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Comment by vanilla_nut | Hacker News Reader

I believe Apple only lets you use certain APIs (like Keychain) if you distribute only through the App Store.

That policy has really killed a lot of functionality on macOS. I suspect it will cause fiction on iOS when the EU forces them to allow alternative install sources.

Personally, it grates me when Apple cripples functionality this way to try to keep us stuck in their platform. Can't use Firefox with Keychain. You can only view your current Apple Card balance on an iOS device -- not even a macOS device. At the end of the day, I hate being manipulated so much that it actually pushes me away from the platform to see this scummy behavior.

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> You can only view your current Apple Card balance on an iOS device -- not even a macOS device.

That sounds especially annoying. An iPad next to you can auto-config itself as the umpteenth monitor of a Mac, but macOS can't pull Apple Card balance from your nearby iPhone?

You can use a standard web browser and login: https://card.apple.com

I will always regret being just slightly too late to enjoy Apple's golden era. When, yes, using an iPod meant locking into iTunes, but at least you didn't have Tim Cook nagging his captured audience into signing up for Apple Music Subscription Plus - Now for Families!

Is there a reason Chrome, Edge, and Firefox aren't on the Mac app store? I know the yearly dev account costs can be an issue for small developers but Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla are already paying that as they release apps on the iOS App Store.

If I had to guess, the review process would just be a hindrance to them for nearly no benefit (is there anything besides the keychain API that would entice them?).

I assume it's annoying to jump through hoops and code review for every release.

Most macOS users don't use the app store. So directing folks there can be annoying for users, or even cause problems if they aren't signed into iCloud.

They'd likely end up with either an old version on the app store at all times, or with a massive, unpredictable day-or-week-long delay waiting for Apple's reviews before every release. Small wonder they don't bother.

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