I don’t need apps on my iPhone to do 100% of all things that apps can do. I am fine with some restrictions, so long as there’s enough reliability, consistency, privacy and security.
If there are alternate app stores, I am sure others would make their apps exclusive there and demand you download them through these stores:
1. Facebook will want a store that allows them to build an app that has no ad or data collection restrictions.
2. Epic will want a store that allows them to directly charge for in-app purchases.
3. Google will want a store that allows them to track your location in the background regardless of your consent.
4. The New York Times will want a store where you cannot find a way to cancel your subscription.
And so on... I end up having to download 5 or 10 stores, and end up with a poor user experience.
And what do I get in return? As a consumer, I see no value for me.
I spend a small fraction of what I spend to buy my iPhone on apps per year. If their developers want to charge more to recoup their 30%, I am fine with that.
But Android exists, and has multiple noteworthy alternative app stores (including, relevant here, the Epic Games App) and this has not come to pass; every mass-market app is on the Google Play Store, excepting now Fortnite.
Epic previously tried to build out a Fortnite playerbase on Android outside of the Play Store and was unsuccessful in drawing in players, so they had to upload it to the Play Store (which has now been removed).
I would argue that this is because there's far less to gain on Android vs. iOS in terms of data collection and privacy by leaving the Play Store. It's pretty apparent just by perusing the two SDKs how much less information you can gain about devices through Apple's APIs.
Google is also being sued for not going far enough in allowing Epic to do what they want to do. I think that is the proof positive that Epic doesn't just want additional app stores and sideloading, but that they want concessions that will enable Epic to be successful in forcing users onto their own store.
But why could you not just keep using the AppStore and nothing else? Out of the things you've listed the only one who would actually consider leaving the AppStore would be Epic.
Take Amazon’s Audible as an example. I use that. I want to continue using that. If Amazon launched its own store on iOS, does that mean they stop distributing it on the native App Store? If they do make it exclusive to their store, I will have to download their store.
I really don’t like the 30%, but that I see the line Apple shouldn’t cross. Loosening restrictions or opening it up for more stores effectively means the iOS platform wouldn’t be worth What it is now.
Facebook has been pretty vocal about iOS privacy restrictions as well. They don’t need to make their own store on Android; but they very well might on iOS.
Yep, this is exactly where I'm at. Opening up the AppStore is a slippery slope to having 3rd party stores rife with apps that abuse private APIs and go well beyond the gated access to the iOS sandbox that the SDK provides.
So you are against a free market. Instead of multiple shops you want one megastore.
Only one webshop: Amazon
Only one Social Network: Facebook
Only one search engine: Google
Only one OS: Windows
Only one chip manufacturer: Intel
Sure you can, but that's like saying I am for freedom of speech as long I have something to say and against it if I haven't.
Others will follow Apples lead and walled gardens will spread.
The whole internet and computer thing becomes more and more like an oligarchy and we are the peasants who must choose with lord we follow. Apple-shire, Google-shire, Facebook-shire.
They built their own ecosystems with iOS, Android, Oculus and totally controll it and if we don't "behave" we get locked out.
If there are alternate app stores, I am sure others would make their apps exclusive there and demand you download them through these stores:
1. Facebook will want a store that allows them to build an app that has no ad or data collection restrictions. 2. Epic will want a store that allows them to directly charge for in-app purchases. 3. Google will want a store that allows them to track your location in the background regardless of your consent. 4. The New York Times will want a store where you cannot find a way to cancel your subscription.
And so on... I end up having to download 5 or 10 stores, and end up with a poor user experience.
And what do I get in return? As a consumer, I see no value for me.
I spend a small fraction of what I spend to buy my iPhone on apps per year. If their developers want to charge more to recoup their 30%, I am fine with that.