Apple Updates U.S. App Review Guidelines Following Epic Games Ruling

[JamesMay82]

Let’s hope this opens the flood gates against Amazon and how poorly they treat their suppliers. Big box retailers are also similar how they operate.

I’m amazed they’ve just picked on apple.

 

[Volk.JP]

> The prohibition on encouraging users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase does not apply on the United States storefront.

It is cool to have a confession from Apple being anti-competitive. Would be helpful for the court rulings in other countries.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Is Timmy regretting that inauguration investment yet?

I had hoped we wouldn't need a discussion about the differences between a president and a district court judge...

 

[Ctrlos]

Apple will find another way of clawing this back. The 15/30% fee wasn’t a one-way transaction. Apple does provide devs with hosting, bug-finding, audience access, API Security, payment security, payment processing, Dev tools and potential marketing.

The annual dev fee is an on-the-door entry fee and doesn’t get you any drinks.

On the other hand Apple doesn’t take a cut if your app sells people something. Buying a product from Amazon is Apple-commission free after all. How is this new ruling any different?

 

[Volk.JP]

This is a temporary setback for Apple. They have already confirmed they will appeal, and they are going to throw everything at this terrible decision - a decision threatens the very existence of one of Americas greatest corporations of all-time, and risks costing consumers billions through fraud and misleading sales techniques.

It is a sad day for Apple, they are no longer the ones who ripping people off*

*only in the US

In all seriousness, people focus on possible fraud instead of mentioning that currently, you are either forced to pay 30% for the privilege of using in-app purchases or completely unable to manage your subscription, like in Spotify. Neither is good for consumers.

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

To all of you non-techy parents out there, good luck with those subscriptions cancellation.

 

[Hajj.david]

To all of you non-techy parents out there, good luck with those subscriptions cancellation 😆

If you give your kids your credit cards you deserve what comes after that. Its amazing how 90% of society has completely abandoned the concept of responsibility.

 

[MacBirdy]

I can imagine Google and Microsoft doing the same in the coming months.

I could also imagine Apple raising the price for their Developers Program…or they could be petty and charge for API usage.

The current charge for the Developer program doesn't reflect the actual cost of it. Apple keeps the upfront costs low to attract developers. The costs are covered over a longer period by the earnings.

 

[jonblatho]

Let’s hope this opens the flood gates against Amazon and how poorly they treat their suppliers. Big box retailers are also similar how they operate.

I’m amazed they’ve just picked on apple.

There's actual competition in retail. The mobile phone operating system duopoly isn't real competition.

Apple does provide devs with hosting, bug-finding, audience access, API Security, payment security, payment processing, Dev tools and potential marketing.

What are you referring to here? If you're referring to bugs in Apple's own operating systems and APIs, they should invest in finding and fixing those regardless of whether they're paid to by third-party developers, because Apple's own apps will be impacted by them too.

If you're referring to bugs in third-party apps, Apple...doesn't really do that? The only case where they arguably do is App Review, and in my experience they'll only reject a build when a bug actually prevents them from reviewing the app, such as a crash on launch. Regardless, just like Apple should invest in finding bugs in its own software regardless, developers should thoroughly test their own code before submitting builds to the App Store.

 

[germanbeer007]

oh great. i as a user love it when i'm forced to manually punch in my credit card numbers on a third party web service right after I'm bombarded with a cookie popups.

CoNsuMeR rIgHtS

 

[germanbeer007]

If you're referring to bugs in third-party apps, Apple...doesn't really do that?

They do. I've literally had my app review rejected due to a back button not working under a certain instance.

in my experience they'll only reject a build when a bug actually prevents them from reviewing the app, such as a crash on launch. Regardless, just like Apple should invest in finding bugs in its own software regardless,

that would be bug finding. manually testing your app workflow is, at the very minimum, UI testing.

 

[m4mario]

Curious how this is going to work. Will developers have to make US and non-US versions of their apps?

There is a magical programming concept called the "if" statement.
It's all a bit technical, but rest assured, there are no engineering challenges in implementing this.

 

[frownface]

Kinda crazy that a few years ago people laughed at Tim sweeny. But it laid the groundwork and the first crack in that wall.

I can imagine similar happening in other markets around the world and this spreading to google/microsoft/nintendo/sony et al.

