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Apple once let somebody hack my account and purchase the same $20 app 15 times. When I complained, they ignored me. When I charged back the purchases, they canc

by beaner 6y ago

Apple once let somebody hack my account and purchase the same $20 app 15 times. When I complained, they ignored me. When I charged back the purchases, they canceled my Apple account. Purchasing the same app more than once on the same device shouldn't even be possible. This was back in 2011, but... definitely didn't build trust. But you guys aren't arguing the actual point anyway. The question is whether the forced app store is always a plus for developers, not users. The answer is certainly no. And the answer is also no for users who can manage their own trust, and could happily live with direct downloads outside of the app store. They pay higher prices, and are forced to effectively subsidize everyone else.

valuearb 6y ago
I’m sorry for your loss. But Apple believes the opposite of you, has direct contact with nearly a billion customers, and spends massively on safety/security which they wouldn’t do if it wasn’t important to customers.
- beaner 6y ago
  I have nothing wrong with that. But again, besides the point that this path is always, necessarily beneficial to all users and all developers. It isn't.
  - valuearb 6y ago
    It doesn’t have to be. It only has to be beneficial for the vast majority of Apple customers, and it is, which makes it beneficial for the vast majority of Apple developers.
    - beaner 6y ago
      That's not the point being made.
Razengan 6y ago
> When I complained, they ignored me. When I charged back the purchases, they canceled my Apple account. Do you have a record of that (your emails and their cancellation notice)? Would be very interesting to see how that went down. > Purchasing the same app more than once on the same device shouldn't even be possible. It’s not and I don’t think it has ever been.
donor20 6y ago
Apple has made a decision not to target folks who want direct downloads. They are targeting a different (and very large and lucrative group). They've also managed to block direct download of built in / unremovable apps by carriers and to some degree pioneered the direct to consumer model of cell phone sales, all consumer benefits. One result - they have a pretty high level of trust among users. And so they can charge a pretty remarkable premium. This level of control has also made them popular for developers. Their ecosystem has a much more consistent development experience, many more users are on a relatively recent iOS and the per user spending is far higher to name just a few elements. Many of these things are benefits for DEVELOPERS. Sony and Microsoft make the PS and XBOX, also closed systems with networks they hope benefit developers. And finally, does apple have an obligation to help developers make money or is their focus more properly on consumers?

by beaner 6y ago

valuearb 6y ago

I’m sorry for your loss. But Apple believes the opposite of you, has direct contact with nearly a billion customers, and spends massively on safety/security which they wouldn’t do if it wasn’t important to customers.

beaner 6y ago
I have nothing wrong with that. But again, besides the point that this path is always, necessarily beneficial to all users and all developers. It isn't.
- valuearb 6y ago
  It doesn’t have to be. It only has to be beneficial for the vast majority of Apple customers, and it is, which makes it beneficial for the vast majority of Apple developers.
  - beaner 6y ago
    That's not the point being made.

Razengan 6y ago

> When I complained, they ignored me. When I charged back the purchases, they canceled my Apple account. Do you have a record of that (your emails and their cancellation notice)? Would be very interesting to see how that went down. > Purchasing the same app more than once on the same device shouldn't even be possible. It’s not and I don’t think it has ever been.

donor20 6y ago

Apple has made a decision not to target folks who want direct downloads. They are targeting a different (and very large and lucrative group). They've also managed to block direct download of built in / unremovable apps by carriers and to some degree pioneered the direct to consumer model of cell phone sales, all consumer benefits. One result - they have a pretty high level of trust among users. And so they can charge a pretty remarkable premium. This level of control has also made them popular for developers. Their ecosystem has a much more consistent development experience, many more users are on a relatively recent iOS and the per user spending is far higher to name just a few elements. Many of these things are benefits for DEVELOPERS. Sony and Microsoft make the PS and XBOX, also closed systems with networks they hope benefit developers. And finally, does apple have an obligation to help developers make money or is their focus more properly on consumers?