WordPress for iOS Was Blocked From Updating Unless it Agreed to Add In-App Purchases for .Com Plans [Updated]

[Dremmel]

Apps with IAPs have an advantage in the App Store search algorithm.

 

[Text2Speech]

Sad that Apple became what they most despised, I was a Mac User from the 2000s until 2015 or so, several Macs bought, in the early days Apple had better support, Macs were built to last, always were more expensive but what they offer as a product was worth it, now days it's just a greedy company, their costumer don't have any freedom of choice!

They charge ridiculous sum of money for just a little ram, they even change the connection of SSD drives to "seem" proprietary on the eyes of a consumer that would want to upgrade it, back on the Snow Leopard days, Mac OS X was embracing pretty much all phones, you could sync with tons of mobiles not just iPhone, starting with Mac OS X Lion Apple started to change in a bad direction for their users, iSync compatibility with other non Apple Phones were removed, Rosetta (PPC emulation for older software) were not even an Option, 32 bits Intel CPU support was removed from the OS, that completely let the people that saved Apple from the downfall with one more unsupported system, they even refused to patch a serious security and broad problem on Mac OS X 10.6, so hilarious that I had no support for Mac OS X - Snow Leopard, but I could have Windows 10 installed, not that I would prefer Windows 10 in any way, but I discovered back then the real truth of what Apple was becoming, they would not support your Mac, but they would not let you run Windows or Linux with the full speed, they hard coded in the firmware a CPU throttle, the CPU would run at half the speed in other OS other than Apple Mac OS, I could only see that as a way to deceive the user to believe Mac was always faster, I still have that computer running Linux at half the speed (Apple hard coded CPU Throttling on Other Systems) but still faster and more useful than Apple let it work,I had a license of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, but can't use it because Apple never updated the HTTPS (SSL) protocol and pretty much all browser now days don't let serve pages with that protocol version, PHP and Apache were never updated also, so incompatibilities with WordPress, Joomla, and others CMS were fast to happen, what's the purpose of an unsupported Server?

Quality now days is also a joke, people these days would not believe that Apple replaced free of charge several times even the plastics of the Macbook because it gotten darker with palm rest over time, there were a balance and respect with their costumers, not this unilateral obsolescence moves that cripple your device without your permission or knowledge, it just become what their best ad 1984 - "George Orwel", broadcasted on a single day - Super Bowl XVIII, you the User have no Freedom and Apple Controls Everything!

 

[gank41]

That doesn't give Apple the right to put a gun to their heads and force their terms on them or me. I want to do with something I buy, what I want to do with it, not what Timmy says I'm ALLOWED TO. I OWN IT, NOT TIMMMY! I have an iPhone that can run 32 bit apps for lots of cool free games, but Apple says that isn't allowed anymore, so Timmy yanks the rug out from under you after you paid all that money for the iPhone. I hope Apple loses this battle for this and several other reasons.

I agree! I’m just saying it’s not the same scenario it is on Android. It’s the exact opposite because of how the OS itself is utilized by different manufacturers. You should expect choices or options when the OS is made to order by different handheld makers. Apple just has their own hardware so they can get away with their own software distribution.

 

[Dave245]

All these companies are acting like children, do they not understand that Apple can do what they want with their platform. It's their App Store, if they want to take 30% of what you earn for a BIG amount of exposure (over a billion devices) I think that's fair enough.

 

[Picard J.L.]

Sad that Apple became what they most despised, I was a Mac User from the 2000s until 2015 or so, several Macs bought, in the early days Apple had better support, Macs were built to last, always were more expensive but what they offer as a product was worth it, now days it's just a greedy company, their costumer don't have any freedom of choice!

