Fortnite and Epic Games Store Submitted to Apple for iOS Launch in EU

[HobeSoundDarryl]

What app prices dropped after Apple lowered their cut from 30% to 15% for most apps? I’ll wait.

Didn't have to: no competition. Developer could simply pocket more of the revenue on THEIR app creation.

Introduce competition though and there will be competitive pricing. It only works that way when one can get the same "anything" from more than one place. See weekly Mac sales on this very site where the very same product, sold through third parties like Best Buy, is priced lower than the "company store" who makes that product... and/or have more value piled onto the sale (such as freebies not available from the manufacturer transaction).

 

[I7guy]

Didn't have to: no competition. Developer could simply pocket more of the revenue on THEIR app creation.

Introduce competition though and there will be competitive pricing. It only works that way when one can get the same "anything" from more than one place.

There will never be competition because these apps are copyrighted works.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

There will never be competition because these apps are copyrighted works.

Competition between stores, such as WalMart vs. Target.

 

[bookofxero]

TenCent is getting a lot of ROI on their “investment” in Epic Games.

 

[wanha]

Congratulations EU people for getting to install whatever software you want on the computing devices you own. The rest of us have this exact same ability with our Macs but you get to enjoy the capability with your iDevices too. They are- after all- YOUR computing devices, no longer belonging to the manufacturer.

Those of us completely unaffected by your laws will be sure to bash away at something of zero consequence for us anyway... but I'd bet fairly large that many of those most vocal have a third-party sourced app (or several) on their own Macs... and that hasn't led to security meltdowns, trojans, viruses, bank account drains, death of first born, locusts & frogs and the four horsemen (but we'll let on that all that is going to happen to you, even though these laws will be in play for 4 months now in just a few more days). "Wolf! Wolf!" the boy cried... but will the villagers come yet again... or finally realize the truth (they already know from Macs always being this way)?

Enjoy access to apps that the rest of us can't access... because "Father" knows best.

Yes, the HW belongs to you, the consumer.

You can do whatever you want with it - break it, burn it, sell it, jailbreak it - it's all up to you.

But the software does NOT belong to you and it never has, and we have all agreed to those terms when setting up our devices for as long as we've used a Mac, Windows, or iOS device.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

TenCent is getting a lot of ROI on their “investment” in Epic Games.

TenCent is a holder in Activision/Blizard, Supercell (Clash of Clans) and several other game companies on the iPhone.

Fun fact, they own around 5% of Tesla.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Yes, the HW belongs to you, the consumer.

You can do whatever you want with it - break it, burn it, sell it, jailbreak it - it's all up to you.

But the software does NOT belong to you and it never has, and we have all agreed to those terms when setting up our devices for as long as we've used a Mac, Windows, or iOS device.

Cool, then Apple should offer/facilitate to let me remove and any all software my phone, including the OS, at will, and install something else if I see fit.

It would be more environmentally friendly, too, since iPhones and iPads could be useful with a different OS past their sunsetting date.

 

[NOATAK]

I still don’t get the desire for outside app stores. I bought an iPhone to have walls. If I wanted that much choice, I’d get an android.

Imagine being so desperate that you have to complain about having more choice.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

There will never be competition because these apps are copyrighted works.

Apple MAKES Macs. Check Apple Mac pricing vs. weekly sales on Macs from entities like Best Buy or Amazon. Even if a third party can't cut the price vs. Apple, they can pile on some value-added extras to sweeten the deal to buy from them vs. Apple. That's competition at work. It works FOR consumers.

The proof is visible on this website every approx. THU/FRI... when the article runs about "best pricing ever on these Apple products" compared to the same offerings from Apple.

If I'm an app developer in the EU:

1. I certainly WILL create my own store on my website- exactly as most do with Mac apps. Why? If people opt to buy from me, I get the first 15%-30% Apple will otherwise take. I coded that app. Do I not deserve first bite "off the top" as the creator?
2. If I can include my app in other stores, I'll get it in them too... because exposure there means more opportunities for buyers to discover my app and buy. Some buyers may never visit my website, but by being "there" too, they can discover my app.
3. If I am approached by those "X apps for only $Y" software bundle marketers, I probably participate in those too, hoping to reach even more people and them making my money later on the next version (upgrade). A number of great apps on my own Macs landed there via one of these kind of bundles... after which I've since upgraded up to several times on the developers website. I'm not sure I would have ever even tried some of these apps if they didn't come in one of those bundles. AND
4. I'll keep my app in the Apple store too because the world is thoroughly programmed to get iDevice apps from that store... and I don't want to shoot myself in the revenue foot by yanking my app from the "main" store even if it will cost me 15%-30% for each transaction done there.

Sellers want to be where buyers are... EVERYWHERE there are buyers. Most app buyers- even in the EU- will continue to be in the Apple App Store. Anyone yanking their app from that store will feel the revenue hit by NOT being where most app shoppers shop. Some of us have this vision of some kind of mass exodus of apps... but- IMO- that will generally be short-lived at best... as they'll miss the easy revenue of being in the "main" store very quickly and get their app back in there ASAP... even though they can make more profit on each app transaction by direct selling it from their own website.

