Apple stops Facebook from informing users of 30% App Store fee

[Panda218]

Did you read the article?

I imagine he/she did, but doesnt care. All they see is APPLE and come to their defense. Typical iSheep.

 

[pit1209]

The problem here is people don’t like Apple. What they are doing is no different to other industries. How much do you think MS and Sony charge to developers to launch games on their consoles? What do you do with your Xbox if you want to install a game that hasn’t been released for it?

A different story altogether, PSN and MS store take a 30% cut, yes that 30% is an industry standard but developers also save some money on manufacturing costs selling in those digital stores and some exclusives aren't charged at all. In Android you can circumvent the Play Store if you want, for example Fornite can still be downloaded or updated via the Epic Games App or Samsung Galaxy Store, in Apple you can't even try something like that.

Edit: added some more info.

 

[Shadowboxer]

A different story altogether, PSN and MS store take a 30% cut, yes that 30% is an industry standard but developers also save some money on manufacturing selling in those digital stores. In Android you can circumvent the Play Store if you want, for example Fornite can still be downloaded or updated via the Epic Games App or Samsung Galaxy Store, in Apple you can't even try something like that.

Actually you can circumvent the App Store on iOS. You just void your warranty. It’s exactly the same on the play store. If you install software outside of the play store on Android you void your warranty. It’s just Google don’t make it as difficult to do as Apple do.

And actually MS and Sony take more than Apple and Google do. They also charge for patches to be distributed (which I like because it encourages developers not to release a botched game and release patches afterwards). Xbox and Sony take more money from physical sales than online sales, in an effort to push devs to online only. It’s much worse really.

And then there is steam. They charge 30% when the Windows store charges 5%. Epic games charge 12%. And you don’t need to use any of them to legally sell and advertise a Windows game.

 

[Irata]

If you don't like the policies, don't buy the phone in the first place. Have a sense of responsibility regarding your own actions. Asking the government to play nanny to you will eventually turn you into a child.

Where did I mention the government ?

Oh, and that is one of the reasons why I did not and will not get an iphone.

Or in simpler terms: I do not own an iPhone and it‘s not on my shopping list.

 

[candle_86]

You should probably read the terms of an End User Licence Agreement whenever you buy an expensive electronic product. Just because Windows allows you to install anything you like on their OS doesn’t mean Apple does. Why would you make that assumption? You are welcome to illegally install what you like on the device itself but if you want iOS and all it’s features you have to agree to the terms.

It’s actually the same as installing an app outside of the play store. You void your EULA on Android if you do that. But Google just don’t make it quite so difficult to do it, that’s pretty much the only difference.

Anyone with an expensive Apple device has technically signed an agreement to say they are happy with the terms of service. Hate to be that guy but this is a tech forum, you guys should be familiar with EULAs at this point.

The problem here is people don’t like Apple. What they are doing is no different to other industries. How much do you think MS and Sony charge To developers to launch games on their consoles? What do you do with your Xbox if you want to install a game that hasn’t been released for it?

It's not illegal, and EULA's are often found unenforceable because they violate the first sale doctrine. When you buy the iPhone you own it not apple, not the carrier you.

Also they can't legally void your warranty, if someone took them to court over it they'd quickly figure that out also. They can only void a warranty for a specific portion of the modification caused damage that would be outside of normal wear. An OS modification does not meet this, as all that has to be done is to restore the os. I'd love for someone with the money to take Google and apple to court over it.

 

[Endymio]

Where did I mention the government ? Oh, and that is one of the reasons why I did not and will not get an iphone.

My apologies. Remarks such as yours are so often followed immediately by calls for antitrust intervention that I assumed it true in your case. Sounds like you are taking the sensible approach of voting with your wallet instead ... the same approach I follow with Apple, btw.

 

[McMurdeR]

Fed up with this now. I’ve been aware of Apples fees for developers for a long time and I don’t care. I like my iPhone and iPad a lot and I’m going to continue to use them. They are a hell of a better than their competing devices.

If you have a problem with this fee then don’t use Apple. Same goes for devs. If enough devs pull out then maybe il stop using my iPhone. Just maybe. No one is forced to use Apple. Developers still have access to the majority of users even if they don’t sell on Apple.

