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Apple Threatens to Remove Email App 'Hey' From App Store Over Lack of In-App Subscription Option [Updated]
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Apple is going to get destroyed by anti trust regulators.
It's created by Basecamp, a company with a valuation of more than $100 billion and multi-million dollar profits. That's hardly a "small business".
Well, then I guess you better start developing for another platform then. While Apple not being consistent in enforcing their rules is not right (assuming that's true and no pertinent details are being looked over), that doesn't excuse breaking the rules in the first place.
By the way, I looked up the rule, and I don't see how it can be any clearer:
App Review Guidelines - Apple Developer
The App Review Guidelines provide guidance and examples across a range of development topics, including user interface design, functionality, content, and the use of specific technologies. These guidelines are designed to help you prepare your apps for the approval process.
Emphasis is mine. The part about "external links" is additional to the first sentence, not limiting its scope. In other words, you can't offer the in-app subscription, but then plead with people to support you better by clicking the link instead.
So let's see. $99 app. You give $30 to Apple. You sell 50,000 subscriptions... $3.45 million...
**** Apple and Tim Cook. Hope they get slammed by the EU for this.
I don’t see it so much of a precedent as much as Apple is simply inconsistent in enforcing their own rules. Possibly, as one poster noted above, that it’s easier to boss around a small developer compared to a giant like Netflix.
It’s basically the litterbug who goes “why are you fining only me? I see so many other people who have committed the same crime without any repercussions at all!” Argument all over again.
That other people are evidently getting away Scot-free doesn’t mean that he should too. That some people are getting away with a particular crime doesn’t make it any less of a crime, nor does it mean that other people should be allowed to get away with it as well.
The developer knew the rules, he knew he was setting himself up for a fight by attempting to circumvent them, and now he has one.
It's pretty arbitrary. Particularly "access to databases", "cloud storage" and whatever "approved services" means are certainly not "read only", if that's what "Reader app" is supposed to mean.
From the developer guidelines:
"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, video, access to professional databases, VoIP, cloud storage, and approved services such as classroom management apps)"
The problem with "Apple letting you use their store", is Apple using this as a point to sell their devices. Since Apple sells it as a more secure system then other Apps stores on other platforms. Now if Apple let Devs sell/install outside the App Store then they would have an argument to charging a fee for using their store. Apple fees may have made sense in the beginning but not now.
what the hell is wrong with all the apple fan boys being ok with apple abusing their developers? Do you even read these articles?
Hey.com is a service that is outside the apple ecosystem and has an accompanying app on the app store. Yet somehow this is against Apple rules? And for it to be ok, hey.com must make it possible to sign up through for a subscription through app store (so they can get a 30% cut?)
I didn't know you needed to offer subscriptions through the app store to be allowed on the app store - because guess what that wasn't the case.
This is just apple being greedy because they want to be a "services" company, if they lost that revenue wall street would go mad.
Soon apple will demand a cut for reading your email using safari, or buying stocks on RobinHood, or sending money through venmo.
And let's stop pretending that Apple is doing anyone a favor by hosting their app. Without developers iOS would be dead, developers is what gave Apple the edge in the very beginning, they just took advantage of everyone to build a strong ecosystem and now they are locking it down and demanding that developers work for them. Since the US is spineless, I hope the EU straightens out Apple (and hey if Apple doesn't like it, they can stop selling their products there).
I don’t get it. It’s one thing to not allow other payment options in-app or not allow links that take you outside the app but this I don’t get. If the app was “free” with ads Apple wouldn’t have any issues?
That small business is a billion dollar Unicorn. But it’s not worth $100b like NetFlix.
Ironically, a reference to a sentence Steve Jobs said to Eric Schmidt regarding Android being a "stolen product".
Completely absurd. Hey is a messaging/communication service. Does Apple require 30% of all Google Apps customers? What about Microsoft Exchange? Slack?
Yes, but the problem here is that Apple doesn’t allow that.
You HAVE to use their App Store to get your software on your customer’s devices. There is literally no alternative.
Well, first of all the compensation is not voluntary. But developers already know all this before starting development, so I have little sympathy for complaints in this regard. Don't like it? Then don't develop for Apple devices until you get the terms you're agreeable with.
Is it? The only valuations I've found were publicity stunts (i.e. they sold one 100 billionth of their company for a dollar to get a $100B valuation).
I totally recognise that they're a substantial company but I couldn't find any realistic valuation for them.
While I don't agree with some App Store rules, DHH knew this was coming and he let it happen so he could be at the front of raising hell with the anti-trust stuff going on.
He's pretty good at marketing, and a bit annoying from time to time.
He's pretty good at marketing, and a bit annoying from time to time.
Wow when did I miss Apple allowing people to sideload apps outside of the appstore! /s
Apple’s legal team can probably crush these guys in five minutes.
Taking on Netflix or Spotify is picking a fight with someone their own size.
Sure seems like the “reader” apps that they approve are just from big well-known companies.
What are you talking about?
They developed their app according to the App store rules.
You are allowed to put an app on the app store without offering a subscription. For some reason (greed), Apple demands that they add a subscription so they can get a 30% cut.
If Apple Mail were paid, I would gladly spend $50/month for an unlimited emails, unlimited devices, unlimited access. However, luckily it’s free. And I don’t like other email clients. I do use other paid email tools as and when needed. $10/month for an email client you like is cheap.
Just in time for WWDC, developers first!
🍿 anyone?
🍿 anyone?