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I 100% agree with this. Apple should be allowed to put whatever restrictions they want on apps in the App Store. The problem is they don't allow apps to come f

by rekoil 1y ago

I 100% agree with this. Apple should be allowed to put whatever restrictions they want on apps in the App Store. The problem is they don't allow apps to come from anywhere else, this is the core of the issue and what everything eventually comes down to. Make it possible for users to control their own app installation sources on the hardware they own, show them what is happening when they do so, that they are replacing Apple as the source of trust with the developers of the app marketplace or app they are installing, but only do it once, it can't become a nag. If they do that, then whenever anyone complains about App Store rules Apple can just tell them to do everything themselves instead, no APNS, no convenient installation from a pre-installed App Store, no seal of approval from a partner the user trusts, no free hosting, no infrastructure for app updates, etc.

ChrisMarshallNY 1y ago
One reason that I support alternative (non-Apple) app stores, is that it allows differentiation between mediocre and higher-Quality apps. You can get your clothes from Target or Saks Fifth Avenue. For most folks, Target is fine, but there are people that insist on paying $30 for every pair of skivvies. I think that they should have that choice. If they can afford it, then let them eat cake (for the record, I tend to be a Costco type of guy, but have not regretted occasionally getting something from Saks). Selfishly, I would like them to allow sideloads, because the App Store approval process has slowed to a crawl, lately, as well as APNS calls. I’m certain that’s because of thousands of AI-generated submissions. I think many of those submitters would much rather avoid the hoops they need to jump through, for the store. But I doubt that Apple sees things that way. The secondary app stores are likely to make a lot of money, which they would miss. The more damaging thing, however, is that Apple’s brand image could get corroded, and there’s a very good chance that they could be strongarmed into supporting side-loaded crapplets. I’m a bit cynical on this, myself. I feel that Apple has been doing a great job of damaging their own brand, in the past few years. I feel as if the quality of their internal engineering has declined precipitously.
- rekoil 1y ago
  > I’m a bit cynical on this, myself. I feel that Apple has been doing a great job of damaging their own brand, in the past few years. I feel as if the quality of their internal engineering has declined precipitously. Agreed. The quality of Apples own software has declined, as has the outcome of app reviews, there's never been as much crap on the App Store as there is today. And obviously Apple wants to "have their cake and eat it too", who doesn't? I'm just saying that this is the reason why they're being dragged to court now, because they aren't "playing fair" when they're acting as both store operator and store participant in multiple segments, and are acting as gatekeepers of software for literally hundreds of millions if not billions of devices now (congrats to them).
  - trollbridge 1y ago
    And if Apple keeps tolerating these declines in quality, they'll lose their advantage over Android, and create space for a third competitor.
- trollbridge 1y ago
  I think the answer is that if you want non-Apple app stores... get a non-Apple phone. For whatever reason, a great deal of people prefer to live inside Apple's walled garden.
  - fsflover 1y ago
    > if you want non-Apple app stores... get a non-Apple phone And you will get 20 times telemetry as a bonus: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26639261 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26639261

by rekoil 1y ago

ChrisMarshallNY 1y ago

One reason that I support alternative (non-Apple) app stores, is that it allows differentiation between mediocre and higher-Quality apps. You can get your clothes from Target or Saks Fifth Avenue. For most folks, Target is fine, but there are people that insist on paying $30 for every pair of skivvies. I think that they should have that choice. If they can afford it, then let them eat cake (for the record, I tend to be a Costco type of guy, but have not regretted occasionally getting something from Saks). Selfishly, I would like them to allow sideloads, because the App Store approval process has slowed to a crawl, lately, as well as APNS calls. I’m certain that’s because of thousands of AI-generated submissions. I think many of those submitters would much rather avoid the hoops they need to jump through, for the store. But I doubt that Apple sees things that way. The secondary app stores are likely to make a lot of money, which they would miss. The more damaging thing, however, is that Apple’s brand image could get corroded, and there’s a very good chance that they could be strongarmed into supporting side-loaded crapplets. I’m a bit cynical on this, myself. I feel that Apple has been doing a great job of damaging their own brand, in the past few years. I feel as if the quality of their internal engineering has declined precipitously.

rekoil 1y ago
> I’m a bit cynical on this, myself. I feel that Apple has been doing a great job of damaging their own brand, in the past few years. I feel as if the quality of their internal engineering has declined precipitously. Agreed. The quality of Apples own software has declined, as has the outcome of app reviews, there's never been as much crap on the App Store as there is today. And obviously Apple wants to "have their cake and eat it too", who doesn't? I'm just saying that this is the reason why they're being dragged to court now, because they aren't "playing fair" when they're acting as both store operator and store participant in multiple segments, and are acting as gatekeepers of software for literally hundreds of millions if not billions of devices now (congrats to them).
- trollbridge 1y ago
  And if Apple keeps tolerating these declines in quality, they'll lose their advantage over Android, and create space for a third competitor.
trollbridge 1y ago
I think the answer is that if you want non-Apple app stores... get a non-Apple phone. For whatever reason, a great deal of people prefer to live inside Apple's walled garden.
- fsflover 1y ago
  > if you want non-Apple app stores... get a non-Apple phone And you will get 20 times telemetry as a bonus: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26639261 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26639261