 

[steve09090]

Cool, then Apple should offer/facilitate to let me remove and any all software my phone, including the OS, at will, and install something else if I see fit.

You can do whatever you want with your phone. Why should Apple make it easy to make your iPhone work like it was never intended? People don’t buy a car and expect the manufacturer to give them a spanner to take the steering wheel off.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

You can do whatever you want with your phone. Why should Apple make it easy to make your iPhone work like it was never intended? People don’t buy a car and expect the manufacturer to give them a spanner to take the steering wheel off.

I can (and do) own the tools to take apart/rebuild/fix/modify any vehicle you pull into my workshop. Where are the tools for Apple?

They build and create weird software tools and locks to actively prevent me from doing what I want with the hardware.

 

[subjonas]

Take a look at the games section of the US App Store. 9 out every 10 games are sleazy and run by a sleazy developer..

Apple is fine with sleazy businesses as long as they get their cut.

Do they break any specific rules? Hard to filter out "sleazy" apps as that's pretty vague.

 

[Remy149]

I live in the USA. I have no choice in this matter. If I want apps, I get them from the ONE "company store" because the "land of the free" isn't as free in this way... and select citizens in that land of the free will then argue why limiting flexibility to get apps from more than a single source is a very positive thing for everyone.

These laws only affect our Apple friends in the countries where they apply.

And no, people don't buy Apple devices solely to be locked down to a single store. They buy Apple devices- as I do- for the vast pile of many great benefits... and then put up with select shortcomings. I doubt ANYONE goes into an Apple store to lay down about $1K because they want to be limited to getting apps from only one source. I 100% suspect it's "the rest" of many benefits that motivates such purchases... even with select limiting factors such as this one.

You can buy an android device right now in the USA and have the option to use 3rd party stores if they feature is do important to you though. Most consumers don’t care about salt app stores or side loading. For those that due there is already a huge ecosystem of devices that aren’t Apple that offer that

 

[surferfb]

You can buy an android device right now in the USA and have the option to use 3rd party stores if they feature is do important to you though. Most consumers don’t care about salt app stores or side loading. For those that due there is already a huge ecosystem of devices that aren’t Apple that offer that

But he wants his cake and to be able to eat it too! It’s his right!

 

[WarmWinterHat]

You can buy an android device right now in the USA and have the option to use 3rd party stores if they feature is do important to you though. Most consumers don’t care about salt app stores or side loading. For those that due there is already a huge ecosystem of devices that aren’t Apple that offer that

This is such a worthless response; I want to do what I want, with my iPhone. If I wanted Android, I would buy Android.

I don't, so I didn't buy one. I'll continue to email, lobby and push Apple to open their ecosystem because consumer freedom (should) come before shareholder value.

I say that as a shareholder.

 

[Remy149]

This is unfortunately true.

IAP are a cancer on games, with massive resources poured into how to game players into spending maximum amounts.

A friend of mine worked for a relatively successful and known mobile game company and he told me that in customer support, a VIP level customer for them was someone who spent at least $1000 per MONTH on the game

Unfortunately full price full featured games constantly flop on mobile. Consumers don’t like paying for mobile games even when they are console quality. Nintendo entered mobile gaming trying to charge for full featured games but pivoted to free to play because consumers complained $10-$15 was to expensive

 

[Remy149]

This is such a worthless response; I want to do what I want, with my iPhone. If I wanted Android, I would buy Android.

I don't, so I didn't buy one. I'll continue to email, lobby and push Apple to open their ecosystem because consumer freedom (should) come before shareholder value.

I say that as a shareholder.

Except you bought an iPhone knowing you didn’t have that option. It’s obvious that owning an iPhone is more important to you than having the option for 3rd party stores. What exactly are you expecting to get from a 3rd party store that isn’t available on the Apple App Store except for porn or torrent apps?

 

[steve09090]

I can (and do) own the tools to take apart/rebuild/fix/modify any vehicle you pull into my workshop. Where are the tools for Apple?

They build and create weird software tools and locks to actively prevent me from doing what I want with the hardware.

I’ll send you a pentalobe screwdriver.

Do you also have the tools to alter the software in your Tesla, or Subaru, or Hyundai or whatever you fix? Or do they just provide you with software updates? It’s a rhetorical question. I know they don’t, EXACTLY the same way Apple don’t.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Except you bought an iPhone knowing you didn’t have that option. It’s obvious that owning an iPhone is more important to you than having the option for 3rd party stores. What exactly are you expecting to get from a 3rd party store that isn’t available on the Apple App Store except for porn or torrent apps?

I don't consume porn, nor do I torrent or pirate apps/music/movies. We have a high enough income that I just buy what I want. Here's an example, how about a browser, other than Safari, that lets me use extensions?

What I want to do isn't important, and never has been. What is important is personal/consumer freedom should come first. Yes, I bought and iPhone, and my next phone will probably be an iPhone, and I will continue to complain to Apple about the current state of the iOS ecosystem.

