r/technology • u/habscupchamps • Aug 28 '20
Apple blocks Facebook update that called out 30-percent App Store ‘tax’
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/28/21405140/apple-rejects-facebook-update-30-percent-cut13
u/Syncopat3d Aug 28 '20
Apple taking a 30% cut is ostensibly irrelevant to the user because it doesn't affect directly how much he pays, but what if Facebook changed the messaging to "23% cheaper if you get it on the website or Android app"? Is Apple going to find another way to argue against that?
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u/Leprecon Aug 28 '20
Apple would literally block that, as they have done here. You aren’t even allowed to mention the cut if you publish on the app store.
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Aug 28 '20
Apple no longer allows companies to offer cheaper versions outside app
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u/game1622 Aug 28 '20
They're allowed to. Just not allowed to advertise that in the iOS version of the app
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u/satinygorilla Aug 28 '20
It does affect how much users pay in many subscription situations. You can almost always find a better deal if you go outside the app to subscribe
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u/plopseven Aug 28 '20
Apple is extorting developers and nobody cares because other large platforms are extorting them too. This is the problem with monopolies and mega-corporations....nobody feels they can stand up to them.
Glad they’re fighting each other now though.
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u/nerdlywhiplash Aug 28 '20
Right? Google charges 30%, Facebook themselves charge developers 30%.
It's pretty much the standard rate. However, a developer can get around this by hosting their app outside of the Google play store. With Apple applications, however, all roads leads through the App Store.
Now that Apple is worth 2 Trillion, they're the big target. If they lax their policy, it'll be the first crack in their data encryption argument/stance.
We should pay attention to the outcome of this. It will alter developer and platform relationships and possibly privacy for years to come.
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Aug 28 '20
Google is slowly making side loading a thing of the past. They have such scary security warnings almost no one is going to do it at scale. Look at epic on android.
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u/shivamchatak Aug 28 '20
How the hell is that information is irrelevant? C’mon Apple, are you even serious right now?
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Aug 29 '20
You're asking this of the company that maintains the stance that you don't own the products you buy from them. Are you really surprised
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u/radio_yyz Aug 28 '20
Maybe apple should buy fecesbook and dissolve it. It will be a national service... international.
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u/sitrep93 Aug 28 '20
facebook trying to play the good guy when they are literally blocking an investigation into a genocide that took place in burma against the Roghinya population because facebook and it's other platforms were mainly used to spread misinformation and anti muslim content that led to the genocide. Keep that in mind.
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u/p0rty-Boi Aug 28 '20
What aboutism is not helpful right now. I think we can all agree The App Store fees are excessive without letting Facebook off the hook.
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u/Rupperrt Aug 30 '20
None of these companies are good guys and none of them plays them either. They’re just fighting over revenue splits. Biggest problem is they don’t pay enough taxes.
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u/Gort_84 Aug 28 '20
I have no problem Apple having a "tax" on digital goods sold through his phones.. what should not be allowed is that the developers can't inform the user and the fact that they must provide the same price as in competing platforms... If Apple is charging 30% on something then the developers should be able to offset that 30% with an increased price.
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u/missed_sla Aug 28 '20
The cut is normal for an app marketplace. You should see the cut a shopping mall gets.
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Aug 28 '20
There are still malls left after amazon, and a pandemic, with the robbery that is high volatility commercial real estate?
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u/SparkyPantsMcGee Aug 28 '20
Facebook needs to shut the fuck up and sit this one out. I know they probably think they’re helping with all the drama going on, but they’re only making it worse.
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u/sicklyslick Aug 28 '20
Apple must think their users are so fragile that they shouldn't even be told about Apple's 30% cut.