Also if you’re unhappy with this 30% fee you need to boycott the play store, steam and probably lots more. It is an industry standard. I guess people think that Apple should charge less than others for some reason.

I don't use Apple

 

[Beerfloat]

Keep it classy, Apple.

 

[Squid Surprise]

As many have already posted, Facebook is being quite disingenuous here... this is NOT a charity! And clearly, the reason they want the "30% of your money goes to Apple" message to be shown is to pick a fight with Apple!

Otherwise, it would be a simple thing for them to simply send it to all their users... it's not like they don't have over a billion...

What we are seeing is simply an escalation of the fight between huge tech companies. NEITHER care about the "little people" - this is simply crazy-rich companies trying to get a bit richer...

In this case, Apple is smart to ban Facebook's "message", as once they allow that, it's a slippery slope... never allow a precedent to be set when you KNOW lawsuits are coming your way...

Don't feel sorry for Facebook - they're plenty rich.... don't feel sorry for Apple... they're even richer.

As for me - I own an iPhone... which I've jailbroken... and I install whatever I want on it

 

[trieste1s]

OK, like Apple or not, but it is nothing special. Every major corpo takes 30-40% cut from basically everything. Of course Apple are scum for preventing FB (probably first time something positive about FB from me, probably should create account now ;P) from disclosing that information. And Valve what? Is it different in bullying devs? Oh no it isn't.

Google is much more insidious. Free means they will steal your whole life and you'll not even know about this - Apple at least shows what information software requests, Google just sucks whole device dry every day without users know it.

This is mankind's endgame. The best we are capable of in a technological society is merely all these.

 

[brucek]

If Apple's terms with developers included a phrase like "you shall not disclose your financial arrangements with Apple to third parties" I'd think they'd have a good leg to stand on.

But if they really want to go to bat behind calling this "irrelevant information", I don't see how they can win. As an end user I'd consider it relevant to me. I also can't see FaceBook having any problems producing reams of much less "relevant information" from any and every app, which would weaken Apple's position.

I think the writing is on the wall now that enough people are starting to consider Apple's app ecosystem an industry unto itself, meaning Apple has an exclusive monopoly on it, and adjustments will be forthcoming either from Apple itself, or the courts, or the legislature.

 

[kiwigraeme]

If Apple's terms with developers included a phrase like "you shall not disclose your financial arrangements with Apple to third parties" I'd think they'd have a good leg to stand on.

But if they really want to go to bat behind calling this "irrelevant information", I don't see how they can win. As an end user I'd consider it relevant to me. I also can't see FaceBook having any problems producing reams of much less "relevant information" from any and every app, which would weaken Apple's position.

I think the writing is on the wall now that enough people are starting to consider Apple's app ecosystem an industry unto itself, meaning Apple has an exclusive monopoly on it, and adjustments will be forthcoming either from Apple itself, or the courts, or the legislature.

I haven't read the article - but just the bylines struck me as BS - you can not have your cake and eat it too ( as an aside I had a cake once and ate it ) - ie their argument is just sophistry- a nice way of saying BS -saying that I have seen defense lawyers just throw out heaps of inconsistent arguments for different evidence & got their clients off

 

[Cubi Dorf]

To say you should not buy Apple product because you don't believe everything they do is acceptable is idea that not work for me. Because so few choice existing. And I am love my Apples, but that is not mean I always agree their actions.

 

[dirtyferret]

This just helps confirm why I haven't purchased an apple product in nearly two decades

 

[OortCloud]

Apple are such scum.
How much money do you have to make before you grow a conscience?

 

[pit1209]

Actually you can circumvent the App Store on iOS. You just void your warranty. It’s exactly the same on the play store. If you install software outside of the play store on Android you void your warranty. It’s just Google don’t make it as difficult to do as Apple do.

And actually MS and Sony take more than Apple and Google do. They also charge for patches to be distributed (which I like because it encourages developers not to release a botched game and release patches afterwards). Xbox and Sony take more money from physical sales than online sales, in an effort to push devs to online only. It’s much worse really.

And then there is steam. They charge 30% when the Windows store charges 5%. Epic games charge 12%. And you don’t need to use any of them to legally sell and advertise a Windows game.

Don't know where you got the numbers about more than a 30% charge because that's not true at all, physical sales obviously it's going to costs more because of the royalty in Blu-Ray and manufacture costs.

