Apple App Store: Difference between revisions
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Although there are supported iOS application installation source alternatives such as [https://altstore.io/ Altstore], they are not commonly used or known, which gives Apple a practical monopoly over iOS users and iOS app developers. | Although there are supported iOS application installation source alternatives such as [https://altstore.io/ Altstore], they are not commonly used or known, which gives Apple a practical monopoly over iOS users and iOS app developers. | ||
Apple has made claims that they are unaware about the profitability of the App Store<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=Schiller doesn’t know whether the App Store is profitable; there are no minutes of meetings |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723043225/https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=9to5Mac}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Jan 2025 |title=Apple denies App Store profit margin is 75% – claims to have no clue |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251218063018/https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |archive-date=18 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website= | Apple has made claims that they are unaware about the profitability of the App Store<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Apr 2024 |title=Schiller doesn’t know whether the App Store is profitable; there are no minutes of meetings |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723043225/https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/17/app-store-is-profitable-apple-notes/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=9to5Mac}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=17 Jan 2025 |title=Apple denies App Store profit margin is 75% – claims to have no clue |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251218063018/https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/17/apple-denies-app-store-profit-margin-is-75-claims-to-have-no-clue/ |archive-date=18 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=9to5Mac}}</ref> but takes fees of up to 30% on digital product sales and subscriptions,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Tushar |date=2025-05-06 |title=Apple cuts App Store fees, but experts urge caution against new U.S. pricing guidelines |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/phones/what-experts-say-about-apple-app-store-pricing-changes/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=digitaltrends}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251228044205/https://www.digitaltrends.com/phones/what-experts-say-about-apple-app-store-pricing-changes/ Archived])</ref> ranging from game currency to supporting content creators<ref name="patreon">{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=12 Aug 2024 |title=Patreon: adding Apple’s 30 percent tax is the price of staying in the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128112633/https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> to booking a Zoom call with a local business.<ref name="facebook">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Katie |last2=Nellis |first2=Stephen |date=28 Aug 2020 |title=Exclusive: Facebook says Apple rejected its attempt to tell users about App Store fees |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-apple-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-says-apple-rejected-its-attempt-to-tell-users-about-app-store-fees-idUSKBN25O042/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241110215209/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-apple-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-says-apple-rejected-its-attempt-to-tell-users-about-app-store-fees-idUSKBN25O042/ |archive-date=10 Nov 2024|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref> Some argue that these fees hinder iOS app developers from innovating because this money cannot be used to further improve their applications.{{Citation needed}} There are groups in support of developers who are experiencing difficulties in continuing development due to Apple (and [[Google]]'s) fees of between 15% and 30% of all revenue. These groups deny the notion that Apple and Google require the money generated by the app more than the developer.{{Citation needed}} These fees also push app developers to increase prices to maximize profits, which increases the prices for end users. | ||
Because of this, several governments including South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=South Korea approves rules on app store law targeting Apple, Google |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231110110331/https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |archive-date=10 Nov 2023|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=13 Jun 2024 |title=Japan forces Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and payments |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114004250/https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website= | Because of this, several governments including South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2022 |title=South Korea approves rules on app store law targeting Apple, Google |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231110110331/https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-approves-rules-app-store-law-targeting-apple-google-2022-03-08/ |archive-date=10 Nov 2023|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=13 Jun 2024 |title=Japan forces Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and payments |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114004250/https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/13/japan_smartphone_software_law/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=The Register}}</ref> the European Union (EU),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Digital Markets Act |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Markets_Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260210074954/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Markets_Act |archive-date=10 Feb 2026 |website=Wikipedia}}</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Competition and Markets Authority |date=4 Mar 2021 |title=Investigation into Apple AppStore |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-apple-appstore |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251019195700/https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-apple-appstore |archive-date=19 Oct 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=gov.uk}}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2021 |title=Dominance of Apple and Google's app stores impacting competition and consumers |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/dominance-of-apple-and-googles-app-stores-impacting-competition-and-consumers |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251216185602/https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/dominance-of-apple-and-googles-app-stores-impacting-competition-and-consumers |archive-date=16 