When each one gets that killer app that you just install their app store to get that one exclusive app.
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iOS 17.4 Introduces Alternative App Marketplaces With No Commission in EU
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When each one gets that killer app that you just install their app store to get that one exclusive app.
Is that a bad thing? If you're a power user, choice/flexibility is good. Plus maybe alt app stores will help Apple improve theirs. And for those who want the stock experience, they can carry on.
I think when people in the USA etc see / read news reports of what the experience is like in the EU and want it in their [edit: fixed typo here] country too, Apple will find it hard to resist holding back bringing the EU model globally.
The original App Store was amazing. But for the last 10 years Apple has just been greedy in hanging onto all their cut of App Store developer revenue.
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Be careful what you wish for. Government mandating how Apple conducts its business may very well compromise the overall quality of the product and the reliability of the service.
I concede that it's not called a monopoly, but it is an exclusive legal right granted by governments to Apple. That was the point, that the EU are already giving Apple plenty of exclusive legal rights that everyone is taking for granted. We are under no moral obligation to keep affording Apple these legal rights, yet we do for economic reasons. Likewise, we do not have any moral obligation to keep letting Apple screw us over with arbitrary fees, and worse yet, controlling what software we install on our devices that we paid Apple so much money for already. In 2019, Apple pocketed a 78% margin from their App Store. If Apple wants to do business here, then they are going to have to play ball.
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Well, it finally happened. And as I predicted, Apple has found a way to take their cut even without the App Store and IAP.
These alternatives are clearly not going to be viable competitors to the App Store at all. They will probably be useful for small apps with NSFW content, bitcoin mining or other stuff Apple currently bans (if P***Hub launches an app, that could do pretty well), but there isn’t really any benefit to a developer already allowed in the App Store. Not to mention that the majority of profits are made in the US and China, which are not subject to this. Sideloading is not a thing on Android and it won’t be a thing on iPhone either. I think the changes made on browsers, NFC chip access and cloud gaming will have a much greater effect.
These alternatives are clearly not going to be viable competitors to the App Store at all. They will probably be useful for small apps with NSFW content, bitcoin mining or other stuff Apple currently bans (if P***Hub launches an app, that could do pretty well), but there isn’t really any benefit to a developer already allowed in the App Store. Not to mention that the majority of profits are made in the US and China, which are not subject to this. Sideloading is not a thing on Android and it won’t be a thing on iPhone either. I think the changes made on browsers, NFC chip access and cloud gaming will have a much greater effect.
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According to Verge “Developers will only be allowed to distribute a single version of their app across different app stores”
This is clever: Either an app in all app stores need to comply to Apple App Store rules OR they cannot be in Apple App Store. Apple Store is the default, so very few want to skip that.
This is clever: Either an app in all app stores need to comply to Apple App Store rules OR they cannot be in Apple App Store. Apple Store is the default, so very few want to skip that.
In addition to per app per year there is a per App Store fee. Without 1M free quota.
Thus if you want to create a store yourself, you will be paying for each store install and on top of that every app install beyond 1M.
If you are in someone else’s store, they will surely charge you more than what Apple charges the store owner.
There's nothing powerful about having multiple app stores no. I'd much rather have no stores and the app updates itself when you open and check for updates.
There's a reason you only have to run "yum" on Linux to update - that's what a power user is. Not having 6 different commands to issue to update 6 different repos, that's a bad UX.
Apple is the kind of husband who doesn't let his wife go out at night or wear what she wants "to protect her".
Tim Sweeney threw a fit the moment Apple announced this. I am still in the midst of digesting the ramifications of the changes proposed by Apple, but I am guessing it's essentially the status quo (or even worse) for Epic.
I dont understand why we wont be able to install standalone .api files just like what is possible now in mac/android/windows. Why make a whole app store to install maybe one app? Why do it through app store and not through downloaded IPA files on safari? Definitely EU will come and fix this before March
Think that’s the point. Your view is different than my view or anybody else’s view.
Maybe they won’t. Unfettered side loading would allow the installation of apps created for the worst of the worst purposes. And governments or anpple would be able to mitigate those threats. And maybe that’s one point that Mr. Cook made when he went to talk to the EU.
The simplest reason is because Apple made iOS that way, which is why they are allowed to keep it that way as well. US antitrust law is also on Apple's side in that Apple is well within their rights to monetise their IP, and more importantly, does not have a duty to deal (which means that Apple is free to deny access to developers who fail to meet their terms). It's really the same logic as Nintendo or Sony creating a console platform where all games sold have to go through their App Store and they take a 30% cut. Why can't the epic game store also be made available on my switch? Because Nintendo says so. There really isn't a need for any other justification. Their platform, their rules.
That Nintendo deals solely with games while the iPhone is an integral part of one's life is irrelevant. Or at least, that distinction has not been enough to get regulators in the US to budge just yet.
The judges have also decided that they are not going to dictate how much Apple can or should reasonably charge because honestly, that's beyond their jurisdiction.
