Apple Revamps App Store Guidelines, Sets New Rules for Remote Mirroring Apps Like Steam Link

[Zelmung]

Try before you buy. Customers can see if they like an app and its extra features before paying, and developers don’t have to deal with as many unhappy customers and negative reviews due to mismatched expectations.

In effect what is the difference between this and the current model where apps release a free version and a paid version? Is the value-add so that it will lock the single app after the trial is over, while the previous solution gives you continued access on the free version?

Also, I've played games such as INSIDE on tvOS where it gives me a trial of the game up to a certain point before it locks further content until I purchase. Are developers not able to utilize functional locks as opposed to time-locks already?

It just doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

 

[omihek]

--->>> THIS ISSUE IS AN EXTREMELY BIG DEAL ! <<<---

RE: "A modified 3.1.1 rule, for example, says that non-subscription apps may offer a free time-based trial period using a free in-app purchase option that temporarily unlocks app functionality. This will allow all apps in the App Store to offer free trials, rather than just subscription apps."

First, thanks for catching that ! ... I missed it when I Reviewed the updated Guidelines earlier.

Second, this is the SINGLE BIGGEST issue to come out of the WWDC ! ... the significance of this should NOT be under-estimated by anyone ! ... it is HUGE !!!

Would be better if you didn't have to download the app and have it forever in your purchase history before even beginning the free trial. If I don't like an app after the trial, I don't want it following me around forever and ever in my records.
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Am I the only one that thinks the 4.2.7 guideline kinda contradicts itself or am I not interpreting it right? According to d) You can't have a Store like GUI but transactions within a mirrored software are OK as long as they are processed on the host PC? How can you have a transaction without a GUI to transact it?

Also does b) mean that Steam Link can't use mFI controller functionality (is the controller input an API?) Strictly speaking iIts not functionality that is needed to stream the remote desktop (interact with, yes... though you could use on screen controls).

All in all though I hope this means Steam Link will come to iOS. Though Valve supposedly disabled the store for the iOS steam link app so Im not sure which of these guidelines they ran afoul of initially.

You missed one crucial word "App". They can't have an App Store like UI; nothing wrong with a store like UI. It's just so people won't confuse their app with the App Store. Makes sense.

 

[Zelmung]

Would be better if you didn't have to download the app and have it forever in your purchase history before even beginning the free trial. If I don't like an app after the trial, I don't want it following me around forever and ever in my records.
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You missed one crucial word "App". They can't have an App Store like UI; nothing wrong with a store like UI. It's just so people won't confuse their app with the App Store. Makes sense.

But with this guideline in place you still have to download the app and THEN toggle the trial within the app as an in-app-purchase. Effectively it’s still going to be in your record forever unless you hide it.

 

[dauthiatull]

doesnt this kill the current steam app?
It allows you to buy games for your steam account and its not mirroring anything since my home pc doesnt need to be on to process the purchase

this means I cant take advantage of short term sales while away from home?

 

[omihek]

But with this guideline in place you still have to download the app and THEN toggle the trial within the app as an in-app-purchase. Effectively it’s still going to be in your record forever unless you hide it.

Yes, that's what I'm pointing out, and I don't like it.

 

[mazz0]

My interpretation is that the first sentence pertains to the client/iOS app itself, while the second sentence pertains only to the host machine. By "UI appearing on the client", I think that means that the iOS app itself cannot have a way to directly purchase or select already-purchased software. So an iOS app can't load a table of Steam games for instance. This would exclude using both iOS's native table and web views for displaying Steam games as both UI elements are generated on the client side. From the second sentence, I think that this means you can access a Steam game if the Steam app itself or a browser are what's being mirrored as that UI is generated on the host side. Yes, perhaps technically this is "UI appearing on the client", but it's not UI generated by the client--from the client's perspective, it's just content being mirrored.

That might be what they wanted to say, but it's not what they've said. You'd think Apple would have the skills to actually say what they mean. Would never have happened under Steve Jobs :'D

 

[bennyf]

That might be what they wanted to say, but it's not what they've said. You'd think Apple would have the skills to actually say what they mean. Would never have happened under Steve Jobs :'D

It seems perfectly clear to me. The "unclear" interpretation would require every mirroring app to scan the contents of what is being mirrored and block it if it resembles something prohibited. That's obviously not what the rule means.

But it also means that the remote Steam host can't trigger an Apple Pay purchase on the device, which would be a pretty awesome user experience.