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Businesses Programming Apple

Once Again, Apple Isn't Following Its Own Advertising Rules (theverge.com) 44

Posted by msmash from the my-way-or-highway dept.
Apple News Plus, the company's new magazine (and news) subscription service, is the latest offender because of how easy Apple makes it to subscribe. From a report: Just tap that "Try it Free" button, confirm your payment, and you're off to the races. Thing is, Apple forbids developers from making things seem quite this simple. Typically, Apple protects users from recurring fees by requiring developers to make those numbers so large on the screen that it's painfully obvious what you're getting into, how often you'll pay, and how to cancel if you decide you're not interested anymore. Here are some screenshots from Apple's dev website so you can see just how crystal-clear the developer "guidelines" are. For whatever reason, Apple decided that a cleaner, more attractive layout, one that hides some of the information it asks of developers, was the right choice for Apple News Plus.
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Once Again, Apple Isn't Following Its Own Advertising Rules More

Once Again, Apple Isn't Following Its Own Advertising Rules

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  • They do the same shit with iCloud (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    I "accidentally" signed up for that shit on my iPhone while trying to dismiss a nag screen. Sad to see Apple incorporating "dark patterns" into their much ballyhooed interface design. Maybe Tim Cook should go.

  • "free" trial (Score:5, Insightful)

    by stealth_finger ( 1809752 ) on Thursday March 28, 2019 @09:41AM (#58347808)
    I don't sign up to free trials that want payment details in advance, so generally I don't get free trials.

    • Re: "free" trial (Score:5, Interesting)

      by sremick ( 91371 ) on Thursday March 28, 2019 @10:28AM (#58348122)

      Just use an empty Visa/MC gift card that still had an unexpired date. I'm always getting them from rebates and crap, so I always keep the numbers from an unexpired one handy just for stuff like this.

      • Gift cards are another rip off, give them some money and it expires. The reason they state it needs to expire is they don't want a liability on their books. Next time you go into a bank tell that the mortgage has expired after 2 years because you don't want that liability on our books see what they say. Just give cash, no fees, no expiry.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by epine ( 68316 )

      I don't sign up to free trials that want payment details in advance, so generally I don't get free trials.

      Same here. But I generally regard this as a feature, not a bug. If they need your payment details just to give you a taste, the taste is almost certainly bitter in the end.

  • misleading article and flame bait (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    I signed up for the trail, and was adequately warned that it was a paid subscription, when it would kick in, and how to cancel. Many third party developers do not do this, which is why Apple makes it very clear how to warn customers. Apple isn't in the business of scamming people unlike some third party app developers, so yes, the burden of proof is a bit higher on the third party dev side than it is on Apple's side. Stop bitching.

  • "Free trials" with payment required are not free (Score:4, Informative)

    by Opportunist ( 166417 ) on Thursday March 28, 2019 @10:22AM (#58348074)

    Any "free trials" that want your payment details in advance are not free trials, they're a subscription waiting to bite you in the ass. And since Apple pretty much has your payment details already as soon as you are one of their victims, there is no such thing as a free trial from Apple, period.

  • Seems they comply (Score:3, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 28, 2019 @11:13AM (#58348418)

    While i dislike apple, reading their actual requirements, it seems their own app does fulfill those:

    Include the following in the app description and in your app’s signup screen:
    o Subscription name, duration, and the content or services provided during each subscription period
    o The following information about how users are charged and can manage the subscription:
    oo Payments are charged to the user’s Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase.
    oo Subscriptions automatically renew unless the user cancels at least 24 hours before the end of the current period.
    oo The account is charged for renewal within 24-hours before the end of the current period.
    oo Users can manage and cancel subscriptions in their account settings on the App Store.
    o A link to your app’s Terms of Use

  • Both Apple and Google continue to follow dark patterns to trick the user into subscribing for their shitty services. Nearly everytime I start up youtube or itunes on my phone, I get the nagscreen popup for itunes radio or YT "premium" that does not have the "No, and don't ask me ever again" option.

  • makes an really good case to kill app store lock-in. In the EU that may lead to some big smack down.

  • Seriously Apple, think about this. You are the richest company around. Do you need to become a shifty, lying cheat to survive? Do you think your reputation might get smeared a little, which will tank your business?

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