[berbec]

I was about to argue with this and rage against Apple, but then I remembered a very similar situation everyone deals with and no one complains about: Supermarket Generics.

"How is it fair for Price Chopper to undercut Rice Crispies with a similar, cheaper product?" no on says this...

[mertd]

Because your choice of phone brand does not tie you to a specific grocery where you can buy rice crispies. You can simply cross the street and shop at a competing grocery.

[asdffdsa]

Yeah, theres different smart phones just like theres different grocery stores

[Dylan16807]

If I go to a different grocery store, I can get products that are compatible with everything else I own.

If we go with the store=phone analogy, then somehow my brand A flour and my brand B milk are magnetically repulsed and I can't make pancakes. It's not good for consumers.

[spiderfarmer]

There are some extra levels to this. Imagine a country where there is only one supermarket chain allowed. In that case there is no competition and no choice for consumers.

Before you should people should simply switch phones: you can switch phones, but you can't take the apps you bought with you. And even if you switch: there's only one real alternative: Android. If Apple is allowed their 30% cut on literally everythig, why wouldn't Google do the same?

This way you end up with only 2 App stores, 2 Music and 2 Movie streaming services.

[berbec]

I believe Google does take a cut on literally everything!

We do have only two app stores. Apple and Google just haven't managed to kill all the competing Music & Movie services. They'd love to!

[efreak]

Google doesn't require all app installs to run through the play store. In fact, the OS allows for other app stores to automatically install and update apps. The Play Store may be the only option preinstalled on devices, but anyone can download and install third party apps, and if you're rooted or writing a custom rom you can create/use your own app store. See the fdroid privileged extension for an example of an alternate app store that allows background installs similar to the play store. Alternate app stores in general include the Amazon app store for Android.

[sinnoh]

because people have had a longer amount of time to understand food. hang in there, my friend :)