topic amongst the music professionals. Well, here's why the average per-stream payout is actually a flawed metric.soundcharts.com
Streaming Royalties aren't paid on a per stream basis these kind of numbers are so misleading they are basically worthless, that article is also from 2019, contracts have been renegotiated since then.
Apple's claims don't really stack up.
Why It’s Misleading to Say ‘Apple Music Pays Twice as Much Per Stream as Spotify’
Headlines stating that "Apple Music Pays Twice as Much Per Stream as Spotify" are deeply misleading: Here are a few reasons why.
variety.com
Apple Music is making claims about what it pays artists. Let’s take a closer look.
A new email from Apple has revealed some big numbers, and a couple of digs at Spotify. MBW gives its take.
www.musicbusinessworldwide.com
Not quite. Spotify is cross-platform and is very well known without any effort from Apple. Spotify’s iOS app is just a convenient “window” and simplifies its use for people with Apple devices. Apple does not store Spotify files on their servers and does not develop the app either. Hypothetically, Spotify users could also use its web-based player in Safari, it is just not as convenient as a dedicated app.
Ouch. Stop being stingy, Apple. There's enough to go around. 