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> Why would they invest their time if it doesn't benefit their ecosystem. The problem with this approach is that it only works if you're #1 with a comfortable

> Why would they invest their time if it doesn't benefit their ecosystem. The problem with this approach is that it only works if you're #1 with a comfortable lead. Apple is #2 and fast losing mind share, and this kind of policy is only going to accelerate that trend.

threeseed 12y ago
So your opinion is that Apple should invest finite resources in a company which isn't dedicating all their resources to building the best iOS app they can ? That sounds like bad business to me. You should nurture and support your best customers/clients. There are 1 million apps on the App Store. Apple just figured some of the others deserve their support. It's harsh but understandable.
- zak_mc_kracken 12y ago
  > So your opinion is that Apple should invest finite resources in a company which isn't dedicating all their resources to building the best iOS app they can ? I think the policy of only catering to shops that are 100% developing on the Apple platforms is a terrible strategic mistake, especially since they are now #2 in this market and fast losing market share. Also, catering to exclusives doesn't guarantee that you only get great apps in your store. Actually, it guarantees nothing except for acrimony from developers and the feeling that Apple is a fickle partner that can slam the door on them at any time. The best way to regain market share is not to accelerate insulation but to woo companies developing on Android back by convincing them that iOS is a superior platform to develop for. As it is, all they are doing is convincing more and more developers that in doubt, they should develop for Android first and iOS second.
agos 12y ago
It's still #1 in profits, though.
- aceperry 12y ago
  Not for long if their market share keeps slipping. Alienating developers doesn't help the situation.
  - cheald 12y ago
    To put some numbers on it, according to this research (http://blog.appannie.com/app-annie-index-market-q1-2014/ http://blog.appannie.com/app-annie-index-market-q1-2014/), relative app revenue numbers have been something like: Q2 2013: Apple +230% Q3 2013: Apple +210% Q4 2013: Apple +110% Q1 2014: Apple +85% Android's market share (especially in emerging markets) is exploding (https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.appannie.com/reports/App+Annie+Special+Report+Google+Play+2014.pdf https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.appannie.com/reports/App+Anni...), while Apple's app store revenue are substantially flatter (http://images.apple.com/nl/pr/pdf/q2fy14datasum.pdf http://images.apple.com/nl/pr/pdf/q2fy14datasum.pdf). Apple's definitely on top right now, but the gap is narrowing very, very quickly.
paulrov 12y ago
They're number 1 in app usage, in mobile web usage and engagement. Android might sell more but people don't use them beyond phone, camera and messaging. So Apple IS number 1 in every area that should matter to you as a developer.
zwily 12y ago
It's #1 in the market it cares about, which is "people who spend money". And that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.
- zak_mc_kracken 12y ago
  What they care about is irrelevant, they are also alienating creators of apps that make them money with this kind of attitude. They are basically repeating the same mistakes Jobs made two decades ago which led to the almost bankruptcy of Apple. Granted, they have enough money in the bank to be safe from this, but this kind of behavior is simply accelerating the decay of their market share, and as a consequence of that, of their profits.
- aceperry 12y ago
  It's #1 in the market it cares about, which is "people who spend money". And that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. That sounds like hubris and arrogance to me. Are you so sure that won't be changing anytime soon?
  - zwily 12y ago
    No, I'm not sure, it's just a guess. What do you think?
    - cheald 12y ago
      The data from the last 8 quarters or so shows that Apple's app store revenue lead over Google is shrinking rapidly. Given Google's rapid gains in both marketshare and app store revenues, it isn't crazy to think that Apple could be the underdog before too long.

threeseed 12y ago

So your opinion is that Apple should invest finite resources in a company which isn't dedicating all their resources to building the best iOS app they can ? That sounds like bad business to me. You should nurture and support your best customers/clients. There are 1 million apps on the App Store. Apple just figured some of the others deserve their support. It's harsh but understandable.

zak_mc_kracken 12y ago
> So your opinion is that Apple should invest finite resources in a company which isn't dedicating all their resources to building the best iOS app they can ? I think the policy of only catering to shops that are 100% developing on the Apple platforms is a terrible strategic mistake, especially since they are now #2 in this market and fast losing market share. Also, catering to exclusives doesn't guarantee that you only get great apps in your store. Actually, it guarantees nothing except for acrimony from developers and the feeling that Apple is a fickle partner that can slam the door on them at any time. The best way to regain market share is not to accelerate insulation but to woo companies developing on Android back by convincing them that iOS is a superior platform to develop for. As it is, all they are doing is convincing more and more developers that in doubt, they should develop for Android first and iOS second.

agos 12y ago

It's still #1 in profits, though.

aceperry 12y ago
Not for long if their market share keeps slipping. Alienating developers doesn't help the situation.
- cheald 12y ago
  To put some numbers on it, according to this research (http://blog.appannie.com/app-annie-index-market-q1-2014/ http://blog.appannie.com/app-annie-index-market-q1-2014/), relative app revenue numbers have been something like: Q2 2013: Apple +230% Q3 2013: Apple +210% Q4 2013: Apple +110% Q1 2014: Apple +85% Android's market share (especially in emerging markets) is exploding (https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.appannie.com/reports/App+Annie+Special+Report+Google+Play+2014.pdf https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.appannie.com/reports/App+Anni...), while Apple's app store revenue are substantially flatter (http://images.apple.com/nl/pr/pdf/q2fy14datasum.pdf http://images.apple.com/nl/pr/pdf/q2fy14datasum.pdf). Apple's definitely on top right now, but the gap is narrowing very, very quickly.

paulrov 12y ago

They're number 1 in app usage, in mobile web usage and engagement. Android might sell more but people don't use them beyond phone, camera and messaging. So Apple IS number 1 in every area that should matter to you as a developer.

zwily 12y ago

It's #1 in the market it cares about, which is "people who spend money". And that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.

zak_mc_kracken 12y ago
What they care about is irrelevant, they are also alienating creators of apps that make them money with this kind of attitude. They are basically repeating the same mistakes Jobs made two decades ago which led to the almost bankruptcy of Apple. Granted, they have enough money in the bank to be safe from this, but this kind of behavior is simply accelerating the decay of their market share, and as a consequence of that, of their profits.
aceperry 12y ago
It's #1 in the market it cares about, which is "people who spend money". And that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. That sounds like hubris and arrogance to me. Are you so sure that won't be changing anytime soon?
- zwily 12y ago
  No, I'm not sure, it's just a guess. What do you think?
  - cheald 12y ago
    The data from the last 8 quarters or so shows that Apple's app store revenue lead over Google is shrinking rapidly. Given Google's rapid gains in both marketshare and app store revenues, it isn't crazy to think that Apple could be the underdog before too long.