That's only because they have to now, because they're so far behind. The question posed is what would they have charged if they were in Apple's position.
Nothing you've said has countered his point. Android is a viable competitor to iOS, and it has quite a bit of the benefits that you seem to dislike from iOS.
I also find it hilarious that you're ok with carriers locking things down, in that you say to switch providers, but apparently the situation is special when it comes to Apple.
Infuriatingly, my own former secondary school is forcing all students to purchase Ipads starting next year. What would you say then? Move to another district?
My former school only had Windows PCs in their computer lab. What should I have done?
And as I've been harping constantly, it would result in more competitive rates if others were allowed into this arena.
Android has the open ecosystem that you're describing. Why is the fee for the Google Play store still 30%? What major stores have royalty rates significantly lower?
Unfortunately, Apple is completely (and again, as I believe) unfairly locking them out. Everyone loses except Apple.
And the people making lots of money selling apps through their app store.
Seriously, if your idea is so great, and what you described is achievable on Android, why hasn't it happened?
Also ask them the same questions as above, if they're okay with Apple's cut being 10%, 20% or 40%, 50%.
Doesn't matter. Of course everyone would like lower costs. But that doesn't mean they aren't happy where they are now. And it doesn't mean that they're making more money with one mobile OS as opposed to the other.
You do realize that the mobile app stores that were in place for Blackberry and Windows Mobile, long before the iPhone, charged much more, right? In fact, most cell phone provider stores had the 70/30 cut, only YOU were the one that got the 30%.
And if they're so bad, how do you explain everyone else doing the same thing? Is Google evil for charging the same 30%?
developers complaining about Apple's greed trying to pad to their $120B+ in cash at the expense of app devs.
How much do you think those devs would have made WITHOUT the iPhone? Especially the smaller ones?
The problem is that all of the points you list are FORCED by Apple
How were you forced? Did someone put a gun to your head and tell you to develop for iOS? Or did you decide you wanted to develop for iOS, but were upset over the terms, so you want to throw a tantrum to get your way?
For a couple of years, every Android phone sold by AT&T had the restriction that you could not sideload apps or install them from 3rd parties. I think they finally relaxed this when they started getting lots of complaints about not being able to use the Amazon store.
What? So Apple tried to remove the in-app purchasing restrictions but listened to developers who wanted them back? Or perhaps they dropped their forced 30% tithe to 15% but had to listen to the developer's clamor for how it was too low? And all the hundreds of legit apps that got banned like Readbility etc., Apple wanted to approve them but those developers requested Apple to ban them?
No, the point is that these are not the big issues for actual Apple Developers. The things he listed are.
Apple didn't kill the OEM PC hardware business. They simply put out a premium product, which none of the other OEM PC makers could match on quality. Thus, people with that kind of money to spend on a computer went to Apple, because they had the best product in that market segment. Nothing was stopping HP or Dell from putting out a machine to compete with Apple other than they didn't want to.
Adding core functionality costs money but would also generate revenue if the features they added are the features players quit the game over.
How? Those people already bought the game. Perhaps if those people were also buying things on the Auction House, but I would imagine anyone who cares that much about Diablo PvP wouldn't be that type.
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Cool - as long as you admit that the app store does not encourage hobbyist programmers.
Can't really say that, considering the success smaller developers have had with the Apple store.
End result: Customers are not getting to use an app that does something useful and is free.
If it was really that useful, someone else will fulfill that need on iOS.
Then why do you care?
Why, oh why would you choose to do that when you could have your apps on Google Play for free?
Because they sell more on iOS.
So you're not a professional developer. Meaning your insights are not really relevant to this discussion.
Then don't go with them. Problem solved.
That's only because they have to now, because they're so far behind. The question posed is what would they have charged if they were in Apple's position.
On iOS and Apple iDevices, you're FORCED
No, you're not. No one is "forcing" you to use an iOS device.
So what? The fact of the matter is that Google still offers the same terms. Making them just as bad.
Well, according to all of the Android fanbois, Android has a far, far larger share of the market than iOS now. So I would say no.
I think the point he was making is that iOS is not a monopoly.
Nothing you've said has countered his point. Android is a viable competitor to iOS, and it has quite a bit of the benefits that you seem to dislike from iOS.
I also find it hilarious that you're ok with carriers locking things down, in that you say to switch providers, but apparently the situation is special when it comes to Apple.
Infuriatingly, my own former secondary school is forcing all students to purchase Ipads starting next year. What would you say then? Move to another district?
My former school only had Windows PCs in their computer lab. What should I have done?
You make a fine case, but the fact remains that we would probably see lower rates if there were some actual competition in this respect
Why isn't there lower rates for the Google Play store, then?
And as I've been harping constantly, it would result in more competitive rates if others were allowed into this arena.
Android has the open ecosystem that you're describing. Why is the fee for the Google Play store still 30%? What major stores have royalty rates significantly lower?
Unfortunately, Apple is completely (and again, as I believe) unfairly locking them out. Everyone loses except Apple.
And the people making lots of money selling apps through their app store.
Seriously, if your idea is so great, and what you described is achievable on Android, why hasn't it happened?
Also ask them the same questions as above, if they're okay with Apple's cut being 10%, 20% or 40%, 50%.
Doesn't matter. Of course everyone would like lower costs. But that doesn't mean they aren't happy where they are now. And it doesn't mean that they're making more money with one mobile OS as opposed to the other.
You do realize that the mobile app stores that were in place for Blackberry and Windows Mobile, long before the iPhone, charged much more, right? In fact, most cell phone provider stores had the 70/30 cut, only YOU were the one that got the 30%.
And if they're so bad, how do you explain everyone else doing the same thing? Is Google evil for charging the same 30%?
developers complaining about Apple's greed trying to pad to their $120B+ in cash at the expense of app devs.
How much do you think those devs would have made WITHOUT the iPhone? Especially the smaller ones?
Again, nobody is forcing you to use it.
The problem is that all of the points you list are FORCED by Apple
How were you forced? Did someone put a gun to your head and tell you to develop for iOS? Or did you decide you wanted to develop for iOS, but were upset over the terms, so you want to throw a tantrum to get your way?
I think the fairest solution is to force Apple to open their platform to alternative software sources in the same way as Android.
Why? It's not like there aren't alternatives to iOS.
For a couple of years, every Android phone sold by AT&T had the restriction that you could not sideload apps or install them from 3rd parties. I think they finally relaxed this when they started getting lots of complaints about not being able to use the Amazon store.
Perhaps they are. They just have different priorities than you.
What? So Apple tried to remove the in-app purchasing restrictions but listened to developers who wanted them back? Or perhaps they dropped their forced 30% tithe to 15% but had to listen to the developer's clamor for how it was too low? And all the hundreds of legit apps that got banned like Readbility etc., Apple wanted to approve them but those developers requested Apple to ban them?
No, the point is that these are not the big issues for actual Apple Developers. The things he listed are.
Apple didn't kill the OEM PC hardware business. They simply put out a premium product, which none of the other OEM PC makers could match on quality. Thus, people with that kind of money to spend on a computer went to Apple, because they had the best product in that market segment. Nothing was stopping HP or Dell from putting out a machine to compete with Apple other than they didn't want to.
all of the applications you have installed on your box should require a unique password
Who said it had to be unique? Most of us have a junk password that we use for things we don't really care about.
Adding core functionality costs money but would also generate revenue if the features they added are the features players quit the game over.
How? Those people already bought the game. Perhaps if those people were also buying things on the Auction House, but I would imagine anyone who cares that much about Diablo PvP wouldn't be that type.