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Software is now deeply integrated into every aspect of our lives. It's expected that there's a lot more of it. What we don't know is how many and what variety o

Software is now deeply integrated into every aspect of our lives. It's expected that there's a lot more of it. What we don't know is how many and what variety of software companies would exist if the app store wasn't so obviously designed to commodify the complement of Apple's iPhone cash cow.

zepto 5y ago
> wasn't so obviously designed to commodify the complement of Apple's iPhone cash cow This makes no sense whatsoever. High quality apps are in Apple’s interest because they need to compete against Android and the web. The reason the app business model is hard, is that there is a lot of money, enormous competition now, and no intellectual property protection. Nothing more. If anything the App Store has slowed the commodification.
- cageface 5y ago
  Compare what kinds of music making tools are available inside the app store and outside the app store and you'll see this is completely not the case. There is tremendous competition outside the app store in this market but devs can still charge $200+ for a single very high quality product and make a good living selling paid upgrades. Users will crucify you for trying to charge $200 for anything in the app store. It's digital serfdom for devs.
  - nl 5y ago
    The fact that price expectations are different for mobile apps and desktop apps doesn't reflect on the appstore model at all. You can charge hundreds in the MacOS appstore and no one blinks. People expect mobile apps to cost a few dollars. This might not be fair but isn't really due to the appstore in any way I can see.
    - cageface 5y ago
      Those same devs also do not sell their products in the Mac app store for the same reason. Too many restrictions and prices trending to the bottom.
      - zepto 5y ago
        Prices are tending towards the bottom because of competition. I don’t like it but that’s not a result of the App Store model. It’s a result of the democratization and globalization of software development.
      - zepto 5y ago
        Logic Pro is in the Mac App Store at $200. It’s very popular.
        cageface 5y ago
        Only because Apple can afford to sell it at break even or a loss. All the comparable packages from third parties are at least 3x that price and nobody's getting rich there.
        zepto 5y ago
        You are the one who mentioned the $200 price point. Was that not correct?
        cageface 5y ago
        $200 is what a single high quality plugin costs. Complete DAW packages with many bundled plugins like Ableton or Cubase are at least 3x that price.
        zepto 5y ago
        Ok, but it seems implausible that there would be a significant market for those on the iPhone even if there was no App Store.

zepto 5y ago

> wasn't so obviously designed to commodify the complement of Apple's iPhone cash cow This makes no sense whatsoever. High quality apps are in Apple’s interest because they need to compete against Android and the web. The reason the app business model is hard, is that there is a lot of money, enormous competition now, and no intellectual property protection. Nothing more. If anything the App Store has slowed the commodification.

cageface 5y ago
Compare what kinds of music making tools are available inside the app store and outside the app store and you'll see this is completely not the case. There is tremendous competition outside the app store in this market but devs can still charge $200+ for a single very high quality product and make a good living selling paid upgrades. Users will crucify you for trying to charge $200 for anything in the app store. It's digital serfdom for devs.
- nl 5y ago
  The fact that price expectations are different for mobile apps and desktop apps doesn't reflect on the appstore model at all. You can charge hundreds in the MacOS appstore and no one blinks. People expect mobile apps to cost a few dollars. This might not be fair but isn't really due to the appstore in any way I can see.
  - cageface 5y ago
    Those same devs also do not sell their products in the Mac app store for the same reason. Too many restrictions and prices trending to the bottom.
    - zepto 5y ago
      Prices are tending towards the bottom because of competition. I don’t like it but that’s not a result of the App Store model. It’s a result of the democratization and globalization of software development.
    - zepto 5y ago
      Logic Pro is in the Mac App Store at $200. It’s very popular.
      - cageface 5y ago
        Only because Apple can afford to sell it at break even or a loss. All the comparable packages from third parties are at least 3x that price and nobody's getting rich there.
        zepto 5y ago
        You are the one who mentioned the $200 price point. Was that not correct?
        cageface 5y ago
        $200 is what a single high quality plugin costs. Complete DAW packages with many bundled plugins like Ableton or Cubase are at least 3x that price.
        zepto 5y ago
        Ok, but it seems implausible that there would be a significant market for those on the iPhone even if there was no App Store.