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Facebook Gaming Now Available to iOS Users Through Web App Due to App Store Policy
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I don't think so. And there is a platform and literally dozens of phones that allows this so I would hope millions of people choose the best product that works the way they want it to instead of complaining about their choice. If side loading is the most important aspect of a smartphone experience Android has you covered. Yes?the "sideloaders" are closing in on Apple- restrictions will be lowered at some point in time (at least for the big fish)
What's for sure is that whatever you want or do not want on your phone is irrelevant to what other people want.
“Pick android” again, not acknowledging Google is shutting sideloading door just like iOS after each major android release. It’s just happens that app usually supports older version of android long enough, sideloading is still somewhat possible and android emulator is a thing.
So, if android closes sideloading feature unless someone is extremely tech savvy, what’s the point after then? Pick Linux? What? Gimme a break.
So, if android closes sideloading feature unless someone is extremely tech savvy, what’s the point after then? Pick Linux? What? Gimme a break.
Facebook didn’t do anything? Just wow. Probably the most blinkered comment I’ve ever read.
What's the purpose of Apple's rule? That's what I don't understand.
Spotify's app lets you listen to music from many artists.
YouTube's app lets you play videos from lots of producers.
eBay's app lets you buy things from loads of vendors.
But an app that lets you play games from many different studios? Blasphemy!
And I don't understand the comments that suggest that Facebook's app is unwanted. So? Don't install it, then. I've been boycotting Amazon for over 6 years but I don't get upset that there's an Amazon app in the store.
Spotify's app lets you listen to music from many artists.
YouTube's app lets you play videos from lots of producers.
eBay's app lets you buy things from loads of vendors.
But an app that lets you play games from many different studios? Blasphemy!
And I don't understand the comments that suggest that Facebook's app is unwanted. So? Don't install it, then. I've been boycotting Amazon for over 6 years but I don't get upset that there's an Amazon app in the store.
People are responsible for their behavior, but Facebook is responsible for encouraging and causing more unhealthy behavior than would otherwise have happened, with some of their practices which are designed with the singular goal of keeping people using their site/app.
If Apple gives in, it should be due to market pressures/demand and with their free choice, not because the law forces them to adhere to some companies’ and a small handful of people’s desire. This lawsuit is an attack on the free market. The people claiming anti-competition and monopoly are at best confused and at worst biased.
If Apple is going to change their policies, this is the way it should happen—from the pressures of the free market, with other companies playing by the rules of that free market—NOT by a group of companies trying to get the government to change the rules for their specific benefit. And I do believe it would be a rule change, not a new application of the current rules.
How quickly many here are missing or appear to miss the point; the latest affected is FaceBook. This is a position Apple has chosen for cloud based game apps. Personally I distrust FB, however there are many other cloud based gaming systems out there that have run into the same issue.
I’m sorry, but I’ve always failed to see how this “defeats” the purpose of cloud gaming.
I understand that it would a lot of extra work for the service providers. Maybe way to much work.
But it would be a better user experience imo. Most dont open Steam, flip to your library, and then launch the game you want from there. Instead you have shortcuts. Same with any game on iOS. You don’t go into the App Store to launch the games. You launch them from Home Screen. GeForce Now even offers this as an option on their desktop client.
I’m sure they’d still be able to have a catalogue app to highlight games and even act as a launchpad for games.
If it was that you did one single remote connection for any game (like you do with PlayStation Remote Play and similar), then you could argue it was counter intuitive. But for every game you still establish a new connection.
I get it, Apples policy is kinda silly, but don’t go crying about how this is a bad for users, when the policy way would have been better for the users, just not the corporations.
I understand that it would a lot of extra work for the service providers. Maybe way to much work.
But it would be a better user experience imo. Most dont open Steam, flip to your library, and then launch the game you want from there. Instead you have shortcuts. Same with any game on iOS. You don’t go into the App Store to launch the games. You launch them from Home Screen. GeForce Now even offers this as an option on their desktop client.
