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You can release an executable that can run on Windows, Linux, or OS X without Steam. You can't release an executable that can run on iOS or Android without goin

You can release an executable that can run on Windows, Linux, or OS X without Steam. You can't release an executable that can run on iOS or Android without going through the App Stores.

codefined 8y ago
I must admit I don't know about Apple, but you can download APKs for Android that are equivalent to an executable.
- hellzbrinx 8y ago
  I don't know on recent iOS versions, but you could on previous versions with some security workarounds. If only GBA4iOS worked consistently...
freedomben 8y ago
Minor nit: You can on Android (for the latest most obvious example, see Fortnight), tho it does require a little extra work, but you cannot on iOS.
tryptophan 8y ago
Yes you can(on android at least). Amazon store exits. F-Droid exists. Sideloading exists. The issue is that the play store is shipped as the default and many people do not know there are other options.
- richdougherty 8y ago
  I think the Android market is large enough that it could support a healthy second app market. The 30% pricing that Google is currently able to charge indicates the complexity of creating a new market - a successful market requires that consumers, app makers and phone manufacturers all act together. This can be difficult since in the short term it's easiest for every market participant to just use the Play store. Creating a new market takes upfront $ and is a risky business.
scarface74 8y ago
How well did that work out back in the day? I am much more willing to trust that an app can’t do anything crazy on iOS because of the sandbox, on a PC, not so much. Also the friction of buying is lower. I’m not going to put my credit card information in every random website. I will keep a credit card on file with Apple and just use my fingerprint to authorize the purchase.
Spivak 8y ago
Nothing is stopping you from downloading and installing software from a website on Android. There's an argument to be made that nobody actually does that, that shops can't afford not to publish in stores, and therefore it's not a real alternative, but then it would equally apply to Steam where a lot of people exclusively purchase games.
- scarface74 8y ago
  You can also try to have a popular video stream that isn’t on YouTube....
dragonwriter 8y ago
> You can't release an executable that can run on iOS or Android without going through the App Stores. You absolutely can release Android apps without going through any app store, and if you go through an app store, it doesn't have to be Google's. There are different pros and cons for Google's store, handset maker’s stores (e.g., Samsung has their own), other stores (e.g., Amazon's), and direct distribution of your own apps without a store.

You can release an executable that can run on Windows, Linux, or OS X without Steam. You can't release an executable that can run on iOS or Android without going through the App Stores.

codefined 8y ago

I must admit I don't know about Apple, but you can download APKs for Android that are equivalent to an executable.

hellzbrinx 8y ago
I don't know on recent iOS versions, but you could on previous versions with some security workarounds. If only GBA4iOS worked consistently...

freedomben 8y ago

Minor nit: You can on Android (for the latest most obvious example, see Fortnight), tho it does require a little extra work, but you cannot on iOS.

tryptophan 8y ago

Yes you can(on android at least). Amazon store exits. F-Droid exists. Sideloading exists. The issue is that the play store is shipped as the default and many people do not know there are other options.

richdougherty 8y ago
I think the Android market is large enough that it could support a healthy second app market. The 30% pricing that Google is currently able to charge indicates the complexity of creating a new market - a successful market requires that consumers, app makers and phone manufacturers all act together. This can be difficult since in the short term it's easiest for every market participant to just use the Play store. Creating a new market takes upfront $ and is a risky business.

scarface74 8y ago

How well did that work out back in the day? I am much more willing to trust that an app can’t do anything crazy on iOS because of the sandbox, on a PC, not so much. Also the friction of buying is lower. I’m not going to put my credit card information in every random website. I will keep a credit card on file with Apple and just use my fingerprint to authorize the purchase.

Spivak 8y ago

Nothing is stopping you from downloading and installing software from a website on Android. There's an argument to be made that nobody actually does that, that shops can't afford not to publish in stores, and therefore it's not a real alternative, but then it would equally apply to Steam where a lot of people exclusively purchase games.

scarface74 8y ago
You can also try to have a popular video stream that isn’t on YouTube....

dragonwriter 8y ago

> You can't release an executable that can run on iOS or Android without going through the App Stores. You absolutely can release Android apps without going through any app store, and if you go through an app store, it doesn't have to be Google's. There are different pros and cons for Google's store, handset maker’s stores (e.g., Samsung has their own), other stores (e.g., Amazon's), and direct distribution of your own apps without a store.