Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney Criticizes Apple Over App Store Price Increases

[usagora]

Please do not quote my post out of context.

No context in the world could make that statement I quoted true, but anyone on this forum can go back and read your full comment if they think it does. This was just a cop-out reply to avoid dealing with my example demonstrating the statement was incorrect.

I am understanding you perfectly but you are not understanding me. The concept of being able to do what ever you want with the device that you own is the ability to remove the OS from the hardware. This is not a software issue, it's a hardware issue being the case that the hardware should be able to be seperated from the OS (software) . Why someone would want to is not the point here, the point here is that they should be able to do it but they can not which ultimately means their ability to fully own the device is limited. Basically it's limited to how ever Apple want it to be limited, ergo you do not fully own your own device.

If you had the technical know-how, you could physically remove and replace components on the iPhone to accomplish your goal to remove the OS and replace with another. But then one could argue it's no longer an iPhone.

But that's not even what the person I was replying to was wanting to do. The people I respond to with the facts about hardware vs OS are wanting to use iOS but be able to side-load apps. They argue that they should be able to because they "own their device"--seemingly forgetting that iOS is software, not hardware ("the device").

 

[mrochester]

I am understanding you perfectly but you are not understanding me. The concept of being able to do what ever you want with the device that you own is the ability to remove the OS from the hardware. This is not a software issue, it's a hardware issue being the case that the hardware should be able to be seperated from the OS (software) . Why someone would want to is not the point here, the point here is that they should be able to do it but they can not which ultimately means their ability to fully own the device is limited. Basically it's limited to how ever Apple want it to be limited, ergo you do not fully own your own device.

You can remove the software from the hardware if you find a way to do it. Apple doesn’t make it easy for you to do it, but I’d defend their right to make the product they want to make.

Your right as the consumer is to choose whether you want to buy it or not.

 

[I7guy]

I am understanding you perfectly but you are not understanding me. The concept of being able to do what ever you want with the device that you own is the ability to remove the OS from the hardware. This is not a software issue, it's a hardware issue being the case that the hardware should be able to be seperated from the OS (software) . Why someone would want to is not the point here, the point here is that they should be able to do it but they can not which ultimately means their ability to fully own the device is limited. Basically it's limited to how ever Apple want it to be limited, ergo you do not fully own your own device.

Seems like you are being perfectly pedantic. Many consumer electronic devices today are locked in. Can’t buy a Samsung qled and rip out the screen and substitute an oled. Can’t turn a refrigerator into a microwave. Can’t replace the operating system on your iPhone.

The above all have one thing in common. You own them but are limited as to how you can modify them.

 

[mrochester]

Seems like you are being perfectly pedantic. Many consumer electronic devices today are locked in. Can’t buy a Samsung qled and rip out the screen and substitute an oled. Can’t turn a refrigerator into a microwave. Can’t replace the operating system on your iPhone.

The above all have one thing in common. You own them but are limited as to how you can modify them.

And they are all appliances.

 

[LD517]

"Imagine if a landlord told their small business tenant they had to increase their prices without any say in the matter or anywhere else to go"

Isn't that literally what landlords do ALL the time?

No

 

[Yebubbleman]

Another case of Apple can do no wrong in the MacRumors forums. 🤣

 

[Abazigal]

And they are all appliances.

So is the ipad a computer or not?

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Another case of Apple can do no wrong in the MacRumors forums. 🤣

Who would have thought you’d find mostly Apple fans on a website designed specifically for Apple fans?

What’s more weird is finding people who dislike Apple, frequenting an Apple website in my opinion.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Who would have thought you’d find mostly Apple fans on a website designed specifically for Apple fans?

I wonder what the mood is on Epic fan forums... if such places exist...

 

[Yebubbleman]

Who would have thought you’d find mostly Apple fans on a website designed specifically for Apple fans?

What’s more weird is finding people who dislike Apple, frequenting an Apple website in my opinion.

This isn't a website designed specifically for Apple fans. This is an Apple news site. Some of us HAVE to follow this stuff because it's how we make our money. You can have a love/hate relationship with the things that you use to make money. And you especially can have that with Apple. And mind you, I'm cool with Apple love. It's the mindlessness and blindless of it that irks me. They are a trillion dollar company with some pretty poor quality control who literally doesn't care about anyone on here and most of the people on here act like they can do no wrong. Kind of insane, really.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Apple got greedy with App Store and invited regulatory scrutiny, the Epic case has brought it even further into the spotlight.

They won that case but government regulation will dismantle the App Store bit by bit.

 

[Stunning_Sense4712]

Apple got greedy with App Store and invited regulatory scrutiny, the Epic case has brought it even further into the spotlight.

They won that case but government regulation will dismantle the App Store bit by bit.

I agree Apple’s App Store is going to change over the years with governmental regulation.

 

[I7guy]

Apple got greedy with App Store and invited regulatory scrutiny, the Epic case has brought it even further into the spotlight.

They won that case but government regulation will dismantle the App Store bit by bit.

There’s still the pending appeal.

 

[I7guy]

[…] You can have a love/hate relationship with the things that you use to make money.

I find money flows in much easier and faster when I have a love relationship.

And you especially can have that with Apple. And mind you, I'm cool with Apple love. It's the mindlessness and blindless of it that irks me.

