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Apple Blocks Steam's Plan To Extend Its Video Games To iPhones (reuters.com)
Citing "business conflicts," Apple has blocked Steam's plans to distribute PC-based video games to iPhones. It's "a sign that Apple is serious about protecting its ability to take a cut of digital purchases made inside games on its mobile devices," reports Reuters. From the report: Steam, the dominant online store for downloaded games played on Windows PCs, had planned to release a free mobile phone app called Steam Link so that gamers could continue playing on their mobile phones while away from their desktop machines. But Apple has rejected the app, blocking its release, according to a statement from Steam's parent company, the Bellevue, Washington-based Valve. Steam did not give a precise reason for the App Store denials, saying only that Apple cited "business conflicts with app guidelines." But the conflict likely centers on what are known as in-app purchases or micro-transactions, in which gamers can spend small sums of money inside games to buy tokens, extra lives or others so-called digital goods. Lombardi said Steam disabled purchasing its iOS app but did not elaborate on how the change was made. Many analysts believe Apple could lose revenue if they allow Steam's app, which is essentially a store-within-a-store. "Apple takes a 30 percent cut of such purchases made within apps distributed through its App Store," Reuters notes. "[T]hose purchases are among the primary drivers of revenue in Apple's services business."
According to the article, Steam Link would have been a separate application solely for streaming games. Even if both apps were consolidated, the notion that I'd be buying games "for my phone" is still wrong, because the only way for this to work is through a PC which again only lets me use my Apple device as a remote screen within my own house. In reality, the Steam Link app was more likely intended for iPads to benefit from a larger screen and an attached keyboard. It would have been a simple convenience for existing Steam users, nothing more.
It should also be pointed out that Steam is available for purchasing and playing games directly on Mac OS.
Steam Link isn't an emulator. It's essentially a fancy remote control for your computer which is running Steam on it. The game runs on your computer (as they normally would) but the display is streamed to the receiving device (Steam Link) and then input from the receiving device pushed back to the computer. Apple isn't blocking Steam Link for being an emulator. There are likely other motivations at work.
You're a fucking comedian.
support - never had an android device go out of support before I replaced it
malware - never had any, ever, on android. Getting less on iOS would be tricky
flashlight - hit the 'flashlight' button that's built into the OS and it turns on the camera light. No permission changes required
privacy - so you want privacy but you use Siri. Thanks, I needed the laugh.
But when taken in aggregate, Apple is still the superior device to use
That's subjective, and I disagree. E.g. I can't actually use an Apple device because it refuses to let me run the software I want.
Google has made great strides in improve Android. They've improved privacy
Nah, they're still a fucking nightmare. I'd love a "stop fucking tracking me" option.