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Apple has a monopoly on distribution on their platform. There is no second competing distributor which "Spotify and likes" could do business with, neither they

Apple has a monopoly on distribution on their platform. There is no second competing distributor which "Spotify and likes" could do business with, neither they can do distributing themselves (as desktop software producers have been doing since forever). Given that, these guys are on point when calling Apple's demands "a ransom". It certainly looks like one.

hellisothers 6y ago
They have a monopoly on their platform? It’s their platform they can do whatever they want and if you don’t like it you can take your toys elsewhere. I don’t get how a lot of HN is all about freedom of X but then when you can’t do whatever you want in Apple’s App Store it’s all about “they’re not playing fair”.
- Hamuko 6y ago
  >It’s their platform they can do whatever they want and if you don’t like it you can take your toys elsewhere. United States v. Microsoft Corp (2001).
  - hellisothers 6y ago
    I think there may be a valid line of reasoning here but I’m not quite feeling it. Seems like MS vs was about stifling competition via market share which isn’t the issue here, the issue here is people not waiting to pay Apple the cost of distribution on their platform.
- yakireev 6y ago
  iOS is literally the only major consumer OS which does not allow its users to install arbitrary software. I guess Hey would be happy not to use "services" of App Store and offer their users an installer to download or a link to some alternative store instead. But they can't: they have to pay Apple a ransom. > It’s their platform they can do whatever they want Yes, unfortunately. That's good for Apple, but not good for us, so it's in our best interests if this situation changes somehow.
  - hellisothers 6y ago
    I mean yea, you hit the nail on the head, Apple doesn’t offer the option to side load apps which is a huge reason why I happily suggest people use the ecosystem. If you want to side load apps there is a super available alternative, nobody is forcing your hand. Honestly feel like I’m missing something.
- Andrew_nenakhov 6y ago
  Once a user buys Apple device, it is no longer 'their platform', it's a user's platform. And he should be able to do anything he wants with is, including capability to sideload apps and install third party app stores. Refusing this right is evil and should pe punished. Also, this very much helps oppressive states like Russia or China to block their citizens from accessing certain apps.

hellisothers 6y ago

They have a monopoly on their platform? It’s their platform they can do whatever they want and if you don’t like it you can take your toys elsewhere. I don’t get how a lot of HN is all about freedom of X but then when you can’t do whatever you want in Apple’s App Store it’s all about “they’re not playing fair”.

Hamuko 6y ago
>It’s their platform they can do whatever they want and if you don’t like it you can take your toys elsewhere. United States v. Microsoft Corp (2001).
- hellisothers 6y ago
  I think there may be a valid line of reasoning here but I’m not quite feeling it. Seems like MS vs was about stifling competition via market share which isn’t the issue here, the issue here is people not waiting to pay Apple the cost of distribution on their platform.
yakireev 6y ago
iOS is literally the only major consumer OS which does not allow its users to install arbitrary software. I guess Hey would be happy not to use "services" of App Store and offer their users an installer to download or a link to some alternative store instead. But they can't: they have to pay Apple a ransom. > It’s their platform they can do whatever they want Yes, unfortunately. That's good for Apple, but not good for us, so it's in our best interests if this situation changes somehow.
- hellisothers 6y ago
  I mean yea, you hit the nail on the head, Apple doesn’t offer the option to side load apps which is a huge reason why I happily suggest people use the ecosystem. If you want to side load apps there is a super available alternative, nobody is forcing your hand. Honestly feel like I’m missing something.
Andrew_nenakhov 6y ago
Once a user buys Apple device, it is no longer 'their platform', it's a user's platform. And he should be able to do anything he wants with is, including capability to sideload apps and install third party app stores. Refusing this right is evil and should pe punished. Also, this very much helps oppressive states like Russia or China to block their citizens from accessing certain apps.