What mindless and blindness? Examples please.

They are a trillion dollar company with some pretty poor quality control

Their quality control is pretty fantastic given the range and breadth of their ecosystem. But that’s like saying Microsoft’s quality control is poor because of patch Tuesday.

who literally doesn't care about anyone on here

I’m not clear on how inanimate things (such as corporations) care about living breathing things…but past that, people in companies do care about people outside of companies.

and most of the people on here act like they can do no wrong.

You’re reading it wrong.

Kind of insane, really.

The above comment is is also kind of insane.

How does any of this relate to that many opinions of Tim Sweeney is fairly negative. He took a gamble by purposefully screwing with apple and lost.

And you don’t think people shouldn’t defend apple? Crazy rational.

 

[jlc1978]

Apple got greedy with App Store and invited regulatory scrutiny, the Epic case has brought it even further into the spotlight.

People talk about Apple's greed but ignore how Apple really changed the game for the better for developers:

1. Opened up a worldwide market that any developer can reach; no more getting a distributor and hoping some stores somewhere will shelf your product
2. Cut the cost to go to market drastically; no more paying up front for printing, duplicatig, packaging etc., opening up developing to a much wider group of people
3. Included many administrative costs, such as payments, tax compliance, etc. in it's fee; allowing developers to sell to a worldwide market without worrying about currency changes, tax laws, etc.
4. Charged 30% so developers get 70%; unlike pre app stores where a developer was lucky to get 30%.

As for Epic, I doubt they would have as easily gotten the mobile user base if app stores such as Apple's didn't exist.

They won that case but government regulation will dismantle the App Store bit by bit.

And develpers will be hurt as upfront costs increase to make up for lost revenue; piracy goes up if sideloading becomes easy, have to deal with a myriad of 3rd party stores who probably will charge as much or more as Apple, etc.

Epic will be fine - they will simply host their app on their own store and enforce whatever rules in game they want; until someone decides the same regulations apply to them. If they want to stay on the Apple App Store Apple will find a way to extract revenue from hosting them to replace lost subscription revenue.

Smaller stores will find it difficult to reach the customer base size of Apple's; and lack of scale means higher costs and either low margins or pricing in line with Apple's or even higher.

Nothing says if regulations force Apple to change they can't change their fee structure, and the size of their user base makes them the most attractive store around.

Developers need to be careful what they wish for; as do consumers.

Developers may also need to go to the free d/l with in app subscriptions; much as in the Android world to combat piracy losses; while upsetting their customers who hate subscriptions, while paying app stores to host and downloading their free apps.

The grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side.

 

[shplock]

If there were multiple app markets or installation methods on iOS, there would be a distorting effect on prices. Price increases across the board would have to be implemented with greater care. Why this is considered a bad thing is beyond me, aside from the bad faith arguments advanced by Apple’s shareholders.

If there were endless other app stores allowed on IOS then this will lead to weakened security as most of these app stores will be badly run, poorly executed and just full of malware.
This will lead to endless laws suits from affects customers who started off demanding Apple allow such app stores then demand that Apple should not have allowed them in the first place.
This will end up costing customers far more and cause more problems than it solves.

What Epic are asking is basically to be allowed to use the resources of Apple for nothing and be treated as some sort of special case.
That is not in the best interests of anyone except Epic !

 

[shplock]

Nope
Exchange rates are.

Exchange rates have fluctuated a lot over the years and Apple Neve raised prices before, this is mostly due to inflation which IS raising, not that many people seem aware.

 

[shplock]

Because its admission that apple strong arms all developers and people CANT accept apple does that so they refuse to accept anything thats good.

The reality is a LOT of places ARE NOT raising prices to compensate for a lower Euro.

I subscribe for a service that is 20 Euro.. used to cost me 28 or more USD now its around 22 and less per USD.. No price changes at all....

**** wish I could buy fk tons of Euro on a Euro only card or something now for the future lol....

Just because SOME companies are not raising prices does not mean they are not suffering or that they do not want to raise prices, plus they may STILL increase prices, just not right now.
Do not hate Apple for being one of the first in this arena.

 

[BaldiMac]

Exchange rates have fluctuated a lot over the years and Apple Neve raised prices before, this is mostly due to inflation which IS raising, not that many people seem aware.

Apple has adjusted prices due to currency fluctuations in the past.

Apple Raises Prices For App Store In UK, India, Turkey Due To Falling Currencies | PYMNTS.com

Apple is gearing up to increase the prices it charges for its apps in the U.K. due to a big drop in in the sterling after the U.K.’s historic vote to exit

www.pymnts.com

App Store prices: decrease in all territories that use Euro currency

Apple announces new prices of In-App Purchases excluding auto-renewable subscriptions. See a comparison chart between old and new customer prices.

www.purchasely.com

There would be no reason to adjust prices across the board because of inflation. Developers are perfectly capable of increasing prices on their own if they were feeling the affects of inflation.

 

[justperry]

Exchange rates have fluctuated a lot over the years and Apple Neve raised prices before, this is mostly due to inflation which IS raising, not that many people seem aware.

NOPE (Again), not this time, it's the ongoing situation in Europe.

 

[wanha]

No. You're searching for the term "analogy".

No. I literally mean "straw man argument.