They charge ridiculous sum of money for just a little ram, they even change the connection of SSD drives to "seem" proprietary on the eyes of a consumer that would want to upgrade it, back on the Snow Leopard days, Mac OS X was embracing pretty much all phones, you could sync with tons of mobiles not just iPhone, starting with Mac OS X Lion Apple started to change in a bad direction for their users, iSync compatibility with other non Apple Phones were removed, Rosetta (PPC emulation for older software) were not even an Option, 32 bits Intel CPU support was removed from the OS, that completely let the people that saved Apple from the downfall with one more unsupported system, they even refused to patch a serious security and broad problem on Mac OS X 10.6, so hilarious that I had no support for Mac OS X - Snow Leopard, but I could have Windows 10 installed, not that I would prefer Windows 10 in any way, but I discovered back then the real truth of what Apple was becoming, they would not support your Mac, but they would not let you run Windows or Linux with the full speed, they hard coded in the firmware a CPU throttle, the CPU would run at half the speed in other OS other than Apple Mac OS, I could only see that as a way to deceive the user to believe Mac was always faster, I still have that computer running Linux at half the speed (Apple hard coded CPU Throttling on Other Systems) but still faster and more useful than Apple let it work,I had a license of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, but can't use it because Apple never updated the HTTPS (SSL) protocol and pretty much all browser now days don't let serve pages with that protocol version, PHP and Apache were never updated also, so incompatibilities with WordPress, Joomla, and others CMS were fast to happen, what's the purpose of an unsupported Server?

Quality now days is also a joke, people these days would not believe that Apple replaced free of charge several times even the plastics of the Macbook because it gotten darker with palm rest over time, there were a balance and respect with their costumers, not this unilateral obsolescence moves that cripple your device without your permission or knowledge, it just become what their best ad 1984 - "George Orwel", broadcasted on a single day - Super Bowl XVIII, you the User have no Freedom and Apple Controls Everything!

In over 20 years I had only an issue with WiFi card in one of the iMacs and plastic cracking on a MacBook. Maybe I’m lucky.

 

[one more]

Who in there right mind would use WordPress anyway?

WordPress is used by more than 60 million websites, including 33.6% of the top 10 million websites as of April 2019. WordPress is one of the most popular content management system solutions in use.

Try it, you might like it too! More to explore here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPress

 

[Aoligei]

The reason iOS is secure is because Apple is the gate keeper. They review every app to make sure there are no viruses or any funny stuff going on. If something slips by they can kill that app and ban the developer if need be. Once you open it up to other stores that is all gone. If someone creates a vulnerability that affects the OS and puts it in a store that doesn't care about reviewing (which none will), this virus could spread to devices that never even bought from that store. Apple would have no control to get that app out of the system.

Having multiple stores, and trust me if you allow this, means their will be a lot of stores. As a user, instead of looking at one store to buy something, I now have to look into 3 thousand of them. Hopefully those stores also come up with a mechanism of updating those apps. Now instead of hitting update all my apps, I have to go into each store to update things making it a fragmented mess. Its one thing to do this on a computer where generally people have a few programs to use and manage, it's another thing to control all this on a phone with hundreds of apps.

I can understand why developers want to keep a few extra percentage points for themselves, but I can't understand why end users want to acquire these problems. Again, this is all available on Android so if its important to you, get an android device. Heck, you can even have both devices at the same time if you want. You can get android devices fairly cheap if you want to see how the multiple store experience is not a fun one.

I am baffled with your response with my Android devices. I don't see thousand app stores on my Android devices, I see one Google Play Store and Amazon App Store (which I rarely use)

You know what I do with my Android? I can side load from developer website directly.

If people can manage install, manage and update apps on Windows, Linux and Mac, they can manage beyond one app stores.

Also, Apple cannot be the one operate, judge at sametime. How do you know if Apple is making decisions solely based on their financial interest or to maintain their dominant position rather interest of consumer?

 

[q64ceo]

Wow, dick move, Apple.

 

[amnesia0287]

Actually there is precisely that rule

This is incorrect and has been for nearly a decade. There once was such a rule but it was long since abandoned. I myself have moved a few subscriptions off IAP to save money. It was a pain because you can’t just switch, you have to wait for one to expire then start the other. The only rule is you can’t advertise the alternative cheaper options in the app.

 

[Altherekho]

Are we just going to report on every single app that didn't know they were supposed to support in-app purchases for digital services OR provide a free trial and not direct the user to the web page that asks for money?

Yes and it will be important. Next Arm Mac won ‘t allow cloud gaming?This seems the route. No windows because no bootcamp ,then no Stadia or Geforce now and Shadow because of Apple Arcade ?
Too greedy , better Apple beackpedal on this !

 

[Altherekho]

Wow, dick move, Apple.

Yes with IAP they are ruining all , i do prefer to buy once or to rent monthly , IAP no way .
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You do realize Fortnite wasn't just blocked from Apple's App Store right? They were also blocked from the Google Play Store.

