Advertising vs. paid content.
Apple wants the tide to switch to paid content, and want to encourage people to do so through their own merchant gateways.
In my opinion, this feel reasonable _only_ if consumers have real choice. Telling users they can use a different platform if they're not happy, is not real choice.
With iOS, Apple was able to create a mass market of easy to use device for regular people that didn't get infested by various adware and malware. I think that's a really significant and impressive achievement. People choose to buy into Apple's ecosystem partially for this reason. When the next "must have" social/communication app is only available on a future Facebook AdStore we'll have the choice between installing some form of adware or not participating. That's even less of a real choice than having the freedom to switch platforms.
If app stores get regulated I fear we'll end up where windows PCs were in the late 90's. I don't know about you but I quite enjoy not having to remove spyware from the mobile phones of friends and family on a regular basis.
Also, slightly tongue in cheek, if Epic is able to force Apple to allow an Epic App Store on iOS will that mean that Epic will be forced to allow alternative cosmetics stores in Fortnite? How far should app store regulation go?
>Telling users they can use a different platform if they're not happy, is not real choice.
Finally why is this argument always made on behalf of users? I've never heard a user that wasn't also a developer complain about the lack of app stores where they can more easily download crapware.
I think this is a lot more about developer rights masquerading as user rights. I think it's self evident that in a lot of cases that the interests of developers are totally at odds with the interests of users.
What's stopping an alternative market place being hot on screening for bad apps and crapware too?
> I think this is a lot more about developer rights masquerading as user rights.
I disagree it's about the rights of everyone _accept_ Apple.
I was trying to think of a good metaphor for these sanctioned app marketplaces.
To me it feels like living in a city where you're forced to buy from one city sanctioned shopping mall.
Every shop in the mall has to provide thirty percent of their takings to the city gov.
If you're not happy with the setup you need to move to another city.
Can you think of anyone who would think this represents a positive model?