 

[Remy149]

Apple MAKES Macs. Check Apple Mac pricing vs. weekly sales on Macs from entities like Best Buy or Amazon. Even if a third party can't cut the price vs. Apple, they can pile on some value-added extras to sweeten the deal to buy from them vs. Apple. That's competition at work. It works FOR consumers.

The proof is visible on this website every approx. THU/FRI... when the article runs about "best pricing ever on these Apple products" compared to the same offerings from Apple.

If I'm an app developer in the EU:

1. I certainly WILL create my own store on my website- exactly as most do with Mac apps. Why? If people opt to buy from me, I get the first 15%-30% Apple will otherwise take. I coded that app. Do I not deserve first bite "off the top" as the creator?
2. If I can include my app in other stores, I'll get it in them too... because exposure there means more opportunities for buyers to discover my app and buy. Some buyers may never visit my website, but by being "there" too, they can discover my app.
3. If I am approached by those "X apps for only $Y" software bundle marketers, I probably participate in those too, hoping to reach even more people and them making my money later on the next version (upgrade). A number of great apps on my own Macs landed there via one of these kind of bundles... after which I've since upgraded up to several times on the developers website. I'm not sure I would have ever even tried some of these apps if they didn't come in one of those bundles. AND
4. I'll keep my app in the Apple store too because the world is thoroughly programmed to get iDevice apps from that store... and I don't want to shoot myself in the revenue foot by yanking my app from the "main" store even if it will cost me 15%-30% for each transaction done there.

Sellers want to be where buyers are... EVERYWHERE there are buyers. Most app buyers- even in the EU- will continue to be in the Apple App Store. Anyone yanking their app from that store will feel the revenue hit by NOT being where most app shoppers shop. Some of us have this vision of some kind of mass exodus of apps... but- IMO- that will generally be short-lived at best... as they'll miss the easy revenue of being in the "main" store very quickly and get their app back in there ASAP... even though they can make more profit on each app transaction by direct selling it from their own website.

Apple allows 3rd party retailers to discount their products. They operate very similar to high end clothing brands. You will never see a sale in their first party stores and boutiques but they allow stores like Bloomingdales to offer sales. A lot of sales prices are set by the manufacturer and not the retail stores themselves except when it’s a liquidation sale.

 

[surferfb]

This is such a worthless response; I want to do what I want, with my iPhone. If I wanted Android, I would buy Android.

I don't, so I didn't buy one. I'll continue to email, lobby and push Apple to open their ecosystem because consumer freedom (should) come before shareholder value.

I say that as a shareholder.

And when Apple says, “nope, we designed our platform and software ecosystem in a certain way” your response is “let’s make the government force them - Apple’s rights as the Intellectual Property holder and creator of the ecosystem are less important than mine. Because I deserve it. Why? I just do.”

 

[Remy149]

I don't consume porn, nor do I torrent or pirate apps/music/movies. We have a high enough income that I just buy what I want.

What I want to do isn't important, and never has been. What is important is personal/consumer freedom should come first.

Then what apps are you expecting to get from 3rd party stores? It seems you just have some philosophical opinion and not a real need. You make it seem like consumers don’t already have the freedom when choosing a more open platform versus a closed one. Even on android a majority of consumers never sideline or use 3rd party stores.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I’ll send you a pentalobe screwdriver.

Do you also have the tools to alter the software in your Tesla, or Subaru, or Hyundai or whatever you fix? Or do they just provide you with software updates? It’s a rhetorical question. I know they don’t, EXACTLY the same way Apple don’t.

VW. Yes I do have said software tools.

I own a pentalobe screwdriver.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

But he wants his cake and to be able to eat it too! It’s his right!

As consumers (instead of paid employees of the seller), we SHOULD want "our cake & eat it too." Our part of the capitalism "bargain" is to try to get as much as we can get for our money... and competition is key part in making that happen.

Bottom line: you and others can feel whatever you want to feel about this topic. Laws are in place. Apple is complying. Results of that compliance is unfolding before our very eyes.

The most vocal against these laws seem to be people NOT within the EU, thus unaffected by these laws. If you are not in the EU, today is the same as yesterday and the day before in terms of how & where you can buy apps, do in-app transactions, etc.

If you ARE in the EU, you can opt to stick with "business as usual" by sourcing new apps from only the Apple App Store. If you don't already possess some app that you fear may exit the store, get it now and then you'll not need to buy it direct should it exit.

Relative to all of these security disaster impacts so many are so certain are going to impact, we can watch that storm destroy the EU... or see that it- like the complete disaster of the EU "forced" conversion to USB-C- was much ado about nothing.

Time will show the outcome, isolated to this one market, where we can see the certain disaster play out or not. If EU people are devastated by these laws, they can elect replacement politicians who can revoke the laws and put things back to the ideal of the one company "gatekeeper" having ALL say and being the ONLY source of apps.

Feel whatever we wish to feel, but Pandora has opened this box... it's already done... and either all of the great evils will manifest or they won't.

 

[steve09090]

VW. Yes I do have said software tools.

I own a pentalobe screwdriver.

No worries. I updated the post. How did you get access to alter VW software? I can’t even update the maps on my Subaru because the car is 2 years old. Do you need a suction cup?