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0 pointsericmay4y ago0 comments

> 50% of Americans use jPhone, and many as their primary computer device.

Isn't this article about Korea? Anyway.

> You can't reach them without paying Apple Tax

And? If it's that bad just don't do business with iPhone users. Can you not make money on the other 50% of users who use Android? If so that's kind of telling on its own. Or is it that you want your own business to be more lucrative? The thing is what is happening is that Apple is passing costs on to developers instead of consumers, and as a developer you don't like that. As a consumer, I love it. If they stop passing those costs and stop collectively bargaining against developers for me then the cost of the iPhone goes up.

> Margins are tight as it is. Apple makes it substantially harder. Before Apple, people were satisfied with websites and Windows programs. Now everything has to be an App.

Maybe you just don't have a good enough business model? If it comes to having fewer apps on the Apple App Store or having multiple stores, as an iPhone user I prefer fewer apps for sure.

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3 comments · 1 top-level

echelon4y ago· 2 in thread

I wish Apple fans would see the world outside their bubble and empathize more.

> Isn't this article about Korea?

The choice Korea is making is the same one the EU, Japan, etc. should be making. And ultimately, the same one to make right back at home.

> If it's that bad just don't do business with iPhone users.

I'm pissed that I could write software for everyone pre-App store. This is all artificial nonsense that Apple invented. There's no cost to run instructions on your mobile CPU.

I hope Tesla starts charging businesses when Tesla customers arrive. Or maybe your clothing brand can charge stores because they keep you from being nude so you can safely buy things without being obscene. It's the same analogy.

> The thing is what is happening is that Apple is passing costs on to developers instead of consumers

What costs? Their cartel is pure margin.

They don't charge websites, because it would be impossible and they'd never have been able to bootstrap their device. (Yet they certainly bar browser runtimes so that they maintain complete control.)

> the cost of the iPhone goes up.

No it doesn't. They want more people on their hardware platform so they reap services revenue and can cross sell other devices. They're already making a killing.

Apple can innovate new products and revenue streams with all that money and all those engineers. If the only innovative business they can do is imposing an artificial tax, then they're simply a market distortion.

> As a consumer, I love it.

You love our pain?

> Maybe you just don't have a good enough business model?

And you blame me?

Ugh.

ericmayOP4y ago

> I wish Apple fans would see the world outside their bubble and empathize more

What if we already listened to the arguments and discussion and just disagree? Maybe you should empathize more with me and not try to change something that I enjoy and have enjoyed since it was originally released? Where's your empathy?

> What costs?

Apple makes money. That money funds the development of the iPhone. It also funds and allows them to create programs and initiatives I support like data privacy labels. If Apple is forced to throw this stuff out, those are costs that I now bear as a consumer. Apple might have to raise the price of the iPhone either directly or indirectly. Or competitive pressures may force them to remove simple payment methods like Apple Pay, not force developers to allow anonymous sign-ons, and other things. From my perspective there is nothing to gain. I don't want two or more App Stores. Period. I want one, just how it is, with Apple dictating the terms. It works well for me. Apple and I are on a team here.

> Their cartel is pure margin. They invented this scheme

Weren't you just complaining about not having high enough margin? So only you get to make money and not Apple or other companies? I'm an Apple shareholder (directly and indirectly). Their margins benefit me directly. Yours? Not so much. So let's not act like it's some big evil David vs Goliath thing. You're running just another business.

> You love our pain?

It might be pain to you, but it certainly isn't to me. I'd rather have far fewer apps than to see things change or have to deal with another App Store. I love my walled garden and developers like you are metaphorically barbarians at the gates coming to destroy a system I enjoy and works well for me. But why would you care about that when you want to make higher margins for your business? Something about empathy I think?

Sorry to sound like an asshole here. Just a hot topic.

echelon4y ago

Our field is being carved up by giants. It's a harvesting.

Companies like Apple decided to put energy into extraction rather than enrichment.

It's a shame. I wish I or someone like me was in charge, because I see a way to run things much differently and still produce great value for customers, shareholders, and the ecosystem.

Hoping the DOJ or Congress breaks this up since the Apple leadership won't.

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