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This is some bizarre outrage clickbait There's a lot of problems with android and a whole lot of things that can be levelled at Google for the shit they pull w

This is some bizarre outrage clickbait There's a lot of problems with android and a whole lot of things that can be levelled at Google for the shit they pull with it but the three points the article cites seem absolutely pathetic "Google charges for Google Apps!" Other vendors such as Amazon, Samsung and Microsoft happily ship their own app stores and competing app sets. Google develops these apps in-house and phone users expect to be able to use them. They aren't making money on hardware like Apple (unless you buy a Pixel device) so they have to make money somewhere. Also at least unlike on iPhones you can say, change out what browser you're using (Firefox and others on IOS still use Safari under the hood) "Google gets money from their app store!" So does every app maker. Next "Google makes money from Google products and advertising!" Okay? That's...what they've always done. People want to use those apps and services, from Gmail to Maps. There's nothing directly insidious about that. If you want to use Bing Maps you can, or DuckDuckGo for search, or Proton for email. None of these functions are compulsory just because you use android

karmakaze 3y ago
> "Google gets money from their app store!" So does every app maker. Next Not the same thing. By owning the Play Store Google gets a cut of every app, not just the ones they make. > In 2021, the Play Store generated $38.8 billion in revenue, and by 2025, experts predict Google Play Store will make $64 billion annually. This is why Meta was so big into VR/AR, they wanted to own a (hardware) platform since they don't but rather make apps on others' (Google, Apple, MS).
- bootlooped 3y ago
  Isn't that the same as every other marketplace though? The mall, Amazon, Steam, you name it.
  - karmakaze 3y ago
    The comment I was replying to said "So does every app maker" rather than "platform owner". [I also added "(hardware)" to my original comment.]
    - IntelMiner 3y ago
      Yeah that was my bad. I meant platform owners Don't write an angry reply before your morning coffee everyone!
  - mvdtnz 3y ago
    [flagged]
  - dotandgtfo 3y ago
    Steam takes a cut of the sales price and a cut of microtransactions done through the Steam wallet. But they don't force developers to use the Steam wallet. I wouldn't be surprised if that last point is what will ultimately matter.
- eyjafjallajokul 3y ago
  I don't know how this argument can hold? Malls charge their tenant stores a fee to lease space. Why shouldn't app stores? I use an application that supports plugins from 3P developers. The number of times some script is broken because a certain developer fat fingered their own config drives me mad. Whereas the experience of downloading apps from the Play Store is seamless.
  - poisonborz 3y ago
    You can easily avoid malls. Try to avoid default app stores. You don't expect to be locked in a mall when buying a computer device.
  - karmakaze 3y ago
    The problem is with "rent seeking" where the amount taken is not related to service provided but rather ownership of the platform. If Google only collected for the Play Service usage that would be one thing, but they can also take a cut of ongoing subscriptions. You could also argue that updates are also provided as a service, but the amounts collected aren't in line with the service that's provided. One way to ensure equity of service/fee is to have competition. There is no reasonable Play Store competitor for Android.
    - nickff 3y ago
      I understand why you are using the words "rent seeking", but that's a defined term with a meaning which differs from what you're trying to describe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking >"Rent-seeking is the act of growing one's existing wealth by manipulating the social or political environment without creating new wealth.[1] Rent-seeking activities have negative effects on the rest of society. They result in reduced economic efficiency through misallocation of resources, reduced wealth creation, lost government revenue, heightened income inequality,[2][3] risk of growing political bribery, and potential national decline. "
      - lamontcg 3y ago
- leptons 3y ago
  >> "Google gets money from their app store!" So does every app maker. Next >Not the same thing. By owning the Play Store Google gets a cut of every app, not just the ones they make. It's not the same as Apple, which is famous for gouging developers taking huge cuts of their revenue from apps, and even taking huge cuts of in-app purchases.
  - kevingadd 3y ago
    The cut and policies are almost exactly the same though?
spywaregorilla 3y ago
> So does every app maker. Next Every major tech player is dying to attain, or retain hold on, their platform monopolies so they can leech of third party developers by controlling access to customers. All of them are guilty.
- amadeuspagel 3y ago
  Steam shows that most customers and developers want an app store even if the platform doesn't provide or enforce one. It might as well be run by the company creating the platform, so that the profit goes to maintaining it.
  - spywaregorilla 3y ago
    That's some twisted logic when I can't use steam on my hardware.
bryanlarsen 3y ago
> They aren't making money on hardware like Apple (unless you buy a Pixel device) so they have to make money somewhere. I'm fairly sure they get a (small) cut on each hardware purchase. Sure, AOSP is free, but there aren't many AOSP-only Android phones sold. The full Android bundle isn't free.
1vuio0pswjnm7 3y ago
"This is some bizarre outrage clickbait" Isn't that what people use to cater to algorithms created by so-called "tech" companies to get more views and help sell more ad services. Does Google make money from "bizarre outrage clickbait". Question for the reader to decide.

