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Google forces apps on the Play Store to use Google's payment methods and give them a 15% to 30% cut of revenue, as well. You can sideload, but the duopoly exis

Google forces apps on the Play Store to use Google's payment methods and give them a 15% to 30% cut of revenue, as well. You can sideload, but the duopoly exists and they're shaking 99.9% of users down for every dime they can get out of them.

gedy 2y ago
I guess I'm having a hard time understanding why a Patreon app is even needed or wanted. ApplePay I understand.
stavros 2y ago
True, but Android at least allows alternative app stores, and there are a few. Obviously it's not as easy as the native store, but if enough developers are dissatisfied, there is a way out.
omoikane 2y ago
My understanding is that Patreon does not use Google's payment system and isn't subject to a cut of the revenue. This is why the article says "Your prices on the web and the Android app will remain completely unaffected".
- kmeisthax 2y ago
  At least until 2025 when Google implements the exact same policy change. Every questionable hardware choice Apple does is something Android vendors or Google Play copies within a year. Remember when Samsung made fun of Apple for removing the headphone jack?
  - johnnyanmac 2y ago
    unlike Apple who has managed to dodge scrutiny, Google is being reemed hard by the US courts over multiple antitrust issues. It may happen eventually, but I think the courts doing their jobs will stall such pivots. The last thing they want to do is make their store sound more like a monopoly.
- mcguire 2y ago
  You are aware that you cannot purchase ebooks through the Amazon apps on Android, right? What you say may be true today, but tomorrow is unknown territory as far as these sorts of agreements go.
  - ThatPlayer 2y ago
    I can purchase ebooks on my Amazon Kindle Fire that runs Amazon apps on Android fine. I bet I would also be able to purchase ebooks on the Amazon Kindle app installed from the Amazon Appstore on my Google Pixel phone.
    - zik 2y ago
      Your bet would be wrong - they stopped allowing that a little while back. It's annoying.

gedy 2y ago

I guess I'm having a hard time understanding why a Patreon app is even needed or wanted. ApplePay I understand.

stavros 2y ago

True, but Android at least allows alternative app stores, and there are a few. Obviously it's not as easy as the native store, but if enough developers are dissatisfied, there is a way out.

omoikane 2y ago

My understanding is that Patreon does not use Google's payment system and isn't subject to a cut of the revenue. This is why the article says "Your prices on the web and the Android app will remain completely unaffected".

kmeisthax 2y ago
At least until 2025 when Google implements the exact same policy change. Every questionable hardware choice Apple does is something Android vendors or Google Play copies within a year. Remember when Samsung made fun of Apple for removing the headphone jack?
- johnnyanmac 2y ago
  unlike Apple who has managed to dodge scrutiny, Google is being reemed hard by the US courts over multiple antitrust issues. It may happen eventually, but I think the courts doing their jobs will stall such pivots. The last thing they want to do is make their store sound more like a monopoly.
mcguire 2y ago
You are aware that you cannot purchase ebooks through the Amazon apps on Android, right? What you say may be true today, but tomorrow is unknown territory as far as these sorts of agreements go.
- ThatPlayer 2y ago
  I can purchase ebooks on my Amazon Kindle Fire that runs Amazon apps on Android fine. I bet I would also be able to purchase ebooks on the Amazon Kindle app installed from the Amazon Appstore on my Google Pixel phone.
  - zik 2y ago
    Your bet would be wrong - they stopped allowing that a little while back. It's annoying.