Why does Apple hate 3rd party apps?

[Mad Mac Maniac]

It’s no secret that Apple refuses to let 3rd party apps be the default. Whether it’s things like safari and mail, or things like only using the built-in camera/calculator from control center. The latest thing that got me on this thought is the cool “Tap an iPad Pro lockscreen with Apple Pencil to open notes”. It’s great, but what if I prefer to use notability? Then either that feature is 100% useless for me or I have notes spread across 2 different apps.

Some of the decisions make good financial sense to me. Trying to coerce users to certain apps such as safari and mail could certainly help to strengthen the ecosystem and allow Apple to integrate/improve functionality. But why in the world would Apple care if I use Calcbot instead of “Calculator”? Or if I use Notability instead of Notes? The App Store is in many ways one of the major strengths of iOS. Apple knows this. So why does it continue to hinder 3rd party apps, even in locations where it doesn’t make financial sense to do so?

 

[TinaBelcher]

Because apple doesn't like their costumers to seek out other alternatives. It's quite immature actually.

 

[IndianBird]

Because apple doesn't like their costumers to seek out other alternatives. It's quite immature actually.

Then why don’t don’t the third party apps develop their own hardware?

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Because apple doesn't like their costumers to seek out other alternatives. It's quite immature actually.

Well then why even have an app store at all? Or at least why allow any apps that duplicate functionality of any built in apps?

Like I said the creativity and competitiveness that comes from the iOS App Store is one of the major advantages for Apple. Apple is always touting the robust sales on the app store. They even highlight the best ones, including apps that "compete" with their own built in apps.
[doublepost=1504041095][/doublepost]

Then why don’t don’t the third party apps develop their own hardware?

Don't be ridiculous.

 

[TinaBelcher]

Well then why even have an app store at all? Or at least why allow any apps that duplicate functionality of any built in apps?

Like I said the creativity and competitiveness that comes from the iOS App Store is one of the major advantages for Apple. Apple is always touting the robust sales on the app store. They even highlight the best ones, including apps that "compete" with their own built in apps.
[doublepost=1504041095][/doublepost]

Don't be ridiculous.

Good question

 

[IndianBird]

Well then why even have an app store at all? Or at least why allow any apps that duplicate functionality of any built in apps?

Like I said the creativity and competitiveness that comes from the iOS App Store is one of the major advantages for Apple. Apple is always touting the robust sales on the app store. They even highlight the best ones, including apps that "compete" with their own built in apps.
[doublepost=1504041095][/doublepost]

Don't be ridiculous.

Then they don’t have to worry about a multi billion dollar company being “quite immature.”

Build your own **** if the guy building it doesn’t build it like you want it.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Then they don’t have to worry about a multi billion dollar company being “quite immature.”

Build your own **** if the guy building it doesn’t build it like you want it.

Yeah and if you like driving on roads so much why don't you build your own in case the government gets "quite immature" and starts imposing tolls.

And why doesn't the egg farmer build his own grocery store in case the big chain grocery stores are "quite immature" and don't give him good shelf space.

Civilizations are built with communities helping in tandem with each other, with our specializations, to produce a sum that is greater than its parts. If you really think that a couple of app developers building a note taking app should make their own phone hardware and operating system just to give a little preference to their note taking app, then I can't help you

 

[Mascots]

3rd party applications are secondary to the iOS platform. Always have been always will be. But that doesn't mean Apple hates them.

Apple sees the power in regaining control over first party applications, though I'd argue what you're complaining about is more of an extensibility barrier these days; it takes time to add hooks into the OS for app developers to use and more often than not, these hooks will be bound to Apple's apps for the first year or two after introduction to be made available through an iterative process.

Just how things work.

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

It's all about Control.

 

[TinaBelcher]

It's all about Control.

"There only power and those to weak to seek it" - Lord Applemot

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

It's all about Control.

Apple is about control, only in so far as it aids the user experience. Well it's part "ecosystem lock-in" and part user experience. But most of the things I want (i.e. ability to choose a default notes app when tapping lock screen with apple pencil) wouldn't hurt ecosystem lock-in and would improve the user experience. This could of course be tucked away in settings so most people might not even be aware of the ability to change it. Kind of like how google is the default search engine, but you can change it to bing, Yahoo, or duck duck go. Virtually no effort to add some of these things, little-to-no financial disadvantages to Apple, but improved experience for the users

 

[simonmet]

3rd party applications are secondary to the iOS platform. Always have been always will be. But that doesn't mean Apple hates them.

Apple sees the power in regaining control over first party applications, though I'd argue what you're complaining about is more of an extensibility barrier these days; it takes time to add hooks into the OS for app developers to use and more often than not, these hooks will be bound to Apple's apps for the first year or two after introduction to be made available through an iterative process.

Just how things work.

Great sensible response.

Apple is gradually becoming more third-party app friendly but doing so in a way that’s quite conservative because they have a far greater vested interest in ensuring the overall experience isn’t impacted. All part of their walled-garden strategy. The alternative is to make it a free-for-all and see everything devolve to Android.

You can delete the default Mail client so presumably any third-party email app will become the default for actions like clicking on email addresses. There’s also the share and “Activities” functions that’ve been expanded and made available to third parties. I don’t use Apple’s Notes, Weather, Calculator or a bunch of other default apps but never felt particularly hindered. Remember, iOS started out without any third-party software at all!

It’s inevitable that the new Control Centre will be opened up to third-party apps, just as the lock-screen was for widgets. And if you keep asking nicely you might get some other changes too like that Apple Pencil unlock.

Ultimately, Apple and iOS is not the platform if you want ultimate freedom and control. Perhaps you’ll be happier with Android.

 

[one more]

Well then why even have an app store at all? Or at least why allow any apps that duplicate functionality of any built in apps?

The App Store generates quite a bit of revenue for Apple with their 30% cut. For duplicate functionality apps, it gets more complicated, as in the past Apple used to just pull out the apps that duplicate functionality of their own. Now, however, they no longer need to pull them out as they can simply upsell their own apps to everybody with their own massive audience TV ads (as Notes, Camera, etc.).

 

[TheChemist]

It's all about Control.

Don't you mean "Courage" ?

 

[CTHarrryH]

Well I would think it would also be about integration. It is "easy" for Apple to say that all apps that need maps have to use Apple maps with these protocols - but could really make developers integrate with several or "all" mapping applications. I know people will say that is the developers problem but first people will still blame Apple if all doesn't work. Also incorrect interfaces could screw up other things. Sure control and profits make a difference but Apple really doesn't make money on Maps, Mail, etc.

 

[kasakka]

It’s a simple “this app opens these types of files or urls” situation but the OS has no controls to handle what is the default app for each. Now it is understandable they don’t want to give you a list of MIME types as most people would not know how to operate that. However they could provide simple “use this app for mail” selectors for the most common use cases which would be browser, email and map apps.

 

[Feenician]

It’s a simple “this app opens these types of files or urls” situation but the OS has no controls to handle what is the default app for each. Now it is understandable they don’t want to give you a list of MIME types as most people would not know how to operate that. However they could provide simple “use this app for mail” selectors for the most common use cases which would be browser, email and map apps.

Safari actually has this ability. Download, for example, a zip file and you will see “Open in <whatever your current default is>” and “More”. If you choose a different app in More then the next time you download a zip file that will be the default.

 

[canesalato]

Then why don’t don’t the third party apps develop their own hardware?

Because we are talking about software developers?

 

[redgreenski]

My general experience with 3rd party apps is nothing but data mining and selling it for profit (with few exceptions).