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by AnthonyMouse 2761 days ago
> IMO App prices now are lower than they were when the app store first opened in iPhoneOS 2

This provides no basis for comparison because the App Store has been the only way to install apps on iOS that whole time, so that changing can't have been the difference.

Moreover, the market they're monopolizing isn't the market for apps, it's the market for app distribution. So the relevant price isn't the price of apps, it's Apple's 30%. Which is obviously higher than in markets where there isn't a single-party distribution monopoly, e.g. payment processing is typically ~3%, various packaging systems like apt are free (or user can download binary from website as on Windows), and the binary hosting cost per user is negligible.

There is also a tying argument. App Store ties payment processing, distribution and curation together when the buyer might want different providers for each.
1 comments
RKearney 2761 days ago
> This provides no basis for comparison because the App Store has been the only way to install apps on iOS

This has never been the case. You’ve always been able to side load apps that are either signed by an Enterprise code signing cert (used to be $300/yr), or your own developer code signing certificate ($99/yr). The former allowed for redistribution outside of the App Store.

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AnthonyMouse 2761 days ago
Neither of those methods permits the general public to install the app.
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RKearney 2761 days ago
They absolutely can and absolutely did back in the day. Now it’s even easier because you can load apps on to your own device for free via Xcode.

Anyone who claims Apple prevented side loading clearly never bothered to research that claim.

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askafriend 2761 days ago
Good, imo.
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binomialxenon 2761 days ago
Okay, I used to be an iOS user, I'm not rich, and blowing $99 per year to sign apps is a lot of money for something that should be free. What if I'm just a normal techie who wants to use software that Apple doesn't like? Sure, bury sideloading in the settings or make it only able to be activated from a computer, but charging that much money for the privilege of loading software is ridiculous.
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RKearney 2761 days ago
You can sign and run apps on your own device for free now. You no longer have to pay $99.
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mmebane 2761 days ago
You can, but you have to reinstall them once a week, AFAIK.
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sbuk 2761 days ago
> ...for something that should be free

What reason should it be for?

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binomialxenon 2761 days ago
The reason that my devices belong to me.
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