 

[deathnite]

Curious how this is going to work. Will developers have to make US and non-US versions of their apps?

It's funny how Apple only makes changes to one region/country when things like this happen.
Similar to how 3rd party app stores are only allowed in the EU.
It makes their own developers life harder by having to code all these restrictions based on region.

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

If you give your kids your credit cards you deserve what comes after that. Its amazing how 90% of society has completely abandoned the concept of responsibility.

So lucky we have you as a moral compass.

 

[Korito]

Crazy hyper fanbois are fine with Apple’s money grab and them effectively inflating prices by 27%. That’s normal in their twisted world.

 

[bluecoast]

This is such a slam dunk for developers. These web-based payment portals are just as easy as buying things through the App Store. Most (all?) support Apple Pay and it’s super easy.

I pay for Spotify when I’m a subscriber through their website. Ditto Disney plus, Netflix & other uk specific streaming services and it’s ok, the sky has not fallen in.

In fact whenever I can, I pay for services without IAP because developers pass on Apple’s fee to me otherwise.

 

[Ctrlos]

There's actual competition in retail. The mobile phone operating system duopoly isn't real competition.


What are you referring to here? If you're referring to bugs in Apple's own operating systems and APIs, they should invest in finding and fixing those regardless of whether they're paid to by third-party developers, because Apple's own apps will be impacted by them too.

If you're referring to bugs in third-party apps, Apple...doesn't really do that? The only case where they arguably do is App Review, and in my experience they'll only reject a build when a bug actually prevents them from reviewing the app, such as a crash on launch. Regardless, just like Apple should invest in finding bugs in its own software regardless, developers should thoroughly test their own code before submitting builds to the App Store.

Like you say it’s more that they make you aware as a dev that they exist. Can’t publish without getting rid of them!

Sometimes a dev will miss things Apple later picks up. They’re only human, after all.

 

[JamesMay82]

There's actual competition in retail. The mobile phone operating system duopoly isn't real competition.

There use to be actual competition but Amazon destroyed it look at all the music and video stores that have been wiped off the landscape. Amazon charge % of all sales as well like Apples cut. on top of their discount plus they use bully tactics and threaten to remove your products offsite if you don’t give them dirt cheap pricing!

It’s not to dis similar.

Amazon have destroyed retail in my opinion.

 

[TechWhisperer]

It’s nice to see Apple capitulating on all fronts. Greed and arrogance shall be punished.

Apple isn't capitulating, it’s responding to court mandates. It’s called legal compliance.

 

[m4mario]

I request Apple to mark apps that offer payment outside App Store in someway. This requirement breaks the trust that I had on the iPhone and the App Store as a user. So I need to be warned this before I buy. This becomes even more serious when kids use apps and might get lured into some payment that I cant refund.

 

[bluecoast]

There use to be actual competition but Amazon destroyed it look at all the music and video stores that have been wiped off the landscape. Amazon charge % of all sales as well like Apples cut. on top of their discount plus they use bully tactics and threaten to remove your products offsite if you don’t give them dirt cheap pricing!

It’s not to dis similar.

Amazon have destroyed retail in my opinion.

I’m in the uk and a prime subscriber.

Yeah I agree. I have very mixed feelings about Amazon. But they are ruthlessly good at what they do.

Here in the uk, the bricks and mortar incumbents laughed at Amazon when they first arrived 25 years ago and said that people prefer to shop in their stores & underinvested in their e-commerce operations.

Then they kept on competing with each other instead of co-investing in a joint e-commerce service and still practically ignored Amazon.

Until it was too late.

We can see the same thing happening now with our tv channels where they are still competing with each other and Netflix etc are eating their lunch.

 

[t122648]

Amazing, just amazing how many fanboys on this site defend Apple. Tim Cook could do no wrong!

 

[Paddle1]

There is a magical programming concept called the "if" statement.
It's all a bit technical, but rest assured, there are no engineering challenges in implementing this.

More to do with Apple's approval process than doing if statements. But if you feel the need to be sarcastic I guess...

 

[davide_eu]

Curious how this is going to work. Will developers have to make US and non-US versions of their apps?

Isn't possible to make some kind of "detection" in your software to enable/disable features like this?