They are greedy the same.

 

[2979382]

Yeah, like that bully that put a gun to my head as I was signing the terms and conditions for the App Store

What gun, mate? Don't develop for Apple if you don't like the terms and conditions. Build your own OS, your own devices, your own ecosystem, take all the risks of failing on every possible level. You genuinely have that option.

 

[I7guy]

Sure, why not. It would give us a sense of the scope of the issue for developers and major companies like Wordpress. As a consumer with my foot in the door to multiple platforms, I am interested in seeing where the future of the App Store is going. It was a rude shock for Fortnite players to wake up and find that their investment in the iOS version of the game is totally gone.

I don’t play Fortnite but what about the other apps I do use? Are we seeing stirrings of a rebellion that will quickly be put down and all will continue as it has always been? Or will contributors to the App Store start abandoning it?

I am not going to keep putting money into iPhones and Apple Watches and iPads if the app ecosystem dries up. That’s the reason I didn’t buy a Windows phone despite finding them very interesting.

I don’t think Apple will lose the App Store overnight but I am interested in spotting a trend as it starts.

The ecosystem is far from drying up.

Epic screwed it’s customers, not Apple. It’s a burden epic will bear, although both Apple and epic probably look bad equally.

Apple is doing this, IMO, as a show of force to enforce the App Store regulations on IAP. Obviously they have consulted with attorneys, as this seems like a bold move given Mr. Cook just testified.

 

[Krizoitz]

No you don’t. It is like, hey if you don’t like selling in our city because you don’t like sales tax, then you can sell in other city. So company just wave goodbye to customer from that city.

Or if company doesn’t like how a country operate, like China, they can choose not operate in China? So if Apple were forced to make change by Chinese government, so Apple can pack up and go? Because Apple does have choose to operate in other country?

If this sounds unreasonable for you, then what Apple does is unreasonable.

In both cases the answer is yes, if you don’t like/agree with the rules of the city/country then you don’t sell there.
Whether or not you feel like it’s unreasonable is irrelevant. You have no inherent right to sell there. Developers have no inherent right to sell/offer apps on the iPhone. Apple could choose to disallow ALL 3rd party apps. It could allow only apps from specific developers (ala Nintendo). It could allow apps from anyone. You might WISH Apple did it a certain way, but that doesn’t mean they should be legally forced to. It might be a bad business decision for Apple, but that doesn’t mean they should be legally forced to.

IMO Apples stance on WP is a dumb one (not on Epic though). But it’s a dumb choice Apple should be allowed to make. Too many people here seem to think Apple should just cater to their every want or desire. Hint: just because you want something a certain way doesn’t mean Apple should have to provide it. And they aren’t wrong for not doing so.

 

[I7guy]

This is a decent point. After some time, even if they're not technically right, these app developers can argue laches.

Apple can't fail to enforce some rules for years and years, allowing developers to build up a business around Apple's long-term behavior and prior dealings, only to have Apple suddenly pull the rug out from under them. It's just unfair, and there is a long body of law that supports this.

At the very least, Apple should give these apps some notice and a grace period to correct the issue.

One of the articles (somewhere) implies this was not suddenly, it only seems like that to the MR forum poster.

 

[Krizoitz]

Ok and then Apples App Store loses out on quality apps and becomes overpriced. That sure sounds like a winning solution for everyone.

Telling devs to get out, means less apps. Less apps mean less for us to use on the OS. Less for us to use means less money spent in the store...if we even find the device worthwhile at that point.

Yup, exactly. If Apple makes decisions that drive away developers then they will lose money and users. That’s how they should be forced to change, not by courts, unless and until they have a monopoly, which they do not. Android is an option for all of you dissatisfied with Apple.

 

[Apple Crusader]

Ahhh yes, Apple extorting people. Typical Mafia tactic used to further enrichen an overly wealthy company.
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Yup, exactly. If Apple makes decisions that drive away developers then they will lose money and users. That’s how they should be forced to change, not by courts, unless and until they have a monopoly, which they do not. Android is an option for all of you dissatisfied with Apple.

They do have a monopoly on their platform.

Were you against the IE Lawsuits against MS back in the day or for it?

 

[I7guy]

They do have a monopoly on their platform.

In which court of law was this decided.

Were you against the IE Lawsuits against MS back in the day or for it?

