Comment by CaptainMarvel | Hacker News Reader

Comment by CaptainMarvel | Hacker News Reader

Parent Full thread

I’m unhappy because Apple has prevented me from using my phone how I want to. I recognised Spotify’s published complaints against Apple 2-3 years before they spoke out. I vowed to never use or buy Apple Music, Apple Watch, HomePod, and even a new iPhone because Apple were degrading my experience with Spotify compared to their own services. They deliberately created an unfair playing field on their platform in order to make more money.

This problem is the same. How can Spotify compete with Apple in a completely separate industry like Music when Apple takes a 15-30% cut? How can Netflix compete? Apple is using their position to expand into other areas of business.

This is bad for competition, and what is bad for competition is generally bad for people.

Sure, Apple has a great, safe experience with the store and in-app purchases, but that is no reason to prevent other flows. Why can I not decide for myself whether to use an App’s “alternative” payment system?

Apple doesn’t take a cut of a Spotify subscription. Spotify hasn’t allowed in app subscriptions for years.

Can I sideload music and integrate it with my Spotify library like I can with Apple Music? Can an artist get included in the Spotify library without giving them a 30% cut?

Apple is introducing cellular streaming in WatchOS 5 and music intents with Siri in iOS 13.

This problem is the same. How can Spotify compete with Apple in a completely separate industry like Music when Apple takes a 15-30% cut? How can Netflix compete?

Netflix also stopped allowing in app subscriptions recently.

I feel like you missed the point. The choices are: give Apple 30%, or do not even so much as hint to the users that they can subscribe on the website. Either option cripples the service compared to Apple’s service.

No, the parent poster said that Spotify and Netflix had to give Apple a cut. Not only do they not have to, they don’t anymore. The parent post stated something that was factually incorrect.

Seeing that Spotify still grew steadily after not allowing in app subscriptions. It doesn’t seem like their growth was harmed.

Spotify can write their own OS and build their own hardware if they don't want to be second class.

> I’m unhappy because Apple has prevented me from using my phone how I want to.

We’re you unaware of that before you bought your device? If you buy a vacuum cleaner and discovered it doesn’t toast bread, are you blaming the vacuum maker?

You know what you get when you buy Apple, there are hardly surprises.

Well yes, I was surprised. I purchased my iPhone ~5 years ago, before they really got started selling services, and information about this issue was not really broadcast back then as far as I can remember.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com