Apple Blocks iOS Apps Using Dropbox SDK 356
Barence writes with an excerpt from PC Pro: "Dropbox's latest SDK has incurred the wrath of Apple, because users who don't have the Dropbox app installed on their iPhone/iPad are instead pushed to Dropbox's website via the Safari browser. Here, they can click a link to the desktop version of the service, which allows them to buy extra Dropbox storage without Apple taking its usual 30% cut."
Reportedly, Dropbox is attempting to strike a deal to resolve the problem.
Are users app-blind? (Score:4, Insightful)
What's to stop an iP* user going directly to the dropbox website anyway?
Re:How dare they... (Score:4, Insightful)
Point missed.
Recap: Apple just used sledgehammer to solve problem that tweezers would of solved.
Conclusion: Apple just acted like a corporate bastard again and held up their user's legitimate business so they could get more cash.
users are instead pushed to Dropbox's website (Score:2, Insightful)
What's wrong with that? The users don't have the app on their iPhone, so they are taken to the company's website. Is that so horrible? That's how every other browser in the world works. Are Apple phone/padd users now verboten from visiting company websites?
Re:How dare they... (Score:1, Insightful)
Analysis of your conclusion: You are a deluded idiot, continually suprised by for profit businesses seeking profit, which you equate with them being 'bastards'. Your delusion give a pass to Dropbox, presumably because they are 'the little guy', despite their acting in contravention of Apple's quite clear rules about in app purchases.
Re:How dare they... (Score:5, Insightful)
This -1 isn't really worthy of reply, but I will do it anyway...
You obviously are setting up a strawman. The problem here isn't seeking profit, it's holding users for ransom.
You made your bed, Curated Computing serfs (Score:1, Insightful)
Now fucking sleep in it.
When do anti-trust laws come into effect? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:How dare they... (Score:4, Insightful)
Who is the guilty party here, that which broke the rules or that which upholds them?
I dont know about the strawman, perhaps, but you're clearly misdirecting the blame here.
Re:How dare they... (Score:1, Insightful)
Nor does dropbox have to solicit business from an app _around_ the well defined process per established rules. They COULD stop short of sending people to their site, couldnt they? They could also say hey, if you like to pay for your account upgrade here, its a 30% surcharge. Or absorb the difference. Or, in fact, offer a discount(!).
Bottom line, there is no "apple tax" there's just a company (apple) doing business the way they see fit. This is a free market, and they are NOT a monopoly. If apple's business doesnt suit you, dont buy, simple as that.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:How dare they... (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes, that Apple involved 3rd parties in the dispute off the bat by cutting off access. It was a great disservice to people who rely on it and have nothing to do with the dispute.
Apple can do what they want to do. That's why I went to Android.
Re:How dare they... (Score:2, Insightful)
a cab driver gets stopped for running a red light (or speeding, whatever). cop arrests him. the passengers are inconvenienced. do you blame the cop?
is that a disservice to the passengers or is this a service to the community who wont suffer another death from an accident this cabbie might have caused?
i think you're seeing this way too narrowly. apple are building an ecosystem. its easy to criticize their decisions out of context, but at the end of the day what they do works for a whole lot of people.
of course, it doesnt work for all, you are on android, and god bless. but with all due respect you're the one missing the point here.
Re:Are users app-blind? (Score:5, Insightful)
"Apple wouldn't dare do it to Amazon or eBay"
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9218629/Amazon_caves_to_Apple_drops_Kindle_s_in_app_button [computerworld.com]
Re:How dare they... (Score:5, Insightful)
If I were Dropbox, I would say screw Apple - they get the 30% of the app, sure, but 30% of the extra storage users want? No way. What does that have to do with Apple? Why do they deserve that? They aren't buying anything in app, so what is the problem? Drop the app and let user dissatisfaction directed at Apple change their policy. If every app maker that had to face ridiculous draconian Apple policies would stand up to Apple, they would change their stupid policies. But as long as everybody keeps bending over and taking it, why should Apple change anything? They have a sweet deal going.
Re:How dare they... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:How dare they... (Score:4, Insightful)
If I were Dropbox, I would say screw Apple - they get the 30% of the app, sure, but 30% of the extra storage users want? No way. What does that have to do with Apple? Why do they deserve that? They aren't buying anything in app, so what is the problem?
Actually, that's the whole point. When an iPhone user is using a Dropbox-enabled app, Apple is bringing that customer to Dropbox. Dropbox users can still go on their own accord to the Dropbox site and add storage without paying Apple anything. But if an app tries to solicit business that bypasses the App Store fees, Apple calls them on it. Either they remove the link or they pay 30%-- pretty simple. It's not some ethical or moral situation, just a business contract.
Re:How dare they... (Score:5, Insightful)
When an iPhone user is using a Dropbox-enabled app, Apple is bringing that customer to Dropbox.
Not necessarily. If I already had Dropbox installed on my computer, and now want to extend that to my phone, Apple has not brought Dropbox any business they didn't already have. Dropbox does have clients for Windows, Mac, and Linux as well as the mobile platforms. I would guess most people using the mobile app already had Dropbox installed on another platform.
Re:How dare they... (Score:4, Insightful)
Jesus fucking christ you people are fucking braindead.
Apple gets a fucking cut if you purchase from in-app. In fact, IF you offer in-app purchases, you have to use the app store, and Apple gets their cut.
There is not one fucking thing preventing Dropbox from pulling in-app upgrades, and doing it only on their website. Or, if they want the option in-app, their app cannot redirect to the website to purchase.
IN APP. IN FUCKING APP. IN THE FUCKING APPLICATION YOU FUCKING READING COMPREHENSION CHALLENGED FUCKING RETARDS.
Jesus, these are the fucking rules for the iTunes ecosystem, that EVERY FUCKING DEVELOPER that sells on iTunes agrees to. Whether or not we agree with them doesn't fucking matter...this is the fucking contract that was entered into between developers and Apple.
Re:How dare they... (Score:5, Insightful)
Bad rules should be resisted.
It's not a bad rule. Here, let's move the argument into the real world. (Sadly, not a car analogy.)
I used to work at a gaming shop. One of the popular items was CCG cards (Magic and Pokemon being the big two at the time). One big revenue generator for the store was selling singles. (When you can sell the rare for the price of the pack or better, *and* sell the commons and uncommons, the math was pretty compelling).
We also had gaming space. And the rule was, no selling cards in the store. Why, you ask? Because players would bring binders of cards, take up one of our tables (using our floorspace, our electricity), and then proceed to undercut us - which is pretty easy when you have no overhead.
We tried to be nice, but they simply started making the deals, then "stepping outside" to exchange money. And yes, when we banned them we got nothing but "why are you being so mean"?
Were we saying "you can't sell your cards?" No, of course not - they're your cards. We're saying "you can't use our overhead to sell your cards". And that's what Apple is saying - if you provide a button on your App (which is being used through their app store) to buy something, Apple gets a cut. If they go to you through some other method, Apple doesn't care - you just can't cheat around it.