I’m sure they’d still be able to have a catalogue app to highlight games and even act as a launchpad for games.
If it was that you did one single remote connection for any game (like you do with PlayStation Remote Play and similar), then you could argue it was counter intuitive. But for every game you still establish a new connection.
I get it, Apples policy is kinda silly, but don’t go crying about how this is a bad for users, when the policy way would have been better for the users, just not the corporations.
Since Apple developed an environment for this to be true, don’t you think it’s fair that they’re compensated?
I believe the intent is that Apple doesn’t want users being diverted away from the App Store by these game streaming apps, which have the capability to function as a de-facto App Store of their own. How long before these companies go from simply offering games to other apps, like the current setapp model? And would these apps presumably be exempt from Apple’s App Store rules, like ATT?
From the perspective of Apple and the end user, it is in both our interests to ensure a thriving App Store by having developers continue to release their apps in the App Store, rather than attempt to skirt around it. If I could get all the games I wanted from Facebook, there would be less reason for me to go into the App Store app, and locate and purchase fewer apps.
For example, Spotify pioneered the music streaming model, which led to Apple’s iTunes business model becoming less popular over time, and prompting Apple to respond in kind with their own music streaming service (at least that’s how I see it). Also to prevent Spotify from accumulating too much power and vying for dominance with Apple’s platform some day.
Amazon and YouTube work because I don’t have the opportunity to buy detergent ala-carte from the App Store.
I understand why Apple wants to continue to ensure that users continue to be funnelled into the App Store for everything, and why these other companies want to have it done away with. I do believe that in time and with sufficient pressure, Apple will eventually have to do away with these rules, but until then, Apple will continue to stave off the inevitable for as long as they can.
I do hope Apple will be screening all codes come from the likes of Facebook, etc.
Due to limitations surrounding the distribution of cloud gaming services on the App Store, Facebook is bringing its gaming service to iOS users through a progressive web app starting today, reports The Verge.
Apple's App Store guidelines don't permit cloud-game-based apps to appear on the platform unless developers submit each app offered in the service individually for review. The limitation has been a significant point of contention between Apple and Facebook, and Microsoft, which both have cloud-game services.
In a statement to The Verge, Facebook's vice president of gaming, Vivek Sharma, said that the company has come to the same conclusion as others, such as Microsoft, that bringing cloud games to iOS users through a web app is the only possible way. The vice president also criticized Apple's guidelines, saying it "defeats the purpose of cloud gaming."
Earlier in June, Microsoft made Xbox Cloud Gaming available to iOS users through Safari. Compared to normal apps available to download through the App Store, web apps are severely limited in functionality, not being able to send user notifications, take advantage of a device's hardware, and are harder to find for users.
Article Link: Facebook Gaming Now Available to iOS Users Through Web App Due to App Store Policy
Google version of Android is installed on very few phones. All major Android vendors install their own version. How do you think Google will disable sideloading on those? Besides, in addition to sideloading, Android phones have alternative app stores.
If “Google” version you mean those installed on pixel phones, then yeah, very few. But manufacturers usually choose to fork whatever Google released to install on their new devices rather than doing it from scratch, so people who buys the phone could still have necessary Google services and have access to Google play store. Those OS in essence are Google Android, and thus disabling side loading is easier than you thought.
As for alternative App Store, only China has floods of alternative store cause Google play is banned in China. Outside? Majority of users still use Google play store one way or another instead of an alternative store.
I wonder if there is an inverse relationship between:
- The amount of time someone spends playing games on their phone; and
- That person's net worth.
There are plenty of other platforms that can offer what FB is selling if they want to.
I don’t think people should be forced to jailbreak or install a different platform on Apple devices just to have user choice.
so i tried this out of curiosity. from a purely technical viewpoint, it's interesting, but definitely suboptimal. it's strange playing a mobile game with compression artifacts! also, depending on what content blockers you have enabled in safari, some things are plain broken (like exiting a game, for me: i couldn't confirm the exit! had to force quit the webapp).