4 ms·

How can they even charge for installs on an alternative app marketplace? Would the iPhones have to track those and report them back to Apple?

blashyrk 3y ago
The same way they can take a percentage of any completely external purchase "initiated" via an iOS app. It's literal racketeering and the courts are ok with that.
layer8 3y ago
Those apps still have to be notarized by Apple, and the notarization will be checked upon installation. Presumably this will require an online check. So yes, Apple will track those.
urbandw311er 3y ago
I had the same thought. I imagine that Apple will have a very strict templated way to install and run an alternate App Store, you’ll have to use certain API calls to register the apps installed so that they show up on the Home Screen etc. So the reporting side of this should be reasonably easy. I wonder if the alternate App Stores will have to be installed via the official App store?! That’s the way I would do it. Gives Apple a way to shut them down if they try to circumvent the reporting piece to bypass the 0.50 fees.
- pests 3y ago
  I doubt the alt-stores will be doing any installing of their own. They probably get a higher level API and get to say "install this package at this url" and iOS will handle the usual verification checks, permissions, actual installation, Home Screen and App lists, etc.
  - chinathrow 3y ago
    GaaS - Gatekeeping as a Service for and by gatekeepers.
    - anticensor 3y ago
      Unsurprisingly not allowing us to create our mini-gatekeeping services
  - mcfedr 3y ago
    Briefly reading sounds like this is the case, very limiting as an app store
    - rahkiin 3y ago
      I would not be surprised it is how the App Store has worked for a long time though. The store is the catalog and just tells the OS what to download and install.
      - mcfedr 3y ago
        That app is clearly connected to the os in ways that no other developer will ever be given access
mil22 3y ago
The installation of apps from alternative app marketplaces is entirely controlled by Apple and iOS, and can only be done via a set of new APIs called AppLibrary [1]. That will make it very easy for Apple to track installs. [1] https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appdistribution/installing-a-marketplace-hosted-app https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appdistribution/in...
- gfaure 3y ago
  The docs are unusually unpolished by Apple standards — search for “progess” in this documentation link.
  - vincnetas 3y ago
    I assume it's apples best interest to have this documentation as incorrect and confusing as possible :/
- ethbr1 3y ago
  EU subpoena for all tracked installs that were billed by Apple incoming in... 3... 2... So handy that Apple will keep such meticulous records of exactly how much and who they're charging.

blashyrk 3y ago

The same way they can take a percentage of any completely external purchase "initiated" via an iOS app. It's literal racketeering and the courts are ok with that.

layer8 3y ago

Those apps still have to be notarized by Apple, and the notarization will be checked upon installation. Presumably this will require an online check. So yes, Apple will track those.

urbandw311er 3y ago

I had the same thought. I imagine that Apple will have a very strict templated way to install and run an alternate App Store, you’ll have to use certain API calls to register the apps installed so that they show up on the Home Screen etc. So the reporting side of this should be reasonably easy. I wonder if the alternate App Stores will have to be installed via the official App store?! That’s the way I would do it. Gives Apple a way to shut them down if they try to circumvent the reporting piece to bypass the 0.50 fees.

pests 3y ago
I doubt the alt-stores will be doing any installing of their own. They probably get a higher level API and get to say "install this package at this url" and iOS will handle the usual verification checks, permissions, actual installation, Home Screen and App lists, etc.
- chinathrow 3y ago
  GaaS - Gatekeeping as a Service for and by gatekeepers.
  - anticensor 3y ago
    Unsurprisingly not allowing us to create our mini-gatekeeping services
- mcfedr 3y ago
  Briefly reading sounds like this is the case, very limiting as an app store
  - rahkiin 3y ago
    I would not be surprised it is how the App Store has worked for a long time though. The store is the catalog and just tells the OS what to download and install.
    - mcfedr 3y ago
      That app is clearly connected to the os in ways that no other developer will ever be given access

mil22 3y ago

The installation of apps from alternative app marketplaces is entirely controlled by Apple and iOS, and can only be done via a set of new APIs called AppLibrary [1]. That will make it very easy for Apple to track installs. [1] https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appdistribution/installing-a-marketplace-hosted-app https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appdistribution/in...

gfaure 3y ago
The docs are unusually unpolished by Apple standards — search for “progess” in this documentation link.
- vincnetas 3y ago
  I assume it's apples best interest to have this documentation as incorrect and confusing as possible :/
ethbr1 3y ago
EU subpoena for all tracked installs that were billed by Apple incoming in... 3... 2... So handy that Apple will keep such meticulous records of exactly how much and who they're charging.