Russian Lawmaker Seeks to Cap Apple's App Store Commission at 20%

[amartinez1660]

The Android user experience is subjectively terrible. Although are a number of improvements which would make my life easier when using my iPhone and Apple Watch, I do enjoy the experience and how these devices work together to enhance my day to day life.

I’d much prefer to work towards improvements and enhancements to my current devices rather than switch to something which I believe to be years behind in usability.

There’s a reason why that might the case... asking for iOS to behave like Android will ultimately probably give you an Android experience.
Imagine fast forward on this all-in... iOS is opened, stores are opened, Samsung/HTC/ZTE/Huawei making iOS phones, ARM CPUs, etc... that will just be another Android experience I believe.

 

[beanbaguk]

What do you mean? Retail stores charge even more to the developer than the online store counterpart plus extra fees for where it’s physically placed on the store shelves themselves. And that’s still without the physical discs/cartridges pressing, packaging, distribution, etc costs that the dev has to run with.
Extrapolate to why PSN, Switch, Xbox stores (and GameStop, and the Walmart section and others) are not getting the same demands.

Laughing because people are so narrow-minded and you are so right.

I worked for EA Games as a software tester and Microsoft Xbox as a certification tester back in my early days after university. The cost of this process alone was quite horrific. A beta recall in testing to re-certify a game could cost $100k's due to changes in print, distribution and more.

App stores have removed that cost and opened the world up to millions of indie devs. 30% is nothing in comparison.

 

[falainber]

Don't want this to pass. Look below.



This is not just a reduction against commission% from the Apple store, but a attempt to have non-russian app sellers pay Russia to fund a special training fund?

It is not even clear who the app seller is in this case. Technically, it's Apple (app store). Every business that sells something in Russia (or any other country to that matter) pays local taxes (VAT or whatever) so there is nothing unusual here. The only special thing about this tax is that it is intended to be used for funding specific projects but that's the prerogative of the authority that collects the tax.

 

[falainber]

The Android user experience is subjectively terrible. Although are a number of improvements which would make my life easier when using my iPhone and Apple Watch, I do enjoy the experience and how these devices work together to enhance my day to day life.

I’d much prefer to work towards improvements and enhancements to my current devices rather than switch to something which I believe to be years behind in usability.

Android experience is so terrible that the vast majority of people prefer it to iOS. Conundrum?

 

[Nuno Lopes]

Apple's App Store has identical rules for everyone, and as a result some companies pay for others.

Rules are always identical to everyone. It’s a tautology. Don’t see why people get hooked when Apple says it’s rules apply to everyone As an example of fairness. What is a rule that does not apply to everyone? There is none.

If Kind(X) = c then get(15, X) applies to al Xs but not all Xs get(15, X).

*any rule may change without notice.

 

[GeoStructural]

Why is switching to Android not an option? Android has a much larger userbase. Many developers recognize that and have their apps available on Android as well, or even Android exclusive.

And if iOS is so insecure as you pointed out, why are you still on it?

Even though I know your message is not well intended I will answer:
1) Switching to Android is not an option because I have other devices and I prefer the connectivity among all of them. I do have an Android device, but it is for development and other purposes, not for daily use.

2) You took my message out of context, the original poster said Apple was “the garden of security” (in those words, unless he edits the comment) and I was pointing out the fallacy. By the way I am on it because I want and I can.

 

[I7guy]

Android experience is so terrible that the vast majority of people prefer it to iOS. Conundrum?

Maybe because the less expensive android phones sell more than the more expensive phones (including IOS). But yeah, there is a conundrum.

Apple's iPhone 11 Was the Most-Shipped Smartphone in First Half of 2020

Apple's iPhone 11 was the most-shipped smartphone in the first half this year and has been the single most popular handset of 2020, according to new research by Omdia. Apple shipped an estimated 37.7 million iPhone 11 units this year, which is 10.8 million more units than last year's...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[johnsc3]

All that will happen here is that Apple and others will make amendments that mean your 20% only covers A + B, if you want C it will be an extra charge. They will find a way around it.

Yep!

 

[Confused Vorlon]

I sincerely hope you're being sarcastic. What that bill proposes is absolutely ludicrous and clearly cooked up by either incredibly stupid people who don't understand technology and operating systems, or highly malicious government operatives who want a back-door into Apple's OS.

Why would it be bad for me to be able to install a competing store if I want to?

Lots of users do this already (Cydia and similar)

All the bill really does is make the option that Jailbreakers currently have something available to everyone who owns an apple device.

Note the word 'own' there. If you own the phone - why should Apple be allowed to tell you that you can't have an indie store installed?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Why is switching to Android not an option? Android has a much larger userbase. Many developers recognize that and have their apps available on Android as well, or even Android exclusive.

Switching to Android is definitely an option, the tools to migrate over are even fairly mature now. The only situation where switching to Android is not an option is if the person just refuses to switch to Android, really. Similar to how the only situation where being in a burning house and “leaving a burning house” is not an option is if the person refuses to leave the burning house. I mean... it’s there... it’s an option, but, y’know.

 

[I7guy]

Why would it be bad for me to be able to install a competing store if I want to?

Lots of users do this already (Cydia and similar)

All the bill really does is make the option that Jailbreakers currently have something available to everyone who owns an apple device.

Note the word 'own' there. If you own the phone - why should Apple be allowed to tell you that you can't have an indie store installed?

Yup, you own your phone. You can do what you want with it. But if you decide to use IOS without jailbreaking it, you are bound by Apples' agreements on IOS. Which currently is one app store.


You can jailbreak and use multiple app stores, but that isn't sanctioned nor supported by Apple.

 

[falainber]

Stupid Russia. They broke the camel's back!

 

[Confused Vorlon]

Yup, you own your phone. You can do what you want with it. But if you decide to use IOS without jailbreaking it, you are bound by Apples' agreements on IOS. Which currently is one app store.


You can jailbreak and use multiple app stores, but that isn't sanctioned nor supported by Apple.

I'm glad you agree that I own my phone and should be able to do what I like with it.

Do you also agree that Apple try _really_ hard to stop me from jailbreaking and installing other app stores?

For most people there isn't really a choice. They have to do what Apple says and Apple says 'you can't have another store'

Why should I require their sanction to use my phone how I like?

 

[I7guy]

I'm glad you agree that I own my phone and should be able to do what I like with it.

Do you also agree that Apple try _really_ hard to stop me from jailbreaking and installing other app stores?

For most people there isn't really a choice. They have to do what Apple says and Apple says 'you can't have another store'

Why should I require their sanction to use my phone how I like?

When is Apple under any obligation to facilitate your jail breaking and or installations of alternate app stores?

 

[2979382]

Why would it be bad for me to be able to install a competing store if I want to?

Lots of users do this already (Cydia and similar)

All the bill really does is make the option that Jailbreakers currently have something available to everyone who owns an apple device.

Note the word 'own' there. If you own the phone - why should Apple be allowed to tell you that you can't have an indie store installed?

You "own" the unique instance of that hardware you got in a box with a serial number, but any software on it you only license, so no, you don't get to do whatever your wee heart desires when it comes to software.