narwhal

sflocal said:

Fully agree.  As a developer myself, the whining coming from the weekend-developers and McSweeney is embarrassing.  I remember the store model's of old where packaged software and distribution of that software makes the 30% App Store fee look like a complete bargain.  Apple has nothing to be apologetic for.  Apple's popularity comes from CUSTOMERS, and not developers.  Apple's App Store gives developers access to countless customers with disposable income.  Unlike Android, Apple uses its own hardware, OS, and App Store.  It's a packaged toaster.  Developers should not have a say in telling Apple how to run its hugely successful ecosystem.   If you don't like how the App Store works, then go elsewhere.  Apple owns iOS, not you.  Want to side-load apps?  Then jailbreak your phone and be quiet. 

Google's change doesn't affect small developers at all. But both Google and Apple will soon be required to allow external payment systems so large developers can send their customers to the web to make subscription purchases. Google and Apple will need to choose a magic number for their commissions to disincentivize large developers from setting up external payment systems. Maybe Google switching to 15% subscriptions will help Google, maybe not. If the sub commission was 5%, large developers would likely not bother sending customers to the web for subscriptions. And Google and Apple would make 5% from subs rather than 0% as looks likely now.

Your statement that selling apps is so much better now than 2 decades ago is correct; but that doesn't mean Apple shouldn't compete with Google for developer mindshare.

Beats said:

They’re so entitled and spoiled. Some suggest 5% and that Apple should lose money so their crappy apps can make an extra buck. Imagine telling Best Buy “hey sell my products but only take 0-5%!! I deserve it!!” Or renting a house and telling your landlord that you should stay for free because the landlord can afford the house!

I remember around 2005 I helped release a music CD and we literally had to print the album covers, laminate them and cut them exactly to size to put in the cases. We were at Kinko’s all night only to have to sell them personally to strangers after concerts we paid to organize.

Hearing some App developer complain that he’s only getting 70% while never having to leave home or do any front-end work is irritating.

Beats, I don't get why you're so angry. For most under-$1M devs, a change in the commission doesn't make much difference. But the article we're commenting on says Google is dropping its subscription commission to 15%. Why would they do that? It's likely a move to appease the >$1M developers and maybe convince them not to bother setting up external payment systems. Apple can either respond to Google's move, or ignore it. My suggestion was Apple drop the commission so low that only a moron would add external payments to apps. Then Apple would get 5% commission on Netflix and Audible instead of 0%.

avon b7 said:

5% wouldn't help Apple with their anti-trust/competition problems.

Quite the opposite, and for the reasons you have given. 

'kneecapping' other stores would send alarm bells ringing in all jurisdictions. 

Cutting the commission in the US wouldn't result in antitrust action since the DOJ is focused on lowering prices. That's why Amazon (an ACTUAL monopoly in ebooks) beat Apple's ebook store -- by saying Apple was somehow RAISING prices.

But you're right as far as EU antitrust. If Apple was seen as doing something to hurt competitors, the EU would step in.

Beats said:

Apple owes you NOTHING.

Want more revenue? MAKE BETTER SOFTWARE.

Not sure why you're so angry. (The commission doesn't affect me THAT much. I make most of my income from ads.) I'm just making some suggestions to help Apple's bottom line. Lighten up, Beats.

mike_galloway said:

Apple should close the app store

I doubt many people would agree with you. Do you really want an ecosystem where Microsoft and Adobe are the only app developers? Competition from the little guy keeps them on their toes and keeps prices down. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but do Microsoft and Adobe EVER innovate?