Marco ArmentApr 17, 2023

“[sideloading] would allow customers to download apps without needing to use the App Store, which would mean developers wouldn't need to pay Apple's 15 to 30 percent fees.” https://www.macrumors.com/2023/04/17/app-sideloading-support-coming-ios-17/

Not a chance. Apple will just use another method to collect their "commission”: https://developer.apple.com/support/storekit-external-entitlement/

Remember: Tim Cook views our customers as THEIR customers, our sales as THEIR sales, and the 30% as what they rightfully deserve for gracing us with a platform that we provide no other value to.

iOS 17 to Support App Sideloading to Comply With European Regulations

Apple in iOS 17 will for the first time allow iPhone users to download apps hosted outside of its official App Store, according to Bloomberg's...

MacRumors
Show threadMarco ArmentApr 17, 2023

Soon, at WWDC, lots of great people in developer relations and engineering will tell us how important developers are to Apple. And I believe them! They've shown in many ways over the years that they truly appreciate us and the value we bring to the platforms.

But they're not the ones making IAP policy.

Tim Cook shows us, over and over again, exactly what he thinks of us, and exactly how he thinks the value flows between Apple and developers.

When someone shows you who they are, believe them.

Show threadAaronApr 17, 2023

@marcoarment I think everyone forgets what a revelation the App Store was for developers. Pre-iPhone, mobile app stores used to take a 70-80% cut and you reached a tiny audience.

As a mobile developer from those days, I’ve probably got more sympathy for Apple’s position than I should! 15 years a long time.

Show threadBrianApr 18, 2023
@AaronTunney @marcoarment what store were you selling on? This is not even close to accurate. There was a smaller but very focused audience, trialware didn’t take 10+ years to be allowed, and the cut was about the same or less depending on your deal…
Show threadAaron
@birdsoft @marcoarment This is my experience of selling Symbian apps on Handago.
Apr 18, 2023 at 9:48amWeb
Show threadBrianApr 18, 2023
@AaronTunney @marcoarment ahhh, fair enough. I still don’t remember it being that high, but I believe for Symbian carriers may have also been involved and it was generally just a pain market that was avoided. Palm and Windows Mobile were much friendlier, Handango paid for us to have conferences(not the other way around), and it was generally living proof that sideloading isn’t some killer thing….