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I was looking forward to this, but Apple keeps competing stores out of their ecosystem -- you can't buy books in the Kindle app, for instance. If the Steam Lin

by frio 8y ago

I was looking forward to this, but Apple keeps competing stores out of their ecosystem -- you can't buy books in the Kindle app, for instance. If the Steam Link app lets people buy games from Steam, I can see that being a problem, but I'm surprised it got as far as it did before being rejected. I hope we still get our hands on this sometime soon.

beart 8y ago
You can't buy games using this app. It basically just allows you to stream your games from a PC.
- ascagnel_ 8y ago
  The issue, I think, is that this is a Steam streaming platform, versus a generic desktop streaming platform (eg Moonlight). And as soon as you boot it up, you’re one click out from a digital storefront that’s built in to the other end of the streaming client. It’s also weird since the vast majority of the games on Steam aren’t available on iOS or tvOS, so even if Apple is afraid of having revenue cut off from outside sales, it’s not revenue they would have captured in the first place.
  - skluck 8y ago
    There is already a Steam app though (separate from the steam link app). If Apple had a problem with Steam itself on their store, why wouldn't they reject the standard app as well?
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
lathiat 8y ago
The reason you can't buy books in the Kindle app probably has more to do with the fact that Apple requires payments for all digital goods to go through it's service and collect 30% of the revenue (15% if its a subscription after the first 12 months). It does not make the same requirement for physical goods. I continue to be divided about this, the point of view is understandable, as it would threaten app store revenue (every app would just switch to a digital subscription outside of apple and never charge for the apps) however there's also a clear line of digital goods that are more physical like in nature (rather than just the software) such as eBooks etc and the 30% margin is high enough to ruin most business plans. This particular rejection is somewhat irritating though.
- ksec 8y ago
  Sorry to ask, where Could I read this in more details? I have been wondering what classify as Physical Goods and Digital Goods. Example why aren't Bitcoin charged with 30% fees? And If I brought Amazon / iKea or StarBucks Credit, why aren't those charged 30% fees?

by frio 8y ago

beart 8y ago

You can't buy games using this app. It basically just allows you to stream your games from a PC.

ascagnel_ 8y ago
The issue, I think, is that this is a Steam streaming platform, versus a generic desktop streaming platform (eg Moonlight). And as soon as you boot it up, you’re one click out from a digital storefront that’s built in to the other end of the streaming client. It’s also weird since the vast majority of the games on Steam aren’t available on iOS or tvOS, so even if Apple is afraid of having revenue cut off from outside sales, it’s not revenue they would have captured in the first place.
- skluck 8y ago
  There is already a Steam app though (separate from the steam link app). If Apple had a problem with Steam itself on their store, why wouldn't they reject the standard app as well?
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]

lathiat 8y ago

The reason you can't buy books in the Kindle app probably has more to do with the fact that Apple requires payments for all digital goods to go through it's service and collect 30% of the revenue (15% if its a subscription after the first 12 months). It does not make the same requirement for physical goods. I continue to be divided about this, the point of view is understandable, as it would threaten app store revenue (every app would just switch to a digital subscription outside of apple and never charge for the apps) however there's also a clear line of digital goods that are more physical like in nature (rather than just the software) such as eBooks etc and the 30% margin is high enough to ruin most business plans. This particular rejection is somewhat irritating though.

ksec 8y ago
Sorry to ask, where Could I read this in more details? I have been wondering what classify as Physical Goods and Digital Goods. Example why aren't Bitcoin charged with 30% fees? And If I brought Amazon / iKea or StarBucks Credit, why aren't those charged 30% fees?