karmakaze 3y ago

> "Google gets money from their app store!" So does every app maker. Next Not the same thing. By owning the Play Store Google gets a cut of every app, not just the ones they make. > In 2021, the Play Store generated $38.8 billion in revenue, and by 2025, experts predict Google Play Store will make $64 billion annually. This is why Meta was so big into VR/AR, they wanted to own a (hardware) platform since they don't but rather make apps on others' (Google, Apple, MS).

bootlooped 3y ago
Isn't that the same as every other marketplace though? The mall, Amazon, Steam, you name it.
- karmakaze 3y ago
  The comment I was replying to said "So does every app maker" rather than "platform owner". [I also added "(hardware)" to my original comment.]
  - IntelMiner 3y ago
    Yeah that was my bad. I meant platform owners Don't write an angry reply before your morning coffee everyone!
- mvdtnz 3y ago
  [flagged]
- dotandgtfo 3y ago
  Steam takes a cut of the sales price and a cut of microtransactions done through the Steam wallet. But they don't force developers to use the Steam wallet. I wouldn't be surprised if that last point is what will ultimately matter.
eyjafjallajokul 3y ago
I don't know how this argument can hold? Malls charge their tenant stores a fee to lease space. Why shouldn't app stores? I use an application that supports plugins from 3P developers. The number of times some script is broken because a certain developer fat fingered their own config drives me mad. Whereas the experience of downloading apps from the Play Store is seamless.
- poisonborz 3y ago
  You can easily avoid malls. Try to avoid default app stores. You don't expect to be locked in a mall when buying a computer device.
- karmakaze 3y ago
  The problem is with "rent seeking" where the amount taken is not related to service provided but rather ownership of the platform. If Google only collected for the Play Service usage that would be one thing, but they can also take a cut of ongoing subscriptions. You could also argue that updates are also provided as a service, but the amounts collected aren't in line with the service that's provided. One way to ensure equity of service/fee is to have competition. There is no reasonable Play Store competitor for Android.
  - nickff 3y ago
    I understand why you are using the words "rent seeking", but that's a defined term with a meaning which differs from what you're trying to describe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking >"Rent-seeking is the act of growing one's existing wealth by manipulating the social or political environment without creating new wealth.[1] Rent-seeking activities have negative effects on the rest of society. They result in reduced economic efficiency through misallocation of resources, reduced wealth creation, lost government revenue, heightened income inequality,[2][3] risk of growing political bribery, and potential national decline. "
    - lamontcg 3y ago
leptons 3y ago
>> "Google gets money from their app store!" So does every app maker. Next >Not the same thing. By owning the Play Store Google gets a cut of every app, not just the ones they make. It's not the same as Apple, which is famous for gouging developers taking huge cuts of their revenue from apps, and even taking huge cuts of in-app purchases.
- kevingadd 3y ago
  The cut and policies are almost exactly the same though?

spywaregorilla 3y ago

> So does every app maker. Next Every major tech player is dying to attain, or retain hold on, their platform monopolies so they can leech of third party developers by controlling access to customers. All of them are guilty.

amadeuspagel 3y ago
Steam shows that most customers and developers want an app store even if the platform doesn't provide or enforce one. It might as well be run by the company creating the platform, so that the profit goes to maintaining it.
- spywaregorilla 3y ago
  That's some twisted logic when I can't use steam on my hardware.

bryanlarsen 3y ago

> They aren't making money on hardware like Apple (unless you buy a Pixel device) so they have to make money somewhere. I'm fairly sure they get a (small) cut on each hardware purchase. Sure, AOSP is free, but there aren't many AOSP-only Android phones sold. The full Android bundle isn't free.

1vuio0pswjnm7 3y ago

"This is some bizarre outrage clickbait" Isn't that what people use to cater to algorithms created by so-called "tech" companies to get more views and help sell more ad services. Does Google make money from "bizarre outrage clickbait". Question for the reader to decide.