[HN Gopher] AltStore PAL receives Epic Games MegaGrant, will no ...
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       AltStore PAL receives Epic Games MegaGrant, will no longer require
       subscription
        
       Author : tech234a
       Score  : 69 points
       Date   : 2024-08-14 21:03 UTC (1 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (fosstodon.org)
 (TXT) w3m dump (fosstodon.org)
        
       | Alifatisk wrote:
       | This is so cool, I can still remember the days where I installed
       | Antutu and altstore for getting some apps for free. And now, I
       | can actually download AltStore as an official third-part store
       | without worrying about apps getting revoked again.
        
         | layer8 wrote:
         | Apple still has to review and approve each single app update
         | [0], and apps invariably tend to need updating sooner or later
         | for new iOS versions.
         | 
         | [0] https://support.apple.com/en-
         | us/117767#:~:text=All%20apps%20....
        
       | post_break wrote:
       | The core technology fee is just so ridiculous. I'm glad it's
       | being funded, but the fact that it exists angers me.
        
         | idle_zealot wrote:
         | It, among other things, is being investigated by the EC. I
         | wouldn't expect it to be deemed acceptable under the spirit of
         | the DMA, it's just Apple throwing a fit and making their
         | compliance as painful and slow as possible, perhaps in the hope
         | that sentiment towards the new rules will grow sour before they
         | actually have to open their platform.
        
         | deergomoo wrote:
         | Apple is setting fire to so much developer good will. Surely
         | the need to purchase a Mac per developer, multiple iOS devices
         | for testing, and the $99/year for a developer account is enough
         | of a fee already paid to access that "core technology".
         | 
         | I can't help but wonder how many developers are now considering
         | whether iOS support for PWAs is good enough to sidestep this
         | crap entirely. Tim Cook really needs to learn the definition of
         | the word "symbiosis", because a smartphone with no third-party
         | software is barely worth anything.
        
           | dns_snek wrote:
           | It's no surprise that Apple tries to grift developers by
           | creatively redefining the scope of what the developer fees
           | actually get you. Coming up with the slimiest ways to extract
           | money is the core of their DNA.
           | 
           | I expect that in a few years they'll say that their "Core
           | technology fee" doesn't actually cover the _full_ development
           | experience, only the  "core" of their technology, i.e. the
           | compiler, while device-specific frameworks/libraries ought to
           | cost extra for the relationship to be "fair".
           | 
           | As you say, Apple have forgotten how their relationship with
           | 3rd party developers really works. They owe their success in
           | the mobile space to them, yet they're so quick to brush them
           | off and have the nerve to say that actually, developers
           | should be paying them for the privilege - it's disturbing.
        
           | cmeacham98 wrote:
           | Are they though? I haven't seen any evidence to suggest
           | significant migration away from the iOS App Store. I was
           | under the impression that devs and consumers that cared about
           | side-loading largely already self-selected to Android.
        
         | littlestymaar wrote:
         | Apple is playing with European Commission's proverbial
         | patience, but in the end they will likely declare that illegal
         | as well.
        
       | thefounder wrote:
       | The issue is the "core technology fee". There shouldn't be any OS
       | fee to install apps on your device. This became beyond
       | ridiculous. A kind of "black mirror" episode,
        
         | volleygman180 wrote:
         | Sounds like it's a game of CTF and we know who's winning :(
        
         | throwaway48476 wrote:
         | I think they should add a core technology fee to use the Mac
         | and safari as well. All the fanboys on hn would disappear.
        
         | miki123211 wrote:
         | The fee isn't for installing the app, it's for using Xcode,
         | Apple's SDKs and their notarization infrastructure.
         | 
         | There's no fee to install apps on your device, it's the
         | developer that gets charged, not the user.
        
           | dns_snek wrote:
           | In that case what is the $99/year developer fee for?
           | 
           | > Join the Apple Developer Program to reach customers around
           | the world on the App Store for all Apple platforms.
           | Membership provides the tools, resources, and support you
           | need to develop and distribute apps and games, including
           | access to app services, testing tools, app analytics, and
           | more.
           | 
           | List of tools that this subscription supposedly covers:
           | 
           | https://developer.apple.com/programs/whats-included/
        
       | mrkramer wrote:
       | Monopoly sucks, Apple is the living proof.
        
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       (page generated 2024-08-14 23:00 UTC)