Taking into account that the avg Apple user don't know anything about hardware or configurations, making it hard to circumvent the iOS store then basically just a few will try and are you telling me that if I decided to use another official app store like Samsung or Epic it will void my Android phone warranty? not at all, even if I use a random website it won't void any warranties.

 

[Squid Surprise]

Don't know where you got the numbers about more than a 30% charge because that's not true at all, physical sales obviously it's going to costs more because of the royalty in Blu-Ray and manufacture costs.

Taking into account that the avg Apple user don't know anything about hardware or configurations, making it hard to circumvent the iOS store then basically just a few will try and are you telling me that if I decided to use another official app store like Samsung or Epic it will void my Android phone warranty? not at all, even if I use a random website it won't void any warranties.

Jailbreaking doesn’t void your warranty - The legal precedent has already been set... and millions of people have jailbroken various Apple devices - so your slur against the “average Apple user” doesn’t hold water...
The “average Apple user” is no different than the average Android user....

 

[pit1209]

Jailbreaking doesn’t void your warranty - The legal precedent has already been set... and millions of people have jailbroken various Apple devices - so your slur against the “average Apple user” doesn’t hold water...
The “average Apple user” is no different than the average Android user....

To install apps out of the Play Store you don't have to jailbreak the phone and you can say all you want but Apple users, many of them not all, don't know anything about hardware, they pay for simplicity and just look at those so called "Apple geniuses".

 

[Squid Surprise]

To install apps out of the Play Store you don't have to jailbreak the phone and you can say all you want but Apple users, many of them not all, don't know anything about hardware, they pay for simplicity and just look at those so called "Apple geniuses".

That’s because an android phone is already jailbroken...

 

[Fearghast]

That’s because an android phone is already jailbroken...

Wasn't jailbreak meant to primarly unlock features on iOS devices like - mouse support, proper file browser, f.lux, Kodi, more icons on a homepage etc. kinda sound like to add more ... features that are common on other platforms.

 

[Squid Surprise]

Wasn't jailbreak meant to primarly unlock features on iOS devices like - mouse support, proper file browser, f.lux, Kodi, more icons on a homepage etc. kinda sound like to add more ... features that are common on other platforms.

Jailbreaking was simply meant to allow users to modify iOS and install anything they wanted.... it’s mainly for piracy nowadays, as most of the “features” of jailbreaking were added to new iOS releases...

 

[havok585]

Fed up with this now. I’ve been aware of Apples fees for developers for a long time and I don’t care. I like my iPhone and iPad a lot and I’m going to continue to use them. They are a hell of a better than their competing devices.

If you have a problem with this fee then don’t use Apple. Same goes for devs. If enough devs pull out then maybe il stop using my iPhone. Just maybe. No one is forced to use Apple. Developers still have access to the majority of users even if they don’t sell on Apple.

Also if you’re unhappy with this 30% fee you need to boycott the play store, steam and probably lots more. It is an industry standard. I guess people think that Apple should charge less than others for some reason.

Yeah, NO. they are not.
you're just an apple fanboy.

BTW I use both apple devices, android devices, linux based devices (e-book readers I.e) and apple is not better than android devices for example, just in some small areas.

So your opinion is biased from the start and it's therefore, "irrelevant".

 

[Squid Surprise]

Yeah, NO. they are not.
you're just an apple fanboy.

BTW I use both apple devices, android devices, linux based devices (e-book readers I.e) and apple is not better than android devices for example, just in some small areas.

So your opinion is biased from the start and it's therefore, "irrelevant".

So his opinion that Apple devices are better is “irrelevant” because you disagree with him?

I think perhaps YOUR comment is irrelevant....

 

[pit1209]

So his opinion that Apple devices are better is “irrelevant” because you disagree with him?

I think perhaps YOUR comment is irrelevant....

His opinion about Apple devices being better is irrelevant because that is objectively false, you're just another Apple fan too biased to see it in an objective way.

 

[Squid Surprise]

His opinion about Apple devices being better is irrelevant because that is objectively false, you're just another Apple fan too biased to see it in an objective way.

Ahhhh... ok... so you have some evidence somewhere that proves Apple devices are inferior to Android devices? Please provide!