There really isn't any explanation needed, IMO.
"Unlike App Store review, notarization will not enforce quality or content standards."
No more apple being a moral police for adults, sweet.
"Apple's Core Technology Fee will be paid annually, and Apple says that the fee reflects the value that developers get from Apple's tools and platform."
I'm sure that fee is totally reasonable when considering all the free tools other platforms offer /S
No more apple being a moral police for adults, sweet.
"Apple's Core Technology Fee will be paid annually, and Apple says that the fee reflects the value that developers get from Apple's tools and platform."
I'm sure that fee is totally reasonable when considering all the free tools other platforms offer /S
That's quite scummy, doubt EU will agree with that.
Not surprised apple would go with the kicking and screaming route trying to budge as little as possible.
I am not understanding the default web browser option. You have been able to assign a different default browser for a few years now. Am I missing something?
Apple today announced major changes to its app ecosystem in the European Union, implementing updates that will allow iPhone and iPad users to download and install apps outside of the App Store through alternative app marketplaces.
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Alternative app marketplaces will function as an iOS app that is able to install other iOS apps on an iPhone or iPad. Any developer can create an app marketplace, so long as they meet Apple's criteria for customer experience, fraud prevention, customer support, and more. Apple is creating new APIs to build marketplaces on iOS to distribute apps to users.
In the EU, when an app developer submits an app to Apple for distribution, they can choose the App Store or any alternative app marketplaces. This includes distribution through multiple alternative app marketplaces or through both the App Store and an app marketplace.
Apps installed through alternative app stores will need to go through a notarization process that includes safety and security checks, which is how Mac apps work.
Apple will not charge a commission on apps installed through alternative marketplaces, nor will it charge commission for alternative payment systems, which are also allowed under the App Store updates in the European Union. Developers can integrate an alternative payment processor into their app that allows a user to make a purchase and check out entirely in an app, or developers can link out to their websites where users can make a purchase.
While there are no commissions for alternative app marketplaces and alternative payment systems, there is a Core Technology Fee that is .50 euros per install per account on an annual basis. The first 1 million installs are free for all developers, but after 1 million installs, the fee comes into play.
App developers who choose to continue to distribute under the App Store will pay Apple reduced commission with the new terms. Apple is dropping the 30 percent commission to 17 percent, and the 15 percent commission paid for subscriptions over a year old or by small businesses will drop to 10 percent. Apple says the vast majority of apps will qualify for the 10 percent rate.
Developers have a choice between opting into the new business terms in the EU or sticking with the App Store terms as they are today. Developers who choose to maintain the status quo will pay the fees they pay now -- 15 to 30 percent commission.
Developers who opt for the updated business terms will pay the reduced commissions, will have access to alternative app stores, and will also be subject to the Core Technology Fee. There is an also optional 3 percent payment processing fee for those who choose to continue to use Apple's integrated payment system rather than an alternative payment system under the new terms.
Apple's Core Technology Fee will be paid annually, and Apple says that the fee reflects the value that developers get from Apple's tools and platform. Apps distributed by government agencies, non-profits, and educational institutions will be exempt from the Core Technology Fee. To help developers decide between the existing policies and the new system, Apple is providing a fee calculator and analytics report for the first annual install metric.
Apple believes that allowing for alternative app installations will bring a major risk to platform integrity, but the measures that it is taking with notarization are aimed at reducing the risk of malware and other issues as much as possible. Apple's automated notarization checks will scan for known viruses and malware, plus there will be a baseline human review to ensure an app meets platform policies for security and privacy.
Unlike App Store review, notarization will not enforce quality or content standards.There will be a system sheet for a notarized app that displays the app's name, screenshots, and more so that a user can verify an app's information before choosing to install it.
Users will be able to install multiple app marketplace apps, and they will need to give permission before an app marketplace can install apps on a device. There is a management system in the Settings app that allows users to revoke permissions for app marketplaces and also, set a default app marketplace on their device.
There are other changes coming as well. Users in the European Union will have an option to choose a default browser after updating to iOS 17.4, with Apple providing a list of the most downloaded browsers.
Apple is giving app developers in the EU access to NFC and allowing for alternative browser engines, so WebKit will not be required for third-party browser apps. Apps will be able to offer NFC payments without using Apple Pay or the Wallet app through Host Card Emulation. Apps can also access field detect, and a default app can be set to activate when an iPhone is placed near a terminal.
App Store rules around iCloud gaming are being updated globally to make it easier for users to download and enjoy games.
Developers worldwide have access to expanded analytics, with more than 50 new reports on commerce, user engagement, and more. Data is still anonymized, but developers will have more information to work with.
Apple is making these changes to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act, which tech companies need to adhere to by March 6, 2024. iOS 17.4 is coming out as a beta update today, and it is set to see a public release in March.
Article Link: iOS 17.4 Introduces Alternative App Marketplaces With No Commission in EU
