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In other news, i wonder why ios app developers aren't considered apple's employees? In fact someone could sue apple to force them to do so. Their developer guid

In other news, i wonder why ios app developers aren't considered apple's employees? In fact someone could sue apple to force them to do so. Their developer guidelines are so strict and hands-on that they don't justify them being used as "gig workers". And apple's statements in this document make the emphatic point that they use those developers to deliver an excellent experience. They even provide their paycheck (and get to keep 30%)

secretsatan 6y ago
What about cross platform solutions? web pages? or apps that are interfaces to seperate solutions. What about apps that are written once that developers still receive royalties from without any updates? Apple enforce a base level quality that mostly isn't that hard to conform to, some developers do not like this, but most apple consumers do, otherwise, they would be free to buy android phones and sideload everything
- cblconfederate 6y ago
  My argument is obviously a stretch, but as more and more work is becoming this kind of "opportunistic work" , there's a valid case that gig work is at a disadvantage by the protections afforded to permanent work. So, a normalization of regulation sounds reasonable. That said, this is about devs, and not about what consumers think. And btw i doubt apple's strongarm of apps is popular among its users. Apple likes to market their "precious app ecosystem", but even an unregulated one isn't bad -- android is doing fine and is more popular.
- _heimdall 6y ago
  I'd be fine with this argument if they didn't purposely block modern browser features in safari mobile. Push notifications have worked in Safari on OSX for years. They also force any third party browser listed in the app store to use the same crippled safari engine. They prevent it on mobile because they want app store money. Seems like a clear legal case that no one has bothered to fight or enforce.
- dgellow 6y ago
  There are a lot of different reasons to buy an Apple device, you cannot draw the conclusion that people are fine with the App Store just based one the fact that they own an iPhone. I own an iPhone because Apple supports them for way longer than any other manufacturer and I care about that specific point. But I’m against some of their current store policies and would prefer more choices (either alternative stores or a way to side load). That doesn’t even mean I would actually use these alternatives, to be fair I don’t know myself, but I think that should be an option. It seems insane that Apple has complete control over the entire system and apps distribution with zero possibilities to compete.
simonh 6y ago
App developers choose when they work, how they do the work and how much they charge, which are the main indicators of an independent. The main argument against Uber was that drivers can't negotiate on price/pay, but clearly app developers set the price of their apps and IAP.
- contingencies 6y ago
  They can't choose the cost of the hardware (typically mobile plus desktop = USD$1000s), the cost of the developer membership (annual recurring), or the percentage take given to Apple.

secretsatan 6y ago

What about cross platform solutions? web pages? or apps that are interfaces to seperate solutions. What about apps that are written once that developers still receive royalties from without any updates? Apple enforce a base level quality that mostly isn't that hard to conform to, some developers do not like this, but most apple consumers do, otherwise, they would be free to buy android phones and sideload everything

cblconfederate 6y ago
My argument is obviously a stretch, but as more and more work is becoming this kind of "opportunistic work" , there's a valid case that gig work is at a disadvantage by the protections afforded to permanent work. So, a normalization of regulation sounds reasonable. That said, this is about devs, and not about what consumers think. And btw i doubt apple's strongarm of apps is popular among its users. Apple likes to market their "precious app ecosystem", but even an unregulated one isn't bad -- android is doing fine and is more popular.
_heimdall 6y ago
I'd be fine with this argument if they didn't purposely block modern browser features in safari mobile. Push notifications have worked in Safari on OSX for years. They also force any third party browser listed in the app store to use the same crippled safari engine. They prevent it on mobile because they want app store money. Seems like a clear legal case that no one has bothered to fight or enforce.
dgellow 6y ago
There are a lot of different reasons to buy an Apple device, you cannot draw the conclusion that people are fine with the App Store just based one the fact that they own an iPhone. I own an iPhone because Apple supports them for way longer than any other manufacturer and I care about that specific point. But I’m against some of their current store policies and would prefer more choices (either alternative stores or a way to side load). That doesn’t even mean I would actually use these alternatives, to be fair I don’t know myself, but I think that should be an option. It seems insane that Apple has complete control over the entire system and apps distribution with zero possibilities to compete.

simonh 6y ago

App developers choose when they work, how they do the work and how much they charge, which are the main indicators of an independent. The main argument against Uber was that drivers can't negotiate on price/pay, but clearly app developers set the price of their apps and IAP.

contingencies 6y ago
They can't choose the cost of the hardware (typically mobile plus desktop = USD$1000s), the cost of the developer membership (annual recurring), or the percentage take given to Apple.