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A comment on Apple's bad faith 27% tax on web purchases. Parent comment

Re:Apple's bad faith 27% tax on web purchases by NetOpWibby on Wednesday January 17, 2024 @08:45PM (#39036448)
> Again, who cares? I'm using the same messaging apps that I was using 10 years ago.

One of my best friends who was using Allo. Or Duo. Or Hangouts. Or Meet. Or whatever. He really loved one of those apps and it got removed/changed/or something.

My point was that as a developer, I'd want to ensure users like the platform they're on enough to buy my app. This same friend? He moved to some launcher and just uses Discord and Element now. As I understand it, using a launcher prevents you from using the Google Play Store, so you're not buying apps.

EDIT: See also: https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/21/22538240/google-chat-allo...

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Re:Apple's bad faith 27% tax on web purchases by ArclightMat on Wednesday January 17, 2024 @09:52PM (#39037017)
> He moved to some launcher [...]. As I understand it, using a launcher prevents you from using the Google Play Store, so you're not buying apps.

I'm going to chalk it up to you not knowing about Android, but swapping launchers is basically changing your home menu, it doesn't affect Play Store access and you'll likely need it to buy the Pro version of certain launchers, the most common one being Nova Launcher Prime[0]. And if he did something more drastic, like changing to custom ROMs (akin to OS images), then Play Store access is up to him.

And honestly, I don't think Google free apps and services coming and going will impact app ownership numbers. Android being more popular in low income, developing countries (with big population numbers) will have a bigger impact overall.

[0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoils...

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Re:Apple's bad faith 27% tax on web purchases by cyberax on Wednesday January 17, 2024 @09:18PM (#39036694)
> My point was that as a developer, I'd want to ensure users like the platform they're on enough to buy my app.

Android is the number 1 platform in the world. Except in the US, where Apple is manipulating teens using "blue bubbles".

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Re:Apple's bad faith 27% tax on web purchases by NetOpWibby on Thursday January 18, 2024 @03:25AM (#39039342)
> Apple is manipulating teens using "blue bubbles"

LOL WOW

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Re:Apple's bad faith 27% tax on web purchases by smoldesu on Thursday January 18, 2024 @02:22PM (#39046336)
It's not really any more funny than suggesting that Meta and Microsoft manipulate teenagers with dark patterns. But with Apple it's different, so I guess we won't be ready for that discussion until next time.
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