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=ACCC}}</ref> as well as the US and a handful of US States<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open App Markets Act |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_App_Markets_Act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260206000944/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_App_Markets_Act |archive-date=6 Feb 2026 |website=Wikipedia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=S.5364 - App Store Accountability Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5364/text/is |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113053216/https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5364/text/is |archive-date=13 Nov 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=congress.gov}}</ref><ref name="doj">{{Cite web |last=Balsamo |first=Mike |last2=Liedtke |first2=Mike |last3=Whitehurst |first3=Lindsay |last4=Bajak |first4=Frank |date=21 Mar 2024 |title=Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market |url=https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251007161133/https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3 |archive-date=7 Oct 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=APNews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Feb 2021 |title=It’s time to free ourselves from ‘Big Tech’ monopoly |url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/02/19/its-time-to-free-ourselves-from-big-tech-monopoly/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205235654/https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/02/19/its-time-to-free-ourselves-from-big-tech-monopoly/ |archive-date=5 Feb 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=Arizona Capitol Times}}</ref> have opened investigations into anti-competitive practices as well as have considered or passed legislation to require "gatekeeper platforms" such as Apple to be more reasonable with third-party developers. | ||
In response to such legislative measures, Apple has instituted geo-blocking operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251202053700/https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |archive-date=2 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[he Apple Wiki}}</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using careful wording with commonly understood terms to describe difficult-to-use systems.{{Citation needed}}<!-- In addition to needing citations, these incidents should be better explained. | In response to such legislative measures, Apple has instituted geo-blocking operating system functionality based on physical location,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility |url=https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251202053700/https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Eligibility |archive-date=2 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[he Apple Wiki}}</ref> misrepresenting/overstating risks, and using careful wording with commonly understood terms to describe difficult-to-use systems.{{Citation needed}}<!-- In addition to needing citations, these incidents should be better explained. | ||
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<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Notarization of macOS software is not App Review. The Apple notary service is an automated system that scans your software for malicious content, checks for code-signing issues, and returns the results to you quickly. If there are no issues, the notary service generates a ticket for you to staple to your software; the notary service also publishes that ticket online where Gatekeeper can find it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notarizing macOS software before distribution |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126224658/https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |archive-date=26 Jan 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website= | Notarization of macOS software is not App Review. The Apple notary service is an automated system that scans your software for malicious content, checks for code-signing issues, and returns the results to you quickly. If there are no issues, the notary service generates a ticket for you to staple to your software; the notary service also publishes that ticket online where Gatekeeper can find it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notarizing macOS software before distribution |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126224658/https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing-macos-software-before-distribution |archive-date=26 Jan 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=Apple Developer}}</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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In the EU, Apple permitted web browsers to use rendering and [[JavaScript]] [[wikipedia:Browser_engine|engines]] other than the built-in with Apple WebKit/JavaScriptCore, with the option for JS engines to use JIT. The browser still needs to be approved by Apple for an entitlement and must then work within the APIs provided by Apple. However, as of January 2025, no browsers using engines different from the built-in ones have been released, primarily due to arbitrarily imposed restrictions intended to discourage the use and development of third-party engines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220155551/https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |archive-date=20 Feb 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> | In the EU, Apple permitted web browsers to use rendering and [[JavaScript]] [[wikipedia:Browser_engine|engines]] other than the built-in with Apple WebKit/JavaScriptCore, with the option for JS engines to use JIT. The browser still needs to be approved by Apple for an entitlement and must then work within the APIs provided by Apple. However, as of January 2025, no browsers using engines different from the built-in ones have been released, primarily due to arbitrarily imposed restrictions intended to discourage the use and development of third-party engines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220155551/https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox |archive-date=20 Feb 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> | ||
However, Apple still does not allow different engines outside of the EU, with or without JIT support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=App Review Guidelines |url=https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#2.5.6 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128202153/https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website= | However, Apple still does not allow different engines outside of the EU, with or without JIT support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=App Review Guidelines |url=https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#2.5.6 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128202153/https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=Apple Developer}}</ref> | ||
==In-app browsers== | ==In-app browsers== | ||