Not an equivalent situation.

 

[derekamoss]

In over 20 years I had only an issue with WiFi card in one of the iMacs and plastic cracking on a MacBook. Maybe I’m lucky.

The only time I had an issue with a Mac was my iBook G3 when it's touch pad wonked out. Bought extended warranty from CompUSA which was a horrible ideal...

 

[IlluminatedSage]

phones and tablets are really powerhouse computers, at this point it is wrong to have very expensive devices all locked down behind a paywall. freedom To install and use you own software, even on and iPhone, ought to exist. You spend $1k on an loaded iPhone, seems pretty greedy to force things like Extracting pay from every app, service and etc. nuts

 

[sracer]

Ahhh yes, Apple extorting people. Typical Mafia tactic used to further enrichen an overly wealthy company.
[automerge]1598105031[/automerge]

They do have a monopoly on their platform.

Were you against the IE Lawsuits against MS back in the day or for it?

I will never understand why so many people defend faceless corporations over consumers.

Apple has been putting their customers on notice for quite some time that the walled-garden is going to have taller walls.

The interesting thing for me will be to see where the breaking point is for the bulk of their customers. The ecosystem has made it more difficult to include Apple products and services in a multi-platform configuration.

For those of us who already have a diversified setup, it'll be much easier to slip out more as things get tighter. But for anyone who isn't currently multi-platform, they may find themselves having to take drastic steps to disentangle from Appleland.

That could result is a precipitous drop in customers, rather than the more traditional decay and reduction over time.

 

[Brandon916]

Definitely the first one. No one bullied developers into putting their app on the app store.

But they're not allowed to update their apps to fix bugs unless being told to add in-app purchase when their app is free. How is that not bullied? The iSheep is strong in you.

 

[Brandon916]

Once again -- I want my grocery store (all of them actually) to stop charging so much for cheese. Why do they mark it up when I know the farmer sells it to them for HALF that price! I want them to immediately stop marking it up and taking a big piece of that cheese for themselves. Thank you...

That's not even the same argument. Let break it down for you and your grocery store example. You bought your cheese for $30 but somehow the grocery store sold the same cheese for me for $15. You found out and want that deal too but the grocery store said no. See, now we have a problem.

 

[I7guy]

I will never understand why so many people defend faceless corporations over consumers.

Like Epic?

Apple has been putting their customers on notice for quite some time that the walled-garden is going to have taller walls.

Apple has been putting their developers on notice also about the rules for hosting in the App Store.

The interesting thing for me will be to see where the breaking point is for the bulk of their customers. The ecosystem has made it more difficult to include Apple products and services in a multi-platform configuration.

I already have a multi-platform configuration, and have no intention of making it a single platform (ie windows) configuration.

For those of us who already have a diversified setup, it'll be much easier to slip out more as things get tighter. But for anyone who isn't currently multi-platform, they may find themselves having to take drastic steps to disentangle from Appleland.

You might be over-estimated the amount of churn you believe might happen.

That could result is a precipitous drop in customers, rather than the more traditional decay and reduction over time.

Based on the past, I’m guessing not.

 

[Brandon916]

The reason iOS is secure is because Apple is the gate keeper. They review every app to make sure there are no viruses or any funny stuff going on. If something slips by they can kill that app and ban the developer if need be. Once you open it up to other stores that is all gone. If someone creates a vulnerability that affects the OS and puts it in a store that doesn't care about reviewing (which none will), this virus could spread to devices that never even bought from that store. Apple would have no control to get that app out of the system.

Having multiple stores, and trust me if you allow this, means their will be a lot of stores. As a user, instead of looking at one store to buy something, I now have to look into 3 thousand of them. Hopefully those stores also come up with a mechanism of updating those apps. Now instead of hitting update all my apps, I have to go into each store to update things making it a fragmented mess. Its one thing to do this on a computer where generally people have a few programs to use and manage, it's another thing to control all this on a phone with hundreds of apps.

I can understand why developers want to keep a few extra percentage points for themselves, but I can't understand why end users want to acquire these problems. Again, this is all available on Android so if its important to you, get an android device. Heck, you can even have both devices at the same time if you want. You can get android devices fairly cheap if you want to see how the multiple store experience is not a fun one.

You fall for that? It's reported every year how apps sneak in and steal customers data all the time.